Tool Time articles have detailed many different tools in the past five. This tool time is going to talk about a very important aspect of vocal hygiene: the voice team. I’m sure many of you have dealt with losing your voice or overusing your voice and wondering what to do. I hope by the time you finish reading through this article that you have an idea of where to look for help and how to maintain good relationships with all the stakeholders in your voice.
Disclaimer: this is NOT an advertisement, and I haven’t been paid to tell you to look into any person or group. I want everyone to sing healthily and for their entire lifetime.
Why Do You Need a Team?
As much as singing is a solo event or collaborative with instruments, we are dealing with a fairly non-touchable mechanism. Because we are always adjusting for singing, we have just done, we need a team of people to help us maintain our voice to the highest level. I am not saying that you must have these individuals to stay healthy but knowing who to look for and when are huge in your vocal journey. The people I recommend having a working relationship with are a voice teacher or coach, a speech language pathologist (SLP), and an otolaryngologist.
The Voice Teacher and/or Voice Coach
This person is a no-brainer. A voice teacher who understands your voice and can help you progress to your achievable goals is the first person we have on our voice discovery journey. This person or these people are there to help shape the hows of your singing and to some extent vocal use. You must be able to trust their guidance but also have a relationship where you can discuss and question suggestions they give. Every voice teacher and coach should be able to explain exactly why they give you a certain instruction. Be vigilant in who you trust with your development. Teachers should generally have a working knowledge of vocal anatomy and physiology and some acoustics. They should also be listening for potential issues in the voice and be connected to other people on your team should something happen to your voice. Voice teachers and coaches are your second set of ears, and they must be ears you can rely on.
The Speech Language Pathologist
Sometimes teams will skip the SLP and go straight to the otolaryngologist. I believe an SLP is vital because they are often easier to see quickly and can do some methodical checks to see if you need further intervention. SLPs can scope you and check on your vocal function. I recommend students get scoped every couple years to see where their physical baseline is. Knowing what your vocal folds look like when they are healthy will help you understand what potential pathology you could have. If the SLP sees something concerning, they will move you to the otolaryngologist for deeper review.
The Otolaryngologist
If you don’t have an SLP, the otolaryngologist can give you a scope and help diagnose any issues you have. If you need vocal surgery or any more extreme treatment, these are your people. Technology has progressed to a point where many different treatment options are available. Along with treatment by an otolaryngologist, the SLP and voice teacher can work in tandem to get you back to normal voice use.
Along with these great people, having supportive colleagues, friends, and family are invaluable when going through the vocal journey. Do not set out alone on your vocal adventure. Make sure you have a team you trust on your side.
