Sarah Brenay - SS - ch. 13

Summary: The voice is a part of our body and is effected by our emotional, physical, and spiritual state of being. In order to take care of our voices, we need to take care of ourselves. The most important thing we can do to care for our voices is to stay hydrated. According to the USDA, eight eight-once glasses are recommended for the average person. This varies depending on size. Yelling, whispering, throat clearing, and coughing can cause stress to the voice. Singer's need to be more conscientious of the way they use their voices. Drugs can cause the dehydration of the cords. Smoking can cause serious damage to the voice. A healthy diet and consistent exercise is very beneficial for singers. To avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the voice as we exercise, exhale during exertion. Physical appearance is very important in the entertainment business. While our priority is vocal production and acting, we need to pay attention to our physical appearance. The two most common forms of vocal pathologies are vocal nodules and polyps. Both of these require therapy and or surgery before recovery is possible. Singers react differently to sickness depending on their technical level. Those with excellent technique will most likely still be able to sing well even if they are ill. Those whose technique is not as well developed may wish to cancel performances due to sickness. The most important thing is not to push the voice when we are ill. Singers have nontraditional lifestyles, and every one needs to decide for themselves whether they will be happy with that lifestyle.
Key Concepts: The state of our body affects the state of our voice. Hydration is essential for good vocal production. Be aware of the stresses your voice encounters in everyday life, and limit stressful activity (games, concerts, bars, and, environments where you yell a lot). Balance humility and confidence.
Key Terms:
Nodules - hard lumps that form on the edges of the vocal folds. They form due to the irritation and swelling of the cords, and cause phonation to be breathy, or nonexistent.
Polyp - a rupturing of the outer membrane of the vocal cord which causes tissue to hang between the cords and results in a gravely sound in a specific range of the voice. This is usually caused while coughing or clearing the throat, or while straining for a high note.
Making Connections: I know that I need to drink more water. Absolutely. This is a good reminder. It was funny that the chapter discussed sickness, because I am sick right now. And I can't sing a note. Must mean my technique is really bad! Yikes! I liked his advice about attitude, not being a jerk or a whiner. We all know those people, and sometimes we all are those people. But agree with Smith that neither overconfidence or self effacement is a sign of a competent singer. Most often, it's the humble, quite ones who prove the most skillful.