VOCALS
IS YOUR SPEAKING VOICE RUINING YOUR SINGING VOICE ? | Renée Maranan
Some singers live double lives when it comes to voice use . When they know they have to sing , they do their vocal warm-ups , they make good vocal choices during rehearsals and performances , and they establish voice care routines that support their singing . But when they ’ re speaking , there ’ s no sign of voice care whatsoever – no warm-ups before speaking during the day , no strategies to ensure efficient phonation during speech , no vocal resets or voice breaks during periods of high speaking demand .
Here ’ s the thing : the voice you sing with is the same voice you speak with . And unless you ’ re a professional singer who spends most of your time in rehearsals , studios , or performances , you ’ re most likely speaking more than you ’ re singing on any given day . So even if you ’ re taking care of your singing voice , you ’ re most likely not doing enough if you ’ re not also taking care of your speaking voice – especially if you talk a lot , or if you tend to speak at high volumes with a lot of emotional expression .
So how exactly do we take care of our speaking voices ? There is a lot of overlap between voice care routines for singing and for speaking . If your voice is relatively healthy and you have no history of vocal injury , there are basic practices that will provide you with a good foundation for maintaining a healthy speaking voice . Voice lessons with an instructor who is trained and experienced in working with efficient vocal function would also help . On the other hand , if you do have a history of vocal injury , it would be best to consult with a vocal health professional such as a speech language pathologist , preferably one that specializes in singing voices , to ensure that you are equipped with the right tools to effectively promote recovery and rehabilitation .
For worship singers who want to take better care of their speaking voice , here are some practices to adopt :
Warm up in the morning before first voice use . Whether or not you ’ re singing for the day , a vocal warm-up routine before first voice use will help to set up your voice for efficiency . This warm-up routine doesn ’ t have to be long ; it can be anywhere from 5-10 minutes , and it can include simple exercises like lip trills , tongue trills , straw in water phonation , or humming . You can use scale patterns , easy song melodies or pitch glides within a comfortable range and at low to mid volume . Remember that these warm-up routines are meant to ease you into voice use , so don ’ t worry about making them challenging . After you ’ ve gotten in the habit of doing these before you use your voice , you ’ ll really start to feel the difference when you skip them .
BE AWARE OF HOW LOUD AND HOW MUCH YOU TALK . For some people , it just comes with their personality to talk loudly and at length . For others , it ’ s more of a necessity because of their work or day-to-day responsibilities . Think back over the past 24 hours and consider if there were moments when you might have spoken more or used more volume than you needed to . Were there moments when you could have dialed it down ? Even a small reduction in volume or usage , when applied over a period of time , can have a cumulative effect in helping you preserve your voice .
IF YOU SPEAK DURING YOUR WORSHIP SET , TRY PRACTICING THE SPOKEN PARTS AS WELL AS THE SINGING PARTS . It might seem awkward , but rehearsing your exhortations can help you to be more vocally prepared . Does this mean you need to script your exhortations ? Not at all . It ’ s less about what you say and more about how you say it . Identify places where you might be using too much volume or speaking with too much compression . Strategize when and how much you plan to speak within the context of the song and the whole set list , in order to pace your voice use more effectively . If you ’ re working with a voice coach , work on the spoken parts as well as the singing parts during your lessons . This increases your awareness of your speaking voice use during worship and equips you to make adjustments that can prevent overuse .
Here ’ s the bottom line – the need for voice care and conditioning applies to your singing voice as well as your speaking voice . Start thinking of your voice as one whole instrument , and practice caring for your voice in all circumstances . In doing so , you ’ ll be able to spend less energy on recovering from the wear and tear that results from your speaking habits , and instead focus on cultivating your singing voice and growing in your ministry .
Got a singing question ? Send an email to hello @ reneemaranan . com with “ WM Vocals Question ” in the subject line !
Renée Maranan Renée is a vocal instructor , voice teacher trainer , and life coach , with over 20 years of experience working with singers , vocal instructors , and performers from all over the world . For more vocal help , visit her www . reneemaranan . com or follow her on Instagram (@ reneemaranan ) www . ReneeMaranan . com Instagram @ reneemaranan
28 February 2025 Subscribe for Free ...