Tips for vocalists & those who use their voice as an instrument…pretty much anyone!
Whether you are into public speaking, singing or voice acting, it is important that you understand how different body parts work together to produce vocal sounds. Factors such as vocal cord length, tooth alignment and whether you are a smoker can affect vocal character. Some things can be controlled while others require understanding your instrument to maximize its potential. Just as important to your performance is taking steps to nurture your individual sound and care for your voice.
When I signed up for a Voice and Articulation class years ago, I would not have guessed that I would be rolling on the floor making baby deer sounds, or performing the famous “to be or not to be” soliloquy from Hamlet in Mickey Mouse voice!
Regardless of the embarrassment, that class was a lot of fun. Not only did we learn to use various parts of the mouth, throat and diaphragm to improve diction and sound quality, the class also focused on caring for one’s vocal instrument. I have since continued my learning by taking lessons with a voice coach, listening to critiques from others, reading and practicing. Over several decades of performing in choruses, giving live presentations, and voice acting, and audio engineering the following concepts generally have helped ensure that performances have minimal hiccups.
Here are some pointers that will help studio recording sessions go smoother (in no particular order):
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- Practice. Okay, that seems pretty obvious right? You might be surprised to learn that clients come into the studio unprepared. If you have a plan and are ready to execute it well, you will not need to second guess your work as much. Interestingly, you can practice in your car, office…just about anywhere. I recall reading about famed sportscaster Bob Costas who once explained that he practiced voicing the text of street signs and billboards while driving just to keep his vocals in check. If you have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds like ‘r’, ‘l’ and ‘w’ for example, practice time is when you work to conquer that hurdle. If you do not put in the effort to hone your skills during the off-time, it will be too late to expect it to be better during a recording session or live performance. The most important part about practice is that you do it. It does not matter whether you are perfect all the time, just that you build the muscle memory required to perform on demand.
- This next tip is related to practice and performance muscle memory. When you are running through a script or song lyric, try not to stop cold when you make a mistake. Continue through the piece, picking up where you can in order to get to the finish. It is important to build a good habit of moving past mistakes so you can be more efficient in your performance. Most audiences (live or otherwise) won’t notice a small mistake unless you point it out. Further, continuously stopping and restarting during studio recording time can cost you more money in the long run.
- Breathe. That’s right, breathing is a critical part of singing and voice acting. The entire tone and character of your voice is affected by the strength of your breath support. Remember to mind your posture to make effective use of your diaphragm to push air out of your lungs and through the vocal cords. If you have difficulty getting through phrases without taking a breath, you may need to focus on “exercising” your respiratory system during practices. There are many excellent video tutorials on YouTube that help to explain singing with your diaphragm. Unless you are aspiring to be like Adam Levine and sing in a falsetto tone most of the time, singing strictly from the throat can sound froggy, cartoony or outright annoying. Try to find ways to sing more from the chest than the head.
- Have fun! Yup, if you are having a bad day and you are trying to emote positivity, it is likely the audience will detect your sour disposition. Try to relax, meditate, and loosen up prior to a performance. Of course, if the gig requires you to emote a different emotion, you will need to learn to do so on demand as well. In any case, it is important to forget about the technicalities of equipment and recording, and let go of inhibitions that keep you from doing your best.
In addition to the list above, here are some general best practices to help ensure your voice performance is free from distractions:
- – Get a good night’s sleep, or rest before a performance.
- – Two hours before, try to avoid dairy products, soda and other sugary items that might coat your throat and cause excess flem.
- – Warm up. What can be more embarrassing than a crackling voice at the peak of a performance?! Just as stretching muscles at the gym helps to prevent injury, performing vocal exercises to stretch your mouth and throat will help to increase vocal stamina. It will also help to ensure that you hit those hard-to-reach notes during performances.
- – Hydrate. Many voice artists have indicated that drinking plenty of water helps reduce unwanted mouth noises such as clicks and smacks appearing in their performance. Plus, the CDC lists all sorts of reasons you should stay hydrated.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor if you have difficulty breathing or other physical issues that impede your vocal performance. I’d also recommend hiring a voice coach to anyone who wants to improve their craft!
Enjoy your day!
-Patrick
