Sara Giita is no stranger to treatment for strained vocal cords and other artist injuries. She has dedicated the last ten years to teaching ergonomic injury preventative technique in her private piano and voice studio.
At the age of just 19 as a piano major, Sara Giita, suffered a playing related repetitive strain injury. She consulted different healers and regained her ability to play through a variety of healing techniques. Today she gives us some pro tips on dealing with symptoms and treatment for strained vocal cords and other artist injuries.
Strategies to Prevent Injury to Your Voice
- Understand the anatomy of what is going on with your voice
- Keep your voice in great shape
- Think of vocal performance like running a marathon
- Fill lungs to about 80% and use your diaphragm efficiently for a steady and easy airflow
- Avoid tonal models and trying to sing like someone else
Tips for Instrumentalists to Avoid Injury
- Take breaks while practicing to avoid injury
- Most injuries are caused my inefficient repetitive movement
- It doesn’t count as a break when you put down your instrument and pick up your phone
- Incorporate stretching into your practice routine
Healthy Habits for Practicing and Performance
- Be present with your voice or instrument as you are playing
- Isolate singing and playing your instrument so
you can focus on your body when you practice
- Paying attention to your body throughout the day is a key ingredient to playing in a healthy way
- Be aware of your posture and alignment
Healing Chronic Pain Around Singing or Playing Your Instrument
- Look for specialists that work with performing artists
- Physical therapy can help with alignment
- The Alexander Technique – retraining your movement
- Body Mapping gets into the mechanics of how you use your body when you play your instrument
Books
What Every Pianist Needs to Know about the Body
What Every Musician Needs to Know about the Body
ABOUT HOST BREE NOBLE
Bree Noble is an entrepreneur, musician and speaker. She founded Women of Substance Radio, an online radio station that promotes quality female artists in all genres, in 2007. She launched the Women of Substance Music Podcast in November 2014, a 5 day per week show which promotes Independent female artists. Her podcast has hit #1 in New & Noteworthy for the Music, Arts and Society & Culture categories and #4 Audio Podcast on all of iTunes. She draws on her extensive experience running her own music business, both as a solo musician and as an Industry professional, to train and mentor other female musicians. Learn more about the station, the show and the artists at www.wosradio.com. Connect with Bree on Twitter @BreeNoble or on Facebook or on Instagram @breenoblemusic
you can focus on your body when you practice
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