Teachers and the Voice: Warming Up in the Car

June, 2024

As a music educator with six years of experience, I've come to understand the profound impact teaching has on vocal health. Even with my training as a vocal health first aider and certified vocal coach, I've experienced the common pitfalls many teachers face—overusing and straining my voice.

Reflecting on my recent vocal health challenges, I've realised just how taxing teaching can be on the human voice. On average, teachers speak up to 33,000 words a day, significantly more than the average non-teaching adult, who speaks between 7,000 and 20,000 words daily. It's no wonder that teachers worldwide are at higher risk of vocal strain and injury.

While it’s wise to consider limiting vocal usage, it's equally important to prepare your voice with simple warm-ups and exercises before the school day begins. Just like any muscle, your vocal cords need to be warmed up and stretched to handle the demands of the day.

With this in mind, I’ve outlined a handful of simple exercises that teachers can do in the car on the way to work:

1. Lip Trills

Exercise: Close your lips gently and blow air through them, creating a vibrating sound. Start at a comfortable pitch and sustain the trill for a few seconds. Then, move up and down your vocal range with the trills.

Duration: 5-10 minutes.

2. Humming

Exercise: Begin by humming at a comfortable pitch with your lips closed and teeth apart. Slowly move up and down a five-note scale (e.g., C-D-E-F-G-F-E-D-C). Focus on the vibrations in your lips and nasal cavity.

Duration: 5 minutes.

3. Sirens

Exercise: Start on a low pitch and smoothly glide up to your highest comfortable pitch, then back down without breaking the sound. Imagine a siren sound, like an emergency vehicle. Repeat this 5-10 times.

Duration: 5 minutes.

4. Tongue Twisters

Exercise: Start by saying a tongue twister slowly and clearly, such as “Red leather, yellow leather.” Gradually increase your speed while maintaining clarity. Repeat with other tongue twisters like “Unique New York” and “She sells seashells by the seashore.”

Duration: 5 minutes.

5. Yawning and Sighing

Exercise: Take a deep breath, yawn widely to stretch the throat, then sigh audibly on an “ahhh” sound. Let your voice glide down naturally in pitch. Repeat this 5-10 times.

Duration: 5 minutes.

6. Jaw Relaxation

Exercise: Gently massage your jaw muscles with your fingers, then perform a series of jaw-dropping exercises by opening your mouth wide and closing it slowly. Ensure your tongue stays relaxed and at the bottom of your mouth.

Duration: 5 minutes.

7. Breathing Exercises

Exercise: Sit or stand comfortably with good posture. Inhale deeply through your nose, expanding your abdomen. Hold for a count of 4, then exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 6. Repeat this cycle 10 times.

Duration: 5 minutes.

8. Vocal Straw Exercise

Exercise: Take a regular drinking straw and hum or blow through it while creating a gentle “oo” sound. Start at a comfortable pitch and glide up and down your range. This creates back pressure to reduce vocal tension.

Duration: 5 minutes.

By incorporating these vocal warm-ups into your daily routine, you can help protect your voice and ensure it remains strong and healthy throughout the school year. Remember, your voice is one of your most valuable tools as a teacher—take care of it!