Voice care for teachers - 9 top tips

Given the various bugs around at this time of year it has been suggested that voice care hints might be helpful – particularly if voices are feeling rough. I am happy to share my own ‘nine nuggets’ from over the years and welcome further comments from colleagues:

1. Drink water only
2. Warm up your voice – humming in the car is my favourite
3. Talk less in your lessons – go on – try a lesson where you don’t talk at all!
4. Get a student to lead
5. Get the students to work together – perhaps on a composition project
6. In class – use a physical signal to get attention – not your voice
7. When giving instructions - never speak if a child is making a noise - expect silence
8. When giving instructions – speak quieter, not louder – it makes children listen more carefully
9. A smile is worth a hundred words

Jeremy Dibb
Director
Warwickshire Music