Let’s Talk About Vocal Health: How to Build a Voice That Lasts

By Rita Gigliotti

Edited by Danielle Bissonnette

Every young performing artist dreams of standing beneath the lights, hearing the applause, and feeling the thrill of sharing their voice. But what many don’t realize is that longevity in the performing arts doesn’t begin with talent. It begins with care.

As a music educator and holistic voice coach, I see the same story play out every year. Bright, passionate students rehearse for hours without breaks, they push through exhaustion, and they are praised for their “dedication” even when their voices - and bodies - are clearly strained. Here’s the thing: overuse isn’t a mark of commitment. It’s a signal for care. And in a culture that rewards overextension, ignoring this reality leads to burnout. Here’s why. 

Your Voice Is Living Tissue

You don’t have to be a professional singer to know that the voice isn’t a limitless instrument. But professional singers must know that their voices are finely tuned systems made of delicate folds that vibrate thousands of times per second, supported by breath, hydration, and rest. When we overuse those folds, forcing volume, skipping warm-ups, or singing through illness, we’re asking our bodies to perform without recovery. For young performing artists, this recipe may work through secondary school. Maybe even a few years of college. But for a long-term career in the performing arts, you have to learn the risks and value recovery time.

Just like an athlete wouldn’t train every muscle every day, performing artists must learn to alternate between practice and rest. Hydration, gentle warm-ups, cool-downs, and moments of silence aren’t luxuries. They’re essential tools for a sustainable career.

Vocal fatigue and even vocal nodules aren’t rare, and they’re nothing to be ashamed of. They’re simply your body’s way of saying, “I need recovery.”

Building Professional Habits Early

When I work with students preparing for collegiate auditions or professional training programs, I emphasize one thing above all else. The habits you build now become the habits that sustain you later.

College programs and professional shows are not just looking for potential. They’re looking for young performing artists who understand what it means to maintain their instrument. Your future professors, directors, and vocal coaches will expect you to know how to protect your voice.

Here are a few small shifts that make a big difference:

• Schedule vocal rest the same way you’d schedule a water break.

• Avoid whispering, which actually strains the vocal folds more than quiet speech.

• Keep the air around you hydrated. Humidifiers and personal nebulizers help, especially during winter months. Don't forget to use saline!

• Drink water consistently, not just before rehearsals. Lozenges are also a great way to support both immune health and vocal strength.

• Seek professional help early. A laryngologist or speech-language pathologist is an ally, not a judge.

• Healthy diet of low acid, whole foods.

The Culture of Overuse

So many young performing artists equate doing more with doing better. Longer rehearsals, louder projection, constant participation. All in the name of growth. But this pattern doesn’t build skill. It builds burnout.

Healthy voice use is about sustainability. True discipline isn’t performing through pain. It’s knowing when to stop.

And for parents, part of supporting your child’s dream means encouraging balance. Rest days, hydration, mindfulness. These are signs of maturity, not laziness. When a student learns that taking care of their voice is part of their job, they begin thinking like a professional long before they ever step onto a college stage.

Reframing Success

If we want our students to go the distance, we have to reframe what success looks like. The strongest performing artists aren’t those who push the hardest. They’re the ones who learn to listen.

When I prepare students for competitive programs, I remind them that technique and resilience grow together. Every rehearsal is an opportunity to practice care, not just performance.

The Bridge Between Now and What’s Next

Northern Virginia is full of extraordinary young performing artists with big dreams, and I see my role as helping them get there without losing their voices along the way.

I have more than two decades of experience, and am a member of seven global associations, including The National Association for Teachers of Singing (NAT), National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the International Symposium for Music Education (ISME). I’ve developed deep insight into what top college programs are truly looking for. 

At Melodia Studio, students and parents gain access to workshops, audition coaching, and personalized guidance that helps them stand out with confidence and care. My work is about building the bridge between high school artistry and the rigor of elite performing arts programs. That bridge is built on repertoire and auditions. It’s also built on well-being.

Because when the voice is cared for, the whole person flourishes. And that’s what colleges, directors, and audiences truly remember: a performer who’s not just talented, but whole.

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