Exercise 18: Speaking/singing phrases

Listen to the demo first then have a go.

• Pick some phrases with plenty of friendly consonants, such as those you used in Section 4.3: Now I know what you mean; We really need to move now; You will not make a noise; We were warmer in the morning; May we know more?
• Say a phrase at your usual speaking pitch then, on a vowel, change to a sung note. After singing a few words change, again on a vowel, back into speaking. Try to stay at approximately the same pitch throughout
• Reverse the exercise, i.e.: singing, speaking, singing.
• Experiment using different pitches.

You’re aiming to develop a ‘one voice’ quality in your singing and speaking, so that each modality includes all the good qualities available in both.

Exercise 19: Using song lyrics

The example used here is the Beatles’ song ‘All You Need Is Love’, but it could be any song with simple lyrics and rhythm, and a tune that doesn’t leap about too much. Anything complicated will divert you from thinking about how you are using your voice.

If you need a reminder of the song, there’s a cover version here:

• Start by saying the lyrics, putting into them as much interest, variety and appearance of emotion (not the real thing) that you can:‍

All you need is love,
All you need is love,
All you need is love, love,
Love is all you need.

• Now sing the lyrics in the same way, at about the same pitch as you spoke them.
• Continue shifting between speaking and singing like this, again looking to create a voice that feels and sounds the same across the two modalities, and therefore contains all the attractive qualities contributed by each.

Do the exercise using other suitable songs you enjoy. Here are a few suggestions for different musical tastes:

Easy listening: ‘Fly Me to the Moon’
Pop: ‘Make You Feel My Love’
Classical: ‘Where e’er You Walk’ (Handel)
Musicals: ‘Memory’ (from Cats)
Jazz: ‘Girl from Ipanema’
Folk: ‘Bobby Shaftoe’ 

Some people find after doing these exercises that their voice feels happier at a slightly different (often slightly higher) speaking pitch than the one they had been using.