Overview 

This standard is about using and developing the voice as the key tool of radio and audio presenters or narrators e.g of audio books.

It involves an understanding of how the human voice works, how to take care of it and how to use it effectively for radio and audio.

This standard applies to all those who present, report or narrate for radio or audio; including those in production roles who produce presenters or narrators. 

 

Performance Criteria 

You must be able to: 

  1. manage breath in spoken delivery so that, breathing is at appropriate times and is unobtrusive and voice flows freely
  2. adopt easy, balanced and safe posture for reading and speaking
  3. adopt a tone of voice and style of delivery appropriate to the subject matter, programme format, time of day and target audience for the radio and audio production
  4. articulate words with clarity and energy and varying pace, pitch, volume, power and mood while communicating the intention to listeners
  5. read aloud at sight with assurance and clarity
  6. adapt delivery to allow for the acoustic environment and type of broadcast and recording equipment being used

 

Knowledge and understanding 

You need to know and understand: 

  1. how to maintain easy, balanced and safe posture, and the benefits of doing so
  2. the relationship between breathing and voice production
  3. how to manage breath efficiently in spoken delivery for radio and audio productions
  4. how to develop vocal dexterity; such as controlling pace, pause, phrasing, intonation, tone and mood, to hold attention
  5. the effects of different tones and styles of delivery, and their impact on listeners of radio and audio productions
  6. how to take care of the voice and keep it healthy; how to recognise the warning signs of problems or damage and how to manage them
  7. the significance of vocal style and delivery in relation to the recording process and to microphones, acoustic environment and location
  8. how to adapt the voice for different acoustic environments and the different types of broadcast and recording equipment in radio and audio