You're coaching clients on vocal training intensity. How can you prevent overuse injuries?

One of things I would like to add, is that there is a lot of judgement around voice users who have vocal injuries so I think the first thing is to not be cross with yourself if you suffer injury. The musculature of the voice is so tied up with one's mental state, as stress can express itself as muscular tension, that worrying about being judged for an injury can compund the problem. Hydration, relaxation through muscle release, breath support and optimum muscle use are four key areas to check in with. Warm up and then warm down. Trust yourself and trust your technique, don't be frightened of changing pitch (pitch change can help with vocal fatigue). If in doubt see a speech therapist.

Education is key! If my clients have no idea about their voice from an anatomical point of view, majority of them won’t comprehend severity of voice injuries. I’ve even heard something like “voice is not tangible, how can it be injured?”. They change their perspective once they look at vocal folds’ structure, potential injuries and consequences. Being mindful greatly helps! Also I encourage them to know their limits and to be courageous enough to stop singing when it’s needed (it can be a voice strain, cold, or just lack of sleep or energy) - promoting voice care makes my clients treat their voices differently - with more respect and appreciation which results in almost no injuries in my class.

Overuse occurs because of too much muscle involved in making sound. The longer this goes on, the more likely overuse will occur. The voice is a balance of air flow, muscle (vocal fold closure) and resonance. Have the voice user recognise when they are 'pushing' or 'pressing' their voice. Teach them to use resonance to allow for a bigger sound, not volume or 'projection'. A good warm up is absolutely pivotal as well and staying well hydrated.

Today, everything is new in the VOCAL training field. Now we're FINALLY understanding that EVERY sound that we produce, there are muscles behind it, which means, a healthy and stable voice, is a voice who is doing a good training. The problem is, that random or no WARM-UP doesn't help you. When you go to the gym, you ALWAYS have a goal, lose weight, get stronger, whatever…there is a goal and specific training for it. It's the same with VOCAL training. So, you DON'T need to know all the names of the muscles, exercises, biochemical reactions, hormones, or whatever, but your vocal coach DOES. The BIG concern is, that that MAJORITY of singing methods are NOT science-backed. So most of the coaches know nothing about muscles or physiology.

Absolutely, warm up both the voice and the body! Your voice consists of muscles, tendons, and ligaments, just like the rest of your body. Additionally, singing engages much more of the body, including the entire respiratory system. Regularly warming up the voice and body helps prevent injury. Just as a trainer would never ask a marathon runner to run without first warming up, we should approach our voice with the same care as physical fitness. This ensures better vocal performance and protection.

Hi, I beleive education is the key, knowing the anatomy, the function, the proper use and voice technic. Many people are so ignorant on that matter and beleive a voice stays forever, yes but only if used and trained properly, every day like an athlete. The voice needs care and attention to stay healthy without injuries. I am helping many to recover from voices damages, once they understand, they know how it works, the progress is constant and fast. I have never injured a student in my class, on the contrary some voice doctors send me singers, makes me so happy to see them get better and happier. My life long study and work experience is really a joy to share as we only have one voice!

I know for fact my voice is different each and every day, so it’s important to adapt to those changes. Overall physical activity can play a huge part in stamina as well as being able to rely on the body to support the voice. Warm up is essential and often it’s not the banging out high notes, but allowing the body to always be involved at all levels. Also important not to drive your voice like a speed car because it feels good that day. This is where paying attention to technique is key, because that’s the door of recreating a similar feeling the next time. Observation, reflection, learning to recreate a feeling within your structure over how big or small it sounds!

I would like to sum it up by saying It’s all about the diaphragm, if you’re using enough air it will protect your voice… if it sounds like it’s coming from your neck or your jaw area or nose, there will eventually be a problem, rely on your diaphragm. Opera singers sing for hours and they usually don’t lose their voice = diaphragm.

Besides it being important to do a vocal warm-up before singing, performances, or recording sessions, it's important to know that you do not have to vocalize loudly. This way you're not, as we say, "leaving your fight in the gym." Vocal exercises can be done at a lower volume. You can even stand close to a wall while you vocalize having the sound reflect to you so you don't have to pull full volume and take the risk of strain. After doing those vocal exercises, if you need to get a part of or an entire song "in" your voice, then do it at performance volume. Rest, drinking warm water with honey, gentle facial and mouth movements, tongue twisters, lip trills as mentioned already can all assist with warm-ups.

I would add that it is also important to warm up one’s body as the vocal cords are part of one’s body. I always start my students’ lessons with a few short muscular stretching exercises before starting vocal/voice exercises. We cannot separate our voice or vocal cords from the rest of our bodies so I find it essential to look after our whole selves if we want be in good physical, mental and vocal health.

Tangibility. It may be the biggest challenge regarding SINGING TECHNIQUES or any other artistic field. If you can't measure, you can't control, judge, or know if your TECHNIQUE is improving or not. Just like a workout, it's important to know: 1. What vocal exercises you are training? 2. What is the MAIN goal of these exercises? 3. How many of each exercise? (We need numbers to measure) 4. What physiological patterns or combinations you are training? Isotonic, Isometric, Isoknetic? 5. In what region or octaves are these exercises? 6. What muscles do you intend to train? (T.A.; C.T; IAT...) 7. Are you controlling the VOLUME of your voice? How? In-ears? Acoustic shells format with your hand? Singing loud can REALLY hurt your voice!

Good technique is critical to prevent strain and injury. Just because you can sing well doesn't mean there's nothing to adjust. I have so many students coming in with a habit they have no idea can land them in the doctor’s office. Don't hesitate to work with a vocal coach; they can teach techniques for both contemporary and classical sounds. Contrary to the tradition that you must learn classical techniques first, it's essential to know your style goals and learn the appropriate techniques. Some techniques apply to both styles, while others are specific. Ensure your vocal coach's teaching aligns with your stylistic goals.

I recommend recording their rehearsal time, singing in 30-minute intervals, drinking room-temperature water, and gauging how their voice sound and throat feel by listening to their recording as they go along. Sometimes, you do not hear everything when you are singing, but when you go back and listen to yourself, you can hear if you are using the proper technique, which can cause you to abuse your voice.

Every voice is unique. Get to know your instrument well by incrementally challenging the flexibility and duration of practice. I found that as I trained longer as an operatic singer, there were days when I needed a longer warm-up period depending on the amount of singing I did the day before. Always have a coach or teacher who knows your voice. Check-in frequently at the beginning of your career with people you trust and learn how to regulate your physical health as well.

Ich empfehle sanftes Aufwärmen der Stimme und den ganzen Körper mit einzubeziehen. Und dann stelle ich die individuelle Problematik fest, an der wir arbeiten müssen.

Une bonne technique vocale vise à la recherche de l’accord pneumo-phono-résonantiel. Il s’agit de l’équilibre de trois sphères : le souffle, la résonance et le larynx (donc l’accolement des cordes vocales). Le mental ainsi que le corps sont à prendre en compte bien sûr. La liberté vocale s’acquiert lorsque, au regard de l’individualité de chacun de nos élèves, nous permettons l’équilibre de ces sphères. Pour cela, je travaille beaucoup avec des outils de proprioception pour que chaque élève connaisse son instrument et ses spécificités.

The most common cause of strain in the upper register is jaw tension. This interference causes a strident sound, and if not removed will damage the voice. One corrective is to begin on a mid-range note with the mouth only slightly open. Slide up to the octave above, while simultaneously opening the jaw dramatically.

Build vocal stamina by singing as you walk (fast) or while jogging in or out of the gym. Build up slowly over time. Aim to sing at the same tempo as the song requires and using the same breath plan. This also helps with managing stage nerves.

INTENSITY x VOLUME As we develop our students' skills, we must offer new challenges to intensify their training. Once they gain confidence in their voices, they must understand key grounding rules of modern vocal science to avoid problems ahead. Context Studies indicate that "louder is perceived as better" (Google it). Historically, without microphones and P.A. systems, achieving volume was a primary goal for singers. Volume is still necessary for opera and acapella styles. However, today, we recognize that TONE is the most important aspect of the voice. With proper microphone technique, any sound, including vocal drives and screams, should be produced at a LOW VOLUME.

Give yourself time to excel! Systematic work on your voice to build strength, flexibility, and stamina is crucial for preventing injury. Pushing your voice too high or too loud without this foundation can lead to serious problems, eventually landing you in the doctor’s office. Injury is a real risk when you don't handle your voice well. Unfortunately, many singers take their voices for granted until it’s too late.

Many of my previous students are recording artists who have been Classically trained and now sing Gospel or R&B/Soul music. They have found that working with me; I focus on two things:1.)Growing their range by giving them songs they would never think to learn, and 2.) Drawing from past experiences or present to emote the song entirely. I purposefully choose songs that are either in a higher or lower key than they are comfortable singing. Also, I give them songs in a different genre just to see if they are willing to try something new. It gives them more voice tricks to add to their vocal bag. LOL! It's fun to see a student grow musically, learning right before your eyes, stretching them out of their comfort zone, yet giving them new tools.

Gutes Sprechen beginnt im Kopf - nicht im Hals. Dadurch, dass meine Kunden mit mir zusammen ihre eigene Stimme entdecken und lieben lernen, erlebe ich natürlich immer wieder die Versuchung, mehr Druck auf die Stimmbänder auszuüben, um vielleicht doch schneller eine tonale Verschiebung zu erreichen. Aber noch wichtiger als pure Technik ist daher für mich der Glaube an die eigene Stimme als Fundament. Darauf aufbauend lassen sich die Übungen viel einfacher dosieren. Denn erst wenn das Gefühl für die eigene Stimme und damit den eigenen Körper erreicht ist, leite ich meine Kunden zu weiteren Übungen. Klarheit im Kopf ist für mich stets wichtiger als die ausgefeilteste Technik.

Why Singing Training Should Vary? When you go to your gym workout, do you repeat the same exercises every day? Probably not, right? So, why should singing be different? High-performance athletes have specific muscle training for their sport and also engage in compensatory training to work the muscle groups not demanded by their activity to avoid injuries. The same applies to singers. If you sing a specific style, you need specific muscle training and compensatory training. For example, as a crooner singer, you often use an active voice (T.A. muscle) between the intervals G2 and E3. If you sang for 3 hours yesterday with this configuration, you need to train other muscle combinations today to compensate and allow for rest.

I’ve added pranayama as part of vocal rest & recovery. Meditation and somatic techniques also help greatly! One of the biggest things for those who use their voice professionally is controlling the physical stress and strain of constant use. Encouraging the parasympathetic system to kick in and also dealing with any anxiety around ‘losing or lacking quality of voice’! Such a breakthrough personally, & working with others in that space!

Rest is best. Every aspect of our bodies, minds, and souls needs regular rest, and the voice is no different. When you push too hard without quality sleep, your body reacts with headaches and sugar cravings. Working around the clock can cause your short-term memory to falter. Similarly, without regular vocal rest, you risk strain that can lead to injury. This rest includes not speaking or singing. In taking a break, you give your voice a great gift.

I am a firm believer in vocal rest! I have met many vocalists who talk way too much over the years. LOL! I have to explain to them why you must rest your voice to give your vocal cords a chance to relax, especially after singing for hours. I recommend that my students not practice more than 3 hours a day. Unless they break up their daily practice time and are not straight belting songs. I do not talk at all unless someone calls me or comes into the room I am in. It is not necessary to always talk. I know that I have to learn about refraining from laughing out loud. That can be a strain on the voice, too. But I enjoy the moment when it happens since I giggle most of the time when I do laugh! LOL! Vocal rest is a must.

Talk Less and smile and nod more! Seriously!!!! The warming up is a fantastic thing before you vocalize…but not over speaking and not yelling as little as possible are always the right thing to do. You can put an accidental strain on your vocal cords that can cause damage and sometimes irreversible damage and you end up singing in a totally different octave for good!

Just as important, perhaps even most important is to take ample time to reconnect to the source of one's voice...in the silence behind it. Focusing upon vocal production, can create great stress...because the vocalist is focused upon performance. It creates resistance. Healing use of voice and therapeutic singing is a natural way that one can re-tune ones voice. It is a way that releases the blocks, and helps one play ones voice like an instrument.

Long-term regular hydration is key. Hydrating immediately before singing can perversely dehydrate the throat, as the body reacts.

Vocal cords are like any other muscle; they need time to recover after intense use or you will have vocal fry. Over time that will lead to possible vocal injury. Also hydrate and just don't talk especially in a loud place (the worst thing to do with voice). I would stress the importance of taking breaks during practice sessions and scheduling days off from singing altogether. And above all else do not sing with a breathy sound because it can do permanent damage.

Esto más relajarse despues de una jornada de exigencia vocal es clave, recomiendo escuchar musica, desconectarse y darle tiempo al cuerpo para recuperarse completamente.

O descanso é aliado de uma prática consistente e disciplinada. Eu percebo uma voz mais madura, forte e precisa, sempre que volto de minhas folgas (um dia ou dois).

There is a clear difference in my students who stay hydrated compared to those who don't. Health follows hydration. You can hydrate your voice in two ways. First, drink plenty of water every day. Continual hydration protects your voice from injury, even while singing or speaking. Second, use a mesh nebulizer with a saline solution. This provides direct hydration to the vocal folds by inhaling the solution. Remember, when you drink, the fluid doesn't flow over your vocal folds as they close to prevent choking. Therefore, soothing drinks and cough drops don't directly hydrate the vocal folds.

It is advisable to do a lifestyle and environment audit as there are many things that can affect voice and hydration. Firstly, note that there is a difference between systemic and topical hydration. To hydrate the vocal folds, systemic hydration is key, which is a long game. Topical hydration is good for throat, tongue, lips etc, but not the vocal folds. Caffeine and alcohol are players in vocal hydration, but so are other factors, such as medications (e.g. ADHD/SSRI meds, asthma/sinus/cold&flu/allergy meds, ibuprofen), heaters & air conditioners, plants, fragrances, household cleaners, air fresheners... Many people have ongoing vocal issues and these are never discussed, even by ENTs or voice specialists.

Für sich genommen ergibt dieser Hinweis Sinn: Trinke genug und deine Stimme bleibt "geölt". Doch weitaus wichtiger als Hydration an sich ist die Atemtechnik. Du kannst 5 Liter Flüssigkeit zu dir nehmen - wenn du immer nur durch den Mund atmest, wirst du deine Schleimhäute dennoch austrocknen. Durch die Nase ist immer besser. Auf der Hand liegt aber freilich auch, dass jegliche Chemie und vor allem Alkohol den Schleimhäuten eher schaden, als weitgehend unbehandelte Getränke. Ein persönlicher Risikofaktor ist für mich in diesem Zusammenhang auch immer alles, was Kohlensäure enthält. Ich rate meinen Kunden stets, jegliche Zufuhr von Säure zu vermeiden. Denn auch schon verhältnismäßig kleine Mengen reichen aus, um Schaden anzurichten.

Recomiendo que principalmente se utilice agua como principal fuente de hidratación, si bien existen amplias opciones en el mercado, muchas como las bebidas azucaradas tienden a generar sobre peso y problemas de azucar, nada mejor que acostumbrarse a beber agua y si es una bebida caliente que no incluya endulzantes.

Na minha experiência como musicoterapeuta, tenho observado que profissionais da voz, como professores, cantores e atores, se beneficiam imensamente de uma abordagem integral que combina técnicas de relaxamento, como visualização e meditação, com exercícios vocais específicos. A exploração de diversos estilos musicais, aliada a exercícios de respiração e consciência corporal, permite o desenvolvimento de uma voz mais saudável e expressiva. Além disso, a prática regular de alongamentos e atividades físicas como yoga podem complementar o trabalho vocal. Essa abordagem holística, que une corpo e mente, resulta em uma melhora significativa na qualidade vocal, maior projeção e redução de sintomas como a rouquidão.