If you do a radio show or read the news, you’ll know it can take a while to feel that your voice has warmed up. Those of you who start at some unearthly hour in the morning have the hardest job.

I know when I record stories for radio or read audio books I usually have to re-record the first chapter again at the end  because of the difference in my voice after it has tuned itself up.

So here are a few ideas of how to vocally ease yourself into your show –  so that your  audience aren’t subject to your vocal sluggish slurs and  croaky frogs.

1.      Consider what you eat and drink…

• Tea, coffee and sugary drinks will de-hydrate you – drying your vocal folds.  Cut down if you’re a caffeine addict.
• Milk and other dairy products can create mucus (phlegm), which can exacerbate ‘frogs’ and the need to keep clearing our throat – a Bad Thing. So porridge with mainly water or soya milk and muesli with fruit juice…?
• Avoid very hot and very cold drinks (always) – your throat will go into shock!

Better is…

• Start the day drinking a pint or two of warm water (a thin slice of lemon added will make it more palatable).
• Try a fruit or herbal tea. Ginger tea is a great start the day – but you’ll find your own preference.
• Pro. voice-over artists swear by green apple (the pectin helps cut through phlegm). So eating the apple itself or drinking green apple juice might help.
• Drink 3-4 pints of water during the day and evening.

2.      The air you breathe maketh the voice…

• Your voice hates a dry or dusty atmosphere.
• Check that the air in your bedroom isn’t too dry. Particularly when the central heating is on. Leaving a window open to freshen the air can help.
• If you sit at a computer all day, keep drinking that water.
• The steam from a shower or facial steam is a real voice treat.
• BREATHE. Learn to take in the air deep down into the base of your lungs with out lifting your shoulders. Breathe in through your nose over 3, hold, breathe out over 8 in a big blow through your mouth. A nice relaxed slow rhythm. Your voice is breath so what we hear when you speak is how you are using your breath.

3.      Physicals

Broadcasters often underestimate the influence our body state has over our voice. If we have a bad back we hear it in the voice.  If our legs are tied in knots around the legs of our chair we hear it in the voice. Tension anywhere sounds in the voice, so aim to feel ‘loose’. A simple physical wake-up before your show will help open up your voice.  Choose a few…

• A brisk walk.
• Swinging arm circles x 6.
• Leg swings (hold on a desk with your right hand swing your left leg forward and back x 6 then reverse).
• Touch toes and stretch up x 6.
• Do a few shoulder hunches (with loose arms hunch shoulders up to ears, hold for six, drop). Do slow shoulder rolls forwards and backwards.

 4.     Mouths & Tongues

As a professional speaker your mouth muscles have to perform an amazing feat. Keep them toned and dextrous. Think of it as taking your mouth to the gym.

• The ‘sound’ you make depends on your resonators – your mouth being one.  A relaxed jaw is essential so that it allows your mouth to open freely.
• Gently circle your jaw with mouth closed – as if chewing a big toffee. (Then add a yummy, yummy sound as if humming through your range).
• Stretch your mouth wide open  – as in a cat’s ‘Meow’ sound.
• Say OO-EE x 6.

Tongue strengthening

• Open mouth wide and say ‘apple’ x 6. Make your tongue work.
• Run your tongue in front and behind top and bottom teeth.

Say fast and clearly…

• ‘Be-De-Ge’ x 6. ‘Pitter-patter’ x 6. Say ‘Tittle-tattle’ x 6.
• ‘Two pints of bitter and a packet of crisps.’ x 3.
• ‘Around the ragged rocks the ragged rascal ran.’ x 3.
• ‘Betty Botter bought some butter but she said this butter’s bitter.’ x 3.

5.      The Essential Tuning up…

• Humming is by far the most effective way to tune up, particularly in the morning when your voice is waking up.
• Hum one note, hold it on for a few beats from soft to louder to soft. Pick different notes in your range.
• Glide your voice up and down your range like a siren.  Be gentle.
• Hum tunes purposefully.
• Sing if you like singing – but do some humming first.
• Talk to yourself in an exaggeratedly expressive way, it can be nonsense but gets your range warmed up.. “Mmmm how absoluuutely wooonderful.” “Reeeally daaarling.” ‘I’m sooo exciiiited.’ With feeling.

You can do these at home, in the car, as you walk to work or when you get there.  It looks like a bit of a chore but if you build them into your routine you’ll notice the difference.

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I have been coaching professional broadcasters for nearly twenty years and am well established through the UK broadcast industry – radio and TV.  I coach on site at the TV or radio station, or by special arrangement with individuals / freelancers, either face-to face or on Skype.  So wherever you are I can help you find your natural broadcast voice. 

Have a look at our Voice Coaching for Broadcasters page for more details.  You can find a list of my past and present clients here and read their testimonials. Give me a ring on +44(0)1332 727305 or contact me by email to see how I might help you.

Good broadcasting!