Protecting Your Voice: Why Straining to Match Others' Vocal Lines is Hazardous
When you’re singing along with someone else, it can be tempting to match their voice intensity, pitch, and style, especially if you’re a fan of their work. However, this tendency can be hazardous to your vocal health, potentially leading to vocal damage that might require medical intervention or even permanent damage.
Why Common Straining Can Be Hazardous
Many individuals encounter voice strain when trying to sing along with others. This isn’t uncommon, but it’s essential to understand the potential risks. Consistent strain on your vocal cords can lead to various issues, such as vocal nodules, vocal cord tears, and other conditions that might necessitate surgery or leave you permanently unable to sing.
Professional singers who either fell into this trap by imitating improper singing techniques or abused their vocal cords by singing incorrectly have also faced similar issues. A simple search on Google can reveal numerous celebrity cases where vocal health issues stem from improper vocal techniques.
The Importance of Proper Singing Techniques
Learning the basics of proper singing can significantly protect your vocal cords. Understanding these techniques can help you avoid strain and potential long-term damage. For instance, many professional singers who initially struggled with these issues or chose to abuse their voices invariably damaged their vocal cords either permanently or in a way that could be repaired with surgery.
Choosing Natural Singing Voices
It’s common for people to sing along with voices that are more natural to them. However, just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s good. Too often, common practices may indicate low standards or potential risks. If you find yourself frequently straining to match someone else’s vocal lines, consider finding singers whose styles are more natural and comfortable for you.
Given that many pop singers don’t have an extensive range, even if their style is more natural, their vocal lines might still not align with your own. Therefore, it’s crucial to focus on your own range and natural voice. Trying to adjust to someone else’s range can be challenging and potentially harmful.
Learning from Recordings: A Balanced Approach
Recordings can be a useful tool for learning a song’s pitch and rhythm, but it’s essential to approach them with caution. Many teachers advise against listening to recordings during the early stages of learning a song because it can lead to unnatural singing habits and picking up bad techniques.
Instead of relying heavily on recordings, use them as a supplementary resource. Listen to recordings to identify areas where you might be singing wrong pitches or rhythms. Pay attention to places where you need improvement but avoid using them as your primary method of learning. You can also listen attentively to gain inspiration for interpretation and technique, but generally speaking, you should aim to make the song your own.
For example, I'm currently working on the song 'Into the Fire' from Scarlett Pimpernell. The song includes several challenging phrases due to the quick consonants and rapid delivery, such as 'Let the shiver of it sting you! Fling into battle! Spring to your feet boys!' I listened to a few recordings to find out how other singers approached these parts, and it has helped tremendously. However, I don't sing along with them to avoid imitating improper techniques.
By following these guidelines, you can protect your vocal health while enjoying the pleasure of singing along with your favorite songs.