10 Vocal Tips For Teachers Valerie Bastien Teacher and Vocal Coach
Find your natural dynamic speaking voice and maintain it!
10 Vocal Tips For Teachers By: Valerie Bastien 1) Breathe:
Oxygen is the ultimate source of energy and essential for the proper functioning of your vocal instrument. Take long deep breaths filling up your lungs from the bottom up as often as possible. After your breathe deeply, apply a little bit of pressure from your diaphragm to project your voice effortlessly. To understand how to use your diaphragm correctly, pretend that you are blowing candles on a birthday cake. The downward motion felt in the abdomen is the diaphragm engaging. Just a little bit of pressure is necessary to support the voice. Let your belly out when inhaling and always push down slightly (not in) while exhaling. 2) Find Your Natural Speaking Voice Placement:
The placement and pitch of your voice should sit in the middle of your range. Be mindful of not speaking too low, too high, too nasal or with rasp. To find your natural dynamic voice, answer a few questions positively with “Mmmm�. There you go! That is your natural pitch. Try to speak at that level most of the time. 3) Slow Down Your Speech And Enunciate:
Take time to pause often in order to take long deep breaths. Slowing down your speech and carefully enunciating, allows your instrument to align itself and relax open its resonance chamber. 4) Stay Hydrated:
Drink 5 to 6 bottles of water a day to maintain the elasticity of your vocal cords. This is the daily recommended amount. Avoid drying agents such as caffeinated drinks and soda. Gargle water to hydrate and massage your throat instantly! 5) Listen To Your Voice And Body Actively:
Try to pick up on signs of vocal fatigue early and be pro-active. Rasp, the frequent need to clear the throat, change in tone, and soreness are evident signs of irritation. If you notice these, pause and take a moment to realign yourself. 6) Take Good Care Of Your Health:
Do not smoke or use drugs, eat healthy and regularly exercise. To protect yourself from catching the common cold or flu, wash your hands often and keep them away from your face. Consult your family doctor or an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist if vocal issues continue for more than 3 weeks or other health concerns.
7) Rest Your Voice:
Try not to speak between classes, especially when you feel vocal fatigue or you are getting sick. Stay home if you catch a cold or the flu and do not talk! 8) Silent Class:
Do not speak over your class. Demand silence from your students during teaching time. Effective classroom management skills are a must and necessary for vocal success in a classroom environment. 9) LOVE YOUR VOICE:
Learn to LOVE your voice! Completely let go of the ego and accept that it's ok to make mistakes and that we cannot be perfect all the time. Proper guidance, solid technique and daily practice should fix any concerns you may have. Determination and perseverance will take you a long way. Set realistic goals for yourself, create opportunities and go after what you want in life. Only YOU can do it. YOU can make it happen! 10) EducateYourself On The Speaking Voice:
Seek professional advice if problems persist; find your natural dynamic singing voice and maintain it. This is what I teach. If you cared enough to read my “10 Vocal Tips For Teachers”, I care enough to get you started. I would be happy to help you achieve your full vocal potential. Please let me know if you'd like further advice in the form of a lesson. I teach on Skype to students abroad using face-to-face video calling technology and from my home studio in Toronto, ON (Canada). Also check out my book “Voice Yourself in the Classroom” available here: VoiceYourselfInTheClassroom.com or TeachersPayTeachers.com I hope my “10 Vocal Tips For Teachers” were helpful to you. Continue to educate yourself on the voice and speak your heart out! Good luck! Valerie Bastien Teacher (OCT) and Vocal Coach