Do You Need a Technical Tune Up? Here’s 10 Tips:

Nov 14

Technical Tune Up Voice Package — If you’re having trouble just remember it’s merely a pit stop- you haven’t lost your voice. You just need a tune up!

Whether you’re out of practice post-covid, you started a new job, or just want to hone in some skills all of us could use a technical tune up! Below I’m giving you ten tips for when you’re feeling rusty. I also created a package for singer’s looking to hone in this skills! Go to https://www.interludemus.com/shop/p/technical-tune-up-gift-card to get yourself or a friend a tune up! Or start by using these tips below:

Find a Routine

Sing in the Shower- Get Into a Routine — Singing in the Shower is Better Than Not Singing At All- Plus the Acoustics are great in there too!

It’s better to practice fifteen minutes a day than not at all. It’s better to sing in the shower or on your morning commute if that’s all the time you can give. Find ways to consistently sing. Singers often feel like if they don’t have an hour to practice it’s not worth it- but that’s a lie. You will progress more with steady, short practice sessions than with occasional marathon sessions. Keep consistent, and start short when you are out of practice.

2. Warm Up Everyday (even if you’re not singing)

Warm Up Check List Singing — For More Warm Ups Head to our FB, instagram or youtube channel and look up “Warm Up Wednesday” or “Technique Tuesdays”

There are lots of ways to warm up. If you have favorite you learned in choir or elsewhere use those! Personally I like to start with semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (SOVT). You could also warm up by humming a simple song.

3. Get into a habit of cooling down

Cool Down Using Straw Phonation — Do you cool down your voice after heavy periods of speaking and singing?

Just like you ought to stretch or walk after vigorous workout it’s important to cool down your voice after speaking or singing. Our vocal folds (AKA vocal cords) are muscles too! As vocal athletes we need to take care of them.

4. Take care of your body first

Your body is your instrument.

Sleep.
Eat well.
Exercise.
All that stuff you know to do….
Take care of yourself mentally and physically if you want to sing well.

5. Learn to LOVE SOVTEs

Semi Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVT)

Any exercise that partially blocks off your mouth or nose can create positive back pressure to help your vocal folds close more cleanly. This trains you to sing more efficiently and can help you improve range without strain. Some examples of SOVTs include:
Straw phonation
Bubbling into water
Nasals (humming, /n/, /ng/ etc)
Fricatives (/z/, /v/ etc.)
Lip trills
Tongue Rolls
Raspberries
If you want to learn more about SOVTs check out our video series on facebook

6. Find Accountability

Find Ways to Keep Accountable

**We Sing Best in Community**
Sing with friends
Join a choir
Find a karaoke night (in person or virtual)
Commit to posting on youtube or tiktok
Ask someone to check in with you

7. Be Content With Where You Are At

You might not always like how you like or how you sound… but love it anyways

Respect where you are on your journey. Love your voice today even if you think it sounded better yesterday. You don’t have to be where you want to be to love your voice.

8. Record Yourself

Get into the habit of recording yourself and listening back

We learn a lot when we hear ourself sing. You might find yourself overly critical at first, but slowly you can listen from a place of experimentation rather than cynicism.
Having recordings of yourself over time also helps you notice when you’ve improved. It’s easy to not notice slow and incremental progress. I like to have records to see where I’ve come from.

9. Get Back Into Lessons

A Good Teacher Can Make All the Difference

People take lessons in all genres and at all levels. Whether it’s weekly lessons or an occasional drop in having the outside ear of a professional teacher can help. They can recommend exercises and a “vocal workout routine.” If you are interested in taking voice lessons with Ella checkout interludemus.com/studiohome

10. If It’s Not Getting Better- Get Scoped!

Vocal Fatigue and Pain Isn’t Normal

If you are feeling itching, tickling or scratching when you sing you might be dealing with a vocal injury, misuse or overuse. You shouldn’t feel hoarse or lose your voice by the end of the day. If you are experiencing some of these symptoms speak to an ENT or Otolaryngologist who works with singers. They may want to scope your throat or send you to a Speech Language Pathology (SLP) to give you the tools and knowledge you need to keep your voice healthy.

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Ella Mc. Geiger

Ella McGaunn Geiger is a voice teacher at Interlude Music, a company she co-owns with her husband Devereux Geiger. Ella is passionate about helping clients find their voice. Her approach to teaching combines voice science, acting/storytelling methods, problem solving skills, and confidence-building for greater independence as a singer. Ella double majored in Music and Linguistics and minored in Speech Language Pathology at Gordon College where she was the first to graduate with Departmental Honors in Music. She was awarded this honor for her research into the evolution of contemporary and classical singing pedagogy culminating in a lecture recital and thesis. Ella has years of experience working with students with disabilities and strives to create inclusive spaces for all her students and colleagues so that they can joyfully share their talents with the world. When not teaching Ella can be found performing improv comedy, drinking tea or singing in churches in the Boston area.