In practising voice exercises, and in speaking, never force your tones. Ease

must be your watchword. The voice is a delicate instrument, and you must not

handle it with hammer and tongs. Don't _make_ your voice go--_let_ it go. Don't

work. Let the yoke of speech be easy and its burden light.

 

Your throat should be free from strain during speech, therefore it is necessary

to avoid muscular contraction. The throat must act as a sort of chimney or

funnel for the voice, hence any unnatural constriction will not only harm its

tones but injure its health.

 

Nervousness and mental strain are common sources of mouth and throat

constriction, so make the battle for poise and self-confidence for which we

pleaded in the opening chapter.

 

But _how_ can I relax? you ask. By simply _willing_ to relax. Hold your arm out

straight from your shoulder. Now--withdraw all power and let it fall. Practise

relaxation of the muscles of the throat by letting your neck and head fall

forward. Roll the upper part of your body around, with the waist line acting as

a pivot. Let your head fall and roll around as you shift the torso to different

positions. Do not force your head around--simply relax your neck and let gravity

pull it around as your body moves.

 

Again, let your head fall forward on your breast; raise your head, letting your

jaw hang. Relax until your jaw feels heavy, as though it were a weight hung to