Hello all,

Well it says viva voice so hopefully that covers spoken voice as well as singing!

Despite being a singer for many years I'm unhappy with my spoken voice and can't seem to apply the singing techniques to it in every day life.

I've always been a mutterer, and it's exacerbated by several things - low pitched voice which dissapears under background noise, tension in jaw, back problems. But I think also psychological factors, including parents who shouted at me for not speaking loud enough, clearly not realising this would create a catch 22 situation!

In theory I should be able to rectify this using what I've learned in singing but I'd really like to tackle it as a separate issue. I'm sure my singing teacher would have some advice but I'd like to keep it separate from singing lessons as I think it would be quite a difficult/personal process.

There are hundreds of people on the internet professing to offer coaching for presentations, interviews etc. Funnily enough I'm ok if I have to make a speech in front of loads of people, it's in everyday speech that my voice dissapears, even with people I know well.

Anyway I would really like to have lessons via a personal recommendation rather than random advert, so if any of you have had similar coaching in the London or southern home counties area, do you have any recommendations or particular teachers/courses? Thanks.

LCM do Spoken exams - I wonder if your local representative might know a teacher for elocution?

Do ask your singing teacher I think. Many singers will have had lessons in speech and drama too in preparation for stage performance and yours may well offer a few separate lessons in spoken voice production.

Acting lessons are an excellent way to get you thinking about the way you speak, and how to use your voice to different effect. Also great for understanding body language, and then tying both together in thinking about how your body position affects the way you speak and how you come acrosss generally.

Almost forgot - acting lessons are great fun too.

I would very much recommend lessons with a certified Estill instructor. They are at the cutting edge in this domain and are carrying out some very exciting research into projection and diction in the speaking voice (including treating the vowels differently, anchoring parts of the body, effort monitoring).

Perhaps contact Anne-Marie Speed in London? She's a great Estill person. Otherwise Paul Farringdon is the Covent Garden voice instructor (they have decided to use only Estill from now on - they want the assurance of a scientific approach to opera to insure their artists have the best techniques and most longevity at their disposal) - I'd imagine he's very busy, but it might be worth a try.

Reeve and Moller are based, I think, in Milton Keynes and London - they are an Estill consultancy and offer training for the spoken and singing voice.

Otherwise the Estill website will have recommendations too. www.trainmyvoice.com

A further option - could you perhaps get your doctor to refer you to a speech and language therapist ?

Actor training would be great if you'd enjoy it. I know that a lot of drama schools offer courses like 'effective communication' depending on where you are in the country. An actual acting course might be ok but if you're not keen on acting/performing it might just make you feel more self conscious and 'on the spot'.

Alternatively I'd agree that seeing someone privately who is an expert in these areas would probably be your best bet.