Vocal Pacing
coaches, clergy, and occupational voice users often lead to voice
The vocal clock
We all have a “vocal clock” that starts
ticking the minute we start our day.
We have a limited number of hours and
minutes of safe voice use on that clock
before the vocal folds are at risk for
being injured.
Certain intense vocal behaviors and
styles take more minutes off the clock
than others. Examples include yelling,
loud speaking, and singing (especially
loud singing or belting). Prioritization
is key. If teaching or singing is most
important to you, then you may need
to reduce other kinds of voice use.
Vocal pacing at work
Vocal pacing means taking voice
breaks—both short and long—during
your workday, between workdays,
and on weekends or vacations. But
resting your voice outside of work
will not be enough. Finding voice
breaks during the workday is essential
to avoiding a voice injury. These
suggestions will help:
QQ Work with your voice therapist to
develop safe, efficient speaking
technique.
The high vocal demands of singers, performers, parents, teachers,
problems from overuse. A voice injury from overuse is like a
repetitive motion injury, similar to carpal tunnel syndrome.
When we speak and sing, our vocal folds vibrate very quickly. If
we speak or sing a lot as part of our job, our vocal folds can vibrate
a million times or more during a workday. We use vocal pacing to
balance voice use, and voice rest to avoid or recover from injury.
QQ Plan time in advance for voice use and QQ Always use amplification in situations
voice rest. Professional voice users such as lecturing or teaching
may need to plan weeks or months in engagements, coaching, performing
advance. for a large audience, or directing
musical rehearsals.
QQ Color-code different types of voice use
by intensity or level of priority. QQ Decrease voice use in one-on-one
communication: shorten phone calls;
QQ During the workday, block out several
use e-mail or text messaging; and avoid
5-15 minute periods for voice rest.
talking too loudly on cell phones.
During voice rest, you can do any task
that does not require talking.
Vocal pacing outside of work
QQ Use at least part of your lunch break or
other scheduled breaks for voice rest. Minimize attending social events in
noisy places. Schedule activities that
QQ Teachers should avoid long,
are less vocally demanding, such as
uninterrupted lectures, which tire the
watching a movie.
voice quickly. Break up lectures using
other teaching strategies. If you must be in a noisy environment,
get close to the person you are talking
QQ Delegate vocally demanding tasks to
to, or go to a quieter setting so you
others whenever possible.
won’t have you raise your voice.
QQ Minimize yelling to get someone’s
When possible, arrive late at social
attention. Use nonverbal alternatives
gatherings and leave early. Master the
such as bells, whistles, or clapping.
art of the brief appearance.
QQ Minimize talking when emotionally
Avoid yelling at sports and spirit events.
upset or physically exhausted.
Show your support by clapping, using
QQ If you are ill or your voice is tired, a noisemaker or pompoms, or holding
cancel nonessential speaking or social up a sign.
commitments.
duke voice care center
Vocal Pacing
Vocal pacing for singing
Work with your singing voice therapist
or singing teacher to develop efficient
voice production. Singing with
technique that is appropriate for your
singing style is imperative for long-
lasting vocal health.
College music majors should prioritize
academic voice requirements such
as lessons, required ensembles, and
practice, and should carefully consider
their academic vocal load before
joining extracurricular ensembles
and activities.
QQ Always warm up your voice before
rehearsing or performing.
QQ Try to rest your voice for one day before
and after a big performance.
QQ Know your limits for vocal stamina,
loudness, and pitch.
QQ Do not push through a performance or
rehearsal if you’re sick or feeling vocally
fatigued.
QQ “Mark” whenever possible. “Marking”
means singing through a rehearsal with
lower vocal intensity than you would
use in performance. For example, do
not always sing full voice in staging or
choreography rehearsals.
QQ Minimize scheduling social/public/
media events and activities around a
performance so you can devote all of
your mental and vocal energy to your
performance.
QQ Minimize recreational singing—in the
car, around the house, etc.
Information: 919-681-4984 Appointments: 919-684-3834 800-385-3646 (toll-free)
Make your practice time count
Schedule individual practice on a
regular basis, and break practice time
into smaller units. Instead of practicing
60 minutes three times a week, practice
30 minutes six times a week.
Avoid using your voice learning the
music. Reap the benefits of mental
practice: think through the song while
listening to a recording; use unvoiced
lip trills or hissing to practice breath
flow while listening to or thinking
through the music; and memorize
and interpret the song mentally before
singing through the song.
Plan which songs and which parts
of songs need the most work, and
allocate your practice time accordingly.
Rather than repeatedly running
through an entire song, listen to or
think through the song three times
and then sing it once.
LOCATIONS
Duke Otolaryngology—
Head and Neck Surgery
Duke Clinic 1F, Yellow Zone
40 Duke Medicine Circle
Durham, NC 27710
Make vocal pacing work for you
Experiment with the strategies on this
sheet to devise a plan that works with
your specific needs. Keep in mind that
finding your best vocal pacing plan
may involve plenty of trial and error.
If you experience a setback because
you overdid it, assess the cause of the
setback and decide how to avoid it
in the future.
Effective vocal pacing works best when
paired with excellent vocal hygiene.
Work with your doctor or voice
therapist for optimal vocal hygiene:
stay well hydrated; get treatment for
allergies and acid reflux; avoid smoking
and secondhand smoke; and avoid
excessive throat clearing.
Consult a speech-language pathologist
who specializes in voice disorders for
more information on effective vocal
pacing that fits your lifestyle.
Duke Otolaryngology
of Raleigh
Duke Medicine Plaza
3480 Wake Forest Road
Suite 404
Raleigh, NC 27609
9964 6/13