VOCALS
THREE BABY STEPS TO A HEALTHIER VOICE IN THE NEW YEAR | Renée Maranan
Resolutions are top of mind for a lot of people this time of year . For some singers , those resolutions might include lofty goals , like getting a solo at the next special service , or belting that one big song . Sometimes , setting big goals can be a great way to push you forward in your vocal development . Other times , though , your circumstances get in the way of you achieving your goals , especially when they ’ re a big ask to begin with . Next thing you know , it ’ s halfway through the year and you ’ re nowhere near the big lofty resolutions that you made in January .
A SURPRISING TIP FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT : BE LAZY
In his best-selling book Atomic Habits , James Clear writes :
“ Conventional wisdom holds that motivation is the key to habit change . Maybe if you really wanted it , you ’ d actually do it . But the truth is , our real motivation is to be lazy and to do what is convenient . And despite what the latest productivity best seller will tell you , this is a smart strategy , not a dumb one .”
Of course , the more you put into your vocal health , the more you get out of it . I ’ m not saying you don ’ t need to practice or go to voice lessons anymore . What I am saying is that sometimes it ’ s better to start small rather than to feel paralyzed into inaction . You just might find that you make more progress and are able to stay more committed to your goals when you stop pushing for the big change , and instead , focus on taking one baby step at a time .
THREE BABY STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TOWARDS A BETTER VOICE
No matter your skill level , whether you ’ re a beginner or a professional , there are a wide variety of simple habits you can implement to improve the quality and health of your voice . Here are a few that you can try :
WARM UP FOR 5-10 MINUTES IN THE MORNING .
Vocal warm-ups set up your voice so that it is working more efficiently . If you do them before you start speaking or singing for the day , you ’ re setting a foundation that will support your voice use in the short term and , if you do them consistently , over the long term as well . You can do lip trills while driving to work , or practice straw and water exercises while brewing your coffee . One of my personal favorites : gargling on pitch glides after brushing my teeth !
TALK 1 % LESS THROUGHOUT THE DAY , EVERYDAY .
This is especially helpful for those who tend to talk a lot or at high volumes . Whether you ’ re doing so out of habit or because it ’ s part of your job , think about how you might reduce your word count or your volume just a little bit throughout the day . That 1 % difference really does add up – it can reduce your overall vocal load , which can help you preserve your voice .
DO QUICK STRETCH BREAKS AND POSTURE CHECKS .
Every time you wash your hands , you can take an extra minute to stretch your neck , jaw , and tongue . Every time you pick up your phone to read a text , you can check your posture to make sure your shoulders are in a neutral position , your neck is not craning forward , and your head is balanced comfortably on top of your spine . Posture can sometimes be an underrated factor in singing , and it takes regular mini-adjustments to achieve more permanent change .
REMEMBER : IT ’ S OKAY IF IT ’ S NOT PERFECT OR IMPRESSIVE .
What matters is that you ’ re consistently showing up for your voice , one baby step at a time . As you get better at the baby steps , you can start challenging yourself to nextlevel commitments , such as practicing vocal exercises for a minimum of 15-30 minutes per day or preparing songs for your next worship team audition . Baby steps add up to big strides . By this time next year , you ’ ll be amazed how far those baby steps will have taken you .
Got a question for Renee ? Send an email to hello @ reneemaranan . com and write “ Ask the Voice Coach ” in the subject line .
Renée Maranan Vocal Instructor | Life Coach Ambassador for the Institute for Vocal Advancement www . ReneeMaranan . com Instagram @ reneemaranan
34 January 2024 Subscribe for Free ...