A presentation given at ArtSmart 2014 sponsored by The University of the Arts looking at effective and professional voice use. Feel more confident about public speaking through a better understanding of how your voice works. Presented by Steven Sparling of The Thriving Creative (www.thethrivingcreative.com).

1. Speak Up!
Talk about yourself
with confidence
Steven Sparling MA FRSA

2. Common Vocal Problems?
! Not being heard at the back of the room (inaudible)
! Not being understood (incomprehensible)
! Lacking confidence (communicated vocally & physically)
! Speaking too quickly
! Monotone
! Mumbling
! No eye contact
! Fidgeting, swaying, rocking
! Nerves

3. Body/Voice Connection

4. Body Alignment
Our goal: a free, flexible & aligned spine

5. Lower-body Connection

6. Foundation

9. Pelvic Diaphragm

10. Thoracic Diaphragm

11. Rib Cage

12. Three Parts to Voice

13. Chiaroscuro
contrast between light & dark

14. Chest Resonance/Head Resonance
warmth, colour, trust/brightness, clarity, authority

15. Vowel sounds
OH
OO
OH
AH
AY
AY
EE

16. Balance

17. Mona Lisa Smile
! Italian Bel Canto talks
of forward placement
of the sound (in the
mask) achieved through
‘smelling a rose’
! This results in an
opening of the nasal
passages and a lift of
the nasal labials (it also
widens the pharynx)
! Brightness, clarity,
projection and sheen to
voice

18. Articulation
shaping sounds into words
! The lips, the teeth, the
tip of the tongue
! Red leather, yellow
leather
! She sells seashells by
the seashore
! What a to-do to die
today at a minute-or-
two to two
b,c,d,f,g,h,j,k,l,m,n,p,q,r,s,t,v,w,y,z,ng

19. A Compelling Speaker Varies:
! Pace
! Pitch
! Pause

20. Vocal Variety
! Pitch – use different notes in your range
(avoid the dreaded monotone)
! Pace – speed up to build excitement, slow down for
emphasis
! Pause – build anticipation, allow time for your point to
land, make room for dialogue

21. 3 Circles of Communication
!
! You + 1
! You + small group
! You + large group
You
www.thethrivingcreative.com

22. How to reach
back of Room
! You have to WANT to connect with them
! You have to NEED to connect with them
! Relaxation
! Higher Pitch
! Brighter sound (Twang)
! Slower Pace – more pause
! Deeper Breaths/grounding/athletic physicality
! Awareness of back & space behind you
! Your voice goes where your eyes go
www.thethrivingcreative.com

23. Non-Verbal Communication
! Make eye-contact with individuals. One sentence/
thought at a time.
! Your voice goes where your eyes go. To fill a room make
eye contact with people at the back.
! Don’t scan the room, be random
! Gesture with whole arm not just from elbow down
! Gestures need to be launched and released
! The bigger the space, the larger the gestures. The
smaller the space, the smaller the gestures.

24. David Lloyd George,WWI
I am in the happy position of being, I think, the first British Minister of the
Crown who, speaking on behalf of the people of this country, can salute the
American Nation as comrades in arms.
I am glad; I am proud. I am glad not merely because of the stupendous
resources which this great nation will bring to the succour of the alliance, but
I rejoice as a democrat that the advent of the United States into this war gives
the final stamp and seal to the character of the conflict as a struggle against
military autocracy throughout the world.
That was the note that ran through the great deliverance of President Wilson.
It was echoed, Sir, in your resounding words today.The United States of
America have the noble tradition, never broken, of having never engaged in
war except for liberty. And this is the greatest struggle for liberty that they
have ever embarked upon.
I am not at all surprised, when one recalls the wars of the past, that America
took its time to make up its mind about the character of this struggle. In
Europe most of the great wars of the past were waged for dynastic
aggrandizement and conquest.

25. Steven Sparling
www.thethrivingcreative.com
Steven.sparling@btopenworld.com
079 5861 0977