Preaching and Your Throat (Voice)

Status
Not open for further replies.
J.L. Allen

J.L. Allen

Puritan Board Junior
Yesterday was a full day of preaching, teaching Sunday school, and leading an educational service in the evening (we don't have formal evening service at this time but an educational service). By the end of the day, my throat is spent.

I'm looking for tips and tricks to reduce vocal strain or to maintain health in my voice. What do y'all do before and after preaching? School teachers or those who have speaking engagements, please weigh in, too. Thanks!
 
Breathing with your diaphragm and speaking from your core rather than the throat is critical for starters. There shouldn't be really any more effort from your throat in speaking louder than speaking in general.
 
Not a preacher but a former broadcaster... I'll echo No Other Name, it takes some practice but diaphragm is the projector of the voice, not the throat.

Some people have naturally quiet voices, and those are more likely to get strained. Don't try to project beyond your throat's natural capacity. Use microphones when you can. Also a throat lozenge between services and a tea with honey can help.
 
Good advice above, and fix it quick! Young voice boxes are forgiving, but if you continue to project your voice from the throat, the accumulated damage will be permanent when you get old (ask me how I know!) :)
 
Johnathan, check out Alexander Technique practitioners in Chicago land and have a lesson or two. A very common (and difficult to diagnose) problem occurs when the head is not perfectly aligned on the spinal column. Your head weighs ten pounds, and is not meant to be held up by your neck muscles. Most even small misalignments there will result in extra pressure on the vocal cords. Also, make sure you are not drinking cold water during the day. Warm water (even hot water with fresh lemon and honey) will work much better to relax the throat. Also, take it easy on caffeine. Either have it early enough that you can somewhat counter it, or drink it in the middle of the afternoon. Furthermore, relax your tongue. A tense tongue usually translates to tense vocal cords.
 
I know this sounds strange, but the Marine Corps taught me how to project from my core. You can't yell "Oorah" property from just your head voice.
 
Thank you for the advice! I'll look into drinking hot or warm drinks (noncaffeine) and lozenges. As each one has stated, projecting from the throat as opposed the diaphragm is an issue.

Lane, I've had the pleasure of hearing you sing on multiple occasions and always note the clarity and projection. I'll certainly look into the place you recommended. I know for a fact that I have bad posture, so no doubt my head is held too far forward (which probably accounts for semi-frequent headaches).

So if I'm doing these things well, will my throat be void of strain or is there still some inevitable stress and subsequent hoarseness.
 
In addition to what others have said, which I agree with, I'm of the opinion that using your voice some during the week is helpful in building endurance.
Just like how you'd exercise other parts of your body regularly and build up strength rather than trying to run a marathon on day 1.
I don't feel any strain on my voice from teaching at church on the weekend, but I'm a teacher by trade and I teach all week.

It's also helpful to stay well-hydrated, and I drink a tall glass of water (not coffee!) before speaking.
 
J.L. Allen said:
Thank you for the advice! I'll look into drinking hot or warm drinks (noncaffeine) and lozenges. As each one has stated, projecting from the throat as opposed the diaphragm is an issue.

Lane, I've had the pleasure of hearing you sing on multiple occasions and always note the clarity and projection. I'll certainly look into the place you recommended. I know for a fact that I have bad posture, so no doubt my head is held too far forward (which probably accounts for semi-frequent headaches).

So if I'm doing these things well, will my throat be void of strain or is there still some inevitable stress and subsequent hoarseness.
Click to expand...
My guess is that your posture is probably the highest contributing factor (and getting that fixed will definitely help with the headaches, because bad posture means you aren't getting as much blood (and therefore oxygen) to the head as you need). There might be other factors, such as how you are using the voice, as well as nutritional things. I don't know what your diet is, of course, but if there is a high sugar or white flour intake, that is death to vocal cords. Some people think milk is bad for vocal cords. It isn't. It's more the temperature (cold is not usually helpful, but can be counteracted, if you can warm up the voice well).
 
J.L. Allen said:
Yesterday was a full day of preaching, teaching Sunday school, and leading an educational service in the evening (we don't have formal evening service at this time but an educational service). By the end of the day, my throat is spent.

I'm looking for tips and tricks to reduce vocal strain or to maintain health in my voice. What do y'all do before and after preaching? School teachers or those who have speaking engagements, please weigh in, too. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Pay attention to where your voice resonates. If it's primarily in the throat, learn to make it primarily in the head/sinuses. Singing lessons and vocal exercises can be helpful here.

Another post mentioned 'head voice.' Head voice refers to resonance, not projection, and it is a good thing. Project from the chest, and resonate in the head.
 
J.L. Allen said:
Yesterday was a full day of preaching, teaching Sunday school, and leading an educational service in the evening (we don't have formal evening service at this time but an educational service). By the end of the day, my throat is spent.

I'm looking for tips and tricks to reduce vocal strain or to maintain health in my voice. What do y'all do before and after preaching? School teachers or those who have speaking engagements, please weigh in, too. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Preaching from diaphragm, working on posture, practicing breathing -- all great advice. Singing Valjean's Soliloquy from Les Mis is my favorite voice warm up/work out. It's a good way to practice enunciation and breathing, and it'll build your endurance.


And getting caught is only mildly embarrassing.
 
If you feel that you want something else, why, then grow your beards! A habit most natural, scriptural, manly, and beneficial. One of our brethren, now present, has for years found this of great service. He was compelled to leave England on account of the loss of his voice, but he has become as strong as Samson now that his locks are unshorn.
 
Going to offer a completely different approach.

Don't do it all yourself. Try to identify some men that some of the vocalization can be pushed off on.
 
I second Lane's advice about caffeine and would add alcohol. I don't drink either on Saturdays or Sunday mornings. I also use Ricola drops. On Sunday, for example, I preached twice in the morning, conducted a member interview, and preached in the evening (and led all three services). It was a long day.

A friend of mine also said that some acting professionals put Ricola drops in hot water and drink it as tea.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
Deep Throat 2005
Replies
1
Views
2K
LadyFlynt
LadyFlynt
a mere housewife
  • Locked
Voice of Peace
Replies
1
Views
2K
Irishcat922
Irishcat922
F
  • Locked
Movie Trailer Voice Man
Replies
2
Views
2K
FrielWatcher
F
N
  • Locked
Voice In The Wilderness Radio
Replies
0
Views
1K
NoutheticCounselor
N
P
  • Locked
Voice of the Martyrs troubles
Replies
14
Views
8K
Edward
Edward
Back
Top