The Power of HUMMING, Vocal Training, and PYV via LEARNING!

The Power of HUMMING...

I was once told (during a training course) that the achievement of anterior vibrations (often during a resonant hum) is like a medicine dropper right onto the vocal folds. I’ve continued to teach this idea as quite true, and strongly believe in its substance (per research, patient experience, and personal experience). We do know that resonant humming/resonance produces a vocal fold posturing that is barely adducted and barely abducted, which reduces the collision forces at the VF level, results in improved ease of phonation, encourages VF tissue healing (including mitigation of swelling), redirects placement of voice to a more upward/outward focus, and encourages a more efficient (and economic) pattern of voice use. We also know resonant humming reduces muscle tension/supraglottic hyperfunction (as noted in the study featured above and several others). 

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A light/easy approach with airflow and a relaxed jaw posture will normally lead to the “best” resonant hum, but often a tongue-out posture and/or use of the infinity symbol movement while humming can be very beneficial. Additional progressions are helpful as well (especially “molm” chanting!), but the goal is always to find ways to progress this “feeling” to real life everyday voice use. 

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“A training protocol based on several /n/, /m/, and other resonant sounds and their smooth, and prolonged connections to vowels, seems to improve normal speech and speech of those with voice disorders. It may not matter how much time is spent on the sounds in speech, but instead a CHANGE in the OVERALL PATTERN OF VIBRATION THAT OCCURS WITH THE PRACTICE” (Titze, 2006).

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Also: The production of nitric oxide in the nasal sinuses can be increased by simply humming. (Patrick McKeown, The Oxygen Advantage)

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There are so many benefits and it’s SO EASY TO DO!! HUM ON MY FRIENDS, and try to carry over these feelings of EASE into your daily voice use... 

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#voxfit #voice #prioritizeyourvoice #pyv #humming #hum  #healthyvoice #vocalhealth #vocalwellness #vocalefficiency #vocaldynamics #speechpathologist #voicespecialist #fitnessinstructor #prioritizeyourhealth #letsgo #prioritizeyourvoice #vocalinstrument #occupationalvoiceuser 

Vocal Training for the HEALTHY VOICE...

Did you catch that?!!

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… in the HEALTHY VOICE.

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That means VOCAL TRAINING is IMPORTANT (essential, amazing, highly recommended…) in the HEALTHY VOICE for ACQUIRING skills, IMPROVING performance, MANAGING fatigue, and PREVENTING injury. 

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THAT MEANS even when/if nothing is “wrong” with your voice, there is a significant role that VOCAL TRAINING plays in helping YOU find (and maintain) your BEST VOICE. 

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Sooooo a GREAT way to #chooseyourbestvoice is to intentionally PRIORITIZE YOUR VOICE daily via simple and effective voice exercises and mindfulness related to your habitual vocal use patterns (and of course attention to things like vocal budget, vocal demand, vocal load, vocal schedule, hydration, etc etc etc)… Did you know that semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTEs) are widely used in the rehabilitation of voice disorders AND voice training for the purpose of warming and protecting the HEALTHY voice?! (Simberg & Laine, 2007; Titze, 2006). Andddd that STRAW PHONATION is one of the mainly used SOVTE types in healthy voice training? (Oliveira et al., 2022). Andddd that Straw phonation provides immediate positive effects on aerodynamic, electroglotticgraphic (EGG), and auditory-perceptual voice parameters in singers AND individuals with healthy voices (Tetik-Hacitahiroglu & Düzenli-Öztürk, 2023)?

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One of my main goals for everyone(!!!) is to learn how to PRIORITIZE YOUR VOICE more and more every single day… And this goal lends to the incredibly important fact that we can play an ACTIVE role in our own vocal SUCCESS by CONDITIONING our voice, whether it is healthy or dysphonic. ALSO reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: “Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness” (Edward Stanley). 

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How do you prioritize your voice? 

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#voxfit #voice #prioritizeyourvoice #pyv #sovte  #healthyvoice #vocalhealth #strawphonation #vocalwellness #vocalefficiency #vocaldynamics #speechpathologist #voicespecialist #fitnessinstructor #prioritizeyourhealth #letsgo #vocalinstrument #occupationalvoiceuser #research #voicetraining 

PYV via LEARNING!!

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Refer to the video featured above... and check out BOTH videos on the instagram post here.

...Do you know what you’re lookin at? 

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As an occupational and/or professional voice user, it is imperative that we look at the inside (of your laryngeal region) to determine the most appropriate next steps related to surgical and/or therapeutic management. 

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If you are a speech pathologist, and want to learn more about how to identify these pathologies, perform and interpret videostroboscopy, and/or expand your voice therapy-related toolbox (and determine how to most appropriately and effectively treat patients based on exam results), STAY TUNED because I have TWO extensive and comprehensive virtual courses coming out very soon on exactly these topics.  I’ve provided these courses LIVE for several small groups, but I have been asked SO much about if there could be virtual self-study courses… and I have decided to go ahead and make it happen. 

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So stay tuned for details, but I’M EXCITED they will be dropping in the very near future.!!

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Sidenote: My muscle tension release course will also undergo some updates and additions (free for all those who already have the course!)… ANDDDD the VOXFIT FitPro Voice Course is almost fully complete and will also be going LIVE in the very near future. It’s been really FUN providing seminars to several studios/groups, and now there will be another option of a self-study course available to everyone. Don’t worry, you can still schedule seminars for your studio/group that are live as well. Additionally, those who have taken the courses will have access to intermittent live Q&A sessions/zoom meetings, and those who take the stroboscopy course will have access to monthly virtual strobe rounds.

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FUN times ahead full of learning, communication, collaboration, and growth!!! Much love VOICEFAM.

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Anddd of course, always REMEMBER to PRIORITIZE YOUR VOICE! ... 

How are YOU prioritizing your voice today? And everyday? As an OCCUPATIONAL VOICE USER, it SHOULD be one of your top priorities! 

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What do you need to know to keep your voice healthy?  You should understand how the voice works, how to protect and care for your voice, and how to use your voice and entire vocal mechanism in the most efficient, effective, and dynamic ways possible.  
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I’m super PASSIONATE about this population of voice users (I’m one and most of you are too!), and am HERE TO HELP! Reach out with any questions, concerns, or if you’d like to work together. Email me at [email protected] 

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#voxfit #voice #prioritizeyourvoice #pyv #videostroboscopy  #healthyvoice #vocalhealth #strawphonation #vocalwellness #vocalefficiency #vocaldynamics #speechpathologist #voicespecialist #fitnessinstructor #prioritizeyourhealth #letsgo #prioritizeyourvoice #vocalinstrument #occupationalvoiceuser #research #alwayskeeplearning #growthmindset