Sepia Prime Woman Digital Magazine October 2013 | Page 7

Learning To Love the Sound of My
Alexandria Michele
Own Voice
So many great singers are adored by fans for their uniqueness of
voice, tone, power, and delivery of a song. The confidence that it takes
to get up in front of an audience and belt out beautiful notes is an
admirable trait that many people wish they had. According to a study
in 2012, seventy-five percent of Americans get speech anxiety when
speaking in public. Imagine how much anxiety they would experience
singing in front of thousands?
We have been communicating in one way or another all of our lives,
but when put on the spot our voice wavers. Sometimes in everyday
conversation people stumble over words and have a difficult time
communicating their thoughts. This was my problem: I believed that I
was articulate because, I knew how to speak well. But in the company
of ‘friends’ who shortened their speech and formulated their thoughts
around the newest trendy slang, I relinquished my native tongue so
that I could fit in. Trying to fit in by adapting to others’ language made
it even harder for me to fit in. I came off as awkward and stumbled
over my words even more because the language I attempted was not
organic to me.
Why? I had not yet learned to love the sound of my own voice.
It is an ongoing journey, I suspect, to finding and loving your voice.
I’m going to share a few useful tips that help me for you to practice:
• Do not be afraid to talk to yourself:
Get used to the sound of your voice and the power that it brings any situation. Convince yourself that you
are no longer a passive communicator.
• Measure your words:
Not literally, but every spoken word is important and carries purpose within it. Enunciate and slow down.
Appreciate your words.
• Do not worry about how you sound to others:
Everyone has a unique voice so you are not supposed to sound like anyone
else!
Come on, clear your throat and speak!

Alexandria Michele is a film student who performs spoken word. Once quiet
and reluctant to speak, she is now on the journey of learning, articulating and
loving the sound of her own voice.

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