Posted by: sbroun on October 26, 2006 07:42 PM | Comments (0)

Marilyn Pittman - a comedian at heart - earns part of her living coaching people on how to use their voice. Teaching them to read copy, to narrate, to host. Here's the thing. It's not as easy as it seems and yet....there are simple things that you can do that can make your voicing so much better - more real. And, things that will help you to command people's attention. There were brave souls at the session, who offered up pieces they had voiced for Marilyn to critique. And even braver souls who stood at a mic and read copy there in front of all of us. I saw two Youth Radio kids' voicings transform before my ears.

Some things to keep in mind:

*punching the copy - think about the words that convey meaning
* pause before or after key words
* mark your script with places you want to breathe. Underline the words that convey meaning.
* Play with the tempo -- fast and slow
* Play with your pitch
* Beware of the tendancy to be "sing songy" changing pitch and emphasis for now apparent reason.
* See what you're saying

Simple. And hard. Very, very hard.

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