How to Strength Train your Voice Outside of Practice
You’ve heard me say it before, your voice is a muscle. But what does that mean exactly? Plainly put, your voice is made up of two muscles that vibrate together as air passes through them. These are called your vocal folds or vocal chords (yes, both are correct!) They are referred to as vocal folds because each muscle has multiple folds that meet together to create the sound that is your voice. If you’d like a more in depth explanation of the muscular structure of your vocal folds, you can check out this article here.
So, what does it mean to treat your voice as a muscle rather than just “your instrument?” It means (as stated before,) keeping it well hydrated, providing it with essential nutrients, and keeping it oxidized. If you want to learn more about how you can keep your voice hydrated, check out this previous Music Minute Monday here.
Obviously, practicing proper technique regularly will help strengthen your voice but, what about when you’re not practicing? There is such a thing as over-practicing and could lead to more problems down the line. Over usage of the voice can lead to exhaustion and potentially vocal injuries so, it’s important to know when to stop vocalizing. Another way to prevent injury is by making sure you’re feeding yourself nutrient-rich food. Yes, even singers need to eat healthy to maintain their voice! Increasing your protein intake is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall diet not just for overall health but also vocal health. Protein assists with the repair and building of muscles all over your body, including the muscles that create your voice! Another way is to eat water-dense foods such as cucumbers and watermelon to help keep your voice well hydrated.
If you haven’t already, I would highly recommend watching the Taylor Swift Era’s Tour on Disney+ or, go watch some videos on social media. The 3+ hour show is a ripe example of what exercising can do for your voice and your performance! Even if you aren’t a Swiftie, there is something to be learned from this tour. Taylor revealed in her Time Magazine interview that in order to prepare for this show, she trained for 6 months prior, including running on the treadmill everyday for the entirety of the set. Running slower for slow songs and faster for fast songs, all while singing. This not only helped improve her breath control, it also helped her voice get stronger. To be clear, I am not saying you should go hop on a treadmill for 3 hours everyday to improve your singing. As a runner myself, I certainly won’t be doing that! However, singing while doing a physical activity will help strengthen your overall vocal health. Whether it’s walking, running, yoga, strength training, whatever!
As you start to incorporate these tips into your daily routine, you’ll start to notice a difference in your voice, overall tone, and quality. The best way to hear your own progress is either by recording yourself week by week or, by checking in with a vocal coach! Sing up below to receive your free 15 minute virtual consultation!