This is the most important thing about voice I have ever written. I thought I'd post it here for all the singers out there who love to sing. Knowledge is power and I want to empower you.
The human voice has a capacity far beyond our imagination. As we explore it, it reveals new aspects that are distinct to us and moves us to the next level.
I hear it all the time, my voice gets hoarse and sore/dry. I need to shout to be heard. How can something as natural to us as the human voice get these unnatural results?
Sadly, this is all too common. Singers and people who speak in front of large groups, such as a public speaker or business professional often experience this. Did you know studies show that teachers speak 20% to 30% more than other professions? It’s no wonder our voices get burned out!
But people are not sure if what they experience with their voice is normal or not, they tell me. Here is a reliable guideline to follow. Does your voice prevent you from doing what you want at the level you want, even after training? Do you feel tension anywhere, such as in the throat/jaw or chest/shoulders? Do you sense something may be wrong? If you answered yes to any of these there is legitimate reason to wonder what is really going on.
WHY DOES MY VOICE GET HOARSE & DRY? WHAT IS MUSCLE TENSION DYSPHONIA? Muscle Tension Dysphonia is one of the most common voice problems. It is caused from excessive or incorrect use of the voice, the muscles around the vocal cords. I could give you a long clinical sounding explanation with a bunch of fancy medical lingo to make your eyes glaze over but instead I will explain it this way, Muscle Tension Dysphonia is muscle tension which prevents the vocal cords from closing properly. Because the onset is subtle, such as tightness or hoarseness, it often goes undetected in the early stage.
Pitch, difficulty hitting high notes, sound quality diminishes, and holding a note when you sing become more and more difficult as the tension increases. You may experience things such as hoarseness, vocal fatigue, loss of range on both your high and/or low notes, difficulty controlling volumes on soft and/or loud sounds, lump in the throat, your throat tickles, dry throat and mouth, soreness, a squeaky-tight sound, and the need for long recovery time after use. Eventually you may not be able to use your voice at all. If that sounds serious it is because it is.
On the numerous projects I have worked on, when people are turned down for auditions, advancement to higher level opportunities and people it is never because of a lack of hard work, passion, or desire to succeed. The stopping point has always been related to their voice and limitations they have placed on it, 100% of the time.
When people use their voice to express an idea or feeling without having control over it, problems begin to shape. We may have developed other skills such as songwriting, presentation skills, playing a musical instrument etc. but the voice is not equal to those other skills and do not meet the challenges of that song or speech. We manipulate our voice to do something it simply cannot. When this happens you may impose sounds to fake a style because your authentic one has never been discovered. When we finish our voice is exhausted!
PUBLIC SPEAKING AND SINGING IS A LEARNED SKILL. When we forget that the voice is the “tool” we use to communicate, we overlook giving it the care and respect it needs to get the results we want. What is your voice saying about you?
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT? While you are probably doing many things right, I suspect you have developed one or two bad habits throwing everything off track.
What you need to realize is that only 25% of your voice comes from the gift you have been given. 75% comes from understanding how your specific voice works and how to bring out the best in it.
NOTE: Because of the length I am enclosing a link to my web site where the entire article with “what you can do” and “health tips” are included. The link is: http://www.vocalcoach.ca/home/index.php ... &Itemid=77
Voice issues have been on a steady rise. But it can be stopped before bigger problems start. I do hope this serves you and that you will share it with your friends and family. Singing is a joy which should not be taken away from us because of a lack of reliable information.
So until next time live, love, and don’t let anything stand in your way!
Donna Flynn
Vocal Coach & Singing Voice Specialist
416-436-8063
WWW.VOCALCOACH.CA
The human voice has a capacity far beyond our imagination. As we explore it, it reveals new aspects that are distinct to us and moves us to the next level.
I hear it all the time, my voice gets hoarse and sore/dry. I need to shout to be heard. How can something as natural to us as the human voice get these unnatural results?
Sadly, this is all too common. Singers and people who speak in front of large groups, such as a public speaker or business professional often experience this. Did you know studies show that teachers speak 20% to 30% more than other professions? It’s no wonder our voices get burned out!
But people are not sure if what they experience with their voice is normal or not, they tell me. Here is a reliable guideline to follow. Does your voice prevent you from doing what you want at the level you want, even after training? Do you feel tension anywhere, such as in the throat/jaw or chest/shoulders? Do you sense something may be wrong? If you answered yes to any of these there is legitimate reason to wonder what is really going on.
WHY DOES MY VOICE GET HOARSE & DRY? WHAT IS MUSCLE TENSION DYSPHONIA? Muscle Tension Dysphonia is one of the most common voice problems. It is caused from excessive or incorrect use of the voice, the muscles around the vocal cords. I could give you a long clinical sounding explanation with a bunch of fancy medical lingo to make your eyes glaze over but instead I will explain it this way, Muscle Tension Dysphonia is muscle tension which prevents the vocal cords from closing properly. Because the onset is subtle, such as tightness or hoarseness, it often goes undetected in the early stage.
Pitch, difficulty hitting high notes, sound quality diminishes, and holding a note when you sing become more and more difficult as the tension increases. You may experience things such as hoarseness, vocal fatigue, loss of range on both your high and/or low notes, difficulty controlling volumes on soft and/or loud sounds, lump in the throat, your throat tickles, dry throat and mouth, soreness, a squeaky-tight sound, and the need for long recovery time after use. Eventually you may not be able to use your voice at all. If that sounds serious it is because it is.
On the numerous projects I have worked on, when people are turned down for auditions, advancement to higher level opportunities and people it is never because of a lack of hard work, passion, or desire to succeed. The stopping point has always been related to their voice and limitations they have placed on it, 100% of the time.
When people use their voice to express an idea or feeling without having control over it, problems begin to shape. We may have developed other skills such as songwriting, presentation skills, playing a musical instrument etc. but the voice is not equal to those other skills and do not meet the challenges of that song or speech. We manipulate our voice to do something it simply cannot. When this happens you may impose sounds to fake a style because your authentic one has never been discovered. When we finish our voice is exhausted!
PUBLIC SPEAKING AND SINGING IS A LEARNED SKILL. When we forget that the voice is the “tool” we use to communicate, we overlook giving it the care and respect it needs to get the results we want. What is your voice saying about you?
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT? While you are probably doing many things right, I suspect you have developed one or two bad habits throwing everything off track.
What you need to realize is that only 25% of your voice comes from the gift you have been given. 75% comes from understanding how your specific voice works and how to bring out the best in it.
NOTE: Because of the length I am enclosing a link to my web site where the entire article with “what you can do” and “health tips” are included. The link is: http://www.vocalcoach.ca/home/index.php ... &Itemid=77
Voice issues have been on a steady rise. But it can be stopped before bigger problems start. I do hope this serves you and that you will share it with your friends and family. Singing is a joy which should not be taken away from us because of a lack of reliable information.
So until next time live, love, and don’t let anything stand in your way!
Donna Flynn
Vocal Coach & Singing Voice Specialist
416-436-8063
WWW.VOCALCOACH.CA
