The effect of voice training on the speaking skills of politicians

This research has been realized so as to improve speaking skills and eliminate the vocal defects of politicians via posture, respiration, phonation, resonance and articulation exercises which are the basic features of vocal training. The research is of importance in terms of contributing to eliminating the vocal problems faced by politicians and thus, making it possible for them to use effective speaking skills as well as contributing to the utilization of vocal training. The vocal training practices used in the research are expected to set an example in further future research conducted on people in other professions that have a close connection with speaking skills and thus, contribute to multiple diciplines. Among the single respondent research techniques that are relevant to this particular research, the AB model has been used. In the research, data has been provided through experimental method. From each of the political parties in the Turkish parliament which have fifty or more members, six have been chosen. These six parliament members have been chosen through a petition adressed to the group representative of each party. After having volunteered to participate in the research process, the ones who were willing to take part in the vocal training sessions have been tested via a musical perception measurement test. viiiIn the research, the Behaviour Observation Form composed of 12 items has been used as the mean of measurement in the initial and final tests. This form has been designed by three vocal coaches, one communications expert and one speech consultant; in total five experts. During the experimentation procedure, the participants have been trained in terms of respiration, phonation, resonance, articulation and pauses. Prior to the application and after its completion, behaviour observation form was filled in so as to collect quantitative data. Once the data has been analyzed according to the correlation analysis, it became evident that through the vocal training that the participants received, there has been an improvement in the 12 behaviour patterns listed in the behaviour observation form. Thus, the research has revealed that vocal training practices have had a positive effect on the speaking skills of the politicians who participated in the testKey Words: Voice Training, Politicians, Communication, Music, Music Education.