Our Voices - any ideas?
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free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:40 am

Ok so we got our creams, and facial exercises to keep our faces looking younger, and we're doing things on our hands and necks, but what about our voices. How do we stop ourselves ending up looking fantastic but sounding like old ladies.

Reason I ask is that I saw a facial exercise teacher being interviewed on TV, and what shocked me was that I wasn't looking at the screen, but doing something else, and listening to the interview, but when I turned round and saw her she looked fantastic, but sounded terrible. Not sure if its right wrong to share this, but the lady in question was Eva Fraser - who I admire so much.

Now I notice that Deb Crowley/Carole Maggio don't sound old as such in comparison.. but wondered if that was more to do with their language and perhaps accent?

So what does everyone think. Is there a way to keep our voices from ending up like our mothers (I darn well hope so!).

Really just hit home to me when I saw that on tv and have been thinking about it but wanted to find out what you girls thought too! Any ideas?

Theresa

free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:49 am

That's a very good question, I have had a very deep voice ever since I was a young child, when answering the phone at my parents house people assumed I was my brother and to his chagrin the reverse happened when he answered. I often have customer service associates ect. calling me sir! The only positive is the men in my life found the deep throaty voice sexy? I am not sure we can change the sound of our voice, if anyone knows a way I think it will be fascinating. Smile

free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:09 am

Good point, I suppose part of my question is do our voices change with age? I mean when I used to hear my mother as a child, she had a wonderful voice, but now its very different and I suppose I'm curious as to whether we can stop that happening.

free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:22 am

TheresaMary wrote:

Good point, I suppose part of my question is do our voices change with age? I mean when I used to hear my mother as a child, she had a wonderful voice, but now its very different and I suppose I'm curious as to whether we can stop that happening.

This is totally unscientific and a guess at best, assuming no smoking involved, wouldn't it be that out vocal chords age along with every other part of the body? I am curious if there is any type of study that has been done on why/how our voices change with age? Smile

free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:49 am

This question is on LouLou's forum too and I'm just copying my reply, for anyone interested.

Here's what I found.. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Voice-and-Aging.cfm

I read elsewhere that "Professional singers' voices take longer to age as they keep the muscles strong."

"After several decades of relatively stable voice, noticeable change can occur in the later years of life. As our bodies age, we lose muscle mass, our mucous membranes thin and become more dry, and we lose some of the fine coordination that we had in younger years. It is no surprise that these changes occur in the larynx as well, and this leads to changes in our voice. Your doctor may call these changes vocal cord atrophy or bowing, presbyphonia, or presbylaryngis.

Changes in the Voice as We Age

Below is a list of commonly reported voice changes as we age:

•Higher pitch voice in men
•Lower pitch voice in women
•Reduced volume and projection of the voice (or “thin” voice)
•Reduced vocal endurance
•Difficulty being heard in noisy situations
•Tremor or shakiness in the voice
These symptoms are amplified by the reduced hearing ability that commonly occurs in our peers as we age.

NOTE: Much of the time, hoarseness and vocal difficulties are not simply age related change. Any change that you notice in your voice should be a warning sign that something may be wrong. See your otolaryngologist (ear, nose, throat doctor). Almost all voice problems are highly treatable."

free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 12:41 pm

Yes sorry I posted on Lou's forum, and FlexEffect too - want to try to get clued up on the voice and figured there might be people there who aren't here etc.

free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 1:03 pm

That is depressing information because I just can't imagine having an even deeper voice!
Now you have me wondering what if anything we can do to prevent or at least minimize these changes?

free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 1:19 pm

Just posted it here so people could discuss the information, no need to say sorry!

Eek I know where you're coming from. I don't have a honey dripping, lilting voice, it's quite brusque and Scottish and frankly I don't want it to get deeper either!

I know some crossdressers/transexuals have voice coaching to change their voices. A bit leftfield but just an idea! Er, not implying anything, just saying it can be made higher.

free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 1:32 pm

ljk wrote:

Just posted it here so people could discuss the information, no need to say sorry!

Eek I know where you're coming from. I don't have a honey dripping, lilting voice, it's quite brusque and Scottish and frankly I don't want it to get deeper either!

I know some crossdressers/transexuals have voice coaching to change their voices. A bit leftfield but just an idea! Er, not implying anything, just saying it can be made higher.

I bet you have a beautiful accent to my American ears at least. Smile

you are right about the voice coaches and changing the voices to a higher pitch, hmm

I wonder at my stage in life if it would work or not? Smile

free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:33 pm

Funny, I've considered the voice aswell after noticing how 'little old ladies' sound. I know I can change my voice to a more cuty sound if I want to, so thought I'd have to start practicing talking in a different tone later on in life. When I mentioned this to my then partner he really thought I'd lost the plot. He thought I was vain enough as it was. Bad Grin

But I definately agree that I don't want to sound old ever!

free skin care · Thu Apr 29, 2010 3:39 am

I sound like a teeny tiny pixie and my voice is sometimes mistaken for that of a teenager! Whilst I'd love to look like a teenager, I'd much rather have a deep voice! Laughing

free skin care · Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:55 am

I'm wondering whether we got any singers here who might share what they do. I think there must be some way we can stop ourselves sounding like our mothers. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its a bad thing, but hey if your putting time in to work on our faces, necks and hands and body, the last thing we need is our voices giving our ages away!

free skin care · Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:26 am

majorb wrote:

I sound like a teeny tiny pixie and my voice is sometimes mistaken for that of a teenager! Whilst I'd love to look like a teenager, I'd much rather have a deep voice! Laughing

LOL marjob, Both of my daughters 29 and 21 have voices that sound almost identical and if you are speaking to them on the phone you would think you were talking to a little girl! Mom gets mistaken for a man? If I talk to someone on the phone befor meeting them I almost always hear "I can't believe that deep husky voice comes out of such a tiny little person! Bad Grin

free skin care · Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:29 am

TheresaMary wrote:

I'm wondering whether we got any singers here who might share what they do. I think there must be some way we can stop ourselves sounding like our mothers. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its a bad thing, but hey if your putting time in to work on our faces, necks and hands and body, the last thing we need is our voices giving our ages away!

Great question TM! I know we had a member who was a professional singer, but I haven't seen her posting here for about 3 months or so???

free skin care · Thu Apr 29, 2010 11:53 am

TheresaMary,

I remember that Judith Olivia has some sort of voice exercise as part of her Advanced Face Aerobics DVD. I don't own her programs, but according to an Amazon.com review, one of the exercises on the DVD is called "18.) To prevent the shaky voice than comes with age". If anyone owns or purchases this DVD, maybe they can let us know the principles behind this exercise and whether it is worthwhile to buy and try.

Cheers Smile

free skin care · Thu Apr 29, 2010 6:45 pm

cm5597 wrote:

TheresaMary,

I remember that Judith Olivia has some sort of voice exercise as part of her Advanced Face Aerobics DVD. I don't own her programs, but according to an Amazon.com review, one of the exercises on the DVD is called "18.) To prevent the shaky voice than comes with age". If anyone owns or purchases this DVD, maybe they can let us know the principles behind this exercise and whether it is worthwhile to buy and try.

Cheers Smile

Great to know someone has come up with an exercise. Surely others have considered how the voice ages and has developed some exercises for it. The thing with singers is that the 'older' ones still sound older, so I don't know that being a trained singer will prevent the aged sound.

free skin care · Fri Apr 30, 2010 8:14 am

Mishey wrote:

The thing with singers is that the 'older' ones still sound older, so I don't know that being a trained singer will prevent the aged sound.

I saw Tom Jones perform in Bangkok a couple of weeks ago. He's still got The Voice going on... and apparently others in the audience agreed, as he was pelted with knickers in the usual manner by what I imagine would be normally more reserved Thai ladies Laughing

I want the kind of voice that inspires people to throw their underwear at me!

free skin care · Tue May 04, 2010 8:47 pm

My voice aging sounds good to me! I sound like a little girl!

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