Don't Gravel Out

Everyone uses there voice every single day. Whether you are an office worker, doctor or musician, you are constantly using your voice. A singer is not only talking throughout the day but singing up two to three hours between practice, lessons, and ensembles. With all that talking and singing, you need to know how to take care of your voice. Just like how a marathon runner needs to train and take care of their muscles so does a vocalist need to train and take care of their voice. I hope everyone, not just singers or musicians, takes good care of their voices. People need their voices and they need them for the long run. I am writing this not just for musicians but so everyone can be aware of their voice and how to better take care of it.

Singing is what I do. It is not only my passion but my career path. I hope to be a full time voice and piano instructor. I also hope to perform for different events at churches, weddings, programs, etc. With that, my voice is where I will be getting my living from. So, I need to be careful with it. In thirty years, when I am not performing as much and am just teaching lessons, I still will need to be able to talk for longs hours during the day. My vocal health doesn’t start then – it starts now. And so does yours.

The National Association of Schools of Music Performing Arts Medicine Association says “Overuse of the voice, whether by singing or speaking, can produce vocal strain. Unlike playing an instrument, singers must be aware of problems singing at the extremes of vocal range, especially the upper end. Both duration and intensity of singing are as important as they are for instrumentalists…Prolonged overuse, in some cases, can lead to the development of nodules on the vocal folds. The nodules appear initially as soft, swollen spots on the vocal folds, but as vocal abuse continues, they transform into callous-like growths. Vocal nodules require specialized and prolonged treatment and rehabilitation and can be of grave consequence to singers.”

As a singer, I need to be smart with my voice. I often have to make decisions and sacrifices because I don’t want to do any harm to my voice or overall health. I try not to stay up too late or do any excessive talking (which is especially hard for me to do). I also try to be aware of where I go. For instance, I enjoy going to barn dances, but my voice does not. The combination of the cold air, being out in the country and staying up later really takes a toll on my voice. I have to be conscientious about when I choose to go to a barn dance or not. I look to see when my next performance is or what other events are coming up. Being a musician, specifically a singer, sometimes requires sacrifices but it is so worth it in the long run.

Not only do I sing everyday, but I LOVE talking. If I could, I would probably talk all day long, in between singing of course. One of the main parts of my current part time job is answering phones and talking with costumers. Then I talk with friends, classmates and people in between classes and at home. AND then I am singing between two or three hours a day. All of this can put a toll on my voice. If I am not careful, I can strain my voice with overuse. I have to “listen” and be aware of what my voice is telling me on any given day.

Here are a few tips on Vocal Health that I have put together from my experience in the musical world:

- Stay hydrated! Carry a water bottle with you and stay on top of your fluids. That does not mean a bunch of coffee, sugary drinks, and definitely not an excessive amount of alcohol (even if you are 21). I know I need my coffee in the morning and an occasional pick me up in the afternoon, but I try my best to not let coffee or caffeinated/sugary drinks be my primary source of fluids. WATER is best. Set goals for how much water you want to drink a day. MORE is always better.

This is my FAVORITE water bottle!

- Be careful what medications you take for allergies or colds. A lot of these can dry you out. Make sure to read labels and talk with your doctor. Also, pay attention to what cough drops you are using. You do not want any numbing to happen because even though it may not hurt to sing because of the cough drops that may be doing more harm to your voice than good.

-When you are, unfortunately, sick be careful with talking and singing. Do not overdo it. There are other ways to practice besides just singing. Listen to your songs, look over your scores, do language work and look up information on your songs. Also, don’t talk too much either. This will not help in the recovery process. AND get lots of sleep.

- Don't yell or scream. Even at your favorite rock concert, just enjoy the music and save your voice for the practice room. Also, don't talk over loud music or other people. This can do a lot of damage to your voice and tire it out really quickly.

- Don't GRAVEL OUT. Graveling out means to talk lower than your voice naturally sits. A lot of people, including me, talk lower than they should be because it is considered more masculine and powerful. Don't fall into this stigma and try to talk higher in your voice. This is something I fall into a lot and have to train myself not to do. Think about how you answer the phone, say it out load, THAT is where your voice should sit. The more you try talking higher in your voice the more you will catch yourself graveling and then you hopefully will not do it as much.

- Remember YOU are important. “Maintaining good “mental hygiene.” This includes getting adequate sleep, good nutrition, regular exercise, and spending time with friends and family. Refrain from hazardous or recreational drug use. Seek the help of a mental health professional when appropriate” The National Association of Schools of Music Performing Arts Medicine Association.

- Know your voice. Be mindful of what your voice is telling you. Only YOU truly know how your voice is feeling. Take care of it and yourself.

Be SMART with your voice. You want to be able to have a long career in whatever area in life you are in. I know I want to be able to sing and teach for the rest of my life. Even though sometimes it is hard, it is worth it in the end to be aware of my vocal and overall health.