Preparing Your Voice For A Music Studio Recording Session
If you're a singer-songwriter, you know that composing and writing your songs is only a fraction of the work. You also have to book music studio sessions, practice your singing skills, and ensure your voice is in great shape when it's time to record.
Here are some tips for getting your voice ready for a recording session.
1. Warm up completely
Although audio editing can fix a lot of problems nowadays, it can't totally fix a tone that sounds tense or cracks because you haven't warmed up properly. Start with a gentle vocalization such as humming, then move on to scales and articulation warm-ups. Make sure to warm up both the higher and lower ends of your vocal register.
2. Use your voice gently
While warming up is important, saving your voice for the recording session is equally important. For at least a day or two before the session, avoid anything that could wear your voice out unduly (such as cheering at sporting events).
And on the day of the studio session, only warm up until your voice is ready; you may be tempted to squeeze in a practice session, but resist the temptation. You want to save your stamina for the studio.
3. Get your body moving
Your vocal cords are only one tiny part of what you need to warm up before a session. The muscles that allow you to sing freely and powerfully are found in your abdomen, between your ribs, and throughout your body; in fact, your entire musculoskeletal system needs to work well to give you good posture so you can have the best tone production.
Some of the most important muscles to warm up and stretch a bit before singing are the abdominals and any breathing muscles, like those in your back and sides. You may need a few side stretches and backbends to help those muscles get ready to relax so you can easily take deep breaths while singing.
Avoid strenuous exercise, though. Tired muscles can be just as bad as tense or under-energized muscles. In fact, physical exhaustion can mean your muscles are too tired for correct breath support, which in turn makes singing on-pitch more difficult.
4. Consider a throat spray or lozenge
While you may want to avoid products that contain drying menthol before a performance or recording session, some types of throat sprays or lozenges can be helpful. For instance, those designed to help relax your throat muscles without numbing may help you to achieve easier vocal production, which can ease tension and, in turn, mean that your voice doesn't wear out so quickly.
5. Avoid mucus-producing foods
Finally, avoid eating anything that could cause excess mucus in your mouth and throat. Some professional singers avoid foods like milk most or all the time, but you should at least avoid these types of things before a recording session.
These tips can help you get your voice ready in advance when you have a music recording studio session booked. For more information, reach out to a local studio, like Bass King Music Productions.