It's easier to speak: three exercises to relieve vocal tension.

Suddenly, out of the blue, we sometimes begin to wheeze and wheeze, surprised by the strange modulations of our own voice. Why is this happening? Zoya Andreevna IZGARYSHEVA, an otolaryngologist and phoniatrist at the famous Bolshoi Theater clinic, tells the story.

Hoarseness is a widespread phenomenon. With hoarseness, our voice loses its normal, familiar sound. From a whole bunch of reasons, four main ones can be identified.
Firstly, hoarseness is caused by viral infections and all types of respiratory diseases. The vocal folds are located between the cartilages of the larynx and, naturally, inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract directly affect their condition. Such hoarseness passes and, as a rule, without a trace, simultaneously with the disappearance of the main root cause - infection.

The second and perhaps most common reason is smoking and alcohol. In long-term smokers, the sound of their voice is characteristically altered. Not everyone knows that the smoke inhaled when smoking has a very high temperature. During inhalation (puff), the mucous membrane of the larynx and respiratory tract is burned. High temperatures cause blood vessels to expand sharply and absorb carcinogenic substances and resins.
As a result of the rapid absorption of all harmful components, swelling, hemorrhages, thickenings, nodes and polyposis of the vocal folds appear. All these pathological changes lead to the appearance of a dull, hoarse sound, which distinguishes the voice of a smoker.

The next stage of changes in the speech apparatus is much more dangerous. Long-term abuse of smoking and alcohol causes one of the most terrible diseases - cancer of the throat and larynx.
The third reason is screaming. It is typical for people with an unbalanced character. For those who live in a state of acute conflicts that are resolved in a raised voice. This kind of hoarseness occurs among military commanders, managers and superiors of various ranks. Some, out of duty, give loud orders, others, with their voice, “affirm” their official position. When screaming, the vocal cords become very tense and close together, becoming damaged upon contact. Children who scream often suffer from voice disorders.

Overfatigue of the vocal apparatus is the fourth reason. It is found among people of “voice” work: teachers and artists, lecturers and educators, cameramen and announcers. Their voice should have a rich range of shades, convey sound nuances, and possess a variety of intonations. People in the above professions are fed by their voices. The condition of their vocal apparatus depends on competent voice production, which
directly related to proper breathing. It is not for nothing that phonopedists now work in pedagogical universities and colleges, and not just in theater schools.

People who smoke in these professions face unpleasant consequences. I had to help many artists and singers. The most
the disciplined among them are the owners of a pure, fragile and gentle voice - tenors. Dramatic artists, opera basses and choir artists smoke often. And despite their professionally trained voices, over the years they gradually lose them.

If there is hoarseness or sudden loss of voice, it is necessary to find out the cause. If it involves overstraining the vocal apparatus, spare it. After several hours of vocal stress, give your voice rest and rest. This will help relieve tension from the vocal folds. Try to remain silent and exclude even telephone conversations. Try to talk less in the cold. In winter, when going from a warm room to the street (and vice versa), at least for a few minutes, let your voice adapt. If there is any sudden change in temperature, do not start a loud conversation.

Hoarseness, especially repeated ones, requires immediate consultation with a doctor to identify the main cause, to exclude pathology and prescribe treatment. Self-medication in this case is ineffective. Of all the self-medication methods, only two will undoubtedly help: quitting smoking as one of the most dangerous risk factors and vocal rest. Other treatment methods have their pros and cons.
Traditional rinses penetrate only into the throat area, without reaching the larynx and vocal folds. Steam home inhalations will only “overcome” a cold. Physiotherapy, special injections, injections and other treatments can be prescribed by a specialist doctor. It’s difficult to get by here on your own.

Tamara GRIGORYEVA

Mother Nature has not endowed everyone with sonorous and melodic speech. But don’t despair, everyday work will help improve the situation. Clear and understandable speech is needed not only by actors, presenters and other public figures. Ordinary people suffer from creaky, hoarse and dull voices. Those with unrelated speech are afraid to speak in public, make acquaintances, and communicate with people. If you are asked several times what you said, then it’s time to take action. Learn how to make your voice beautiful and pleasant to others.

How to make your voice beautiful?

Healthy vocal cords are the first step towards a beautiful and pleasant voice. Therefore, it is important not to trigger viral diseases. A harmless disease, if left untreated, causes complications in the form of laryngitis and pharyngitis. In this case, the ligaments suffer, and the voice takes on a hoarse and hoarse tone.

Strengthen your immune system. A healthy lifestyle, walking in the fresh air, eating vegetables and fruits. Follow these rules to strengthen your immune system and protect yourself from colds.
Drink fluids. If the body does not receive additional moisture, the ligaments remain dry. This is where hoarseness and hoarseness appear.
Don't be nervous. , don't be annoyed. Nervous tension leaves its tint on the timbre of the voice and makes speech unclear.

Minimize consumption (spicy, bitter foods). Think about bad habits. After smoking, the voice becomes hoarse. Which does not add attractiveness and charisma to a girl.

Exercises for a beautiful voice

Get ready to work on your speech. To perform gymnastics you will need a tape recorder and a mirror. A recording device helps you understand how your voice sounds and what changes have occurred. The mirror is used to remember facial expressions when pronouncing sounds correctly. Exercises for a beautiful voice:

Draw out the vowels. Take a position near the mirror and start making vowel sounds. Follow a certain sequence. Start with i-i-i-i, then extend: uh, a, oh, y. Rush is not welcome, repeat the sounds in a circle several times. If you are thinking about how to make your voice deeper, then focus on the letter “u”. Next, complicate the exercise. When pronouncing sounds, hit your chest with your fists. Tarzan will be an example to follow. If you don't remember, watch the movie again. Speak your sounds slowly and loudly.

Moo. Many people purr and hum to themselves while going about their business or doing housework. This exercise is great for training your vocal cords. To perform correctly, do not open your mouth. Say the sound mm-m-m quietly, then louder and louder. Thus, the vocal cords are gradually strained and do not break.
Growl. Similar sounds are made by a tractor or a tiger. After growling for 3-5 minutes, pronounce the words. First starting with the letter “r”, then with this sound in the middle and end of the word. Write out the words in advance so you don't have to pause. When pronouncing, deliberately growl, emphasizing the “r” sound. Repeat the words 3-4 times.
You want to laugh. Yogis are known to have a pleasant and melodious voice. Such speech is achieved through constant training. To perform the exercise, draw in air and hold it in your stomach. Then exhale sharply and pronounce the sound “ha”. It would be more correct to say shout, the louder the better. If you don’t understand how, then find a video with martial arts. Watch how karate followers make shouting sounds during their movements.

How to make your voice pleasant?

Beautiful speech depends on strong ligaments and resistance to colds. To reduce the number of respiratory tract infections, do simple exercises. It is important to observe regularity of execution. Spend 10 minutes in the morning.

Silent question. Without opening your lips, pronounce the letter “m.” Moo for 1-2 minutes, and at the end, as if asking a question: mm-mm-mm? If, while doing gymnastics, you feel vibration in the area of ​​your nose and lips, then you did everything right.
Breathe or don't breathe. Take a full lungful of air and exhale sharply. Imagine that you are extinguishing a candle or blowing away dust particles. To make the exercise work, place sheets of paper on the table. Now try to move the paper from its place with your breath.
Prolongation of consonants. Write down the sounds on a piece of paper and say them one by one. Drill out each sound, then move on to combinations so that there is a consonant at the end (bomm, bimm, boom).
Mo-, mi-, mu-, me-. Repeat these combinations in a circle. Speak as you exhale. First briefly, and then protractedly, focusing on the vowel letter.

Show your tongue. You probably did this exercise as a child, competing with friends. To begin, extend your tongue as far as possible and try to reach your chin. Remaining in the same position, tilt your head up. Then shade the tube tongue towards your nose. Help by raising your head up.

How to change your voice?

We judge a stranger by his manners, clothes, and speech. It’s unpleasant when a nice girl pronounces phrases in a hoarse, hoarse and unintelligible voice. Sometimes such speech serves as a refusal to fail. Imagine a secretary of a large company or a translator with an unpleasant voice. Immediately form a negative impression of the organization.

Ask a friend or friend for help. Sit your partner next to you and make the “a” sound. Move your head while doing this. Turn it slightly, tilt it back or forward. These should not be sudden or unnatural movements. Record your feelings about in what position the letter sounded more melodic and pleasant. Ask a friend's opinion. Remember the sensation, sound and head position. Try to repeat and achieve a beautiful sound.
My phone rang. Play a useful and fun game. Give your friend the role of caller. Let her guess which organization she is going to call (a travel agency, a pharmacy, a club, a serious organization, a plumber). Your job is to answer the call. However, your voice must be consistent with the institution. Play with your voice, change pronunciation, add new notes. Record when your voice sounded beautiful and attractive.
Check the reaction. Have your friend sit with their back to you. Before this, prepare two events: pleasant and challenging. Retell the news. First pleasant, then after a pause negative. Ask your interlocutor how your voice has changed. Surely you will hear that the intonation has changed. Your voice sounded beautiful and pleasant when you told the good news. Take note of this science.

As you do the exercises, pay attention to the tempo and volume of your voice. It’s nice to listen to your interlocutor speaking calmly and quietly. At the same time, the person does not mumble, makes pauses, and makes appropriate accents. The ideal rate is 120–150 words per minute.

Sincere confession) Yes, I watch the “Voice” project! For an avid radio fan, apathetic to modern shows, and, moreover, without a TV at home, this is a strange choice, but I grasped the reasonable grain. For example, I met people who prepare for vocal competitions. It was from them that I learned about the resonance theory of singing, which it turns out that announcers also use it with success.

Resonance and dull voice

Essentially resonant theory of sound production(RTZ), with systematic practice, can relieve a dull and inexpressive voice. In theory, resonance can amplify sound indefinitely. The only trick is that the resonator does not amplify any sound, but only the one that corresponds to its resonant frequency. What does this mean?

When you are in the bathroom, the room with the volume of air that is in it serves as a resonator. When you start talking, the bathroom will amplify the sound alone many times over. But how can you make sure that ALL sounds are voiced and not dull, so that your body vibrates when you speak? To do this, you need to make your body a resonator.

We are looking for a resonator within ourselves

*guitar sound hole

Resonator – hollow vessel, filled with air and communicating with the surrounding space.

Scientists have found that everything in the human body 2 types of resonators:

• Lower: trachea and bronchi
• Upper: pharynx, nasopharynx, oral cavity, nasal cavity, maxillary sinuses and frontal sinuses

The basis for all these cavities - resonators - is air. To understand how much the volume of oxygen in them affects the sound, let’s conduct a small experiment. Take a glass jar, pour a small amount of water and blow at the neck. The sound we hear will be high. By significantly increasing the volume of water, we will do the same. The sound will become lower. Our body works on the same principle: the less oxygen we inhale, the higher we speak.

Main: To create a sound echo, it is necessary to breathe correctly - with the diaphragm - and develop a system of resonators, achieving body vibration and simultaneous operation of the upper and lower resonators. Only together will they give excellent results.

Important BUT. In everything that concerns the voice, natural abilities are important. The resonator, as you already understood, amplifies sounds, but does not create them. You need a vibrator, and in the human body these are ligaments. Each of us has them of different lengths. Basses naturally have up to 2.5 cm, sopranos have 1.5 cm. And just as a guitar with a sound hole resonator will sound different if all the strings are shortened, human voices will sound different. This means that the resonator can take the voice from dull to voiced, but it is unlikely to be able to speak, like Nikolai Marton, for example. Harsh, but it's true. Physiology decided a lot for us!

Treasured technique

The technique, by the way, is very effective! The vocalists told it to me, and I really feel that my voice after classes becomes fuller and denser. Working with a dynamic microphone in the studio, this is so necessary for me)

#1 Starting position: While standing, place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. Tilt your head back, open your mouth and stretch up a little. The larynx should take a position as if you were swallowing a chicken egg. Take deep breaths through your mouth and...

• We pull AAAAAA at different heights, controlling the appearance of vibration in the chest
• We speak abruptly Yes-da-da, De-de-de-de, Di-di-di-di, Do-do-do-do, Doo-doo-doo-doo
• Pronounce the syllable HAAAAAAAAA in a drawn-out manner. The task is to experience vibration in the chest and go as low as possible with this syllable.
• From the starting position, we move the hand from the stomach to the bridge of the nose and say HAAAAAA-MMMMMM, raising the head to a natural position. During the process, the vibration should not go from the chest to the bridge of the nose, it should be both there and there.

#2 Starting position: Lying on your back, take active deep breaths through your nose, hands on your ribs control diaphragmatic inhalation

• We lie down on the sofa and hang our heads. We pronounce HAAAAMMMMM the same way as in the previous exercise, raising our head. Doing it more than three times is not recommended if you feel dizzy.
• We lay down on the carpet, pronounce the sound MMMMM, feeling how it fills your entire body. Try to make your whole body vibrate.
• We lay down on the carpet and abruptly say Da-da-da, De-de-de-de, Di-di-di-di, Do-do-do-do, Doo-do-do-do.

#3 Starting position: While standing, take a deep breath in through your mouth and as you exhale, stretch out:

• MMMMMMM, in the process, lower your head and feel how the vibration appears in the head resonator, you can touch your forehead, nose and crown with your palm, do the same with the letters H, Z and V.
• MMMMA, NNNNNNA, ZZZZZZZA, VVVVVVA
• MA-MA-MA, NA-NA-NA, ZA-ZA-ZA, WA-WA-WA
• Leaning forward, as you exhale, pronounce the vowels “u” and “o” for a long time, drawn out and as low as possible.

Yuliana Romanova

P.S. You can find even more useful exercises by tag

Why does it happen that sometimes, out of the blue, we begin to hiss and wheeze, listening in amazement to the strange sounds of our own voice? Zoya Andreevna IZGARYSHEVA, an otolaryngologist-phoniatrist at the famous Bolshoi Theater clinic, comments.

Hoarseness is not a rare phenomenon. Hoarseness leads to the loss of normal sound in the voice. There are many reasons for this phenomenon. Let's look at four main reasons.

The primary cause of hoarseness can be viral infections, as well as all types of respiratory diseases. The vocal folds are located directly between the cartilages of the larynx, so if the upper respiratory tract is inflamed, this directly affects its condition. In this case, when the root cause - the infection - disappears, the hoarseness goes away and, as a rule, without a trace.

The second cause of hoarseness, perhaps the most common, is alcohol and smoking. The sound of a long-time smoker's voice is characteristically altered. Few people know that the temperature of the smoke inhaled when smoking is very high. Because of this, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and larynx burns with each puff. As a result of a burn, the blood vessels expand sharply and very quickly absorb tars and carcinogenic substances. Because of this, hemorrhages, swelling, nodes, thickening and polyposis of the vocal folds appear. Such pathological changes contribute to the appearance of a hoarse, dull sound, characteristic of the voice of a smoker.

However, that's not all - the next stage is much more dangerous. A long history of smoking and alcohol abuse can lead to one of the most terrible diseases - cancer of the throat and larynx.

Another cause of hoarseness is screaming. Unbalanced people who quickly “explode” most often suffer from this. That is, those who are almost constantly in a state of conflicts that are resolved in a raised voice. Such hoarseness is often found in managers, military personnel and superiors at various levels. For some, a loud voice is a business necessity; for others, it is a means of “affirming” their official position. During screaming, the vocal cords are damaged due to the fact that they are strongly strained, brought together and touching. Screaming children also suffer from hoarseness.

The fourth reason is common overwork of the vocal cords. This is an occupational disease of people in “voice” work: artists and teachers, educators and lecturers, announcers and telephone operators. For people of these professions, the voice is a tool of labor; it feeds them. Therefore, it must have a rich spectrum of shades, convey a variety of intonations and nuances of sound. To ensure the normal functioning of the vocal apparatus, proper voice production is necessary, which is impossible without proper breathing. This problem is dealt with by phonopedists who now work not only in theater schools, but also in pedagogical schools and universities.

Especially many problems arise among smokers in these professions. Many artists and singers needed my help. Tenors are the most disciplined among singers, as they have a very delicate and fragile voice. The most common smokers are opera basses, dramatic artists and choir singers. Due to smoking over the years, they gradually lose their voices, despite the fact that at one time they were professionally choreographed.

The first step in case of sudden loss of voice or hoarseness is to find out the cause of this phenomenon. If this happened due to overstrain of the vocal apparatus, give it a rest. Give your voice rest and rest to relieve tension on your vocal cords. Shut up. Avoid talking in the cold. Give your voice at least a few minutes to adapt when you go outside from a warm room in winter (and vice versa). And under no circumstances should you raise your tone with any sudden change in temperature.

In any case, if hoarseness appears, especially if it recurs repeatedly, you need to consult a doctor to determine the cause of its occurrence, exclude the possibility of pathology and determine the necessary course of treatment. Do not get carried away with self-medication, as it is ineffective. The only thing you can do without going to a doctor is to quit smoking and give your vocal apparatus complete rest. All other methods of self-medication have their advantages, but there are many disadvantages and there may be contraindications.

For example, with normal rinsing, the medicine penetrates only into the throat area and does not reach the vocal folds and larynx. Inhalations can only fight colds. All other treatment methods should be prescribed only by a medical specialist.

Suddenly, out of the blue, we sometimes begin to wheeze and wheeze, surprised by the strange modulations of our own voice. Why is this happening? Zoya Andreevna IZGARYSHEVA, an otolaryngologist and phoniatrist at the famous Bolshoi Theater clinic, tells the story.

Hoarseness is a widespread phenomenon. With hoarseness, our voice loses its normal, familiar sound. From a whole bunch of reasons, four main ones can be identified.
Firstly, hoarseness is caused by viral infections and all types of respiratory diseases. The vocal folds are located between the cartilages of the larynx and, naturally, inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract directly affect their condition. Such hoarseness passes and, as a rule, without a trace, simultaneously with the disappearance of the main root cause - infection.

The second and perhaps most common reason is smoking and alcohol. Long-term smokers have a characteristically altered voice sound. Not everyone knows that the smoke inhaled when smoking has a very high temperature. During inhalation (puff), the mucous membrane of the larynx and respiratory tract is burned. High temperatures cause blood vessels to expand sharply and absorb carcinogenic substances and resins.
As a result of the rapid absorption of all harmful components, swelling, hemorrhages, thickenings, nodes and polyposis of the vocal folds appear. All these pathological changes lead to the appearance of a dull, hoarse sound, which distinguishes the voice of a smoker.

The next stage of changes in the speech apparatus is much more dangerous. Long-term abuse of smoking and alcohol causes one of the most terrible diseases - cancer of the throat and larynx.
The third reason is screaming. It is typical for people with an unbalanced character. For those who live in a state of acute conflicts that are resolved in a raised voice. This kind of hoarseness occurs among military commanders, managers and superiors of various ranks. Some, out of duty, give loud orders, others “affirm” their official position with their voices. When screaming, the vocal cords become very tense and close together, becoming damaged upon contact. Children who scream often suffer from voice disorders.

Overwork of the vocal apparatus is the fourth reason. It is found among people in “voice” work: teachers and artists, lecturers and educators, cameramen and announcers. Their voice should have a rich range of shades, convey sound nuances, and possess a variety of intonations. People in the above professions are fed by their voices. The condition of their vocal apparatus depends on competent voice production, which
directly related to proper breathing. It is not for nothing that phonopedists now work in pedagogical universities and colleges, and not just in theater schools.

People who smoke in these professions face unpleasant consequences. I had to help many artists and singers. The most
the disciplined among them are the owners of a pure, fragile and gentle voice - tenors. Dramatic artists, opera basses and choir artists smoke often. And despite their professionally trained voices, over the years they gradually lose them.

If you experience hoarseness or sudden loss of voice, you need to find out the cause. If it involves overstraining the vocal apparatus, spare it. After several hours of vocal stress, give your voice peace and rest. This will help relieve tension on the vocal folds. Try to remain silent and exclude even telephone conversations. Try to talk less in the cold. In winter, when going from a warm room to the street (and vice versa), at least for a few minutes, let your voice adapt. If there is any sudden change in temperature, do not start a loud conversation.

Hoarseness, especially repeated ones, requires immediate consultation with a doctor to identify the main cause, to exclude pathology and prescribe treatment. Self-medication in this case is ineffective. Of all the self-medication methods, only two will undoubtedly help: quitting smoking as one of the most dangerous risk factors and vocal rest. Other treatment methods have their pros and cons.
Traditional rinses penetrate only into the throat area, without reaching the larynx and vocal folds. Steam home inhalations will only “overcome” a cold. Physiotherapy, special injections, injections and other treatments can be prescribed by a specialist doctor. It’s difficult to get by here on your own.

Tamara GRIGORYEVA