Voice and Presentation Skills
During 2001-2002, I began working on my voice as part of the performance self-training practice I was carrying out then. At the same time, I was asked to conduct voice awareness workshops for teaching staff at the National University of Singapore where I was working then. I liked the progress I made on my own voice and speech and I enjoyed helping others to improve their voice usage so much that I did two things. First, I created a website devoted to voice care for teachers. Second, I pursued an MA in Voice Studies (2005) at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London during 2003-04 to gain more knowledge and understanding about the process and cultivation of voice and speech.
Since 2005, I have been teaching at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, LaSalle College of the Arts, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and other institutions in Singapore. Besides helping students from various disciplines, I have coached teachers, storytellers, writers, business people, administrators and other professionals to release and project their voices, speak more clearly and expressively as well as improve their oral presentation skills.
The list of workshops below is a sample of the courses that I currently conduct. I am willing to adapt these workshops or devise new ones according to the needs of each client. Please email me immediately for more information as well as to find out about rates and arrange for one-on-one and/or group classes.
Available Workshops
- Directing the School Play
- Presentation Savvy
- Reading Aloud: Tips and Tricks to Improve How You Bring Storybooks Alive
- The Animated Reader
- The Vocally Savvy Communicator
- Treasured Tongues: How to Become a Teller with a Thousand Voices
- Vocal Lab
- Voice for the Storyteller: Enhancing Your Vocal Potential to Bring Stories Alive
Some Reviews of Verena Tay’s Coaching in Voice and Speech
“I like the way you analysed us individually and were able to correct our faults. You made learning fun.”
Jessie Goh
“Thanks for the interesting & useful comments and tools that you have given me. I am sure I can make use of it in my profession[al] life.”
Goretti Lee, Mega Success Pte Ltd
“It is an interesting course & I can see good potential in the need of this course by trainers, consultants & teachers & even corporate executives.”
Henry Ng Pai Hoe
“Greater awareness of proper posture, projection, articulation. Have learned how to be more animated, to speak with greater clarity, emphasis and confidence. Have learned good techniques to overcome speech flaws—in my case, over-emphasis on sibilants. The personal approach—paying attention to each student's weakness and finding different approaches to improve pitch, pronunciation etc—was most useful.”
Ng Swee San
“1) My voice does not go 'crackly' during a performance. 2) I don't have any pain/strain/dryness/discomfort when I tell, even 3 days in a row. 3) It's given me 'volume', 'depth', 'can be heard at the back'.
Enjoyed myself thoroughly. Saw the difference not only in myself but in other participants too. Some of the changes/improvements took place right before our eyes—was great to learn through examples of others.”
Kamini Ramachandran, MoonShadow Stories
“The concrete approach using the senses and the body to developing character voices. The insightful observations and directions on use of the voice. I now have a range of practical ideas to turn to when I need to develop a new character voice. I also have a better understanding of how I use my voice”
Sheila Wee