VOCALS
VOCAL JOURNALING | Sheri Gould
Could keeping a vocal journal help you ? I suspect this might be something of a new concept for you , so let me give you things to ponder and perhaps you ’ ll find that journaling can be a great way to help you reach your vocal goals . I ’ m going to explore two types of vocal journaling and you can decide if you could use some help in either of these ways .
# 1 TRACK YOUR PRACTICE AND PROGRESS This type of journaling is great for personal accountability , as well as working with an instructor . Keeping track of exactly how much time you spend each day ( or week ) working on warming up , vocal exercises , research , song preparation , etc . can be very helpful in your journey toward improving your vocal technique and your voice overall . You will also find that by journaling , you are apt to be more committed and regular about your vocal routine .
Warming up is an essential part of keeping your voice healthy . In a perfect world , you should warm up every day . I realize that this isn ’ t always possible . As with any type of routine you are trying to establish , without writing down exactly what you do , you may have a tendency to over-inflate how much and how often you warm up . Jotting down how long you warmed up each day , and perhaps even a quick note as to which exercises you did , can help you get a realistic idea of how much time you are truly investing in this very important aspect of vocal health . Along with these notes , you might want to mention any observations you have about your voice that day .
Reviewing your voice should be a regular part of your routine . You should be regularly recording your voice and listening with a critical ear for important changes , improvements , or ideas on how you might like to do things differently . As you make notes in your journal about these observations , you will be able to look back over time and see if the things you are trying are actually working . This can be so encouraging over the long haul . If you find that your progress is not what you had hoped it would be , it might be time to seek out some vocal instruction . Any tips that you find helpful , either through reading or other instruction would be beneficial to write down as well . It ’ s so easy to forget ! Even when you have an instructor , you may get home and forget some of the finer points you covered during the lesson . Journaling can be a great way to help you remember . It ’ s great to do a “ brain dump ” after each lesson .
There are times in your vocal journey when you might feel its time to move on from something you ’ ve been working on . This could be because you ’ ve reached a plateau and just don ’ t currently have the tools developed to go any further with the song . Perhaps you ’ re frustrated or tired , or maybe you just don ’ t feel this song is as relevant as it once was to you . By reviewing your journal , you can help make a decision based on your experience and less on just your emotions .
If you are looking to journal your progress in this way , here are some things you might want to keep track of : 1 . How often you warm-up and for how long 2 . Which vocal exercises you use and how they affect your voice and technique 3 . Assessment of recordings and progress 4 . Any useful educational material you find 5 . The times of day you sing the best 6 . Biggest struggle ( s )
# 2 TRACK THE PHYSICAL SIDE OF THINGS Many people I work with are dealing with some sort of physical issues that may affect their voice . This could be anything - from allergies , to menopause , and even to actual vocal damage . Before I can help a student identify and rectify the problems that they ’ re facing , there is certain information I need . By journaling , we can get a clearer and more precise view of what is happening in my student ’ s life . One of the things I look for in helping my students achieve better vocal health is when , and how often a student may be experiencing phlegm . Careful journaling can help us to determine what the root cause of the phlegm might be , and whether this is a dietary issue , vocal misuse issue , or something altogether different . This type of information can help us to diagnose and often find helpful solutions to the vocal issues they are having .
Here are some ideas of important information you might want to journal about if you are experiencing issues with your voice . Having collected pertinent information can help both your vocal coach and your doctor .
1 . Medications and the timing of which you take them 2 . How and when you hydrate 3 . How much and how well you sleep 4 . Humidity level in your environment 5 . Any medical or hormonal issues 6 . Phlegm : when you get it and how you deal with it 7 . Your complete diet 8 . Your energy level throughout the day 9 . How often you warm up 10 . How and when you sing
Journaling can be a helpful tool whether you are trying to diagnose and heal from vocal trauma , you want to improve your vocal health , or you simply want to make progress with your overall singing technique . Good luck and happy journaling !!
Sheri Gould Sheri is an internationally acclaimed vocal coach . She ’ s been helping artists and worshipers find their voice for over 40 years . For help and resources visit her site . www . SheriGould . com