In today’s episode, BAST founder Line Hilton returns to discuss the best vocal exercises for sick voices. Listen in to discover the differences between a sick voice and a well one. Line also explores the challenges of working with a student who is feeling below par or returning to singing following surgery.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Often we don’t hear or notice things in our own voices, so having a singing teacher who can point out issues such as breathiness and tension can be very useful.
- Vocal injuries can be very obvious, or quite subtle and more noticeable to the singer than to the external listener. This is why it’s important to have good communication with your students to find out exactly what they’re feeling.
- Line also discusses topics such as diet and hydration with students. It’s important to make sure that, where possible, the singer is as healthy and fit as possible and that issues such as reflux and allergies are addressed.
- When working with someone who’s post-op, the first thing Line will do is check that they have been cleared to return to singing. She will then ask them about the rehabilitation work they’ve been doing, for example, if they’ve been working with a vocal rehab coach or an SLT.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It’s always good to have a second pair of ears as well’
‘Extrinsic muscles are quite deep, and so you don’t necessarily realise one of those deeper muscles is being hyper contracted and overworking’
‘I’ll just gradually start to increase the range and get more challenging’
‘I’m always just checking in and changing one thing’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 62 How to Choose the Best Vocal Exercises with Line Hilton: open.spotify.com/episode/4dWJ0kU0g65yJIpgVVWP6I?si=5c4983e81ec84c57
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 73 The Best Vocal Exercises for Laryngeal Stability with Line Hilton: open.spotify.com/episode/434D7YZ7hWphm1ebzDi9ku?si=fc488543ded04559
- Dr. Jenevora Williams: jenevorawilliams.com
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 75 Vocal Rehabilitation for Singers with Dr. Jenevora Williams: open.spotify.com/episode/4MMPy91Bhy0u58P01PUXo9?si=b67efa92d1a84498
- British Association of Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM): bapam.org.uk
- Voice Care Centre: voicecarecentre.co.uk
- Vibrant Voice: vibrantvoicetechnique.com
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: open.spotify.com/episode/4R13bvilWjwQnd9WOfTiVc?si=12271e4e200446b7
- The Voice Clinic Handbook by Tom Harris & David Howard
- Clinical Voice Disorders by Arnold Elvin Aronson
- Anatomy of Voice by Blandine Calais-Germain & Francois Germain
- Laryngeal Endoscopy and Voice Therapy by Sue Jones & Carrie Garrett
- Principle of Voice Production by Ingo Titze
- Vocology by Ingo Titze and Kathrine Verdolini-Abbott
- The Voice Book by Kate DeVore and Star Cookman
- The Performer’s Voice by Meredith Dame-Bunch
- Vocal Health and Pedagogy (Volumes 1 & 2) by Robert T. Sataloff
- British Voice Association (BVA): britishvoiceassociation.org.uk
- National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS): nats.org
- Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA): pavavocology.org
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills, and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
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