VOCAL HEALTH
Sites like VoiceScienceWorks have lots of good information regarding vocal health, but here are a few important things to consider, regarding your own vocal health!
Please note - I am not a medical doctor, and none of this should be considered medical advice.
DO consult a laryngologist if you are experiencing vocal problems that persist past 2 weeks with no readily-apparent cause. Your life may depend on it!
WATER IS LIFE
Internally:
Your vocal folds are made of squishy tissues which are full of fluid. They are also coated with a type of fluid (mucus!) that protects and lubricates the folds as they move. Drinking water is one of the BEST ways to keep your voice in fine working order.
Especially if you drink coffee or alcohol - life is a balancing act, but making sure you're drinking at LEAST as much water as caffeinated/alcoholic beverages is a good place to start.
Note: these beverages do not directly touch your vocal folds (thank you, epiglottis, for keeping us from aspirating/choking!) Your body absorbs water through the G.I. tract.
Externally:
Dry air (especially in winter here in Minnesota) can affect how our vocal folds function. Consider purchasing a humidifier to use in your sleeping/living space - voices like humid spaces (as long as they're not moldy...). You can also purchase facial steamers for this purchase - inhaling humid warm air can be therapeutic. Just make sure you're not inhaling boiling steam, which can burn you very quickly and painfully.
YOUR INSTRUMENT IS PART OF YOU
If you're feeling unwell, your voice will probably show it in some way. Sleep is the time when our body tissues can rest and repair. Eating/drinking well for your body helps maintain energy. Keeping up on your mental wellness is vital - singing is a demanding profession/occupation! In the hierarchy of needs - your physical/mental health come first.
YOUR INSTRUMENT IS ALWAYS WITH YOU
This can be really nice - hooray, no schlepping bags of equipment to and fro!
This is also very important to consider - are you in dusty/moldy/smoky/otherwise unhealthy air environments? (Mask-wearing might be your friend even post-pandemic!). Do you spend a lot of time speaking in loud environments (bars, playgrounds, train stations, etc)? You may be using your voice in much louder ways than you realize - more on that below.
ALL VOICE USE IS VOICE USE
Whether you're singing, speaking, yelling, or whispering, your vocal folds are in motion. If you're feeling vocally tired, hoarse, or strained, consider ALL the ways you are using your voice, in order to re-balance and take some of the stress off of your voice. For teachers, this is EXTREMELY important - consider using a PA system (personal amplification) to project your speaking/singing voice over a classroom of noisy students. For musicians who gig in bars/clubs/restaurants - consider the environmental noise you're speaking/singing over, and consider amplification if you don't already use it (and speaking less when you're not amplified....)
Inefficient use of the speaking voice can be just as damaging as over-singing - SLPs (Speech/Language Pathologists) and other specialists can help you find your easiest speaking voice! If your job involves yelling/projected speech, I highly recommend coaching with a teacher of voice or speech practices.
VOICE USE IS AN ATHLETIC ACTIVITY
As mentioned above, when it comes to singing/speaking/yelling - no matter how you're using your voice, you're putting muscles and tissues in motion. Consider yourself a vocal athlete, and treat your body accordingly! This includes:
-Attending to your physical/mental health
-Warming up at the beginning of a session (vocal exercises that work your range)
-Training specific skills with intent and repetition
-Working on your performance (specific songs/works, in this case)
-Analyzing what you want to change, and working on it with a coach (or teacher)
-Cooling down at the end of a session (vocal exercises that help you come back to a relaxed speaking range)
-Addressing pain/injury immediately - temporary fatigue when training new skills is normal. Pain or frequent fatigue is not, and should be discussed with your voice team.
THE VOICE TEAM IS HERE TO HELP YOU
No one person has all the answers - in the realm of voice use, there are a number of different experts who may comprise your own personal voice "team". This team may or may not include:
Voice teacher,
Voice/musical coach,
Choir director/conductor,
SLP (Speech/Language Pathologist)
Laryngologist (usually part of an Ear/Nose/Throat or ENT clinic)
PCP - your primary care physician
Psychologist/Psychiatrist
Counselor
No matter what the makeup of your team, it is important that you communicate with your personal team regarding your goals, issues, and problems you may be having. In the case of a vocal injury, it is ESPECIALLY important that the team is working together. For example, if you have an injury, the doctor may suggest a plan of treatment including voice rest or changing voice use, which your teacher will need to know about in order to support the treatment plan. If you receive conflicting information from members of your team, seek out a second opinion.
You are your own best advocate, and your personal vocal wellness is so so important - ask for what you need!
Back to the resource list
Please note - I am not a medical doctor, and none of this should be considered medical advice.
DO consult a laryngologist if you are experiencing vocal problems that persist past 2 weeks with no readily-apparent cause. Your life may depend on it!
WATER IS LIFE
Internally:
Your vocal folds are made of squishy tissues which are full of fluid. They are also coated with a type of fluid (mucus!) that protects and lubricates the folds as they move. Drinking water is one of the BEST ways to keep your voice in fine working order.
Especially if you drink coffee or alcohol - life is a balancing act, but making sure you're drinking at LEAST as much water as caffeinated/alcoholic beverages is a good place to start.
Note: these beverages do not directly touch your vocal folds (thank you, epiglottis, for keeping us from aspirating/choking!) Your body absorbs water through the G.I. tract.
Externally:
Dry air (especially in winter here in Minnesota) can affect how our vocal folds function. Consider purchasing a humidifier to use in your sleeping/living space - voices like humid spaces (as long as they're not moldy...). You can also purchase facial steamers for this purchase - inhaling humid warm air can be therapeutic. Just make sure you're not inhaling boiling steam, which can burn you very quickly and painfully.
YOUR INSTRUMENT IS PART OF YOU
If you're feeling unwell, your voice will probably show it in some way. Sleep is the time when our body tissues can rest and repair. Eating/drinking well for your body helps maintain energy. Keeping up on your mental wellness is vital - singing is a demanding profession/occupation! In the hierarchy of needs - your physical/mental health come first.
YOUR INSTRUMENT IS ALWAYS WITH YOU
This can be really nice - hooray, no schlepping bags of equipment to and fro!
This is also very important to consider - are you in dusty/moldy/smoky/otherwise unhealthy air environments? (Mask-wearing might be your friend even post-pandemic!). Do you spend a lot of time speaking in loud environments (bars, playgrounds, train stations, etc)? You may be using your voice in much louder ways than you realize - more on that below.
ALL VOICE USE IS VOICE USE
Whether you're singing, speaking, yelling, or whispering, your vocal folds are in motion. If you're feeling vocally tired, hoarse, or strained, consider ALL the ways you are using your voice, in order to re-balance and take some of the stress off of your voice. For teachers, this is EXTREMELY important - consider using a PA system (personal amplification) to project your speaking/singing voice over a classroom of noisy students. For musicians who gig in bars/clubs/restaurants - consider the environmental noise you're speaking/singing over, and consider amplification if you don't already use it (and speaking less when you're not amplified....)
Inefficient use of the speaking voice can be just as damaging as over-singing - SLPs (Speech/Language Pathologists) and other specialists can help you find your easiest speaking voice! If your job involves yelling/projected speech, I highly recommend coaching with a teacher of voice or speech practices.
VOICE USE IS AN ATHLETIC ACTIVITY
As mentioned above, when it comes to singing/speaking/yelling - no matter how you're using your voice, you're putting muscles and tissues in motion. Consider yourself a vocal athlete, and treat your body accordingly! This includes:
-Attending to your physical/mental health
-Warming up at the beginning of a session (vocal exercises that work your range)
-Training specific skills with intent and repetition
-Working on your performance (specific songs/works, in this case)
-Analyzing what you want to change, and working on it with a coach (or teacher)
-Cooling down at the end of a session (vocal exercises that help you come back to a relaxed speaking range)
-Addressing pain/injury immediately - temporary fatigue when training new skills is normal. Pain or frequent fatigue is not, and should be discussed with your voice team.
THE VOICE TEAM IS HERE TO HELP YOU
No one person has all the answers - in the realm of voice use, there are a number of different experts who may comprise your own personal voice "team". This team may or may not include:
Voice teacher,
Voice/musical coach,
Choir director/conductor,
SLP (Speech/Language Pathologist)
Laryngologist (usually part of an Ear/Nose/Throat or ENT clinic)
PCP - your primary care physician
Psychologist/Psychiatrist
Counselor
No matter what the makeup of your team, it is important that you communicate with your personal team regarding your goals, issues, and problems you may be having. In the case of a vocal injury, it is ESPECIALLY important that the team is working together. For example, if you have an injury, the doctor may suggest a plan of treatment including voice rest or changing voice use, which your teacher will need to know about in order to support the treatment plan. If you receive conflicting information from members of your team, seek out a second opinion.
You are your own best advocate, and your personal vocal wellness is so so important - ask for what you need!
Back to the resource list