The core of every speech: our voice

Last meeting, I held my number 6 speech on “Why I became a Toastmaster – The real story behind”. Again, and as always, I was amazed by the amount and variety of feedback I received by my fellow Toastmasters.
I would like to give something back by giving you a short summary of the tips and exercises that I have mentioned during my speech:

1. Take care: especially during the cold season, it is important to treat your speech equipment well.
   • Drink enough! Mild teas or water at its best. In particular sage is a good “medicine” against a sore or slightly infected throat. Avoid coffee, black tea and alcohol before a speech – although alcohol might relax you.
   • Use pastilles to prevent your throat and mouth from becoming dried out.
   • wear a muffler to protect your throat, especially if it is cold outside.
2. Warm up: Start the day with some small exercises. (remember: No sportsman starts without warming up. Why should we?)
   • Drink (again)
   • Hum a melody: vary speed, pitch
   • Relax your body and especially facial muscles. Grimace (think of the Maori in New Zealand), stretch out your tongue
   • Yawn several times. This gives you a feeling for the possible “space” inside your mouth
   • But the tip of your tongue behind your lower teeth. Now push the back of your tongue out to the front (do not do this in public!) as far as possible. Repeat several times.

3. Breathing: Use belly breathing!
   • Lie down on your back. Put your hands onto your waist, fingers pointing at your belly button.
   • Breath in and out, deep and slowly. Feel your belly go up and down.
   • Now try to push your hands sideways, only using your breathing.
   • Alternative: Put a staple of books – not too many! – onto your belly. Now do some weight-lifting…

4. Work on your articulation
   • Classic: put a finger or cork between your teeth. Now read out some paragraphs of a book or speak “freely”. Well, as free as you can.
   • Jaw breakers: Focus on the articulation, not the speed! I found two tough ones (at least for me) at Wikipedia:
     • “The sixth sick sheikh’s sixth sheep’s sick.“
     • “The seething sea ceaseth and thus the seething sea sufficeth us.”

If you know more helpful tips, do not hesitate to post them as a comment.