SOME QUICK TIPS FROM VOCAL COACH CHRIS BEATTY

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

EXTREME HEAT CAN = DRY THROAT? 

Dressed for HOT weather

 

Much of the country is experiencing extreme heat.  We had a heat index of 110 yesterday in Nashville which is very, very unusual.  The good news for Carole and me is that we don’t have to leave the home/office/studio.  The bad news is that with the air conditioner on much of the day the air is almost dangerously dry. Dry skin, dry contact lenses and, if we’re not careful, dry throat.  The one and only solution is a substantial increase in water intake. So, give thanks for air conditioning, and, at the same time recognize the need to super-hydrate.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

We singers are notorious about nervously wondering if the voice will “be there for us” every time.  Why is this? Because, for most of us there have been times when all did not go . . . perfectly.

The solution is twofold. First, don’t waste time worrying about it. Worrying doesn’t accomplish anything. In fact, the stress caused by worrying is likely to make things worse by making you less confident, drying out your throat due to increased adrenaline and, if you are a Christ-Follower you are clearly told NOT to be anxious and worry. It will interfere with what God has for you.  Just check out Matthew 6:25-27 and Philippians 4:6-7.

Second, take action and train with a goal of being the best, most consistent singers and communicator you can be.  I often say that singers are vocal athletes, and really good athletes never stop training. They know that bad habits can and will creep in to your technique and the only way to avoid that is by continuing to get meaningful feedback, being honest with that feedback and being proactive in making changes.

THE GOOD NEWS FOR SINGERS is that you can incorporate many aspects of your vocal training into normal, daily life. Violin players and professional basketball players don’t have it so easy. They have to have an instrument or basketball.

How does this translate to singers?  Simply by practicing and reinforcing the following:

1. Upright, balanced posture whether sitting or standing.
2. Breathing that goes low and doesn’t require heaving of the chest.
3. Speaking with a resonant tone quality whether you are using a soft or loud volume.
4. Articulating every word clearly when talking to a friend, on the phone or teaching.

By turning your everyday voice technique into a nonstop training session you will be building a muscle memory base that can transfer right into your singing.

LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE.  Email moc.hcaoclacovnull@sirhc

Tags: blog.vocalcoach.com, chris beatty, performance stress, singing lessons, vocal training, vocalcoach.com
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