8 More Ways to Ruin Your Singing Voice & Career
For a singer, the voice is the prime asset. It is the instrument through which art is expressed and communicated with the audience. Many singers are engaged unconsciously in practices that can harm their voices and even end careers. In the following blog, we shall review 8 common mistakes that can jeopardize someone’s vocal health and career. If you recognize these pitfalls and do your best to avoid them, you will keep your singing voice healthy and sustainable throughout your career.
- Failing to Warm-Up
One of the main mistakes singers make is to skip vocal warm-ups. Just as in athletics where one warms up the muscles before exercising, so must a singer warm up the vocal cords before operating them for the physical act of singing.
The improper way of singing can lead to straining, injury, or even permanent problems. Proper warm-ups get blood flowing to the vocal cords, help flexibility, and reduce fatigue. Begin with some light humming or lip trills, going on to some more strenuous exercises like scales and sirens.
Avoid This Mistake: Never sing “on a whim” without warming up. Always take at least 10-15 minutes to warm up.
Over-Singing or Pushing Your Voice
Many singers-in particular, tillers who are new to singing or inexperienced-think that “to be a good singer” means to sing as loudly or powerfully as possible. This has come to be known as “over-singing.” Over-straining their voice with unhealthy efforts strains all muscles involved in voice production and enervates a singer’s instrument, vocal cords, leaving them hoarse, tired, and completely damaged in the long run.
While it is good to sing with emotion and power, doing so destructively can lead to vocal nodules, hoarseness, or even paralysis of the vocal cords.
How to Avoid It: Always listen to your body and mind when it comes to vocal fatigue. If you are singing and feel discomfort or strain, stop and rest. Learn the importance of control in singing, so as not to overexert yourself.
3. Neglecting Vocal Rest
Like any other muscle in your body, your vocal cords too need rest for recovery after extensive use. Prolonged singing, speaking forcefully, or putting pressure on the voice without allowing it enough time to recover can lead to vocal strain, which then can cause permanent damage.
When you love your craft, you will toast over rehearsals or performances, but vocal rest should be the second half of this equation.
Avoid This Mistake: Rest your voice. Give it time to recover between rehearsals, performances, or recording sessions. Daily use of the entrust of vocal rest is just as critical as vocal maintenance.
- Ignoring Proper Hydration
Proper hydration is by far the most underrated aspect that bard can adopt to sustain their bodies and voices. Vocal cords, indeed, require moisture to function properly. Insufficient hydration may cause dry vocal cords, leading to irritation, and in turn, frustration in the singing due to strain.
Not hydrating affects the singers with dryness in the throat, hoarseness, or even vocal fatigue, greatly affecting the outcome of their performance.
Avoid This Mistake: Drink lots of water the whole day, especially before and after singing. Try to drink at least 8 cups of water in a day, and keep away from too much caffeine or alcohol, which can dehydrate your vocal cords.
Overuse of the Vocal Fry or Growling
Vocal fry and growling are techniques some singers choose to incorporate into their performances as embellishments or to obtain an edgier sound. Too much use or even misapplication of these techniques can lead to damage of the vocal cords. The growling or vocal fry is quite rough on the ears, putting an extra toll on the voice that could lead to hoarseness or, in worse cases, even injury of the vocal cords.
While the artistic application of these means can at times liberate the singer in certain genres (e.g., metal or rock), they must be handled with care and moderation.
How to Avoid This: Use vocal fry and growling only in moderation and demand good technique. Consult with a voice teacher or coach that can help assess whether you are using these techniques without damaging your voice.
Not Keeping Proper Posture
How well you sing is affected by the posture you maintain. Bad posture leads to shallow breathing, which deteriorates breath control and vocal production. Slouching or angling one’s head while singing could easily hinder optimal vocal cord function, resulting in strain or compromised range.
Good posture allows free airflow and lung expansion and resonance that would promote a healthy voice.
How to Avoid It: Stand or sit with the back straight; shoulder relaxed; neck aligned directly over the spine. Keep your head upright, not tilting forward or backward, to avoid putting tension on your vocal cords.
7. Cigarettes and Alcohol Abuse
Smoking and an unhealthy dose of alcohol can do nightmares to a singer’s voice. Smoking dries dehydrating the vocal cords, causing inflammation and a build-up of mucus, which can hamper singing. On the other hand, alcohol acts like a dehydrant, leading to tired and tense muscles of the voice.
Over time, both smoking and drinking will damage the vocal cords, making singing less clear, powerful, or even rangeful.
Do Not Commit This Mistake: Unless you wish to throw away a good voice in favor of a deep grave, excel in singing for another decade and go on with life-smoke! Even better-become sober, for a smoking singer finds happiness in the voice of sorrow. Choose to be healthier in your lifestyle for the benefit of vocal health.
- The Failure to Seek Professional Vocal Coaching
Many aspiring singers try to train themselves using online resources or mimic other singers. This often leads to poor technique and bad habits. Lack of professional guidance may prevent appropriate singing development, creating more stress on the voice.
A professional vocal coach can teach you how to use your voice efficiently, correct bad habits, and guide you toward improving your vocal range, power, and control. Working with a coach is especially important if you’re planning to pursue a serious singing career.
Avoid This Mistake: Invest in vocal lessons with a professional coach who can guide you through proper vocal techniques and help you avoid damaging your voice.
Conclusion
Your voice is your greatest instrument; hence, taking care of it should be foremost on your list. By eliminating these 8 mistakes, you will be able to maintain vocal health, practice singing properly, and have a long-lasting career in the music business. Do not forget that vocal training, hydration, and resting accompanied by good habits are crucial and will assist you in preserving your voice and realizing your potential as an artist.
At Maa Records, we appreciate the art of nurturing talent and supporting the artist in every possible way at any stage of their careers. With the latest technology and know-how, we help artists to polish their vocal talents and artistry and avoid mistakes that could jeopardize their singing careers. Contact us today and take a step further in your musical journey!