High Speaking Voice
High Speaking Voice
SDav 10495
Broadway Star Joined: 7/21/06
#1High Speaking Voice
Posted: 5/11/07 at 8:01pm
A request I never thought I'd make--I'm a male (whose voice has changed) with an upcoming part that requires a slightly pre-pubescent voice...just at that glorious stage where it begins to crack. I can still sing falsetto, and (believe me) my voice still cracks quite a bit, but it's my speaking voice that might be a problem--it isn't especially deep to begin with, and I can put it up higher, but I am beginning to see why there are so many female actors in Coram Boy... (Yes I've recorded myself trying, but I'm not sure how objective I can be about the sound of my own voice.)
I know most of this is left up to nature, but does anyone happen to have any tips for getting your speaking voice even just a bit higher without sounding forced? I know there's a lot of literature out there about getting your singing voice comfortably high without going into your head voice, but I'm not sure how applicable that is to speaking. Any pointers would be appreciated...but no hormone therapy, please. 
"If there is going to be a restoration fee, there should also be a Renaissance fee, a Middle Ages fee and a Dark Ages fee. Someone must have men in the back room making up names, euphemisms for profit."
(Emanuel Azenberg)
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#2re: High Speaking Voice
Posted: 5/14/07 at 1:29pm
It becomes a matter of usage. You will just need to start to talk a wee bit higher. If you can sing higher, you can speak higher. Listen to yourself. When others ask you, "Why are you talking like that?" then you know you've made progress.
One thing about this in performance is to be consistant whatever voice you use. Intonation is as important as pitch.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable."
--Carrie Fisher
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