| What are the differences between effective speech | | | | shorter ones used in speaking. Say "I really want to go |
| and singing? Would it surprise you to discover there | | | | to the ball game." You probably didn't sustain any of |
| are very few differences. The basic techniques for | | | | the words or vowels. Or did you? If a good singer |
| both are the same. "Are you nuts, Al Koehn? I'm a | | | | were to sing that sentence it might go something like |
| (salesperson - teacher - actor - radio personality - | | | | this: "I reeee-ly want to go to the baaaaal gaaame."o |
| public lecturer...) and I can't sing a note." | | | | And yet, an effective speaker would probably use |
| Consider these points:o Let's start by acknowledging | | | | some of this technique also. Stressing, or holding |
| that the same vocal cords produce the sounds for | | | | certain vowels or words longer than others is very |
| both speaking and singing. There is no difference in | | | | important to the effect of what you are saying. Listen |
| how they produce the basic sounds. Air comes from | | | | closely to some powerful speakers and you will hear |
| the lungs, passes through the cords and turns into | | | | this.o "But singing requires many more notes or |
| sound as it is affected by the vibration of the cords. It | | | | pitches." True, but good speakers constantly use |
| then moves through the throat and sinuses which are | | | | "inflection" as they speak. What is "inflection"? |
| little "rooms" which add various qualities as the sound | | | | Sounding higher or lower notes as you speak.. Let's go |
| bounces around in them before it comes out of the | | | | back to our sentence "I really want to go to the ball |
| mouth and into the listener's ears.o Next, let's consider | | | | game." Speak it again with feeling, and you will |
| that both speaking and singing use words to | | | | probably notice that your pitch went higher on the |
| communicate. Words are made of combinations of | | | | word "real" ly. Also the word "ball" seems to naturally |
| vowels and consonants. These are the basic tools for | | | | require a higher pitch. |
| both singing and speaking. An "ah" or an "ee" is | | | | Many professional speakers have come to me for |
| basically the same regardless of whether it is sung or | | | | help in improving their voice and presentation. I always |
| spoken.o Breath is the fuel for producing sound, and | | | | use singing as the main tool to help them. Sure, they |
| the top public speakers, actors, etc. study and master | | | | may not ever become good singers, but the |
| good breathing techniques, as do singers. If you really | | | | techniques of singing lead the speaker to tremendous |
| want to be at the top of your game in sales, | | | | improvement. Good speakers are always singers. |
| presentation, personal relationships...learn good | | | | They just might not realize it. You want to improve |
| breathing techniques. | | | | your speaking and sales presentations? Take a few |
| So far there are no differences between speaking | | | | singing lessons or purchase a comprehensive singing |
| and singing. Now let's look at some differences.o | | | | course, such as my own THE SINGER'S BIBLE. |
| Singing often requires sustained tones rather than the | | | | |