Daily Practice and Voice Care
It all begins with an idea.
Although you should try to practice at least 15 minutes every day; it is the quality of the practice that really makes the difference rather than the quantity. Effective practice takes place when you are rested and able to focus on proper breath support and technique.
Be careful not to over practice. If your voice feels tired or you notice the quality of your voice is declining after singing for an extended period of time, sip water and let your voice rest.
Practice doesn’t always mean just singing – you can memorize and study your piece by thinking about it, writing out the words, looking through the sheet music, listening to the accompaniment, or listening to other people sing your piece (specifically, accomplished singers).
Make sure that you warm up properly prior to trying to singing through your pieces, particularly if you are doing anything strenuous. Your voice is a muscle. Just as an athlete warms up and stretches their muscles before a sporting event, you must do the same with your voice.
Your singing voice is an extension of your speaking voice. The way you speak will affect your singing voice.
Try to avoid excessive talking that leads to vocal fatigue and avoid screaming.
If you find that your throat hurts after speaking for an extended period of time, drink plenty of water and let your voice rest. If you are concerned that your throat is hurting because of the way that you are speaking, please bring it up in your lesson. We can do exercises to improve your speaking voice.
Focus on good breath support when speaking, particularly if you need to project your voice.
Drink a lot of water all day to keep the voice hydrated and avoid things that can dehydrate your body and voice, like caffeine.
Get plenty of rest not only for your vocal health but for your overall health as well.
Avoid smoky areas – smoke will irritate and dry the throat.