Archival photo of the choir of The First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York (www.fpcnyc.org)

Shout-out to my fellow choir members! It’s a busy time for us all.

I am prepping for winter holiday concerts—one down, one to go, with Christmas Eve thrown into the mix. And as I learn the notes of my second alto part, get the words to feel comfortable in my mouth— while still enunciating!— and work for better breath control so I can sing phrases as directed, I am reminded that the process of singing is so much more complicated than speaking. And yet, that process offers valuable tips that speakers can use. Here are a few:

🎵 To sound more conversational in speeches or presentations, put some 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘺 in your voice! Too often, especially speaking to large audiences, we fixate on being heard, so we often fall back on a monotonous, shouty sound.

🎵 To engage listeners and help them stay connected to your message, vary not only your tone, but also your 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦. Speakers whose rhythm is steady and too regular lull people to sleep—no matter how brilliant their content!

🎵 To become a good speaker, you need to realize that, like singing, speaking is a 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘵. I have exercises (physical and vocal, not just mental!) to help you do all these things. Speakers need their practice sessions and warm-ups, too.

Next time you want Mariah to just stop already, or put the Kings Singers on pause, stop and have a thought for what they might teach you. And play your vocal instrument with a bit more intention the next time you speak!