We always warm up before we run. We warm up before playing sport. And we warm up at the gym before lifting heavy weights. So why don’t we warm up our voices before we step on stage?
Here are 5 tips to prepare and warm up your voice before public speaking. If you follow these, you are more likely to have a confident, resonating, and lasting voice when you present.
1. Deep Breathing: Start with deep breathing exercises to lower blood pressure, improve heart rate, and activate your nervous system. Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth, fill your diaphragm, and focus on controlled breathing.
2. Resonance Tone-Ups: Work on your voice resonance by pushing sound from your nose down to your belly to engage different points of resonance. This helps you access your full vocal range and prevents sounding monotone.
3. Facial Warm-Ups: Limber up the muscles in your face by rubbing your face, making facial expressions, opening and closing your mouth, and sticking out your tongue. This prepares your facial muscles for clear articulation.
4. Tongue Twisters: Practice tongue twisters like “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” or “She sells sea shells” to improve articulation and warm up your tongue, mouth, and lips. Focus on saying them without tension and with good posture and breath support.
5. Stay Hydrated: Drink water to stay hydrated before speaking. Hydration is essential for maintaining vocal cord elasticity and preventing dryness that can affect your voice quality. Sip water throughout the day and especially before your presentation to keep your voice in optimal condition. And have water up front with you so that you can take a sip if your voice gets scratched or your mouth goes dry.
By following these steps, you can effectively prepare and warm up your voice before public speaking, ensuring clarity, projection, and confidence in your delivery.