Elizabeth Tait SS Ch.13 Summary

Summary: "A healthy singing is a healthy human being."  In this chapter, Smith outlines his most important bits of advice for being healthy as a singer (besides having good technique.)

• Constant hydration is a habit that all singers must acquire; keeping consistently hydrated throughout the day is the only way to insure the vocal folds are properly lubricated. 
• When the voice is not lubricated, it is susceptible to greater damage.  This damage, surprisingly, is caused not by improper singing technique, but by poor habits in speech.  As singers, we have to be careful about how we use our speaking voice throughout the day (limit duration and volume of speaking, both loud and soft.)
• Smoking is stupid.  Enough said.
• A balanced diet and exercise routine is obviously a good thing.  Just beware to not overadduct the folds during resistance training.  
• As an attempt to widen it's audience, the opera industry is becoming more particular with physical appearance.  Smith basically advocates that you be the prettiest you that you can!  If that involves losing weight, that may require a retraining of the breath; each body breathes differently.
• Nodules and polyps suck, but they won't kill you!  Nodules are usually caused by unhealthy speaking habits, and they can be healed through vocal therapy.  Polyps are caused by a sudden rupturing of the vocal membrane, and need to be removed via surgery.  Both can be fully recovered from, but it's important to address the habits that caused the issue in the first place, so it doesn't happen again!
• The greater knowledge you have of your technique, the greater your ability to sing through illness.
• The opera singer's lifestyle is unique, and is not suited for everyone.  We must know ourselves well enough to determine if the choice is worth is for us personally
• As we learn to sing better, we become more confident and humble in our singing lives, and our lives in general.  Awesome! 

Key Terms 
nodule
polyp
Key Concepts - Balance in all things.  Every bit of advice (with the exception of smoking) was a balancing act.
Making Connection: I have truly felt that I have become more confident and humble in my life through the study of singing.  And what a beautiful thing that is.  I am so grateful I was placed in this path.