The Voice Book: Caring For, Protecting, and Improving Your Voice [Paperback]

Kate DeVore (Author), Starr Cookman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1556528299 | ISBN-13: 978-1556528293 | Edition: 1 Pap/Com

More than 30 million Americans rely on their voices for their jobs--from teachers, religious leaders, and entertainers to lawyers, executives, salespeople, and doctors. A controlled voice increases self-confidence and enhances charisma, approachability, and trustworthiness. Yet an astounding 30 percent of professionals develop preventable vocal problems that could ruin their careers. And most do not know that both the quality and tone of one’s voice can be changed.

 

The Voice Book: Caring For, Protecting, and Improving Your Voice is a one-of-a-kind reference that will save and improve your voice, your job, and your personal life. With dozens of vocal exercises and a detailed guide to the anatomy and physiology of voice, the book covers the full range of vocal health, from protecting against hoarseness and laryngitis to expanding speaking range and enhancing voice tone and quality.

 

Illustrations, photographs, FAQs, and an accompanying CD make The Voice Book the first vocal self-help book of its kind and a must-read for anyone who wants a dependable, strong, and engaging voice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press; 1 Pap/Com edition (July 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556528299
• ISBN-13: 978-1556528293
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.7 x 5.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,299 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Instruments > Voice
  • #10 in Books > Education & Reference > Words, Language & Grammar > Speech
  • #11 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Popular

More About the Author

Kate DeVore is a theatre voice/speech/dialect trainer, voice/speech pathologist, and Personal Development Coach. She operates Total Voice Inc. in Chicago, where she coaches professional voice users ranging from actors to executives. She also teaches at The School at Steppenwolf, Columbia College, and lectures nationally and abroad. Kate is also co-creator of downloadable dialect training materials (www.AccentHelp.com) and author of downloadable material for Accent Modification (www.GeneralAmericanAccent.com)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars first book to read on voice March 6, 2010

By Superhero

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

For a long time, I have been attracted to a strong, low and clear voice. I like especially the feelings of energy and confidence coming from the person with that voice. The Voice Book by Kate DeVore and Starr Cookman is a well-written book that helped me understand how to get the voice. There are a good amount of easy and simple exercises in the book that make you feel a quality change in your voice. The book mainly educates us about details such as body alignment, low breathing, opening up a vocal tract and forward resonance (vibration ). A few chapters are also spent on methods and tips on how to protect and maintain voice. In addition, I particularly like that fact that the authors do not forget to mention psychological factors such as confidence and approachability. These factors could influence your relaxation of your body, which in turn facilitates the physical quality.

While I was reading this book, I came to understand that a great quality of voice should be produced in a healthy and relaxed way. Some of us mistakenly try to take on a low tone by forcefully lowering your voice. This is a mistake. It could make your voice sound fake or, in a worse case, injure your throat. A great voice, on contrary, can be achieved by "freeing your natural voice" with a little effort. This book shows how to do just that.

I picked up this book to learn to become better in communication. Having a greater sense of control over my voice allows me to communicate more delicately nuanced subtleties in social and business situations. "The Voice Book" was of great help for my specific purpose. But it will be as helpful for any other purpose since the book is written for anyone who cares about voice.

Finally, the book is accompanied by a CD. Just listening to the authors' voices, I was amazed by their powerful, beautiful and very clear voices. It just sounds as if there were a high quality stereo inside of their bodies. The moment I heard the voices, I just simply felt I got right people to rely on.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A Book on the Voice that is for Everyone! July 1, 2009

By Jay White

Format:Paperback

As a singing voice teacher of primarily classical musicians, I am thrilled to have such a unique book! I have had the pleasure of working with both Kate and Starr and find their professional knowledge and ebullient personalities bring a much-needed exuberance to an often complex and dry subject. In other words, with sections like "Free Your Neck and the Rest Will Follow", "True or False Vocal Folds?" and "You've Got the Moves", the authors have created a fun, easy-to-read text that is useful to all users of voice.

The wonderful exercises in the book, many of which I used with Kate in both speaking and singing voice coaching, are clearly explained, both in reading and via the accompanying CD, and when used as directed, will definitely improve one's vocal quality.

As a "voice nerd", I'm particularly pleased with the final chapter that gives additional details on technical information regarding vocal production. This chapter also covers a bit on the role of the voice teacher as a part of a voice care team; an essential part of a successful university vocal program.

I highly recommend this book for all professional voice users regardless of profession. I will be using this text in my undergraduate vocal pedagogy course next year in order to prepare our voice students to be better teachers and voice users.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful tool October 12, 2009

By Lucy E. Butler

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a speech language pathologist for over thirty years, I have read and used many voice books and manuals. This little book is a gold mine for professional voice users (singers, actors, teachers, attorneys, pastors, etc.)and for those who treat them. I heavily encourage my voice clients to buy it as an adjunct to - not as a substitute for - direct voice therapy. I bought it for local ENTs and one is recommending it to many of his patients. The book is quite user friendly and the CD is worth many times the cost of the book. The authors designed the CD quite effectively and present the exercies in such a light hearted way that they are not intimidating and are really enjoyable to complete. All for a little over $10.00!!!!