Voice Coaching Ireland

Do you think being nervous doesn't affect the sound of your voice?  Think again!  

Let's look at it this way:  The voice is an instrument that lives in our bodies.  So, it stands to reason that what goes into our bodies must affect the voice that lives there.  Try jumping up and down and see how smooth your voice is.  Or maybe run a sprint and see if your voice isn't breathy!

Many people experience a glitch in the throat when they are nervous.  Sometimes the voice can jump notes sporadically, making it appear higher or lower than normal.  Others will experience tightness in the chest or throat, which makes it feel difficult to get any voice out at all.

Nervousness is a feeling that we get when we want things to go a certain way.  We want people to like and respect us.  We want to entertain or to inspire.  Sometimes we just want to get through it without messing up.  It is worth mentioning that you cannot have a feeling without first having a thought.  So - the next time you're nervous, ask yourself what you were thinking to bring on this nervous feeling.

Also - nervous tension is actually excess energy.  When you are nervous, the body creates adrenalin which can make you shake or sweat.  So, if you want to feel less nervous, moving the body will help to release some of this energy and relax.  The more relaxed the body is, the more relaxed the voice will be.  

Here are some tips for alleviating nerves so that your voice can sound its best:

• Rehearse!  Be it a song, a speech or addressing a group.  Know your material inside out!
• Shake your hands out before you give your performance/speech to get rid of excess energy.
• Instead of saying to yourself, 'don't mess this up', replace this with: 'I can do a great job'.
• Warm your voice up beforehand.