Remember in the previous element we learned about the major differences between reading to a child and reading to a grown up. The major differences were that when you read to a child you need to read more slowly, more softly. And with more energy and enthusiasm. We learned about practice recorded and timed you slowing down the pace of your reading. We are now going to work on element four. Read softly.

In this element, we're going to concentrate on softening the tone of your voice as a trumpeter would soften the tone of his instrument to play an intimate soulful song. Now, softening the voice is something that we can all do. We all do it by instinct. For example, when you say, I love you, you would probably use a softer voice. When you pick up a kitten or a puppy or a baby, the chances are, you will soften your voice when you say, sweet. It's not enough that you can soften your voice by instinct, you need to be able to control your voice, as if you were playing a musical instrument.

In practice, this may not be as easy as it seems. But at the end of this element, you'll be able to read softly right on cue. I would like you to imagine that your voice is on a one to 10 scale. Your number 10 voice is your normal voice. This is my normal voice. My number 10 voice, the voice I'm using now.

Your number one voice is the whisper that you would use in a cinema or theater. When the show is on and you will say pasa peanuts, please. You're number five Voice is the voice you would use when talking to your lover in the middle of the night in your number five voice I love you. This voice is softer and breath there. Any edge and harshness has been taken off the words and sound rather like a 1940 film star that saying, Hello darling, how are you? You're looking divine.

So this is the kind of voice we're looking for. Although not quite in such an over the top way. I want you to be able to perform your number five voice easily and on cue. It can also be described as a loud whisper. You will remember we use this sentence in the previous element. Now listen to me demonstrate reading that sentence.

First I'm going to read it in my number 10 voice on Christmas Eve many years ago I lay quietly in my bed. And here it is again in my number five voice so that you can hear the difference on Christmas Eve Many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. Did you notice the difference speaking in your number five voice is a matter of pumping a greater volume of air through the vocal cords so that the voice sounds softer and breath Yeah. I now want you to read and record this sentence in your number 10 voice your normal speaking voice. When you're ready to record, press pause. Press play as soon as you're ready to continue.

Now that you've recorded your number 10 voice I want you to read and record it again. But this time in your number five voice Remember, you are pushing more air through your vocal cords making your voice soft and breathy. At first you will be trying to get your number five voice starting from your normal voice number 10. Some people find it easier to start from a whisper number one voice and gradually increase the volume till they get to number five, which means you could be heard at the other end of the room, but you're not using your normal number 10 voice. When you're ready to record, press pause. Press play as soon as you're ready to continue.

When you feel confident about using your number five voice, you might like to read and record the whole extract in your number five voice. Remember, the practice makes perfect In element three, we learn to practice reading slowly. In element four, we learn to read softly. In particular, we've learned how to create and use and number five voice. So we have now covered two of the three major differences between reading to a child and read into a grown up. In the next element, we are going to cover read with energy and enthusiasm, which is the third factor that is different when reading to a child.