Voice Coaching for Public Speakers

WHY CHOOSE AN OPERA SINGER AS A PUBLIC SPEAKING COACH?

THE MESSENGER AND THE MESSAGE.

Projection. In any given public speaking situation, the speaker puts him or herself in the highly responsible and often vulnerable position of the 'messenger'.

His ability as a messenger could have a hugely positive or negative impact on his company's success and, more often that not, it is the VOICE of the messenger that carries the message, whatever other audio-visual tools he uses to illustrate it.

The ability to speak clearly and to project the speaking voice is the foundation of any successful presentation, whether or not the voice is amplified by use of a microphone.

The technical principles of good singing are at the very center of those techniques required for efficient speaking. The two are truly inseparable.

Given the level of expertise an opera singer brings to the singing voice, it is only logical that he or she is perfectly poised to apply that knowledge to the speaking voice, with great benefit to the (sometimes reluctant!) public speaker.

Performance. While the voice itself is the foundation stone to any successful presentation, the messenger must put on a performance to ensure the message is received and RETAINED.

It is often said of the great opera singer that "he gave a memorable performance", and the public speaker's task is not dissimilar.

As an opera singer, Sam McElroy coaches public speakers in the art of emphasis and timing, of vocal dynamics, body posturing and positive eye contact, all of which retain the audience's concentration and sell the most important message of all: that the speaker is an AUTHORITY on his subject.