ABSTRACT
When we listen to somebody speaking or singing, we inevitably make judgements about what we hear. These judgements may be based on social, cultural and aesthetic considerations as well as our own psychological responses. Sometimes we will make comparisons with our own voices, wishing that we could 'have a voice like such-and-such'. I have a motto that I reserve for these situations: 'my voice does, rather than my voice is'. The work in the previous chapters has prepared you for the exciting journey of controlling your own voice quality. Every time you make a sound you are creating a voice quality. By learning the muscular 'set-up' in the vocal tract for certain clearly defined qualities you can develop greater control over your own sound. This is useful in character work, for creating vocal colours, and for changing vocal style. Above all it is empowering.
