Practice Tips
Finale
Over the last five weeks, we’ve talked about several exercise physiology and motor learning principles of practicing. Today we conclude this series with a few frequently asked questions (and answers) regarding practice.
Question: When is the best time of day to practice?
The best time of day to practice is the time that you can regularly do so each day. You want to be sure you are well hydrated after sleeping or exercise, and you want to avoid singing immediately after a meal to avoid acid reflux (or GERD), but beyond that, find a time that enables you to practice thoughtfully and consistently. Consistency of practice is essential to making progress.
Question: Should I keep track of my practicing somehow?
Yes, keeping a practice diary is a great way to monitor how often you practice, how long you practice, and what you have done in each practice session. As SonoVoice continues to develop our device and our app, we will be building in practice tracking functions that will enable you and your voice team (voice teacher, singing voice specialist, speech therapist, laryngologist) to track and tailor make your practice regimen to best suit your needs.
Question: How can I make better progress beyond a practice diary?
One great way is to set goals. The best kinds of goals are just challenging enough that they don’t defeat you with difficulty but do make you stretch and grow. They are also Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely (just think of this acronym, SMART). It helps to develop several levels of goals, with a primary, long-term goal and several intermediate, shorter-term goals which are successive steps towards the long-term goal. You also need to schedule several times to assess how you are doing with meeting your goals.
Question: How can I know if I am making progress towards my goals?
As was mentioned before, as we continue to develop the SonoVoice device and app, they will provide you with feedback on your voice use. There are also some simple low tech feedback things you can do, such as recording your singing on your phone to monitor your voice production or using a mirror or your camera on your phone to check things like body alignment, freedom in your jaw, tongue, lips, and face.
As always, we wish you happy practicing!
Your SonoVoice Team
For further information on practicing, here are a few resources:
Chapters 6-7 from Ingo Titze and Katherine Verdolini Abbott’s book, Vocology: the Science and Practice of Voice Habilitation (Salt Lake City, UT: NCVS, 2012).
Chapters 3-5 of Lynn Helding’s book, The Musician’s Mind (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2020).
John Nix’s article, “Mindful Voice: Best Practices: Using Exercise Physiology and Motor Learning Principles in the Teaching Studio and the Practice Room,” in the NATS Journal of Singing, November 2017, vol. 74, no. 2.
Next Week: Taking a Break!
You are a vocal athlete!
Athletes put superhuman demands on the human body. They practice to stay in shape, get better and prepare for the event. No athlete expects to perform at their best without working on their technique, practicing skills, and preparing for the game.
The same goes for you as a vocal athlete. Practice will help you be prepared for your event: performance. Unfortunately, there’s no shortcut! If you want to be at your best as a singer, you’ll need to establish a regular vocal exercise and practice regimen.
In our weekly Vocal Fitness Friday email, SonoVoice's team of experts in science-based voice training will be sharing information about how the voice works, tips on keeping your voice healthy, and ideas for vocal exercises for peak vocal fitness.
