How age affects our vocal instrument: neuroplasticity
Vocal chords are vocal chords, whether we use them for singing or speaking (or shouting! :-) The voice is an instrument and good health and neuro plasticity can be across the board.
Here is a good article we found recently, entitled:
By: Lisa Haupert, Ageless Grace Trainer and Shameless Singing Vocal Coach
Ageless Singing. Strong Singing. You singing.
There is a given with aging. Every year that you are alive, you are a year older. That’s all.
Most of the specifics about how we age are in large part, up to us. Yes, we can get a disease. Yes, gravity wins out on our skin and things might sag a bit. But for the most part, how we age is up to what habits we practice, and our mind-set.
When it comes to the voice, there are some specific givens about aging.
- The cartilages that are a part of our singing and speaking mechanism begin to ossify – to turn to bone. However, this may not be a bad thing. This may actually allow stronger closure of the vocal folds and less variability in the voice system since bone is more rigid than cartilage.... Continue reading, for great tips to protect your voice as you age