Jeremy Jacobs, Will Smith on Leicester Square Television

Jeremy Jacobs managed to get say a few words to Will Smith at Leicester Square. Will Smith was there for the UK Premiere of I am Legend.

How to get a great voice

We have all heard it at one point in our lives. We have heard the person whose voice sounds so beautiful that the content is not even important. While developing vocal intonation and diction (the tone and manner of speaking well) can be a life long task, a beautiful sounding voice can be obtained in a short amount of time and perhaps take around a year or a lifetime to perfect.

Steps

1. Lie on your back with your knees in the air and your eyes closed. Feel your body. Seek out and eliminate any tension by "breathing into it". Important areas to focus on are: lips, jaw, tongue, neck, shoulders, chest, back (upper and lower) and diaphragm. Breathe deeply to expand your lung capacity.
2. Prop your head back a bit and release your jaw so that it gapes open. There should be no tension at all in your neck, chest, shoulders or your jaw. Take a deep breath in and as you breath out, vocalize. It will sound like an open-mouthed moan. As you vocalize, pay close attention to your jaw, neck, shoulders, back and chest. Most likely, they will tense up when you vocalize. Keep practicing until you can vocalize without tensing your muscles.
3. Repeat step two, but this time hold a note, any note. This will perhaps create tension in your jaw or neck areas. Continue to practice until you can perform this with no tension.
4. Repeat step two, but make different sounds. Slowly move your tongue, mouth and lips around as you vocalize different pitches. It should sound something like baby talk, but do it slowly. Try to eliminate any tension that arises in your jaw (especially in your jaw), shoulders, neck, and back.
5. Recite a poem or lines from a play. Try to maintain your relaxation and resonance. Listen to how different your voice sounds. The longer you practice on the floor, the easier it is to maintain your good speaking habits.
6. Sit upright. Chances are, there will be some tension in your key vocal areas. Pay special attention to your neck and your shoulders. Breathe into your tense areas to relax them. Repeat steps 2 through 5 while sitting upright.
7. Extend these habits to everyday conversation. It will be more difficult to maintain relaxation when you have to think of what to say, but with practice it will come.

Tips

• If possible perform these exercises in a closed room without carpet so that you can hear yourself better.
• Good posture is essential to a good voice, but not covered here.
• Your jaw and tongue are the most important parts to relax because they form your resonating chamber, like the soundhole in a guitar. If it is too closed, you must exert more effort to achieve the same volume. A relaxed and free moving jaw and tongue will make your voice sound natural and less strained.
• When your vocal cords create sound, you should feel vibration in your chest, back, neck and head (and eventually all through your whole body). This vibration will create resonance and give your voice a full, delicious sound. This is what you are trying to achieve, so spend a lot of time on relaxing these areas.
• Use your natural vocal pitch:
  • Guys, a forced low voice sounds terrible. Don't try to force your voice to low registers. Also don't try to relax your vocal cords to the point that you have a monotone, low drone. Some men just have a higher-pitched voice and it can be quite sexy if the technique above is used to capture some lower resonant notes. Examples include rapper Q-Tip and actors Marlon Brando and Christopher Walken.
  • Girls, don't force your voice high. It should be expressive and melodious, but at the same time it should be full and beautiful sounding rather than thin and whiny. Who is to say that Marilyn Monroe's voice is sexier than Sade's?

Presenters and the voice.

In my opinion, tv presenters need to have a commanding voice.

I am Legend - LSQ TV

LSQ TV cameras will be in Leicester Square next Wednesday for the Premiere of I am Legend

Girls Aloud on Leicester Square Television

Jeremy Jacobs has posted about the World Premiere of St Trinians. In this video girl band Girls Aloud, who appear in the film, are seen with the stars.

Sarah, Nadine, Kimberley, Nicola and Cheryl would have had a great time on the pink (not red) carpet

Jeremy Jacobs with Russell Brand

On the pink carpet for the Premiere of St Trinians.

The Golden Compass

The first 5 minutes

Fred Claus

LSQTV starts in two weeks time.

LSQTV, or Leicester Square TV starts very soon. There'll be stuff from new film releases like Beowulf which Premiered in London last night.

101.4 FM

Jcom making airwaves in UK radio history

Comment

Making music: Jewish radio station Jcom, based at Golders Green, is looking for presenters, producers and other volunteers.

Launched on Tuesday afternoon by Deputy Mayor for London Nicky Gavron, the station will broadcast across north west London on 101.4FM for the next four weeks in the hope of being granted a full-time licence.

It will also broadcast through the internet at www.jcomradio.net and include news, phone-ins, interviews, music, sport, food, religion, travel, comedy, children's interests and lifestyles.

Presenter Jeremy Jacobs said: "If all goes to plan, 2008 will herald the UK's first full-time, permanent Jewish station - something we all agree is long overdue."

England on the verge of defeat

Looks like the Webb Ellis Trophy is on it's way back to South Africa.

Perhaps Lewis Hamilton will restore English pride tomorrow.

Experienced Speaker

Returned a short while ago from a Divisional Area contest at London Corinthians. Beforehand, this London based Toastmasters International Club, had organised an educational slot. The first speaker was radio and tv presenter Jeremy Jacobs. He gave an excellent speech entitled, "Take the Terror out of a Talk".

Jeremy, who is an experienced speaker, spoke for about 25 minutes on how to control those nerves. He went through breathing and relaxation techniques and then spent a few minutes on running through mental preparation.

Next up was Amy Jackson. Amy is Vice President Education at London Corinthians and stunned us all with her knowledge on body language and gestures. She is also an experienced speaker and was full of enthusiasm. The 50 or so people, who were packed into a room at the Thistle Westminster Hotel, gave both Jeremy and Amy a rapturous round of applause at the end of this interesting workshop.

Later in the evening were two contests. One was for Table Topics, the other for the Best Humourous Speech.

Public Speaking

I intend to go along to a Toastmasters International speaking club tomorrow evening. There's going to be an experienced speaker and presenter delivering an educational slot along with an Area Competition. Sounds like fun.

The clocks go back soon

In less than two weeks, it's going to be dark in the late afternoon. Oh, how I hate it when winter approaches. Cold, miserable, grey, overcast and we still have Gordon Brown. Roll on 2008.

Much better to think about sunny skies, holidays and what about South Africa? Ever fancied the wine district near Cape Town?

---

I don't like dating strange men

I love the poster here.

Public Speaking

I'm thinking about joining my local Toastmasters Club. They seem a good idea and run events like the one described at Jeremy Jacobs site

Hello

My first post