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Healthy Voices, Effective Teaching: The Basics of Vocal Health for Educators

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Teacher in front of chalkboard


What is an educator if not for their voice?  Your voice carries your teaching style, maintains classroom control, and fosters a strong working relationship between you and your students..  Many would agree a smooth, strain-free voice is just as important as that first cup of coffee to ensure the day goes smoothly.  Maintaining good vocal health leads to vocal stability and longevity throughout your teaching career.  Today we’re taking a brief dive into the mechanics of voice production and why you need to be prioritizing your vocal well-being.


Voice is one of the quickest and most efficient forms of communication humans have.  It requires the precise coordination of over 100 muscles spanning across three subsystems3: respiration, phonation, and resonance.



  • Respiration (Breathing)

Good respiration is the foundation of any great voice.  Without enough air in your lungs, your voice will sound breathy, rough, and weak.  Air is the fuel for your voice.  I often share this analogy with patients I treat for voice disorders:  

Abdominal breathing

Imagine your lungs were like the fuel tank in your car.  If you only fill your tank ¼  full, how far will you be able to drive?  If you fill your tank all the way full, how much farther would you be able to go?  It’s the same with your breathing.



Abdominal breathing (also known as “belly breathing” or “diaphragm breathing”) allows for the greatest expansion of your lungs and ensures you are working with a good supply of air to craft your best voice.


  • Phonation (Vibration)

Your larynx, or voice box, houses your vocal folds (better known as vocal cords).  When the vocal folds vibrate, the column of air passing between the two folds becomes disrupted and sound waves are created.


Open vocal folds
Vocal Folds remain open for brething

Closed vocal folds
Vocal Folds come together to vibrate and create sound waves

The muscles surrounding the vocal folds play a vital role in tone and pitch.  Too much or too little muscle tension within the voice box will throw off the delicate balance between the three subsystems and will cause drastic effects on the overall quality of your voice. 


  • Resonance (Shaping and Amplification)

Vocal Tract
The Vocal Tract is where air is shaped into sounds we recognize as speech

While the larynx is responsible for sound vibration, what we commonly think of as voice production actually occurs above the vocal folds in the vocal tract.  The vocal tract refers to the open space of the throat, mouth, and nasal passages.  As the sound waves pass upward and through the vocal tract, the air becomes shaped by how you position your tongue, teeth, lips, jaw, and roof of your mouth.  This air-shaping creates the speech sounds we commonly recognize as vowels and consonants. 



Everyone’s vocal tract is uniquely their own in terms of size, shape, and inherent vocal qualities.  This is why your students know it’s you even before they see your face and vice versa.  Given the individuality of your voice and the importance it plays in your ability to do your job, educators should prioritize the health of their voice.  Neglecting your voice leads to less classroom control, deviation from your preferred teaching style, and reduced confidence in your ability to connect with your students2.


Educators are more than two times more likely to develop voice disorders than the general population with up to 80% of educators reporting at least one vocal disorder symptom in the past week including vocal fatigue, throat soreness, and decline in vocal quality1.  From a cost standpoint, voice problems cost an estimated $2.5 billion annually in lost wages, missed days of work, and treatment expenses for teachers2.

With such a high risk for developing a vocal disorder, how can you minimize your risk?  Thankfully, a little vocal TLC will go a long way in maintaining your vocal health.


  • Hydration

We all know water plays a vital role in our general health, but adequate hydration is crucial for optimal voice use.  As the mucosal lining of the vocal folds becomes dry, the vocal folds become more stiff and lose their ability to efficiently vibrate.  Typically teachers compensate for this by increasing the muscle tension in the larynx which results in the voice feeling tired after speaking.  Drinking plenty of water keeps the mucosal lining moist and allows the vocal folds to operate more easily.  (And no, coffee does not count as water)

Woman drinking water


  •  Vocal Warm Ups & Cool Downs

Educators are vocal athletes.  You would not expect a world class athlete to perform in their sport without first warming up or to skip out on their cool down exercises if they are planning to remain at that world class level.  Establishing a simple routine of vocal activities to use before and after you speak will help preserve the flexibility and longevity of your voice.  Vocal activities should focus on breathing technique, vocal fold stretching, and resonance location.


  • Minimize Phonotraumatic Activities

Phonotrauma occurs when excessive stress is placed upon the vocal folds at levels beyond what the body can typically handle.  Over time, this stress can lead to vocal fold lesions which may require surgical intervention if severe enough.  Minimizing actions in which the vocal folds are suddenly and aggressively forced together, such as yelling, screaming, excessive throat clearing, excessive coughing, speaking with a forced voice, can help to lower your risk for future voice disorders.


Teaching calling on raised hand

Incorporating vocal care into your daily routine is essential for cultivating a reliable classroom voice that lasts for years. By prioritizing hydration, warming up and cooling down your voice, and avoiding strain, you’ll not only reduce sick days related to vocal issues but also decrease the likelihood of developing voice disorders. When your voice truly reflects who you are, it empowers you to connect authentically with your students, reminding us that at the heart of teaching lies the essential power of your voice.


To learn more about vocal health and maintaining your goal voice, subscribe to be notified of new posts. And if you are concerned you may already have a voice disorder, please seek medical advice from your doctor and/or healthcare team. 


Go to the Source:

 1. Martins, R. H. G., Pereira, E. R. B. N., Hidalgo, C. B., & Tavares, E. L. M. (2014). Voice disorders in teachers. A review. Journal of voice, 28(6), 716-724.

2. Mattiske JA, Oates JM, Greenwood KM. Vocal problems among teachers: a review of prevalence, causes, prevention and treatment. J Voice 1998; 12:489–499.

3. Simonyan K, Horwitz B. Laryngeal motor cortex and control of speech in humans. Neuroscientist. 2011 Apr;17(2):197-208. doi: 10.1177/1073858410386727. Epub 2011 Feb 28. PMID: 21362688; PMCID: PMC3077440.

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