When it comes to your voice and singing performance goals it can be tough to navigate through all the noise and figure out what to prioritize. Let's figure out how to level up our instrument from the inside out, not the other way around.
01. Practice Your Lesson Recording
When you take a voice lesson your investment is really in the recorded exercises and coaching notes assigned to you by your coach or teacher. In order to get the most out of the training and build muscle memory, consistency in regular training is vital. Make a commitment to repeat what you did in the lesson at least 3–4 times a week. No one goes to the gym once a week expecting results. Think of this recording as your vocal gym. Take it with you on the go! If days go by without practice, just get right back to it!
02. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
When the body is tired the voice is tired. Do whatever you have to do to get a good night’s sleep. If sleep has been an ongoing issue for you, talk to your doctor about what steps to take. This is so important. Your voice will function better when the tissue has had adequate time to repair itself, especially if you have experienced vocal injury or compromise.
The Influence of Sleep Disorders on Voice Quality — PMID: 28939085
03. Manage Stress
Every vocal performer deals with stress and it can directly and indirectly impact the voice. Self care is voice care. If you are dealing with chronic stress, pick 2–3 non-singing-related activities and make them a part of your weekly routine. Examples: regular movement of any kind, talk therapy and somatic therapy, yoga, lifting, walking, breathwork. Pick activities you enjoy and that will help regulate your nervous system. Chances are the tools you learn in any discipline transfer into improved outlook for singing and performance.
04. Fuel Your Body
Singing and live performance requires ENERGY. If you aren’t fuelling yourself for optimal performance and always restricting, chances are you won’t have adequate energy for vocalization, let alone the stage. If you aren’t sure where to start, work with a qualified dietitian or nutritionist who can help you identify the nutrients your body needs. Check out my episode of The Sound Singer podcast with Nutritionist Duncan Rock, where we uncover myths and misconceptions about nutrition for singers.
05. SOVT Exercises
Making time for SOVT exercises daily can help reset, rebalance, and feed energy back into your tired instrument. There are so many wonderful benefits. If you are an active voice user, make SOVT exercises part of your warm-up and cool-down routines. If you’ve been to voice therapy, follow the voice therapy protocols assigned to you by your SLP. These are non-negotiable, especially if you’ve experienced fatigue or injury. SOVT exercises are not just straw phonation — we have many to choose from. Consult with your voice teacher or SLP on what is best for you.
06. Stop Fixing Sound
If your goal is to develop your voice so you can sing without register breaks, then you need to build the bridges of your voice. My recommendation is to focus less on sound aesthetics, placement, and “fixing sound,” and focus more on building the right underlying mechanism. Sound is subjective and can’t be fixed per se. Balanced coordination and laryngeal stability are essential for active singers. When you build a strong technical foundation and you are bridging without manipulation of unnecessary muscles, you’ll eventually have the ability to play with different sounds, styles, and qualities. Physiology first. Don’t online shop for quick DIY tips without a foundation. Customized training is so important.
If you found this blog helpful, check out the resources section on my website for more. For topics related to singing and voice (including vocal health and mental health) with guest experts, check out my podcast The Sound Singer. Looking for voice lessons? Apply for 1:1 training through the contact page.
