Benefits of vocal rest

By Rey Lambatin, CGS Choir Director
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As Summer season comes, our choirs take our break from the usual schedule of rehearsals and singing in our weekly worship service. For nine straight months, from September to May, our CGS Mixed choir rehearsed every week, while Keynote Vocal Group met to practice every other week. They alternatively lent their voices in singing anthems and musical offerings in our worship services, and sometimes joining their voices together in sharing music in special church occasions. This shows the deep passion for music and serious commitment to the ministry by our choir members, and how involved are our singing voices to fulfill our weekly commitments to the ministry. That’s why in the months of Summer, it is essential for our choirs to take a break.

As explained by Albert Van Leeuwen, an Australian music author,

​“The voice is an instrument that utilizes specific parts of the body. These parts become stronger as the voice is more practiced, but, like with any part of the body, over use can happen and then the parts don’t function so well anymore.
Think of an athlete that prepares for a long distance marathon. The athlete is not going to train at 100%, seven days a week. Typically, the exercise regimen is varied, and rest days are included so that the body can recover.
The same is true for voice. You can over train, and then your voice becomes less effective - typically hoarse. What makes it worse is that many vocalists employ poor technique that puts even greater strain on their voices, so the need for rest is even greater.
The problem with seriously straining your voice over a long time is that you can develop polyps or even cancer of the larynx. Mick Jagger supposedly had polyps removed in the early 2000’s.”

​Summer break does not only rest our voices, but also in part, our spirits. This gives us time to recover physically, and renew and rekindle our passion for our ministry, so that when weekly rehearsals and worship commitment resume in September, we’ll be prepared and excited to sing again!