Category Archives: voice

Your Voice Matters

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Barbara McAfee

I’m in my car driving home from an evening of Scrabble with my 94-year-old mom. I’m listening to a podcast to keep me company on the familiar thirty-minute drive: “Making Obama” from WBEZ, the public radio station in Chicago. In … Continue reading →

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The Song Inside Language

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Barbara McAfee

My friend Lia was born in Korea and spent her early years in Thailand. Her father was in the diplomatic corps and their family lived in several other countries before landing back in the United States when Lia was a … Continue reading →

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Song of Wonder and Darkness

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Barbara McAfee

A friend and I recently drove to Missouri to witness the total solar eclipse. Our story was a common one in many ways. We changed routes and plans based on cloud cover and missed much of the totality to a … Continue reading →

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The Voice of the Teacher

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Barbara McAfee

I climb in my car to run some errands. The On Being podcast starts up through the speakers and I instantly recognize the voice of Parker Palmer. My face blooms into a broad smile of recognition. His words are wise … Continue reading →

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My Personal Lexicon

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Barbara McAfee

I wouldn’t be who I am without Dr. Seuss. When I was a little girl, I would walk into the hushed temple of my small town Carnegie Library and make a beeline straight to the Dr. Seuss shelf. I lived … Continue reading →

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Falling Silent

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Barbara McAfee

As a voice coach and singer, I pay unusual attention to voices. I cherish the cadences, rhythms, and sounds that I hear in the voices of my family members and friends. Each one is completely unique. Each one lingers in … Continue reading →

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Help for “Soft Talkers”

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Barbara McAfee

I went to the audiologist with my 90-year-old mom last week. Jennifer is smart, thorough, and takes the time to be personable. She originally took up audiology – the fitting and servicing of hearing aids — as a way to … Continue reading →

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Five Simple Practices to Improve Your Voice Right Now

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Barbara McAfee

Many of my voice clients enter coaching with me with some big goals in mind: “I want to more fully express who I am in the world – starting with my voice.” “Please help me get over this life-long stage … Continue reading →

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Voiceless

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Barbara McAfee

I recently lost my voice to laryngitis for six weeks. During that time, the sounds I could make ranged from a whisper to a croak to a flimsy peep. I couldn’t speak or sing. When I opened my mouth, I … Continue reading →

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Mr. Brown

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Barbara McAfee

I’ve been clearing out. The recycling bin has been filled three times with detritus from my past. I’ve saved very little, but there is one piece of paper that is so precious, I had to tuck it back into the … Continue reading →

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