Warm Ups

Your Voice is your instrument

Public speaking is similar to singing in the sense that your voice is your instrument. This is why It’s important to warm up your vocal chords before giving a presentation. Different vocal warmups can help your voice sound full and round. Here are two techniques to help give you an edge for your next speech. 

Humming

Humming is a great way to relax and loosen up the muscles around your throat. Try humming for 10-15 seconds in one pitch. Concentrate on feeling the vibrations in your face and neck. I recommend going through pitches to fully activate your voice. Feel free to experiment with raising and lowering the pitches as you hum. After 4 or 5 rounds, you’ll be surprised how rich your voice sounds. Do this every day for maximum results. 

Pitch Gliding

Vocal pitch gliding allows you to add a richness to your voice. Start by making an “oooooo” sound from your diaphragm. Hold the note for 5-8 seconds then glide up or down to a different note such as “eeeeeee”. Try going up and down while making different vowel sounds. Repeat for 4 or 5 rounds. 

 Tongue Trill 

Not only do tongue trills help warm up your voice, it also gets your tongue moving as well which is critical for effective enunciation. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and roll your r’s. You can raise and lower your pitch. Feel the vibrations in your face and mouth. 

I suggest making vocal warm ups a regular part of your prep. Before you start practicing your presentation, spend about ten minutes warming up your voice. By doing so, you’ll get yourself in the habit of intentionally engaging your voice which is one of your greatest assets in delivering a speech.