5

Well-Tuned All Day, Every Day

As we saw with the musical parallels in earlier chapters, our voices can express whether we’re well-tuned, in good spirits, and balanced—or not. The tenor of our voices and how attuned we are to our surroundings and selves are inseparably intertwined aspects of our being. Our voices make audible—to ourselves and our companions—how we feel, the shape we’re in, and how (un)balanced we are. Conversely, our voices can also influence our moods: They can lift low spirits, help us tune out all troubles and, like Glenn Miller’s popular hit, get us “in the mood.”

In this chapter, together we’ll go through the course of an average day so you can see how these exercises might best fit into your daily routine.

The early bird gets the . . . word!

The common claim that “the early bird gets the worm” hints at how to get the day off to a successful start—start early! In keeping with the theme of this book, let’s expand on it to say that “the early bird gets the word.” Feel free to laugh as you remember this silly switcheroo each morning—that, too, will help get you in tune for a vocally vibrant, artfully articulate, well-enunciated day!

Wake up your voice

Most of us stretch a bit in the morning upon first getting up—it helps make us more agile after a night’s sleep, and also boosts our circulation. If you yawn a lot as you stretch, it helps give your breathing greater momentum, too. Ideally, we’d all have time for a little gymnastics each morning. Anything that does our main muscles good at the start of the day is equally applicable to the many small muscles in our larynx and vocal cords: they, too, need a warm-up each morning to get going. Audibly yawn, sigh, and groan as much as you want before getting up. Then feel free to start humming or making all sorts of sounds, just as we discussed back in chapter three. Remember, no expectations! It doesn’t matter how it sounds; the most important thing is that it feels good.

Lather up with a la-la-la

Your daily warm-up can continue straight into the shower or, if you’re feeling groggy and in need of particular reinforcement, simply start there. Use a joyful “aaah” under a steaming stream of water to then launch into a morning aria—make it up as you go or sing one of your favorite tunes. If you’re one of the hardy types who likes to end your shower with a rush of ice-cold water, then sharp exhalations and shocking exclamations should become a key part of the program. Whatever your preferred approach, the goal is to start out not just physically refreshed, but also vocally reinvigorated—and therefore tuned in and tuned up—for the rest of your day.

Take off with good vibes

Imagine you’re an airplane—let’s find a way to take off from everyday life. Spread your arms out like wings, and start roaring like an old-school engine, brbrbrbrbrbrbr. Don’t use your tongue to roll your r’s; instead, purse your lips and exhale powerfully, humming with your throat, so your lips flutter against each other as you breathe out. This “lippy” r will make it ­easier for your voice to imitate an airplane as it swoops through the air, making ups and downs, loop the loops, and hitting new heights. This is a great way to get your voice up and going each day. It also literally creates “good vibrations”: the flutter of your lips and the buzz from your throat form sound waves that permeate the entire body, waking it up while simultaneously soothing it. Good vibes for the body are good vibes for the mind—give it a try!

Rise and shine

Why not welcome your fellow human beings to take part in your good morning mood? Awaken your loved ones or greet your neighbors and colleagues with a melodic, lively voice. This might well cause a bit of surprise the first time around. In any case, you’ll soon see that it has a more positive effect than a sullen “get up!” or mumbled “g’mornin’.” You will help everyone start the day with a spring in their steps.

Readjust throughout the day

The effects of your morning tune-up, not to mention your reserves of vocal and respiratory strength, will last longer if you periodically pause for readjustment. It will help you breeze through the day and even have some leftover energy for a relaxing evening after a productive day’s work.

Balance in the interim

How are you feeling right now? Express it vocally whenever circumstances permit. Hiss, moan, groan, sigh. If you’re frustrated or angry with someone or something, stick your tongue out when you have a moment to yourself, and accompany the facial expression with a confident “grr,” “d’oh,” “blah,” or “meh.” Such vocal expressions help us process aggression and other unpleasant emotions. You’ll feel better almost immediately.

If you’re feeling good, you can also express that vocally, with an appreciative “mmmh,” “aaah,” or astonished “oooh,” all of which reinforce positive feelings.

Take a break

Breaks are important. Be sure to pause from time to time in the middle of everyday life. Often just a minute or two will suffice. Breaks are also impo­rtant when it comes to speaking. Punctuation divides written language, but it also helps direct our speech: Don’t speak without honoring those periods and commas. At the very least, give yourself space at the end of every sentence to allow time for a full breath before proceeding with the next thought. This tranquil pace is good for you, your voice, and especially your interlocutors—it’ll make it much more pleasant for them to listen to whatever you have to say.

Get back in the groove

If by midday you find you haven’t spoken for a while, take a moment to briefly tune up again before making any phone calls or going into a meeting. You can just make a light, comfortable humming tone or do one of the other exercises from chapter three. If you’ve been glued to your desk, sitting for a long time, briefly reactivate your body with some stretching and take a few energizing steps around the office.

On the phone

When on phone calls, sit up as straight as you would in direct conversations. Our exterior posture affects our interior attitude as well as our voice—during a call, these details are audible and perceptible on the other end of the line. If the ringing phone startles you in the middle of work, try to first briefly collect yourself—or at least catch your breath—before picking up.

King Kong

To revitalize your voice and your whole body, pretend you’re King Kong: Stand with your legs wide apart, knees slightly bent, and bounce up and down a bit. Lightly clench your fists and gently pummel your torso, thighs, lower back, and behind. Drumming your fists on your chest, make “aaa,” “eee,” “ooo,” and “uuu” sounds. Whether you take it seriously or not, it’ll work!

Delight in the little things

Amid the daily grind we tend to let ourselves get wrapped up in so many appointments and commitments that sometimes everything feels like a chore. An excess of obligations as well as the sheer monotony of everyday duties conspire to narrow our field of vision. Pay attention to the little things, experiences, and encounters that can turn an average day into an extraordinary one, whether it’s the smile of a stranger on the way to work, a chirping bird outside the window, a coffee break with colleagues, a friendly greeting in the stairway, the first tulip to sprout in springtime, the first snowflake welcoming in winter.

Laughter

Laughter is good—not just for your body and mind, but also for your breath and voice. Everyday life doesn’t always give us reason to laugh, but we should nevertheless remain open to the possibility. Laughter’s positive effects are strongest when we laugh at ourselves and with others; needless to say, laughing at others doesn’t have the same effect. As an interaction between body and psyche, laughter activates the diaphragm and voice, resulting in good moods, feelings of well-being, and happiness.

Amazement

Amazement isn’t always associated with a vocal expression, but even when it’s silent it has a way of affecting our voice and mood. When we’re amazed, we’re entirely open and perfectly present. These special states of being are experienced not only on spiritual and emotional levels, but on a physical level as well—their effects are noticeable and even palpable: in our eyes, our facial expressions, our bodies, our breathing, and around our larynx. Astonishment broadens the resonance chambers of our mind. If you go through your day with an inner attitude of gratitude and an ability to marvel at life, it will be audible in your voice. Amazement’s magnetic effects can make virtually anyone more charismatic.

Excitement

Give voice to your pleasure. You don’t necessarily have to jump for joy or triumphantly cheer—­contentedness can be audible when you let yourself go a little and allow it to melodiously buoy the words you say. Do you feel life has given you no cause to rejoice? Oftentimes we let negativity take over, turning everything blasé and gray. Keep an eye out for even the smallest sources of positivity along your way, even—especially—in difficult times. And consciously keep your voice and melodious intonation alive: They can turn even the dullest everyday gray tone—be it visual or aural—into vivid Technicolor.

Thoughts color our moods

Pay attention to your thoughts. Negative thoughts, mental moaning and groaning, distrust, resentment, envy, anger, and hatred are all reflected in the tone of our body, breath, and voice. It goes without saying that such feelings also powerfully influence our mood. It isn’t a matter of looking at everything through rose-colored glasses or sticking to only positive thoughts—swallowing or stuffing down your emotions can be painful. If you feel trapped in negative thought loops, you need to find a way to process and express such feelings in a way that won’t harm anyone. We’ve already covered a few of the vocal possibilities, but there’s another way: Dump out the flood of thoughts by writing. Just write without thinking about form, phrasing, or style. This relieves and clears the mind. Amazing ideas and constructive solutions will soon emerge with surprising frequency. All these options for self-expression will help you consciously let go of negative thoughts. You might feel battered by crises and problems—but can you find a way to consider them challenges for growth? It’ll take some practice, self-discipline, and mindfulness at the beginning, but it’s rewarding for your well-being, voice, mood, and inner equilibrium.

Evocative evenings

It’s increasingly hard for us to transition from the hustle and bustle of the day into the calm of evening. The age-old natural rhythms—day and night, hours of dark and light, work and after-work free time—are no longer givens for many of us. Lots of us charge full steam ahead right up until we fall into bed, utterly exhausted. But our body and soul still need a good transition so we can tune in to the peace and quiet of nighttime and sink down into a truly restful sleep.

Let the day fade

Let the day fade away in the literal sense. If it was especially good, go ahead and let out a “yeah!” Otherwise just bid it farewell with a relaxing “aaah” or “haaa.” Accept the day as it was and let it go, mentally and vocally. You can also end the day with a mindful breathing ritual: with a long exhale (saying “f,” a sound that’ll be an old friend by now), consciously breathe the day out, so to speak; then, inhaling slowly, picture this new breath bringing in the rest and relaxation of nighttime deep into your lungs, into the very core of your being. This works best when sustained over a few calming breaths.

Gratitude

Glance back at the end of the day and consciously collect the positive emotions and experiences, even if they seem ever so small. You might even choose to write them down in a little notebook. This humble little day’s-end review, and the occasional flipping back through to reread some of your notes, will permanently change your underlying mood—and consequently the quality of your voice.

The bell fades away, the flowers' scent is ringing—early eventide.

—Matsuo Basho