Speak and Sing so People Want to Listen
by Suzanne M. Stone
You don’t just want to sound “right”—you want to move people. Expressive Engagement is your hands-on action planner for speaking and singing with power, nuance, and heart. You’ll investigate the building blocks of your voice—pitch, intensity, timbre, rate, rhythm, tone, accent, and more—then translate those insights into clear choices that serve your music, your message, and your story. Step by step, you’ll craft programs that land, shape character and emotion with precision, and use body language that matches what listeners hear. With practical checklists, vocabulary tables, rubrics, and the “Performance Playground” for daily reps, you’ll turn careful preparation into genuine connection—on stage, in the studio, at the mic, or in the room. Show up prepared. Leave them changed.
How do you engage an audience authentically and confidently?
In today's interconnected world, effective communication is the key to success. Understanding how others perceive your voice and improving it can transform the way you connect with people, without compromising your authentic self-expression. In "Expressive Engagement" we dive into the art of communication, exploring how clarity and empathy foster meaningful connections.
Diving deeper into your character's emotional journey is where the magic happens. By understanding their perceptions, motivations, and vulnerabilities, you'll enrich your voice with authentic emotions. Through this analysis, your storytelling will become more engaging, as you infuse your voice with the perfect tone, rhythm, and emphasis.
In this book, you will learn:
Embrace Your Unique Voice: Discover the Power of Authentic Self-Expression!
The Art of Storytelling By Infusing Emotions into Your Voice
How To Unleash Your Captivating Presence With Your Voice
Personal Growth through Voice Improvement: Empathy and Adaptability
How To Create Remarkable Experiences for Your Audience
This book isn't about conforming to societal expectations; it's about honing your unique voice to become a compelling instrument of storytelling. Confidence will grow as you embrace your individuality, leading to expressive engagement and the confident presentation of ideas. Grab your copy today!
“... As a vocal coach, I would recommend this book as a resource for students wanting to know more about the fundamentals of voice (pitch, timbre, etc). I thought the blank pages at the end of each chapter for readers to take notes is a great idea and allows for reflection and learning.”
Zac B.
“Captivate others by making your unique personality shine. Improve your story telling and self expression skills and develop great connections with others. A great book with very strong message.”
Haku Y.
“This book offers a perfect balance of creative inspiration and technical advice. I’ve been using the exercises to refine my speaking voice, and it’s made a huge difference. A must-read for anyone serious about their craft.”
Richard G.
Born from a Lost Voice, Built for Brave Voices
“I wondered if I’d ever sing again. At first, it was a crushing thought.” In February 2020, I lost my voice for nearly a year. Three determined students kept training with me through video recordings and written feedback, and I saw what many artists face: progress fades without a plan, and stage fright surged when the lights returned. Those sparks ignited the Expressive Engagement Series. You’ll learn from a Las Vegas–based voice educator (since 1989) with an advanced degree in Vocal Performance and concentrated study in Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy, Vocology, and Body Mapping. I’ve worked across the production ecosystem—with directors; choreographers; designers (set, costume, lighting, sound); producers; stage managers; technical directors; casts and pit musicians; and props, wardrobe, and booth teams—to align voice/text, cueing, and mic work and, when needed, deliver production-tested accents and dialects that hold under show conditions. Travel, cuisine, and a lifetime of cross-cultural experiences keep teaching me the same lesson: music connects people. I’m here to help you listen to your body, trust your ear, and communicate with courage.
You train like an artist—and now you’ll practice like an athlete. Expressive Practice gives you a clear, step-by-step system to turn scattered effort into steady progress: set SMART goals that actually matter to your repertoire, run focused sessions that target one skill at a time, capture immediate feedback, repeat clean reps, stretch beyond your comfort zone, and protect your voice with rest and recovery. Then you’ll apply it all with whole-body warm-ups, breathing mastery, song-by-song plans, and a built-in Progress Journal so you can see your growth. You leave guesswork behind and build a voice that’s reliable, expressive, and stage-ready.
You don’t have to “power through” stage fright—you can transform it. Expressive Strategies to Transform Performance Anxiety gives you a practical, science-informed roadmap to convert nerves into usable energy. You’ll learn what’s happening in your body (fight-or-flight, breath, tension), borrow proven tools from sports psychology, build a steady pre-performance routine, and protect your voice with smart recovery, nutrition, and sleep. Then you’ll assemble a personal toolkit: mindset resets, body mapping cues, breathing protocols, visualization, and a performance-day plan—plus reflection worksheets that turn each appearance into data you can act on. You step onstage present, prepared, and steady—so your story, not your stress, takes the spotlight.