The research study of the most common factors affecting popular contemporary vocalist in maintaining a healthy voice and delivering successful live performances
Dissertation Question
Is it possible to discern the most detrimental extra-musical factors that affect contemporary vocalist and if so is the extent of their detriment be gauged in a live performance?
Effects of Extra-Musical Factors
The population of contemporary vocalist is faced by severe singing problems during live performances and are hence forced to seek professional care of their voice. Robert Bastian (MCCOY,2006),mentioned that vocalist should have that attribute of self-management and self-detection so as to point out some the key musical and extra-musical issues facing them during live performances and deterring efficient voice production. Vocalist are not supposed to be stoic and should seek immediate response in addressing these extra-musical factors affecting them (MCCOY, 2006). Extra musical factors like lifestyle, practice routine, eating habits, drinking habits, smoking among others if not addressed with urgency they may permanently ruin the musical life a given vocalist up to a point of no repair. Behavioral and lifestyle aspects like smoking and drinking (GIBBON, 1998), are easy to manage once pointed out. Unhealthy eating habits may eventually unfold abnormalities which may even require surgery to resolve. Damages to the vocal folds are very popular among vocalist due laryngitis (BENNINGER & MURRY, 2008), which is a lifestyle-facilitated condition.
Most vocalist use various drinks before a live performance (JAMESON, 2009). However these drinks interferes with their vocal chords which are crucial organs in production of quality voice (CURTIS, 2016). These tissues depend on moisture during voice production to enhance the clarity of the voice produced. The mucus membrane present in the throat should not be irritated. Alcoholic drinks being one of those commonly used by popular vocalist during performances destroys and irritates the mucus membrane (DAVID, 2008), thus making the vocalist unable to produce high notes where necessary during the live performance. In the more severe consequence alcoholic drinks are highly rated in causing voice box cancer (SILVERMAN, 2003). . Vocalist like Niven Smith encouraged vocalist to keep away fuzzy drinks like coke and lager and instead encouraged them to use vodka. Also consumption of alcohol interferes with the central nervous system which causes slurred voice production. In my dissertation I will point out the common extra-musical factors and to what level they deter successful live performances of contemporary vocalist (O'KANE, 2012).
References
MCCOY, S. (2006). Your Voice: An Inside View. [S.l.], Inside View Press
GIBBON, D. (1998). Spoken language system and corpus design. Berlin, Mouton de Gruyter.
JAMESON, T. (2009). Reach for the top: the musician's guide to health, wealth, and success. Breinigsville, PA, Vendera.
CURTIS, H. H. (2016). EFFECTS ON THE VOCAL CORDS OF IMPROPER METHODS OF VOICE PRODUCTION AND THEIR REMEDY (CLASSIC... REPRINT). [S.l.], FORGOTTEN BOOKS
DAVID, M. (2008). The new voice pedagogy. Lanham, Md, Scarecrow Press. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1214106.
O'KANE, P. (2012). Actors' voices: the people behind the performances. London, Oberon Books. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&AN=1026341.
BENNINGER, M. S., & MURRY, T. (2008). The singer's voice. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=2033756.
SILVERMAN, S. (2003). Oral cancer. Hamilton, Ont, B.C. Decker. http://online.statref.com/document.aspx?FxId=95&grpalias=.
