strengthening vocal endurance

[Jane's Sweet Refrain]

Hi,

I've been wondering if you had an advice for voice endurance. I have a passing and authentic-sounding female voice. I really like it. The problem is that my job as a college professor means that I often teach for three hours straight (principally lecture). My voice is strong and clear for close to the first two hours, but by the third hour, it has become strained and takes several hours to recover. It's not that it sounds male, but just strained and icky. Are there ways of strengthening the endurance of the voice? Again, my voice is strong, but not for periods so extended. It's as if I'm fine running the 1600m, but not the 5k.

Thanks,

Jane

[Ms Grace]

It might improve the more you have to use it. But you must avoid straining your voice or you could damage your vocal cords... three hours is a long time to talk and project your voice for anyone, but adding the stress of feminising your voice on top of that needs to be done carefully.

[Mai]

mhm, best way to get your endurance up is to use it. not neccessarilly when you are actually needing to, such as when you are in the lecture hall and getting to the point where its strained, but for example. when you are at home, find some longer text to read out loud, or rehearse speeches/lectures on your own time to work on your voice, but never get yourself to the point where it starts to feel strained, when you get to that point, stop and take a break. 

[TheaP]

My Speech Pathologists recommends that you stretch your neck muscles and vocal cords prior to starting talking and at breaks and drink plenty of water.

[Jane's Sweet Refrain]

Hi,
Thanks so much for the responses so far! But the problem is not of under development in general. I'm not new to being full-time; my passing voice that I use exclusively every day is now two years old. I've been teaching four classes a semester with this voice for the entire time. I wonder if doing a consultation with a speech pathologist will help. Perhaps more warm ups will help. I'll also see if I can google those exercises.