Day 33: Troubleshooting – A Step-by-Step Checklist
Every singer runs into moments where something feels wrong—notes won’t lock in, the tone feels off, or the voice just isn’t cooperating. Instead of guessing or panicking, you need a logical process to identify the cause and make an adjustment. Most problems can be solved by working through a clear checklist.
Troubleshooting Checklist
When something feels off, move through these steps in order:
- Inhalation
Did you get an appropriate breath for the moment? Too little air can leave you unsupported, but an oversized breath creates excess pressure. Aim for a natural, efficient inhale. Most singers tend towards too much air. - Support
Are you engaging the body appropriately? Return to the foundation we established in Lesson 1: steady, balanced engagement in the external interscostals, pectorals, and lats keeps the thorax expanded. - True Vocal Fold State
What is the air meeting? The true vocal folds must be allowed to vibrate in a state that produces the sound you want. Higher notes require the vocal folds to elongate. Belting requires short thick folds. - Brightness
Are you engaging an appropriate amount of brightness? A tone that’s too dark or dull often needs a touch of higher resonance energy to balance. - Laryngeal Height
Is the larynx too high or too low? Either extreme creates tension and shifts resonance. Aim for a comfortably neutral position. - Jaw or Neck Tension
Are you clenching? Try gentle movement of the jaw or neck. But note: this tension usually signals a breakdown in support (Step 2). - Hydration
Are you adequately hydrated? Dry tissue won’t function efficiently and can create friction and fatigue. Medications and hormones can significantly affect this. - Fatigue
Are you tired or well rested? Physical and vocal fatigue both undermine coordination. Sometimes the solution is not more practice, but more rest.
How to Use This Checklist
Work through these steps slowly and honestly. Don’t skip ahead or try to fix everything at once. Identify where the issue first appears, correct it, and see if the problem resolves. In most cases, this process will point you toward the cause and the solution.
This checklist won’t solve every single challenge, but it will provide direction for 99% of vocal issues.
Reflection
- Which step of the checklist do you tend to overlook?
- When problems arise, do you usually guess, or do you move systematically?
- How might this checklist change the way you approach practice and performance?
Looking Ahead: Tomorrow we’ll move to Putting It All Together—integrating the skills and strategies from the past month into a complete picture.
