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Performance anxiety triggers a fight-or-flight response, which naturally speeds up your heart rate and shortens your breath. When your breathing becomes shallow and high, you can get light headed, compromising both your performance mindset and vocal support. The Tip: Reset Your Breath Before you speak or step on camera, use this simple pacing exercise to calm your nervous system and engage with lower, deeper breaths. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4, letting

It feels like a quick fix — but it's one of the most damaging things you can do to your voice. When you clear your throat, your vocal folds slam together forcefully. That repeated impact causes irritation and swelling — and here's the frustrating part: the irritation triggers more mucus production, which creates the urge to clear again. It's a cycle that feeds itself. So what do you do instead? - Swallow. It moves the mucus without the impact. - Sip water. Hydration thins

April Vocal TipWarm Up Your Voice (Even for Conversations)

If your voice is hoarse or strained from illness, rest it. Contrary to popular belief, whispering doesn't help—it actually strains your vocal folds more. Text or write notes instead. I know it’s frustrating and feels next to impossible, but pushing through vocal fatigue can turn a 3-day recovery into a 3-week problem. And you have music to make! So take it easy and then get back to it.

Use a Straw Grab a regular drinking straw and try this: hum or sing through it for a few minutes. This is called straw phonation, and it's one of the most effective warm-up exercises for your voice. The straw creates something called a "semi-occluded vocal tract"—which basically means it gently resists airflow in a way that reduces strain on your vocal folds. What you'll notice: Your voice feels easier, more resonant, and less effortful after just a few minutes. This

Sing Lying Down (Seriously) Give it a try. Lie flat on your back on the floor and sing a phrase or two. When you're lying down, you can't rely on tension or "pushing" from your shoulders and neck—your breath has to do the work. It's a quick way to feel what efficient support actually feels like when it's working. Bonus: it also helps you build awareness so that you can notice if you're holding unnecessary tension when you stand back up.