I know this sounds obvious but again it’s something we rarely think about. Resting your voice. Finding the natural break or “nap time” for your voice during the day is of utmost importance. Studies show that 48% of teachers report vocal strain year after year. Most of this comes from not being trained to use the voice effectively for long periods of time and what we call “vocal load”.
Simply put “vocal load” is the amount of time you use your voice each day. The effect of long periods of talking or singing is cumulative. Cumulative, means to stack up the time you spent talking today, with the time you spent talking yesterday and the time you will spend talking tomorrow. Cumulative voice use, or “vocal load”, is all the time you spend using your voice one way or another. Speaking, singing, yelling, yawning, whispering, it all adds up!
How to reduce your vocal load if you’re a teacher, speaker or tarot reader?
Maybe, like me, you’re all three!
You need to give serious thought to building vocal rest into your lesson plans and daily schedule. No one taught me this when I was in college. I was a Music Education major, with voice as my main instrument, and no one, not even the teachers I interned with, spoke about the need for vocal rest in the classroom.
Here are 5 Easy Ways to Rest Your Voice Daily!
1. Small group projects are wonderful, have the students work amongst themselves, games that develop listening skills are another idea and for very young children coloring to music works great! Older students often need help in finding their inner voice and developing critical thinking and speaking skills, they need practice to learn this. Give them assignments in which they speak to the group or debate class topics in a respectful manner.
2. Non-verbal signals. No, not the whistle from The Sound of Music!!! Hand clapping patterns such as “Tah Tah Tee Tee Tah” from music class, and other body percussion works great with younger students. My Girl Scout years were filled with the mudra (hand signal) for quiet, listen up! It works! You just need to setup a system. It could be as simple as standing quietly and calmly while thanking those who are paying attention. That one works great for all ages even adults!
3. If you are a chorus, general music or private voice teacher, realize that you DO NOT have to sing everything for your students! They can learn very effectively without you modeling every note.
During the years when I was rehabbing from a serious head and neck injury, I couldn’t model for my students. I had to get creative. I needed to be able to explain what to do with words. The end result, my students still achieved, still got 100 at All State, still went to participate in the All Eastern Honors Musician Organizations, still auditioned for university and conservatory and got in! Your brain knows the “how” of singing. Learn to teach without demonstrating, not only will it save your voice, it will make you a more creative teacher.
4. Not a classroom teacher? Plan voice rest into your day, just as you plan your meals. Now there’s an idea! Prepare your meals silently! Another option is to set a timer and read silently for a few minutes. Take charge of your schedule! If you have tarot readings in the evening, do less talking during the day. Oracle reading at a festival all weekend? Spend Friday night in quiet time packing your stuff. Schedule certain times of the day to make phone calls, balance this with quieter work.
5. Don’t be afraid of amplification! I mention this as a last resort. Behavior modification, changing habits, your own and your student’s habits, are key. However, if it comes down to your voice or using a microphone. Use the microphone. Your querent, your customer, your students, will do so much better when they can hear and understand you.
Years ago, I taught with someone who had her doctorate in vocal music. She had no choice but to talk to the class with a microphone because she had developed nodules that required surgery. She could barely speak above a whisper. Don’t let that happen to you.
For my tarot and oracle reader friends, I have a portable mic that I use for readings in very loud rooms. The DJ or ambient noise from parties and psychic/health and wellness fairs, is still far louder than my speaking voice through the mic. There is no way I can compete with the noise and I don’t want to. I only have one voice. My one on one readings are still private because the volume is raised just enough that only the person sitting at the table with me can hear what I’m saying.
Whether you are a singer, speaker or tarot reader, you are a professional voice user. Voice self-care and rest have to be paramount for career longevity.
Me? I sing every day, read cards and teach but I also allow time for rest.
One last tip before I let you go! Get a good night’s sleep when you can. I know it’s hard, playing gigs and working during the day. I get it! Still try to get your Zzzzz… as much as you can!
Yes! The 4 of Swords from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot really was my card of the day!
I invite you to join me for the Reclaim Your Health Master Class Series where I share tips for keeping your voice healthy at any age. Click the photo to learn more!
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Tune in next week for another tip in my Keys to DIY Voice Health!
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Since I retired from the rat race, I find many days when the only times I use my voice is to talk to my cats, say something kind to the folks at the grocery store, or speak once or twice a day to someone on the phone. The rest of the time is blessed silence!
I tend to be that way too once I leave my office. 🙂
Interesting post Kathleen about something many of us don’t think about. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Thank you, Pamela! 🙂 <3
I do find when I teach full day or at an expo, my voice gets strained after a while. Thank you for sharing these tips and perspective
You’re very welcome, Laura. 🙂