The best way to avoid vocal straining is to sing correctly. No matter how experienced or inexperienced a singer may be, many have at one time or another strained their vocal chords. Whether you are singing once or twice a week or once a month, take care of your voice and use it properly every time you sing. The voice is a singer’s instrument. Care for it the way a musician cares for their instrument.
The usual symptoms of vocal straining are tightness in the throat, a raspy tone or partial loss of voice or range. Many singers will experience vocal straining or partial loss of voice after long rehearsals, multiple shows or singing in higher ranges. If you prepare yourself for these situations, you will sing more comfortably and will not experience any straining. Below are 5 ways to help you recognize and avoid straining.
Breathing Correctly
One of the most important parts of singing is your breathing. If you are running out of air and still pushing out the notes, you will experience straining.
You should always take deep breaths from your diaphragm without moving your shoulders or chest. If you take short breaths or sing through a few lines with out breathing, you will soon find yourself running out of air. When you take your breath, take it in deep at the last possible second and release quickly to ensure that you are not holding in any air. Even if it is an easy, short or low ranged part, take a deep breath. It is always better to have more air than not having enough air.
Keep Your Position
The position of your mouth and lips make a big difference when singing. Try to practice in front of a mirror to see what your position is when you are having difficulty.
For Higher notes, your jaw needs to be dropped down & open, but narrow with your lips forward. If you are experiencing tightness on a high note, you may just need to open a little more or keep your mouth and lips in a more narrow position. However, for low notes, your mouth should be a lot smaller. If your mouth is open too much on a low note, you may release more air than needed which will cause you to run out of air or sing a flat note.
Stay Within Your Range
When choosing a song, make sure it is in your range. Check the highest and lowest note of the song to make sure that you can reach it comfortably.
If you select a song that is too low or too high for your vocal range, you will feel it as soon as you sing the highest or lowest note of the song. If you have a vocal coach or have tested your range, you should know what your true range is. If not, take a look at the songs that you are most comfortable singing; see what keys they are in and what the highest & lowest notes are in the songs. Another alternative is to practice vocal scales to test you’re your range. Staying in your range will ensure that you will comfortably nail every note. If you choose a song that is too low or high for you, you could not only ruin your vocal chords, but your performance as well.
Proper Dynamics
When learning a song, pay attention to its dynamics. If you are belting out a note when you don’t need to or if you are belting the whole song, you will use more air than needed. This will cause you to run out of air faster and is one of the most common ways of straining your vocal chords.
Whether you are learning by listening to another singer on a CD or reading sheet music, you will notice the change in volume throughout the piece. For those who are listening to a singer, make sure to notice when the singer is louder or softer, whether it is a gradual or instant increase or decrease. When reading music, look for things such as pianissimo, fortissimo, crescendo or decrescendo.
Rest & Exercise
Just like all the other parts of your body, your voice needs rest & exercise to stay in shape.
Rest is very important for you and your voice. If you don’t get enough sleep or talk too much before you sing, you will notice that your voice becomes hoarse. Before any performance or long rehearsals, try to get a good night sleep & refrain from talking as much as possible.
Vocal exercises are the equivalent of sports warm ups or stretches. Just as any athlete does warm ups or stretches before a practice or game, a singer should warm up before any rehearsal or performance. Singing various vocal scales are the best warm ups for your voice. They help to regulate your breathing, stretching your range and keep your position in place. If you have a vocal coach, ask them if they have or can make a vocal scales warm up CD that you can use at home. If you don’t have a coach, you can purchase vocal warm up CDs in your local music store or online. If you purchase a vocal CD and don’t have a coach, use the above tips when practicing vocal scales.
Remember that your voice is your instrument. For some, it may be your livelihood. As with many other things in life, if you take care of it and use it properly, it will last you a lifetime.
