One thing that every human on earth has in common is that every day we live, we are getting older. Many people think about this from a medical standpoint — perhaps we need more appointments or test, and perhaps we are a little achy in the mornings as we roll out of bed. But how often do we think about the ways that aging affects our music ministry? Caring for the aging voice is a topic everyone should be aware of, regardless of your current age.
My first instrument was the piano. I think about how the agility in my fingers might change, or that someday it may actually be painful to play. I imagine that guitarists and other instrumentalists think about this as well.
What about those of us who use our voice as our primary instrument? Since our voices are packaged within us, it isn’t something that we can see as we age, though it is certainly something that we can feel and hear.
Perhaps someone in your choir has a voice with a very wide vibrato, or doesn’t have the volume they used to have? Perhaps someone who used to be a soprano cantor is now asking if she can sing with the tenors? I don’t think we need to look far to find an individual who fits these scenarios or something similar. These are signs that the voice is changing, commonly due to age.
The bad news is that we can’t slow down the progress — but there is good news! Once we figure out what is happening within the physiology of the voice, we can do things to combat the changes and understand what is truly happening within our own body or those of whom we are teaching.
How the aging body affects the voice
There are three main causes of the difference in sound between a younger person and an older person:
- Atrophy of muscles in the throat and stomach — decreased muscle mass or strength
- Thinning of the mucous membranes — gets in the way, but mucous keeps the throat lubricated.
- Stiffening of connective tissue — less pliable, less flexible, more rigid
When muscles atrophy, the muscle mass decreases. Think about all the muscle groups needed to produce sound! From facial muscles to the muscles in the throat and even those surrounding the lungs that support our breath, there are dozens involved in every pitch we sing.
As our connective tissue stiffens, the ability to move all the muscles gets more difficult. Think about an old rubber band as an analogy. It can still stretch but not nearly as easily as a new one.
When all those physical changes are happening within the human body, the effect can be heard in various ways, including:
- Higher pitch in men
- Lower pitch in women – harder time vibrating at high frequencies, so vocal cords become sluggish
- Loss of projection and resonance
- Reduced volume and endurance
- Shakiness or tremors, wider vibrato
- Voice gets tired easier
- Breathy sound
While it is inevitable that changes will occur as we age, it is imperative that we remember that certain things are in our control and certain things are not. There are ways in which we can take basic care of our voices all the time, but these become ever more important as we age.
Tips for caring for the aging voice
General maintenance of the voice includes proper hydration, rest, and caution when yelling, screaming, or whispering. As a rule, we don’t drink near the amount of water we should each day and different resources give slightly different variations of what is appropriate. One source suggests cutting your body weight in half and then drinking that amount in ounces of water. Another suggests 15.5 cups a day for men and 11.5 cups a day for women. Treating the voice harshly by yelling or screaming irritates the vocal mechanism, and over time has the potential to cause lasting negative effects.
General maintenance of the overall body is important as well. Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, and eliminating smoking and/or vaping are all things for which everyone could strive. Because the voice is part of our body and not an external instrument, caring for our body as a whole will help prolong a healthy voice.
Finally, there are some exercises and activities that can be done. Be sure to always warm up the voice before singing. This can be done anywhere — no other instruments needed! Take some time for breathing exercises. These are good not only for a healthy voice, but also for grounding oneself, focusing, etc. If you feel you need extra help, find a local instructor and take some lessons. There are independent music teachers and schools across the country, and many colleges and universities offer music lessons through their music department.
I have worked with many adults that were frustrated by the change of their voices as the aging process progressed. The aging voice is NOT a reason to stop singing or to stop participating in music ministry. Just because a voice is different than it once was does not mean it is less valuable. KEEP SINGING!
Written by Katie Barton, who is the Director of Sacred Music at St. Thomas Parish in Ft. Thomas, Kentucky where she conducts the Adult Choir, Liturgical Ensemble, Resurrection Choir, and Schola. She has previously served as the Director of Music at Holy Spirit Parish in Newport, Kentucky; St. Timothy Parish in Union, Kentucky; and St. Mary Parish – Hyde Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a total of 30 years in music ministry.
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