CVAP Journey - Step 4: Unleash Your Voice

Hey there, Voicemates! I'm so glad to have you back. I've been counting down the days to share all the amazing things that happened during my fourth and final week at CVAP. It was a day filled with so much learning, growth, and bonding with my fellow aspiring voice artists. The whole workshop experience had been incredibly rewarding, but the last day was a whirlwind of emotions that really stuck with all of us Voicemates. By the end of it all, I had a powerful realization about a change within me—a change that proved that I am ready to unleash my voice.

The morning kicked off with Ms. Lyn, our amazing trainer, diving into the secrets of making it as voice artists. Her advice on creating astounding demo reels and impressive resumes was super helpful, especially coming from someone with experience as a casting director. Ms. Lyn also covered important legal stuff like rates and contracts, making sure everyone felt prepared to start their voice acting journey with confidence.

As the morning session transitioned into the afternoon, the focus shifted to live trainer feedback on my and my fellow Voicemates' submitted works. This interactive session not only highlighted areas for improvement but also celebrated the growth and progress made by each of us. The constructive criticism offered by the trainers played a pivotal role in honing our voiceover skills, emphasizing CVAP's commitment to fostering talent and excellence in the voice industry.

One of the most moving moments of the day was when we all came together to share our personal stories, each narrative echoing the theme of the #Pochology: "Ang kwento mo, may kwenta." In this heartwarming interaction, we opened up, allowing our emotions to flow freely as we connected on a deeper level through the magic of storytelling. It served as a beautiful reminder that every voice has a unique journey and a powerful story to tell, embodying sharing, giving, loving, and caring within our voice community. I even bared a bit of my soul, which I don't normally do—a proof that I'm on my way to successfully reclaiming my confidence.

The last day of the CVAP online workshop was not just a culmination of weeks of training and guidance; it was a transformative experience that led me to confront my insecurities. Through the invaluable lessons learned, the bonds forged, and the stories shared, I emerged not only as a more skilled voice artist but also as a confident individual ready to make my mark in the world as I unleash my voice.

CVAP Journey - Step 3: Hone Your Voice

Hello Voicemates! I'm excited to share my latest insights from CVAP with you all. Can you believe we're already in Week 3 of the workshop? It feels like we just started yesterday. Time flies when you're learning and growing, right?

As I delved into understanding the purpose of my voice and explored the different paths available to aspiring voice artists like me, I couldn't help but wonder—what comes next? After the first week's session, I had already mapped out the themes for my upcoming blog posts, outlining the progression of my CVAP journey: Discover Your Voice, Explore Your Voice, and my end goal, Unleash Your Voice. But there was always one step that made me pause—Step 3: "_____ Your Voice." What exactly should fill in that blank?

I envisioned my CVAP journey as a real trip. Where should I go? That was step 1—discovering my voice, my destination. Let's say I wanted to visit the white sandy beaches of Caramoan to truly "unleash my voice." So, how do I get there? Should I take the land route or the air route? If I choose land, I can enjoy the scenery, but it may be a bit long and tiring. On the flip side, if I opt for air travel, it will be a quick and comfy journey, but I won't get to take in the views. This brings us to step 2: exploring my voice, my path. It's similar to what we learned in week 2, where our trainers introduced us to different options in the voice industry and helped us find our niche. Should I stick with voice-over, my go-to voice? Or should I take a "sightseeing" trip and delve deeper into voice acting?

No matter which path I choose in step 2, I have to move on to step 3. What is it? What's the key to bridging the gap between exploring the path to my destination and getting there? It's preparation. Whether I go by air (voiceover) or land (voice acting), I need to figure out what I need to bring and do in order to reach my goal successfully. So, in the realm of voice artistry, what tools do I equip myself with to unlock my full potential?

Our awesome trainer, Ms. Janeane, had all the answers to this burning question. During her presentation, she shared the wise words, "It's not enough to just 'know,''read,' or 'understand.' We need to practice, practice, practice." I couldn't agree more! I believe that any knowledge earned and skills learned will fade away if not put into practice.

Ms. Janeane stressed the importance of practice for everyone, whether you're a new voice artist or a seasoned pro. She gave us some great tips, like recording ourselves as we read, just to get used to hearing our own voices. Our voices may sound different to us than they do to others, so getting comfortable with hearing them is key. By listening back to our recordings, we can pinpoint our weaknesses and brainstorm ways to improve. In addition to traditional reading, she suggested practicing tongue twisters aloud as a fun way to sharpen our speaking skills and work on pronunciation, all while keeping our minds sharp. Give it a try! 😉

Our trainer also equipped us with voice acting techniques, such as using facial expressions, movements, lead in lines, and human sound effects, to help us convey emotions more accurately in our lines.

Just like how we pack clothes, food, and water for a trip to take care of our physical needs during a trip, we need to take care of our voice as we venture into the world of voice artistry. Our trainer provided helpful tips during the session on how to do just that. One tip that stood out to me was to avoid whispering. While shouting may seem obvious, I learned that whispering can be just as straining on the vocal folds. I'll definitely keep this in mind and prioritize caring for my voice, as how can I reach my destination and "unleash my voice" if I don't have a voice at all?

Step 3: "_____ Your Voice." So, now that I know that preparation acts as the bridge between steps 2 and 4, what word best encapsulates this step? Reflecting on this week's lessons, it is evident that the "preparation of our voice" is focused on refining and perfecting our voices for their purpose. I like to aptly dub this phase "honing" my voice.

CVAP Journey - Step 2: Explore Your Voice

 Hey, Voicemates! I'm delighted to see you here again. In this post, I can't wait to share some exciting new content with you. Prepare to have a great time as we explore our voices together. So grab a cup of your favorite drink, sit back, and join me as I relate the events and lessons I've learned throughout my second week of CVAP. 

That week was quite eventful. We even went later than 5 p.m. compared to the first week, but don't get me wrong. Every second was definitely worth it, as our minds were brimming with informative lessons!

The morning session was primarily technical. Sir Bryan, our trainer, presented us with the basic equipment required for professional voiceovers. He even recommended some of the better ones available, which I believe will be beneficial to individuals who have not yet purchased such equipment or who want to upgrade theirs.

The Digital Audio Workstation, or DAW, is software that allows one to record, edit, and produce audio files. He taught us how to navigate through two of the most popular DAWs: Adobe Audition and Audacity. Prior to CVAP, I was already familiar with Audacity, which is the most popular free DAW among voice artists online. And in this session, I was excited to learn more about how to use the program to make my recordings sound more professional. But that is not all! The coolest part of the morning session for me was when our trainer took us on a virtual tour of the CreatiVoices Studio. I've never been to a high-quality, professional recording studio, and this tour allowed us to experience the world of voice acting from the comfort of our own homes.

After the technical aspects, we learned about niche (/nēSH/). A niche is a location, occupation, status, or activity to which a person or item is most fitting. Therefore, in the voice industry, it is the kind of voice best suited for a voice artist. Is our voice suitable for voiceovers, such as radio and television ads or public service announcements? Is our voice suited for voice acting in radio dramas or dubbing? These questions bring us back to self-awareness. We reflected on questions such as what kind of voice we have, which characters we can do, what types of projects we frequently work on, and which ones we actually enjoy doing. Even as I pondered these questions, I had to come up with a specific answer. I'm glad Sir Bryan advised us to explore the different types since we're just getting started. Sooner or later, we will find our niche, just as we discovered the purpose of our voice.

The afternoon session, like the morning session, was packed with useful material that would help us find our niche. Papa Lem, the head trainer of CVAP, helped us develop our voices and find out what we could do with them. He shared with us Sir Choy's formula for creating a variety of voices. He gave us various lines and asked us to read them to them using different elements of voice. As we were doing the exercises, I found myself having so much fun that I volunteered to do them as much as I could. I held back, though, to give the others the chance to show our voicemates what they got. I was glad to see that there were others who were as eager as me to explore their voices.

CVAP Journey - Step 1: Discover Your Voice

 

Hey there, Voicemates! Welcome to my little corner of the internet. Make yourself at home! My name's Dy, and I'm so excited to have you here. This blog is my place to share my journey through the world of voice acting, from the discovery up until the unleashing of my voice. To commemorate this historical first, I'm thrilled to share with you my first week of experience and learning from CVAP.

 

CVAP, so what exactly is it? CVAP, which stands for Certified Voice Artist Program, is an online course designed for aspiring voice actors to learn from professionals in the field, hone their voice, and get helpful criticism to improve their abilities. 

 

I first learned about CVAP as I was scouring the web for information on how to get started in the voice industry. While doing my research, I found that they have a very good reputation and have produced many of the Philippines' leading voice artists. This is especially thanks to the founder, the Voice Master, Mr. Pocholo "Choy" de Leon Gonzales. He implemented the values of sharing, giving, loving, and caring; we could see it in the way the team assisted us, the participants (a.k.a., the Voicemates). Be it the hosts, the trainers, the mentors, or the secretariat team, everyone was incredibly welcoming even before the start of the program proper.

 

When I joined Batch 24 of the said program, the secretariat team sent an e-book called "Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent" by Sir Choy, where we learned the popular myths in voice acting and the requirements when breaking into the industry. Our trainer also enlightened us with some popular "Pochology"—quotable quotes by The VoiceMaster himself. Some examples are:




• SOMEONE OUT THERE NEEDS TO HEAR YOUR VOICE
• THE BEST TIME TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF IS WHEN NO ONE BELIEVES IN YOU. 
• ANG KWENTO MO, MAY KWENTA
• WALANG NAGSIMULA NA MAGALING. NAGSIMULA KAYA GUMALING

There were also other words of wisdom mentioned that I really just couldn't ignore. Our trainer, Sir Navi, even shared his journey in the industry. But there was one line that really struck me: "Voice artistry is a journey that's not meant to be traveled alone." These words resonated with me the most. I think I even got emotional when Sir Navi explained this to us.

 

Well, I'm an introvert. Yes, I can communicate with others (despite the widespread belief that we can't). However, you won't really see me as the star in conversations. Even initiating small talk is awkward for me, and I felt it worsen through the years. When I decided that I wanted to try out voice acting, I said, "I'll do this by myself." I was embarrassed to let others hear my voice, even my family. If possible, I wanted to post my audio samples anonymously. This is why I initially planned to just rely on the web for information and not join any workshop. However, I was stumped and overwhelmed with the vast amount of information online. Some people online said, "Practice, practice, practice. Listen to someone else talk; try to do what they do." Then I found some people who were able to do numerous voice impressions, which I couldn't really do. You see, I started out with a bit of confidence, but I ended up losing that as I compared myself to others. Still, I really wanted to do this, so I had to admit to myself, "I can't do this alone." If I want to improve, I need proper guidance. I need to get out of my shell, or get out of the well. As I've said in my introduction video, which is our first assignment in CVAP, I felt like a frog in a well whose knowledge is very narrow and shallow. And I can broaden my horizons with the help of my new CVAP family.

 

As the training went on, I came to realize that voice is not the only important thing in voice acting. Our identity as voice artists is as well. And so, we were tasked with coming up with a voice brand by answering these five important questions: why, who, what, where, and how.




1. Why are you here? Why are you doing this in the first place?
2. Who are you as a brand? Who are you talking to?
3. What is your name, and how does it relate to you? What is your story? What is your message?
4. Where do you want to go?
5. How do you plan to make all of it happen? How will you get there?

 

As I pondered these questions, I looked back at the time I started looking for information related to voice acting. Why did I even start? What pushed me to do this? Is it because the people around me praised me for having "a good voice?" Partly yes. Is it to earn a bit of money on the side? I can't deny that either. As I tried to recall the struggles I faced since I started, how I felt downcast when I compared myself to others, and when I experienced indifference, I realized how much I've lost my confidence and resilience. I wasn't always like this. Then it hit me. I missed the sense of accomplishment that came with achieving something with my own abilities. Perhaps I became complacent after I quit working, believing that I would never lose my sense of self or feel directionless. I thought right then, "I want to regain my confidence and refortify myself." This idea had become the very core of my identity as a voice artist. In other words, this is my voice brand.


After a series of internal debates and external opinions, I came up with "DyVoicify," which combines my name with the words "voice" and "amplify". Unlike most brands, which take the form of a noun, I made mine sound like a verb. I'm not sure if that will work well in the future, but there is a reason for it. DyVoicify, as a brand, is more than just a method for people to recognize and remember me. It's a call to action—a reminder to myself to "speak loud and proud. Use your voice with confidence. Don't hesitate, and just unleash your voice."

This is also the reason behind my logo. Some may think that the emblem resembles a flower, but it's not that simple. My logo is actually inspired by one of the Adinkra symbols from West Africa called "Tabono" and a sacred Buddhist symbol for transcendence called "Unalome." Tabono is characterized by four stylized paddles that form a cross. This image symbolizes strength, confidence, and persistence, which aligns with my goal.

Unalome, on the other hand, begins with a spiral at the base, symbolizing the beginning of a person's spiritual journey. The spiral then turns into a succession of loops that begin large and gradually decrease in size. These loops represent the difficulties one endures on their quest to achieve their ultimate goal. It's essentially a period of pain and confusion until they find themselves on a less twisted and unpredictable path, such as a straight line. Because the straight line phase is less chaotic, the mind achieves clarity and harmony with its surroundings. Finally, the journey concludes with three dots, symbolizing enlightenment as one achieves their goal. They find a tremendous sense of inner tranquility here.

My logo's emblem is divided into four segments, comparable to the Tabono's "paddles". The 1st paddle, however, is a spiral like the base of the Unalome—the beginning of my journey. The 2nd and 3rd paddles resemble the loops—the difficulties I face in achieving my goal. Finally, the 4th is composed of curved and straight lines, as well as three dots. Notice how the 4th paddle that represents enlightenment, resembles the letter "D," which is my initial. The logo, like my voice brand, serves as a reminder to "D" (myself) of my ultimate goal, which is strength and confidence (Tabono). 
 

So far, CVAP has provided an invaluable learning experience. It was a true eye-opener. After the lessons, I realized that this is more than just a journey of learning voice acting. It's also a journey of discovering my voice and its purpose.