Vocal Maintenance
6 easy steps to maintaining vocal health
Vocal maintenance is a challenging issue for singers and performers of all kinds, including teachers, lawyers, actors, and politicians. All the folks who use their voices extensively in their work experience vocal problems at one time or another. Weather and allergies contribute to our overall vocal health, and the vocal chords, sensitive little things that they are, sometimes just get tired of working. Serious vocal problems require serious attention. There are, however, a number of things that you can practice regularly to strengthen your voice, care for it properly, and improve your own vocal maintenance habits.
We make behavioral choices every day that militate against vocal health and maintenance. We work too hard, put in long hours, fail to eat properly and exercise – all of the things that also create other health challenges for us. Healthy maintenance of the voice and vocal chords is one area that can be easily improved with some everyday changes. Try these tips for keep the voice clear and strong.
1. Work on your posture. Sounds simple, yes? Well, when your torso is collapsed, even a little, your lung capacity is significantly decreased. Less air = more vocal stress. The air needs to be able to float through the chords rather than being forced. So –
a. Stand up straight. When standing, keep your feet about shoulder width apart.
b. When walking, avoid splayed feet or pigeon toes. Train yourself to walk with your feet straight.
c. Elongate your spine. Test this by holding your arms and hands straight up. Notice where your ribcage is. Keep it there as you drop your arms and relax your shoulders.
d. Elevate your head. Think of it as being held in a sling that is suspended from the ceiling. Let your forehead reach up and out. President Obama sometimes gets a bad rap for looking imperious, but it is great posture.
e. When you sit, sit on the edge of the chair whenever possible. Keep your feet under you and treat the ribcage, spine and head just as you do when you are standing.
2. Breathe deeply. Good vocal maintenance is dependent upon lots of air. Now that good posture is becoming a habit, work on taking low, deep breaths. Try these:
a. Create and imaginary belt with long balloons attached and inch apart all the way around (think fun-balloon-animal balloons). Place the imaginary belt around your middle, level with your belly button. Now pretend that the balloons can be filled up with your breath. Inhale low enough and deeply enough to fill those balloons. Try this exercise several times a day. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your air capacity will increase. Greater air volume is a key element of proper vocal maintenance.
b. Choose a spot across the room from you about the size of a push pin. Focus on the spot, purse your lips, and blow out air through constricted lips as if your air is a laser burning a hole through the middle of the pin. Notice how the muscles around your mid-section respond with tension. This is the basis for good breath support.
3. Utilize good breath support. Breath support in healthy vocal maintenance is just the combination of low breathing, use of lower and upper abdominal muscles to control the air (as in the laser exercise), and relaxation of the upper torso, shoulders, neck and head.
4. Maintain hydration. Drink water. Then drink more water. Avoid caffeine and alcohol before speaking or singing. The vocal folds are thin and dry out easily. Keep the body hydrated so that the chords stay supple.
5. Get some vocal rest. Yes, I know. Easier said than done. But if healthy vocal maintenance is important to you, you must rest the voice periodically. Set aside a morning or afternoon each week when you do not speak. Don’t hum, don’t sing, don’t even mutter. Give your chords a break.
6. Don’t smoke. Obvious, but important. Both the smoke and the heat act on the larynx and trachea with damaging inflammation. Interestingly, unfiltered marijuana smoke causes even greater irritation to the throat and trachea than does tobacco smoke.
The maintenance of good vocal health takes much less effort than is necessary to repair damage. Create new habits. Take care of the voice now and you will reap beautiful, mellifluous rewards for life!
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