Hi Everyone
For me, I voted no, although perhaps that was a little fib. When I think about it more carefully, I did change the way I spoke when I changed my life around. I suppose a little history about what I did might help explain it.
Looking back, I believe I had an innate feeling of not wanting my voice to change during puberty. It was there within me, sitting just below the level of consciousness. As it turned out, I did not end up with a deep voice, so I guess I was lucky and that helped as well.
So in the early to mid-eighties, when I was going to swimming training, I would sing along with female singers such as Olivia Newton-John. In other words, I was imitating the way they sounded.
I think I was able to do this because I already had the ability to change my accent. That probably gave me the courage, skills, or something similar, to try doing the same thing with a female voice.
In addition, somewhere along the way, I had picked up the idea that women spoke with a softer, quieter voice. So when the time came, I spoke in a soft and quiet way. When I started back at work, another woman in the office told me that I spoke very quietly. That was a big boost to my ego, one could say and from then on I had no real trouble in that department.
These days, I can project my voice quite well. I guess ten years as a lifeguard, shouting across a 25-metre indoor swimming pool to kids, would have helped in that department. I also receive compliments on the way I speak to groups of people.
So the question is: does this really count as "voice work"? To me, not really. I did not sing every day and I cannot sing for peanuts. I did not regularly practise by singing along with other female voices either. It was more likely "very little" singing, plus the one other thing: speaking softly.
So my answer is no.
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
