The natural pitch of the voice is its keynote, or governing note. It is
that on which the voice usually dwells, and to which it most frequently
returns when wearied. It is also the pitch used in conversation, and the
one which a reader or speaker naturally adopts--when he reads or speaks--
most easily and agreeably.
The compass of the voice is its range above and below this pitch. To avoid
monotony in reading or speaking, the voice should rise above or fall below
this keynote, but always with reference to the sense or character of that
which is read or spoken. The proper natural pitch is that above and below
which there is most room for variation.
To strengthen the voice and increase its compass, select a short sentence,
repeat it several times in succession in as low a key as the voice can
sound naturally; then rise one note higher, and practice on that key, then
another, and so on, until the highest pitch of the voice has been reached.
Next, reverse the process, until the lowest pitch has been reached.