| Don't Abuse Your Voice: |
Do: |
| Don't clear your throat or cough habitually |
- Sip some water, swallowing slowly.
- Yawn to relax your throat.
- Hum: concentrate on resonance sensations. |
| Don't yell, cheer or scream habitually. |
- Use non-vocal sounds or visual cues to attract attention.
- Find non-vocal ways to discipline children. |
| Avoid prolonged talking over long distances and outdoors. |
- Move closer, so you can be heard without yelling, or use a vocal amplification system.
- Learn good vocal projection techniques. |
| Avoid talking in noisy situations: over loud music, office equipment, noisy classrooms, in cars, buses, airplanes, etc. |
- Reduce background noise when you speak.
- Always face persons you are speaking with.
- Position yourself close to your listeners.
- Wait until students/audiences are quiet.
- Find non-vocal ways to elicit attention. |
| Don't try to address large audiences without proper vocal amplification. You should be able to lecture at a comfortable loudness. |
- Use a high-quality vocal amplification system for public speaking.
- Learn good microphone technique. |
| Don't sing or vocalize beyond your comfortable range. |
- Respect your vocal limits.
- Seek professional voice training.
- Always use an adequate acoustic monitor during vocal performances.
- Never sing high notes you can't sing quietly. |
| Avoid vocally-abusive nervous habits during public speaking: throat-clearing, breath-holding, speaking quickly, speaking on insufficient breath, speaking on a low and monotone pitch, aggressive or low-pitched fillers ("um..."; "ah...") |
- Monitor and reduce vocal habits that detract from your presentation.
- Learn strategies for effective public speaking.
- Prepare your presentation well so you can relax and attend to good vocal production. |
| Don't speak extensively during strenuous physical exercise. |
- Avoid aggressive vocal "grunts" while lifting weights, or during martial arts.
- After aerobic exercise, wait until your breathing system can accommodate relaxed voice production. |
