Keep Your Voice in “Neutral”

A basic technique of good, healthy singing is to keep your larynx in a neutral position regardless of whether you are singing a ‘high’ note or a ‘low’ note.  Chest dominant singers frequently reach up for high notes at the top of their chest register and above (basically yelling).  Head dominant singers frequently reach down when moving to lower chest notes, resulting in a hollow ‘lounge singer’ effect.

To keep your voice in “Neutral”, where it is stable & maintaining a speech-level position regardless of what note you are going for, can be done by thinking in OPPOSITES.  Instead of thinking UP and DOWN, think Near and Far.  Low, chesty notes will then feel close to your lips and higher notes will feel further out in front of you…like a trombone operates!

Keep your chin level  or slightly downward towards the floor (the back of your neck will then stay long), & bend your knees very slightly as you move from a lower pitch to a higher pitch.  Your body cannot process reaching up and sinking down at the same time!  GO DOWN TO HIGH NOTES.

For low notes, instead of lowering your larynx and allowing the sound to vibrate/resonate in your throat and chest, focus your attention on feeling the sound on your LIPS!  LIPPY LOW NOTES.

Keep your Heart singing and you will invite Magic into your life!

Avoid Over-singing & Vocal Fatigue

For many singers, vocal demands increase greatly during the school year as school, church and community music/drama programs  ramp up their rehearsal and performance schedules.  Often singers are 'out of shape' if they did not sing regularly in the off-season, and rehearsal schedules frequently do not allow for adequate vocal warm-up before working with the material.

Choral and ensemble singing can pose unique challenges for singers when they are surrounded by many voices and have difficulty hearing themselves adequately.  A common reaction is to simply sing LOUDER.   Strong singers may also be encouraged to 'carry' their section to lead the less experienced singers, resulting in them singing LOUDER to make up for all the timid or "pitchy" voices around them.

If a singer lacks the technical knowledge, conditioning and good vocal care practices to correctly support their voice under these conditions, they are headed into VOCAL ABUSE territory.  Hoarseness, huskiness, sore throat, throat 'tickle', coughing, throat clearing and even pain are all common symptoms of over-singing.

I think every 'serious' singer experiences these symptoms at some point in their music career.  I always hope for them that it will be early on and quickly addressed!  Learn the lesson & never forget it.

So, if you notice any of these symptoms, stop doing what you are doing because it is hurting you and your body is trying to get your attention.  If you are in the middle of choir rehearsal and you do not feel you can stop completely, my suggestion is to dial it WAY down to "Light and Easy".  BUT if you are experiencing PAIN--- your best course of action is to lip-sync for the remainder of rehearsal and go quietly home as quickly as possible. Hydrate and initiate vocal rest until the next morning.

If your are in a small ensemble rehearsal, you must stop and tell your Director what is happening.  If one member is experiencing symptoms of over-singing and fatigue, it is very likely others are as well--be the brave one who speaks up.  Your Director might have all of you hydrate, take a short break, do several repetitions of trill patterns or descending ng's (or whatever exercises they prefer to address swelling & fatigue).  Get through it as best as you can and then go home, hydrate & initiate vocal rest until the next morning.

If you are still symptomatic the next morning, avoid speaking and singing that day as well.  If the problem persists more than two days, OR returns at another rehearsal, OR if you are experiencing pain at any time, see your voice teacher as soon as possible.  Do not dismiss these symptoms or try to 'sing through' them.  It is a serious issue that could result in long-term damage if not addressed and promptly corrected.

Remember, regardless of your age, YOU are truly the only person who can feel what is going in in your body.  Therefore, you are the one who must take responsibility for your singing, your vocal health and the results of your choices.  You can trust that your body will always guide you true, so LISTEN.

Choose well.