Straining or overusing the voice; warnings

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/connie-fisher-no-longer-has-vocal-range-for-sound-of-music_1238831

I read a sad story of a music theatre singer who has over used her voice - using it when she had an infection, resulting in what appears to be some vocal damage. The link is above. I often highlight the plight of teachers who have an occupational hazard of vocal strain. This also is a problem for performers: singers, actors and music theatre specialists. Within their training, they should learn all of the techniques for sustaining a long, career, free of vocal problems. This is why, in particular, opera singers train for as long as Surgeons, to acquire their skills. However, outside factors, such as fumes, pollen and even hormones do have an effect on vocal usage so you need to know when there is a potential problem and have the technique to modify your vocal usage.

In the case of the singer involved, I believe she didn't have the necessary advise given to her, or possibly she didn't listen to advice. She had been given a 'dream' opportunity to star in a West End production. Normally a role as long as this would not be taken by one person, but a 'lead' person and another who would do at least two performances a week. However, she took all of the performances; exhausting for a very experienced performer but for one that was inexperienced, this was a danger. She didn't yet know how to pace herself and change her lifestyle to cope with the physical and mental demands of such a role. When she was ill, she came back from sick leave too early and then developed some damage to the vocal cords - resulting in the reduced vocal range.

My advise to anyone using their voice frequently: whether they be a performer, teacher or telesales worker: make sure you are aware of any vocal strain. If your voice is tired or strained, don't use it and seek medical advice. Don't be fobbed off with "Well it's part of the dangers of being a singer/teacher" but insist on expert advice.

Teachers' using amplification in the classroom

I came across the following article at the weekend which stirred a great deal of concern from myself as a vocal coach that works with teachers.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220963/Teachers-turn-pop-headsets-save-voices.html

Here is my response:

In response to the Daily Mail article regarding teachers being amplified in classrooms to put less vocal strain on their voices, Executive Voice – vocal and communications training, has the following response.

Executive Voice appreciates that occasionally, the acoustics of a room make it very challenging for a teacher to be heard. Also, if there is a child in a class who has hearing difficulties, vocal enhancement can aide the child in hearing the teacher.

However, Executive Voice has a number of concerns regarding the amplification of teachers in the classroom.

• It is cited that 1 in 5 teachers loses their voice each term; this is due, in the main to mis-use of the voice, through over use; incorrect production of the voice resulting in vocal damage and vocal tiredness. Whilst amplification puts less strain on the voice, if the voice is not being used healthily in the first place, the damage to the voice will still continue.
• One of the most important communication skills students should learn is ‘listening’. Executive Voice is concerned that by amplifying teachers’ voices, pupils are not learning this skill and the sound will be another ‘noise’ in the classroom to listen to. Students should be learning to concentrate; not be distracted by other things (other pupils; mobile phones; fidgeting etc).
• Unless teachers are properly trained to set sound levels that are most appropriate for the space, there will be issues of noise disturbing other classrooms – unless there is adequate sound proofing in every room. Sounds from other classrooms will be more distracting for students trying to concentrate on their own work.
• By increasing the volume of the teacher’s voice in a classroom, it only adds to the overall volume of the classroom sound. Students are so used to living in ‘noisy’ environments: with TVs or music always in the background. The additional sound of a loud teacher’s voice will be an additional distraction and make the working environment still more noisy.
• Students are largely influenced by TV and the behaviour of favourite characters on TV programmes. Executive Voice has noticed how more students and young people imitate the communication style of ‘Soap operas’ where everyone shouts at each other rather than calmly discusses issues and resolves disagreements in this way. Executive Voice believes that by amplifying the voices of teachers, students will not experience the varied volume, character and nuances of a natural voice, since sound enhancement largely neutralises the characteristics of a natural voice unless a very skilled sound engineer is at hand.
• Executive Voice believes that the large sums of money being used by schools to purchase amplification equipment would be better spent training teachers to use their voices healthily. In PGCE courses, one hour’s training is given to the entire student course. More vocal and communication training during the teacher training and INSET for qualified teachers would be far more beneficial to the profession.

For interviews: comments and more information, please contact Susan Heaton Wright on 0844 576 3015. susan@executivevoice.co.uk http://www.executivevoice.co.uk