Vocal Coaching Articles | Vocal Abuse And What To do

I've decided to get much more specific about the subjects of warm up, warm down, strenuous use of the voice and vocal abuse. Provided the singer has the proper encouragement and the necessary information to do warm ups and warm downs, the voice can be improved and protected. Singers should begin with less strenuous exercises and then move on to more strenuous ones that approximate full vocal effort. Warm up exercises are conditioning exercises designed to increase and secure psycho-motor coordination. That is, techniques of vocal production so vocalists can sing with a good sound appropriate to their chosen style of singing. Rock singers are, of course, no exception. Warm ups not only help singers avoid vocal abuse, they also contribute to conditioning and skill development, good tone quality, accuracy and agility.

Laryngologists are becoming more aware of the care and specialized needs of the singer. Yearly conventions are held by the Voice Foundation at the Julliard School of Music in New York City, to bring together the teachers of singers and their doctors. Together each year symposiums are held to further explore the needs of vocalists and the care of the human voice. Voice medicine, like sports medicine, is developing as a sub-speciality. This year, during the second week of June, such a connection was held. Under discussion were topics relevant to the rock singer. Laryngologists advised about the prevention of vocal misuse and overuse, and discussed how they treat vocal illness and abuse: chronic hoarseness, laryngitis, vocal nodules, polyps, contact ulcers and even vocal fold blood vessel rupture. The purposes of conditioning and training and the means to achieve a state of vocal health were explored, argued and debated.

Many rock singers are unaware of the more common sings of significant vocal abuse. Often in my studio, students complain about illness and sore throats. Many times they think they are sick when in fact they are suffering from swollen muscles. In singing, conditioning and training are intimately mixed. If a singer is expected to sing high pitches at loud volumes (the two most strenuous uses of the voice) they should be gradually conditioned for that amount of work. There are significant differences between one person and another in their capacity to endure strenuous vocal use. Some singers, unaware of their own capacity, will abuse their voices without even realizing they are doing so.

The most common signs of significant vocal abuse or overuse are as follows:

1) The throat is tender to the touch after vocal use, with soreness and swelling of the throat. The sides of the larynx in front of the neck and the bottom of the larynx in the front of the neck are the two more common places where you are likely to feel such tenderness.

2) If your voice feels tired and hoarse at the end of a singing session it means that your voice has been used more than it should have been. Maybe you were tired or not warmed up enough when you began to sing. Perhaps the material you are singing is new and not in your muscles or you sang for a longer period of time then your vocal capabilities allow for.

3) Another sign of vocal overuse is a need to clear the throat for a period of time, which worsens after singing. Singers often confuse this with laryngitis. This is most often protective mucous which the larynx produces to coat the raw mucous membranes after misuse.

4) Often there is a persistent "tickle" in the throat and a feeling of dryness experienced after singing. Make certain that your have enough fluids in your system and that you are not dehydrated. Most health specialists encourage people to drink six to eight glasses of water daily. Singers who perform under hot lights can lose up to several pounds of body weight in fluids during one performance. Lots of water and watery fruits including citrus fruits and melons are excellent. Fruit and vegetable juice are also excellent for preventing dehydration and restoring vitamins and minerals used up through strenuous performing and copious sweating.

5) Often rock singers complain about "losing their highs" and their falsetto voice disappearing after singing hard. The inability to sing softly or the inability to sing high soft tones after singing strenuously is also an indication of vocal abuse.

6) Finally, persistent hoarseness or inability to sing or speak with a clear voice 24 to 28 hours after complete vocal rest is a sure sign of vocal overuse.

If you suffer from any of these mentioned symptoms, you could be in danger of problems arising with your voice. If these things persist, a trip to your "favorite" laryngologist is advised. As in any athletic sport, the best advice is to keep those muscles warm. Hot packs on swollen muscles aids considerably. Warm up your muscles to secure the least amount of resistance and lessen the risk of injury.

Pace yourself to your own level of physical activity -don't overdo your limitiations. If you find that you are being held responsible for producing beyond your capabilities, seek proper training and guidance and proper health care by a respected laryngologist.

Warm down muscles and cool off your voice as protective measures to ease down the swelling and calm down the muscles which have been overworked. Do not sing with laryngitis or a terribly dry sore throat. If it feels bad, chances are it's wrong. Don't do it! Take care; see you next time!