Tips & Resources
Vocal Warm-up — Humming — Your New BV Quick Tip Video
Clients and students are always asking me for the simplest, most effective warm-up for the voice, something they can do getting ready for and even while driving to work. It’s HUMMING! But not just any humming; forward placed, relaxed & open jaw humming. It will clear and vibrate your vocal cords and allow you to…
Read MoreAre Women’s Voices Changing?
Are women speakers finally opening up and using their full, natural, body voice to sound more grounded, authentic and powerful? Are you? In my coaching, I often find that speakers attempting to do this as a choice without voice training may be using way too much stress for poor results, perhaps dropping into the dreaded…
Read MoreAmerican Pronunciation is Shifting
How we speak our language is always in flux. Did you know that the NCVS dialect (which includes MN!) is causing a veritable movement, a vowel shift in America? As long as a speaker has great vocal tone & support (no fry or nasality), pronunciation can have more play. Vocabulary and pronunciation are, after all,…
Read MoreLeadership Development is about People, Talent and Connection
Does your company or employer focus on money and product more than developing their greatest resource: People? In this wonderful McKinsey interview, one CEO who gets it explains. Companies who mentor and coach their people to connect and lead will survive more successfully through changes. Coaching Personal Performance Assets like Presence, Voice & Speech can…
Read MorePublic Speaking Fear? Shift Your Thoughts.
Is one of your biggest fears having to speak publicly? Give a report at a meeting? Pitch a design or a project? Network with new people? Win a job interview or promotion? One of the major ideas I share is: In the moment you feel nervous, you’re too self-centered. Harsh? I find this to be…
Read MoreAccent Modification Checklist
If you speak accented English, wish you were better understood, and have wondered about getting accent modification coaching or training, here’s a great little article with 10 questions to help you decide. BVocal can help with all of these points, especially the physical how-to of creating the specific sounds of American English. Read more here…
Read MoreSpeaking Anxiety? 10 Causes
Speech coach, Gary Genard does it again with this terrific article about 10 Causes of Speech Anxiety. And his blog article includes free downloads that I heartily recommend. My BVocal Presence Coaching is also theatre-based performance coaching, agrees with Gary’s work, AND I have a few more tips and exercises for shifting your perception of…
Read More5 Ways to Develop a Warmer, Richer Tone of Voice
Gary Genard offers this great article on speaking with a richer, warmer tone for more effective, leadership communication. I heartily agree and can help you with exercises and guidance to grow each of these 5 areas of vocal production.
Read MorePublic Speaking — TED Talks Raises the Bar
Upping your game, raising your profile, demonstrating leadership, sharing your passion… TED Talks has increased awareness that great public speaking is often a big component of an essential skill set for success. Your body (voice, speech, breath, energy, gesture, expression, movement) is a primary piece of business equipment. Have you learned to really use it?…
Read MoreVocal Health Tips to Keep You Talking
It’s that time of year in the northern latitudes, when many suffer from colds, viruses, and the stresses of breathing dry, heated indoor air, and I’m often asked for tips about how to care for the voice. Of course, the first thing is to learn to play your vocal instrument without undue stress and strain…
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