The Power of Voice: A Guide to Making Yourself Heard

by Denise Woods, JD Jackson (Foreword by)

Overview

Foreword by Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali

“A comprehensive masterpiece. . . . Throughout the course of my life, I have struggled to be heard. With Denise’s insightful tutelage and easy-to-apply techniques, I have not only managed to find my voice, but to powerfully express myself so others listen! If you want to feel inspired and completely empowered give yourself the gift of this beautiful read!”—Halle Berry, Academy Award-winning actor

An internationally renowned and highly sought-after Hollywood voice coach shares proven practices to help anyone utilize the often-untapped power of their own authentic voice.

From a toddler's first words to professional public speaking, from a marriage proposal to asking for a raise, our voice is our most crucial instrument of expression. The world judges us by our voice. And yet there has been no authoritative guide to mastering its full capacity and expressing our true selves in every aspect of life, from relationships and family to work. Until now.

As one of the nation’s most sought-after vocal coaches, Denise Woods has worked with everyone from Mahershala Ali, Will Smith, and Idris Elba to Kirsten Dunst and Jessica Chastain. In The Power of Voice, for the first time ever, Woods shares the secrets, tips, lessons, and stories that have helped Hollywood’s biggest stars become confident, effective communicators.

Readers will learn how to:

• Articulate clearly
• Gain confidence in any situation
• Release tension and stress
• Address speech issues such as upspeak, vocal fry, and nasality
• Become powerful public speakers
• Find their truest form of expression

With her unmatched ability to teach vocal mastery in real-world terms, Woods offers a much-needed, proven, practical, and invaluable set of tools that will forever change how we communicate and, ultimately, how we see ourselves and affect others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781799948032
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	01/26/2021
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d)

About the Author

J. D. Jackson is a theater professor, aspiring stage director, and award-winning audiobook narrator. He is a classically trained actor, and his television and film credits include roles on House, ER, Law & Order, Hack, Sherrybaby, Diary of a City Priest, and Lucky Number Slevin. He is the recipient of more than a dozen Earphones Awards for narration and an Odyssey Honor for G. Neri’s Ghetto Cowboy, and he was also named one of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voices of the Year for 2012 and 2013. An adjunct professor at Los Angeles Southwest College, he has an MFA in theater from Temple University.

Denise Woods is one of the nation’s most sought-after voice and dialect coaches, with clients such as Halle Berry, Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Taye Diggs, Ray Liotta, Laurence Fishburne, Jessica Chastain, Taraji P. Henson, Mahershala Ali, Idris Elba, and many, many more. She is a graduate and former faculty member of The Juilliard School, and a long-time faculty member of California Institute of the Arts.

Table of Contents

Foreword Mahershala Ali ix

Introduction: Between Two Worlds 1

Part 1 Relax

1 An Invitation 15

2 Tilling the Soil 37

Part 2 Breath

3 Like the Motor of a Car 61

4 Trauma Is a Bitch 81

Part 3 Voice

5 Hear What They're Hearing 105

6 Beyond Words 133

Part 4 Articulation

7 Trippingly on the Tongue 165

8 Embrace Your Isms 189

Part 5 Communication

9 Powers of Persuasion 215

10 All the World's a Stage 241

Speak It! Your Voice and Speech Workout Bonus 265

Acknowledgments 305

About the Author 307

Editorial Reviews

You don’t need to be an actor to benefit from finding your unique ‘voice print,’ as Denise calls it. When you do the necessary work, clearing your voice of distractions and pairing it with your personal narrative, it can be liberating. There’s no more powerful way to unleash your true self onto the world and fully connect with others.” — Mahershala Ali, Academy Award–winning actor

“As a woman of color,  I can’t think of anything more meaningful than knowing the importance and power of my own voice. Denise has helped me understand how to use my voice and how to ensure that my authenticity is heard. In The Power of Voice, Denise describes the voice as a super power, we are as powerful as we allow our voices to be.” — Halle Berry, Academy Award-winning actor

“Denise Woods is an essential, practical guide for anyone who breathes and speaks, as well as a riveting memoirist. Uniquely, Denise not only coaches others to discover and reveal their authentic voices, she shares her own authentic voice and experience. I think my own teaching will improve from reading this necessary and inspiring book.” — Tim Monich, dialect coach for blockbuster films such as The Departed, Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood, A Star Is Born, The Wolf of Wall Street, and many more

“In my sixty years as a producer and artist, I have never been so impressed with anyone in the field as I am with Denise Woods. Beyond her immense knowledge of voice and expression – once available only to the famed or fortunate few – she brings the reader to the heart of their own truth. Merely reading it will create a new richness in how you experience yourself and how you are perceived.” — Robert Hooks, Founder/producer of the Negro Ensemble Company, actor, and activist

“Through her own personal story and those of the many actors, broadcast journalists, and others she has coached, Denise leads us through an engaging and encouraging journey of vocal empowerment.  In each chapter, she shares the wisdom she has acquired over years of teaching and offers exercises we can all employ to locate our breath and unlock our individual connection to our own voice and speech.” — Evan Yionoulis, Richard Rodgers Dean and Director of the Drama Division, The Juilliard School

"This inspirational memoir and instructional guide will help readers train their voice and mind." — Booklist

From the Publisher

Denise Woods is an essential, practical guide for anyone who breathes and speaks, as well as a riveting memoirist. Uniquely, Denise not only coaches others to discover and reveal their authentic voices, she shares her own authentic voice and experience. I think my own teaching will improve from reading this necessary and inspiring book.

Tim Monich

In my sixty years as a producer and artist, I have never been so impressed with anyone in the field as I am with Denise Woods. Beyond her immense knowledge of voice and expression – once available only to the famed or fortunate few – she brings the reader to the heart of their own truth. Merely reading it will create a new richness in how you experience yourself and how you are perceived.

Robert Hooks

Through her own personal story and those of the many actors, broadcast journalists, and others she has coached, Denise leads us through an engaging and encouraging journey of vocal empowerment.  In each chapter, she shares the wisdom she has acquired over years of teaching and offers exercises we can all employ to locate our breath and unlock our individual connection to our own voice and speech.

Evan Yionoulis

As a woman of color,  I can’t think of anything more meaningful than knowing the importance and power of my own voice. Denise has helped me understand how to use my voice and how to ensure that my authenticity is heard. In The Power of Voice, Denise describes the voice as a super power, we are as powerful as we allow our voices to be.

Halle Berry

"This inspirational memoir and instructional guide will help readers train their voice and mind."

Booklist

You don’t need to be an actor to benefit from finding your unique ‘voice print,’ as Denise calls it. When you do the necessary work, clearing your voice of distractions and pairing it with your personal narrative, it can be liberating. There’s no more powerful way to unleash your true self onto the world and fully connect with others.

Mahershala Ali

"This inspirational memoir and instructional guide will help readers train their voice and mind."

Booklist