As I rapidly approach the ripe old age of 40, I’ve been on a bit of a fitness kick; going to the gym, taking classes, lifting weights, watching my nutrition, and generally trying to be ‘good’ (whatever that means). Good, of course, doesn’t mean perfect, because it’s important to have rest days and lead a full and interesting life. But we try!
I’ve noticed a lot of parallels between my time at the gym and my time as a voice coach, and I suppose many of them would be true about learning any new skills. Voice work in particular can seem quite mysterious, because we see it as a talent rather than a skill. Just like building muscles and getting better at using them, though, voice work is a matter of time, dedication, and technique!
Warm-up
Warming up is the step of voice practice that most people skip or do a short version of. The same is true at the gym! Here’s the thing though; the warm-up isn’t just injury prevention, it’s activating and connecting to the correct muscles to get a job done. Just like it’s possible to squat without your glutes firing properly, it’s possible to sing without all of your muscles coordinating ideally. It might even sound nice! But if your goal is longevity, flexibility, and control… Take the time to have a check-in!
Proprioception
After the warm-up, keep your attention on how it feels when you sing or speak! Proprioception (the sense of where different bits of your body are and what they’re up to) is important for everyone trying to do voice work, but trans people struggle with it a lot. This is often because we consciously dissociate from our bodies, thinking of ourselves as a brain in a jar, a robot, etc, and because we’re more likely to have common co-occurring conditions like ADHD, EDS, POTS, and autism. You can really hurt yourself at the gym simply by lifting a heavy weight without the correct posture; in the same way, it’s really easy to strain a voice, if you aren’t noticing how things feel as you do them.
Holistic approach
If the word ‘holistic’ makes you want to throw up in your mouth a little, I have bad news; the voice is connected to everything. Muscles, cartilage, bones, hormones, emotions; it all has an effect. Like my long list of things I’m doing to try to get healthier, voice work isn’t an isolated switch we can just flick, it’s integrated with all of your other systems. All the practice in the world won’t help if you’re chronically dehydrated, riddled with anxiety, or have never taken a deep breath in your life. At the risk of sounding patronising: drink enough water, do a bit of exercise, get enough sleep, take your meds, cut back on bad habits, and cultivate a support network. It’s all very much the boring part of being a human, but your voice and your body will both thank you.
Slow and steady
Wouldn’t it be nice if I could spend a few weeks at the gym picking up heavy things and then enjoy a lifetime of bulging muscles? I live in hope, honestly. Generally, though, slow and steady wins the race. With health we look at creating habits and routines that are sustainable in the long term, because that’s what makes the difference. Voice work? Yep, exactly the same. We can learn most of the basics in that first handful of lessons, but integrating new vocal habits into your everyday life is a longer project… And one with big payoffs!
Don’t compare yourself to others
I confess, one aspect of toxic masculinity I seem doomed to experience is the urge to pick up the heaviest thing. Sometimes I manage it, but sometimes there’s just no way it’s happening without a lower back injury. And you know, I quite like my basically functional spine; it makes a lot of things easier than they could be. It’s so tempting though, when someone who looks roughly my size picks up a bigger weight than me… And it’s so galling when I can’t do it!!!!
You know that one lady who had a masc voice one day and then showed up the next with a perfect femme voice? The one who makes all of your gradual efforts seem fruitless and doomed to failure because you just don’t have the knack? If you’re thinking of the same person I am, she spent three years in drama school doing voice work every day and coached her femme voice for ages before debuting it. If you’re not thinking of the same person… Scratch a little deeper under the surface. Nobody is born with a perfectly flexible and controlled speaking or singing voice, we all develop our skills over time. And sure, maybe some folks have an easier instrument than others to work with, but nothing is free in voice work.
PT/Physio/Coach/SLT
The last interesting point of comparison is: who do you see for what? At the gym, if you need help doing an exercise correctly, want to know what exercises to do for a particular outcome, need some motivation, or want to know how the equipment works, you ask a coach or a personal trainer. If you’re in ‘It hurts when I do this’ territory, though, you want a physio. Voice care is much the same; voice coaches can help guide you through exercises to meet your goals, motivate you, and provide context. This is true whether you’re learning to sing, modifying your voice to align more with your gender, or anything else. If it hurts, or you or your teacher suspect there’s a problem, you want an SLT (SLP in America), or an ENT. Speech Language Therapists (or Pathologists) are trained in all kinds of medical issues, including swallowing disorders, muscle tension dysphonia, recovering from surgery, injury, or a medical event, as well as speech issues like stuttering or other impediments. Ear Nose Throat doctors can go one step further if there’s a mechanical issue… and they can often stick a camera down there and show you what your vocal folds are up to, which is pretty neat. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor for a referral if you think you might need that extra bit of help.