Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Secular Music • Performance Practice • Musicianship

Vocal Health

Term from Choir Direction industry explained for recruiters

Vocal Health refers to the practice of maintaining and protecting singers' voices to ensure long-term performance ability. It's like physical maintenance for the voice. Choir directors and vocal teachers need to understand this to prevent injury and strain in their students' voices, similar to how a sports coach needs to understand proper exercise techniques. This includes understanding proper breathing techniques, warm-up exercises, and how to avoid vocal strain. When reviewing resumes for choir directing positions, this term indicates that the candidate knows how to protect and preserve their students' voices.

Examples in Resumes

Implemented Vocal Health programs for choir of 50+ students

Conducted workshops on Voice Care and Vocal Health techniques for beginning singers

Developed comprehensive Vocal Wellness curriculum for K-12 music program

Typical job title: "Choir Directors"

Also try searching for:

Vocal Instructor Voice Teacher Choral Director Music Educator Singing Teacher Voice Coach Vocal Coach

Where to Find Choir Directors

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you design a vocal health program for a large choir?

Expected Answer: A senior choir director should discuss comprehensive warm-up routines, voice rest periods, hydration policies, and how to adapt programs for different age groups and skill levels. They should also mention monitoring individual singers for signs of strain.

Q: How do you handle vocal health emergencies in your choir?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of immediate care steps, when to refer to medical professionals, and how to modify performances or rehearsals to accommodate recovering voices. Should also discuss prevention strategies.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What warm-up exercises do you use to protect voices during long rehearsals?

Expected Answer: Should describe specific exercises for different voice types, explain the purpose of each warm-up, and discuss how to modify warm-ups based on rehearsal intensity and duration.

Q: How do you teach proper breathing techniques to protect vocal health?

Expected Answer: Should explain basic breathing exercises, demonstrate understanding of diaphragmatic breathing, and discuss how to teach these concepts to different age groups.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic signs of vocal fatigue?

Expected Answer: Should identify common symptoms like hoarseness, throat pain, and loss of range, and know basic steps to address these issues.

Q: How do you encourage students to maintain good vocal health?

Expected Answer: Should discuss basics like staying hydrated, avoiding shouting, and proper warm-ups. Should show understanding of daily voice care habits.