Vocal Hygiene

One of the hot posts on the Music Therapists Unite group on Facebook has been about a need for a wireless microphone system to assist a music therapist with projection. Out of all the comments, not one suggested that there may be a medical issue contributing to this situation - until I posted about checking out the possibility of vocal nodules.

We do not often think about how we are exercising our vocal folds as therapists. In fact, we do not often think about our vocal folds at all...until they start to cause us trouble. At that point, it is too late!

Some links to information about vocal nodules that explain things MUCH better than I can:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_fold_nodule
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/nodPolypCysts.cfm
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/NodulesPolyps/

A friend of mine experienced an issue with vocal nodules this last year that required six months of time away from her job as a music therapist. She was not allowed to talk, sing, or interact with others verbally. Her situation made me more aware of my own vocal hygiene.

Tips to preserve your voice:

• Breathe properly - this skill, like all others, requires practice
• Warm-up - the vocal folds are muscles like all other muscles. You wouldn't start a marathon without warming up first, would you?
• STOP singing or speaking if your voice starts to become scratchy or hoarse
• Drink lots of WATER - other liquids do not hydrate the body as well as water
• Do not put yourself into situations where you are having to strain your voice to be heard

Remember that even though we all play other instruments, our first and most important instrument is our voice. Be careful out there!