My music teacher always reiterated that I should treat my vocal cords like my baby. She ensured that I took utmost care since it lent me my identity as a singer to the external world. Way back then, I hardly acknowledged her efforts she undertook to ensure I maintained a fresh and healthy voice.
However, while blossoming into a fine singer, I realised and appreciated her painstaking efforts that went behind grooming me. She engrained in me that as a singer my vocal health should be my priority. As her student, I will be ever indebted to her for refining my singing capabilities.
So, let me try to list down some of her golden tips that can even help you carry on with a fresh and healthy voice.
- Warming Up & Cooling Down:
Just like physical activity calls for a warming up and cooling down session, your voice is no different. Ensure warming up your facial muscles by sticking out your tongue as far as possible, massaging your face etc. Don’t shy away from making noises like humming, rumbling and more. Only once you feel that your face, mouth and voice are beginning to loosen, you should start singing actual notes.
Once your singing is over take time to cool down. It is nothing but allowing your voice to descend by sighing, yawning, doing gentle lip rolls etc. Continue this till your voice achieves its normal speaking scale.
- Adequate Hydration:
My teacher always insisted that I should stick to drinking plain water at room temperature. She asked me to sip water throughout the day, and keep a water bottle handy during my singing sessions. Before commencing our classes, she would always check whether my vocal folds were well lubricated and entire body hydrated. If she felt my vocal cords were dry, she would personally oversee that I drank sufficient water to sound better.
- Refrain Singing From your Throat:
Her golden diktat was “never sing from your throat”. She tried to explain to me that the real power behind my voice was my breath, supported by my diaphragm. She asked me to sing from my core and let the voice resonate in the chest, pharynx and face.
It took me a while to understand what she was trying to teach me. But once understood, it made a lot of sense and helped me train my body to support my voice.
- Don’t Abuse Your Instrument:
Finally, her directive was that pain was or body’s way of telling us to STOP. So, if I had a throat infection or a painful throat condition, she would ask me take a break. Of course, as a kid I would be happy to get time-off from my practice sessions!
However, now when I look back, I realize the pains she took to train me as a singer. She would place me on vocal rest, ask me to drink adequate water, sleep well. She even requested my mother not to push me into practice sessions with the pain. Her primary concern was that I could damage my voice if I sang with a strained voice or throat pain.
Other than the above, she planned my rest days. She knew that a tired voice needed resting time to recuperate and heal. And she felt that the longer I rested was better for me!
During the current difficult phase, online music classes are a blessing for beginners. All that one needs for good singing is passion, talent besides being at the right place at the right time. So, it’s time to learn and listen to good music on various platforms to extend your musical know how.
However, if learning from the experts is your preference, we have just the right offering for you. “Learn singing online with Monali Thakur” in her Unlu class and learn from her first-hand the art of singing. Thakur is recipient of the prestigious National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer and several others. She is associated with several television shows for judging budding musicians; thereby, spotting fresh talent. The “Learn singing online with Monali Thakur” class takes you through her journey and Thakur shares valuable lessons in this course. Happy learning!