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.