Essential Voice Care Tips for Actors: Practical Guide to Maintaining Vocal Health
Having a healthy voice practice is imperative if you are going to be performing in any capacity! I have so many students that at first, don’t realize the benefits of vocal warm ups and keeping your voice healthy.
Imagine you’re booked in a horror movie and have to scream all day? Or even having to speak on stage or do a long run of a show? Voice acting takes everything else away but the quality of the voice and sound and so you can really hear if there is damage or if your voice starts to strain.
I know we’ve heard lots of the things like keep hydrated or don’t shout in a loud room, but thought what was most interesting and could keep us understanding why it’s important, is to know the why’s and the consequences if we don’t take care.
So, I wrote out a bunch of tips for keeping your voice in a good place and things we want to avoid. I hand this out to my in class students, but thought I’d put it here too as a resource for you!
We’ll go through:
10 Tips for keeping your voice healthy
7 Possible voice injury to avoid
The importance of Vocal Health for actors
10 TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR VOICE HEALTHY
1. Stay hydrated:
Drinking plenty of water is essential for keeping your vocal cords lubricated and healthy. Aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day.
The vocal cords must be lubricated because they vibrate rapidly and repeatedly when we speak or sing. The vocal cords are two small muscles in the larynx (voice box) that are covered by a layer of mucus membrane. When we breathe in, the vocal cords are relaxed and open to allow air to pass through the trachea (windpipe) and into the lungs. When we exhale, the vocal cords come together, and the air passing through them causes them to vibrate, producing sound.
If the vocal cords are not adequately lubricated, the mucus membrane can become dry and irritated, which can cause discomfort or pain when speaking or singing. This can lead to vocal strain or injury, and over time, it can lead to more serious vocal problems such as vocal nodules or polyps (see below).
2. Warm up your voice:
Just as you would warm up your muscles before exercising, it's important to warm up your voice before using it extensively. This can include humming, lip trills, vocalises, and gentle vocal exercises. The goal is to gently stretch and awaken the muscles of the vocal cords, which will help create flexibility and prevent strain or injury.
3. Avoid vocal strain:
Speaking or singing loudly for extended periods of time can put a strain on your vocal cords, leading to hoarseness or even damage. To avoid this, try to use a moderate volume when speaking or singing, limit speaking extensively over loud music, and take frequent breaks if you're using your voice for an extended period.
4. Practice good posture:
Optimal spinal alignment is essential for proper voice production, as it allows the ribs and lungs to fully expand and the air to flow freely, allowing proper alignment of the larynx and vocal cords. It helps to distribute the weight of the body evenly, reducing strain on the muscles and joints, therefore reducing tension and increase resonance. Make sure you're standing or sitting up aligned with your shoulders relaxed and your chin level.
5. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption:
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can damage your vocal cords and increase your risk of developing vocal problems. It increases your pH acidity, reduces oxygen delivery to the body’s tissues, increases carbon dioxide levels in the blood, and damages lung tissue. Smoking and excessive alcohol also causes irritation and inflammation, dehydration, increased mucus production in the respiratory tract, reduces lung capacity, and increases risk of vocal fold injury.
6. Rest your voice:
If you feel vocal fatigue or discomfort, it's important to rest your voice. Try to avoid excessive talking or singing and take breaks when necessary. By reducing speaking, you allow your vocal cords to rest and recover.
7. Use proper breathing techniques:
Proper breathing is essential for good vocal production by providing the necessary support for the voice and helps prevent vocal strain and injury. It reduces tension and can increase stamina and endurance.
8. Avoid whispering:
Whispering can be damaging to the vocal cords. If you need to speak softly, try speaking at a low volume rather than whispering. Whispering can be damaging to the voice because it involves pushing air through the vocal cords in a forceful manner without allowing them to vibrate. When we whisper, we tense up the muscles around the vocal cords and force air through them at a high velocity, which can cause them to become dry and irritated. This can lead to tension and fatigue.
In contrast, a stage whisper is a technique used by actors to produce a whisper that can be heard by the audience without the use of a microphone. A stage whisper is produced by whispering loudly and projecting the sound from the diaphragm, rather than the throat or mouth. It’s important to note that while a stage whisper can be useful in certain theatrical contexts, it can still put strain on the voice and lead to vocal problems if not used correctly.
9. Use a humidifier:
Using a humidifier can help keep your vocal cords moist and healthy, especially during dry weather or in dry indoor environments.
10. Seek professional vocal help if necessary:
If you're experiencing persistent vocal problems, it's a good idea to seek the help of a speech therapist or other vocal health professional. They can assess your voice and provide exercises or other treatments to help improve your vocal health.
7 POSSIBLE VOICE INJURIES:
1. Vocal nodules:
These are small, callus-like growths that develop on the vocal cords. They're usually caused by vocal cord trauma, such as from excessive talking, yelling, or singing. Nodules can cause hoarseness, vocal fatigue, and difficulty hitting high notes when singing. They're typically treated with voice rest, speech therapy, and in some cases, surgery.
2. Vocal polyps:
These are fluid-filled or swollen areas that develop on the vocal cords. They can be caused by vocal abuse, allergies, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Polyps can cause hoarseness, a breathy voice, and a reduced vocal range. They're typically treated with voice rest, speech therapy, and in some cases, surgery.
3. Vocal hemorrhage:
This occurs when blood vessels in the vocal cords rupture due to excessive vocal strain. It can cause sudden hoarseness or voice loss.
4. Laryngitis:
This is an inflammation of the larynx, which can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, allergies, or vocal abuse. It can cause hoarseness, vocal fatigue, and difficulty speaking.
5. Muscle tension dysphonia:
This is a condition in which the muscles around the larynx become tense and interfere with normal voice production. It can cause hoarseness, strain, and difficulty speaking.
6. Spasmodic dysphonia:
This is a rare neurological disorder in which the muscles around the larynx spasm involuntarily, causing the voice to break or become strained.
7. Vocal fold paralysis:
This occurs when one or both of the vocal cords are paralyzed or partially paralyzed, which can cause hoarseness, breathiness, and difficulty speaking.
If you experience any persistent changes in your voice, such as hoarseness or vocal fatigue, it's important to seek the help of a medical professional or speech therapist to assess your vocal health and determine the best course of treatment.
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOCAL HEALTH FOR ACTORS:
1. Preventing vocal problems:
Vocal problems, such as nodules and polyps, can be caused by vocal abuse, such as excessive talking, yelling, or singing. As an actor, your voice is an essential tool for communication and expression. Taking care of your voice is essential for maintaining your ability to perform at your best!
2. Maintaining vocal range:
Your vocal range is the range of pitches that you can produce with your voice. Taking care of your voice can help you maintain, expand, and improve your ability to produce a wide range of sounds.
3. Vocal endurance:
Acting can require extended periods of speaking, singing, or projecting your voice. Many video game Voice Over performances require extensive shouting. Without good vocal health, an actor may experience vocal fatigue or strain, which can negatively impact their performance, possibly leaving them unable to produce sound.
4. Consistency of voice:
An actor's voice is often a key part of their brand or signature style. Maintaining good vocal health can help ensure that an actor's voice remains consistent over time, allowing them to be recognized and remembered by audiences. Alternatively, some actor’s signature is being able to change their vocal delivery drastically for each character the portray. Good vocal health will help maintain that flexibility, supporting a wide variety of options.
5. Range of vocal expression:
Actors must be able to express a wide range of emotions and vocal styles, from singing to yelling to whispering. Good vocal health allows an actor to have a full range of emotional expression without damaging their voice.
Hope these are helpful for you! Anything surprising for you? Anything you would add? 👇 Drop it in the comments below!