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To: "VOCALIST" <vocalist>
Subject: vocal fatigue
Date sent: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 14:25:10 -0800
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Hi Stephanie:
I am a voice instructor, piano teacher, dancercize teacher,
singer,writer and co own my own business with my best friend.
Fatigue can happen to everyone.
Currently we teach 6 days a week and run our boutique/gift
shop as well. I have approx. 50 private students as well as
classes in drama and dancercize which means that I have to
use my voice in one way or another for hours each day.
I find that the summer time is the ideal time for me to get the
needed vocal "rest" that I need but during the year I can
always tell if I'm over doing it because my voice begins to
sound tired, the high notes do not "sing" with ease and I
occasionally even get "dry" voice.
I try very hard to get 8 hours sleep every night and to drink
a pure juice like fresh orange or V8 splash which seems to
be quite good. Also, LOTS and LOTS of water.
I did not have nearly as much noticeable fatigue in my voice
when I taught but did not run a boutique as well. I believe that
the added talking on the phone or to customers in the store
and the ordering of stock etc etc etc have begun to show.
I have dropped out of a choir in which I sang and I don't do
church music every Sunday as I did last year to alleviate some
of the extra usage of the voice.
I have begun to warm up more often through out the day and
for a bit longer in the morning so as not to damage a sometimes
tired voice.
I'd be interested in hearing more about your fatigue. After all,
if it's ego that prevents some from discussing it then they will
lose out.
Jacqueline