VOCALS
SUSTAINABLE SINGING : IMPROVING YOUR VOCAL ENDURANCE | Renée Maranan
Many worship singers know this story all too well : you ’ re leading at one Saturday service and three Sunday services , plus rehearsals in between . You start the weekend with a full voice , but somewhere along the way you start to feel the tell-tale signs of vocal fatigue . By Sunday evening , you barely get through the worship set , and then it takes your voice a full day to recover , if not more .
First of all , let ’ s be clear : if you experience vocal fatigue and voice loss , it does not necessarily mean that you are a bad singer . That being said , repeated patterns of unmitigated vocal fatigue and voice loss can increase a singer ’ s risk of developing vocal injuries . Because of this , it ’ s worth learning about different strategies and tools that can help build up your vocal stamina and resilience .
BEFORE YOU EVEN SING : NUTRITION , HYDRATION , AND SLEEP Our bodies house our voices . When our bodies are in a state of imbalance , our voices will feel imbalanced , too . A nourishing diet can help prevent conditions that commonly impact the voice , such as acid reflux or chronic inflammation . Sufficient fluid intake helps to keep the vocal folds healthy , while topical hydration through steam inhalation or humidification can also help keep the voice comfortable , especially during the dry winter months . And sleep has been shown to have an effect on the feeling of ease in singing – for example , this study published in the Journal of Voice shows that singers with sleep disorders report that lack of sleep makes it harder for them to sing .
VOCAL WARM-UPS , RESETS AND COOL-DOWNS Vocal warm-ups and cool-downs help to promote circulation and reduce inflammation , which prepares the voice for speaking , singing , or rest . Think about warming up for 10-15 minutes prior to voice use ( speaking or singing ), and then doing a cool-down for 2-5 minutes afterwards . For those who are really strapped for time , shorter 2-5 minute warm-up or vocal reset routines can be interspersed 3-5 times throughout the day – first thing in the morning , mid-morning , mid-day or before rehearsals , in the evening or after rehearsals , and before bed time . These warm-up routines can include gentle exercises like lip trills , straw phonation or straw in water exercises , humming , and easy scale patterns on neutral vowels like / ə / ( as in “ UH ”) or / o / ( as in “ OH ”).
VOCAL PACING Vocal pacing is the practice of managing your vocal workload by observing periods of relative vocal rest and absolute vocal rest . One example of relative vocal rest would be organizing your set list so that you are alternating your vocally tiring songs with comparatively easy songs , so that you ’ re not performing too many difficult songs in a row . Absolute vocal rest , on the other hand , would be observing complete silence for a period of time before or after voice use . Both forms of vocal rest , when practiced strategically , can help extend your vocal endurance because you are ensuring that your voice is not operating at full capacity for too long . And it ’ s important to practice vocal pacing in your speaking voice as well – read my article on healthy speaking habits from this issue of Worship Musician .
FUNCTIONAL TRAINING Functional vocal training is different from vocal warm-ups in that their goal is to correct imbalances , facilitate efficient vocal production , and increase vocal stamina . It ’ s similar to the difference between a warm-up routine versus a workout routine at the gym . This type of training is individualized , because every voice is unique . When incorporated into a singer ’ s overall practice , functional voice training can dramatically improve vocal endurance because it helps ensure that the singer is using their voice efficiently and sustainably . Voice lessons are the best way to get individualized vocal training , but not all voice lessons are created equal , because some voice teachers mainly specialize in stylization rather than vocal function . If you choose to invest in private lessons for the purpose of improving vocal function , make sure to ask your prospective voice teacher about their training and experience in functional voice training .
BOTTOM LINE : VOCAL HEALTH EQUALS VOCAL ENDURANCE It takes some level of commitment and persistence to take care of one ’ s voice , but that consistency pays off . Singers who take care of their voices are less likely to lose their voices to fatigue , illness , and injury . It ’ s also a lot easier to maintain the voice than to repair it , so investing time and energy into voice care can help save you the time that it might take to recover from voice loss . And at the end of the day , our voices were given to us by God as gifts , so caring for our voices is an important part of expressing our gratitude and praise for his kindness and generous love .
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 . www . ReneeMaranan . com Instagram @ reneemaranan
32 November 2024 Subscribe for Free ...