Not everyone is born with a perfect vocal instrument. Most great singers with long careers, with tremendous natural talent, become that way through having great vocal coaching, musical training, careful study, hard work, and the ability to be disciplined in their lifestyle. Even with natural talent, it’s very easy to burn the voice out from over-singing, singing the wrong repertoire, singing when sick, and other factors.

Just as professional athletes keep training with their coach, a professional singer usually has a vocal coach or two who they see regularly. If you want a thriving singing career, it is essential to find artistic, musical and vocal guides that are part of your “team

While I’ve trained hundreds of different kinds of singers, from beginners to professionals, I treat every singer who comes in for voice lessons or a vocal session, as unique and special.  No two voices are alike.  A good teacher is able to find a way to convey the needed technique or musical information, in a way that the student can understand.

As we mature, our voice changes and often this means making changes in the kinds of music we sing. Voice coaches can help us make those adjustments, so we are free to sing with ease and confidence. Sometimes, our voice has suffered some kind of injury, or we find ourselves not having the physical strength to sustain singing night after night. There may be many reasons for this. However, the worst thing you can do is continue singing without getting some help. Don’t sing when your vocal chords are red, inflamed, or you simply don’t have the physical energy available.

The best thing to do is make the adjustments to your schedule! Take a break and get your health in balance. Singing is delicate – you are placing a lot of those little vocal chords, so it’s imperative to remember what I’ve said about “conserving your vocal capital” if you are in the midst of many musical projects. (See my other blog – “Don’t leave your voice in the practice room“).

If you want to sing for many years, you must be willing to say the word “NO.” For example, no to late night and loud parties, eating foods that don’t agree with you, or performing night after night without enough rest in between.

The longer we’re in our career, the more we begin to respect what houses those two little vocal chords – our precious body, our health and our physique – we need to live a healthy lifestyle. We also have to find a way to stay positive, emotionally balanced and optimistic. Find time for spiritual reflection and renewal.

As you mature, the voice usually darkens a bit in color, sometimes begins to lose flexibility and/or the extreme high or low notes. To maintain the best in our voice, we need to keep in shape vocally. We also need to be artistically open, flexible and change our repertoire, if needed, to match our current vocal abilities.

There are also physical considerations to look at – diet, allergies, sleep disorders, etc., along with regular and targeted warm-ups. With all the pollution in our cities and our skies, singers may have trouble with upper-respiratory issues that can affect your voice. However, try to avoid over-the-counter drugs, if you can. See a good naturepath doctor or holistic practitioner. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-j-pitman-md/allergies-voice_b_864446.html

I would love to speak to you more about this topic and look forward to scheduling time with you. Please contact me today. I would also love to connect with you on Facebook.