PLEASE READ!
Hello to all team members at BlueTech Research, and welcome to the group work page, where over the coming weeks, I will add our workshop recordings and notes along with any exercises and home training for you all to work with.
I'm here to answer any questions you may haver so don't hesitate to get in touch should you need any clarification whilst on this journey.
Our first session will be on Monday 14th feb, as you already know, but I would like to get to know you and your voices a little better before we meet so that I might start the process of understanding what strengths you already possess as speakers.
The methods and exercises we will learn and work with throughout our workshops together will be bespoke to your needs as a group and any individual sessions with me, relevant to your own unique needs for improvement.
Kind regards
Darren McStay
I'm here to answer any questions you may haver so don't hesitate to get in touch should you need any clarification whilst on this journey.
Our first session will be on Monday 14th feb, as you already know, but I would like to get to know you and your voices a little better before we meet so that I might start the process of understanding what strengths you already possess as speakers.
The methods and exercises we will learn and work with throughout our workshops together will be bespoke to your needs as a group and any individual sessions with me, relevant to your own unique needs for improvement.
Kind regards
Darren McStay
OUR FIRST MEETING:
THOUGHTS, NOTES AND TAKEAWAYS:
- Prepare and stay hydrated the day before your presentation, networking event or speaking opportunity.
- Go for warm or room temperature water at the event, as cold water causes restrictions and can tighten the delicate muscles involved with speaking.
- For our upcoming workshops try to maintain curiosity over ambition as this will help you make further discoveries in your own unique and individual way.
- The three P's that we shall work with relate to Physiology, Psychology & Performance.
- Physiology: The physical functionality of our vocal instrument. A well hydrated body free from tension, in good posture and able to breath deeply and freely is optimal.
- Psychology: Thoughts feelings and perceptions regarding vocal production, expressive ability and judgements/anxiety of ourselves as as well as the public environment.
- Performance: Craft, technical ability and skillset. Should our Mind and body both be well aligned then these elements come quite naturally.
- Tension is uncomfortable to watch and/or be around. It also adds effort and unnecessary strain on our ability to connect with others.
- If we can discover a need to speak and make choices as to how we want to present ourselves to our audience and how we want to impact them using 'active verbs' or ACTIONS (comfort, flirt, warn etc) then we can misdirect our conscious minds to the task and learn to pay less attention to the negative voices of self criticism. This can also offer dynamics and be set to correspond to our ethos, values and current environment. (We shall go deeper into this)
- For our first workshop we will be moving and using the floor space to learn some exercises that incorporate a mix of Yoga, Pilates, Alexander technique and Qigong. Therefore loose clothing and an appropriate area to move or some comfy warm clothes would be ideal. Also be prepared top make a little noise as we shall vocalise some sounds.
- Below are two videos that you can watch to try out two simple exercises that are great for opening up the breath, relaxing both the body and mind as well as grounding and making you more present. Try them for as long and often as you can each day. We can discuss your experience when we next meet.
- Go for warm or room temperature water at the event, as cold water causes restrictions and can tighten the delicate muscles involved with speaking.
- For our upcoming workshops try to maintain curiosity over ambition as this will help you make further discoveries in your own unique and individual way.
- The three P's that we shall work with relate to Physiology, Psychology & Performance.
- Physiology: The physical functionality of our vocal instrument. A well hydrated body free from tension, in good posture and able to breath deeply and freely is optimal.
- Psychology: Thoughts feelings and perceptions regarding vocal production, expressive ability and judgements/anxiety of ourselves as as well as the public environment.
- Performance: Craft, technical ability and skillset. Should our Mind and body both be well aligned then these elements come quite naturally.
- Tension is uncomfortable to watch and/or be around. It also adds effort and unnecessary strain on our ability to connect with others.
- If we can discover a need to speak and make choices as to how we want to present ourselves to our audience and how we want to impact them using 'active verbs' or ACTIONS (comfort, flirt, warn etc) then we can misdirect our conscious minds to the task and learn to pay less attention to the negative voices of self criticism. This can also offer dynamics and be set to correspond to our ethos, values and current environment. (We shall go deeper into this)
- For our first workshop we will be moving and using the floor space to learn some exercises that incorporate a mix of Yoga, Pilates, Alexander technique and Qigong. Therefore loose clothing and an appropriate area to move or some comfy warm clothes would be ideal. Also be prepared top make a little noise as we shall vocalise some sounds.
- Below are two videos that you can watch to try out two simple exercises that are great for opening up the breath, relaxing both the body and mind as well as grounding and making you more present. Try them for as long and often as you can each day. We can discuss your experience when we next meet.
CONNECTION - INNOVATION - ACCURACY - TRUSTWORTHINESS - COLLABORATION - COMMUNITY - KNOWLEDGE - CLARITY - ACTIONABILITY - PITHINESS - EMPATHY - ENTHUSIASM
FIRST SET OF EXERCISES: FOCUS ON BREATH PRACTICE DAILY FOR CHANGE
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PREVIOUS WORK BELOW
So to get us started below is a short multiple choice questionnaire that will help me get to know you a little better and beneath that is a piece of text named "Comma gets a cure". Please fill out the form and record yourself reading the text (without rehearsal) into your phone and send over via the link provided below. If possible could you please just introduce yourself by giving your name, telling me where you are from and also what your favourite food is before reading the "Comma gets a cure" passage.
Thank you so much and I look forward to meeting you all on the 14th!
Thank you so much and I look forward to meeting you all on the 14th!
Pre-workshop questionnaire.
Please complete the questionnaire and voice recording no later than Thursday 10th. (earlier the better thanks:)
I will consider your responses to these questions along with your voice recordings and offer some initial personalised feedback after we meet on the 14th Feb.
Thank you!
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Comma Gets A Cure
Well, here's a story for you: Sarah Perry was a veterinary nurse who had been working daily at an old zoo in a deserted district of the territory, so she was very happy to start a new job at a superb private practice in North Square near the Duke Street Tower. That area was much nearer for her and more to her liking. Even so, on her first morning, she felt stressed. She ate a bowl of porridge, checked herself in the mirror and washed her face in a hurry. Then she put on a plain yellow dress and a fleece jacket, picked up her kit and headed for work. When she got there, there was a woman with a goose waiting for her. The woman gave Sarah an official letter from the vet. The letter implied that the animal could be suffering from a rare form of foot and mouth disease, which was surprising, because normally you would only expect to see it in a dog or a goat. Sarah was sentimental, so this made her feel sorry for the beautiful bird. Before long, that itchy goose began to strut around the office like a lunatic, which made an unsanitary mess. The goose's owner, Mary Harrison, kept calling, "Comma, Comma," which Sarah thought was an odd choice for a name. Comma was strong and huge, so it would take some force to trap her, but Sarah had a different idea. First she tried gently stroking the goose's lower back with her palm, then singing a tune to her. Finally, she administered ether. Her efforts were not futile. In no time, the goose began to tire, so Sarah was able to hold onto Comma and give her a relaxing bath. Once Sarah had managed to bathe the goose, she wiped her off with a cloth and laid her on her right side. Then Sarah confirmed the vet's diagnosis. Almost immediately, she remembered an effective treatment that required her to measure out a lot of medicine. Sarah warned that this course of treatment might be expensive-either five or six times the cost of penicillin. I can't imagine paying so much, but Mrs. Harrison-a millionaire lawyer-thought it was a fair price for a cure. |