Editor's note: A middle school music teacher was provided a Chattervox portable amplification system and a head-mounted microphone. The combination receiver, amplifier and speaker is worn around the waist in a fanny pack. She began trying the system shortly after her students returned to school following winter break in early 2003.
January 20-January 24:: At first it was hard to come up with the appropriate volume level for voice. It was great for speaking, but as soon as I started singing, the sound would be distorted. At the end of the first day I asked each of my classes how it sounded in comparison to my regular voice. Some would say my voice sounded higher (more treble) and others said it sounded lower (more bass sounds) and then others said there was not a difference. What I found right away is that I couldn't sing with my students as much because when I sang, I couldn't hear them. The biggest adjustment was in deciding how to wear the headset and whether to face the speaker forward or to the back. I'm wearing the headset with the pads at my temples and have decided the best place for the speaker is facing forward.
January 27-January 31: I've found I just have to keep adjusting the levels between speaking and singing, but now I'm singing less with the students and using the amplification system to give musical cues so I leave it at the speaking level. I'm really having trouble wearing the headset as it is giving me headaches, so I'm making a point of taking it off between classes. The other problem is my glasses in that I have to put the headset on first and then my glasses otherwise they get caught. My hair is kind of an issue as well. Even with these problems, I think this is such a great system.
I went toa convention for three days and noticed the drawbacks of having regular lapel mics on systems where the speakers are permanently placed. The biggest problem with those is that if you turn your head as you speak the sound fades in and out and as the speaker tried to move around, they were limited because they would get feedback and the sound was not coming from where they were speaking. I love this system because it moves with you, but I'm still struggling with volume level because I overblow the sound when singing.
February 3-7: The big problem this week was that the strap at the waist would keep letting go (loosening), and then the weight of the speaker would cause back pain. I really have to be sure it is adjusted properly and stand tall to avoid back pain. (Standing tall is a good thing!) I'm struggling a little with getting my kids to use the appropriate energy when singing because when I use the microphone, I hold back. This is good for me to not overuse my voice, but I'm having difficulty in teaching the kids to keep their focal point and sing out. I don't know if they tune me out because it's a microphone.
February 10-14: I was much happier with my results in using the microphone this week. (It) seems like I got into a better pattern of adjusting the levels, and then I found out just how much the microphone was helping me when I couldn't use it on Friday. I forgot to recharge the battery, and when I tried to use it, the sound was fuzzy and not helpful, so I plugged it in and struggled the rest of the day without it. I mean struggle because I found myself singing in full voice and repeating myself constantly. Even the kids asked where my microphone was because they've gotten used to it. I'll be sure to recharge the battery from now on.
February 17-21: I'm having trouble using the system because I can't get rid of the strain it creates in the middle of my back and I've misaligned my glasses in trying to wear them plus the headphones. If I can't see, I can't do anything. I think the microphone is great for my voice and my students do not seem to mind it, but this week I kept taking it off because it was so tiring to try and work with these issues. I tried to do less singing with the kids and I was careful about projecting my voice more carefully. I probably used the microphone only half the time and am not experiencing any vocal difficulties.
February 24-28: I decided to get back with it this week, and I found the microphone very useful when we went to the high school for our rehearsals for the musical. Before, I would have had to carry a microphone around while trying to play the piano, demonstrate choreography and start and stop the rehearsals. With the portable mic, all this was much easier, and I could save my energy for directing the orchestra! This week of rehearsals, I always get very worn out with trying to put the musical on the high school stage and all the last-minute preparations. I found that this year, this last week was not so tiring, and I think the microphone really helped with this (in that I wasn't straining to be heard), and it seemed to help my energy level throughout.
Concluding thoughts: I just finished the six-week experiment, when things started moving in high gear with the musical, a big concert and then we had some snow days which caused havoc to the schedule and Spring Break which was a whole other kind of change. My use of the Chattervox was sporadic and I'd forget to recharge it or it seemed to be just one more thing for me to think about when life was too busy for even one more thing!
When we returned from Spring Break, I was out of the habit of using the microphone, but it was also performance week for me with the symphony. This meant 11-12 hours daily of nearly constant vocal usage, and by Thursday of that week, I was ready to make a point of using the microphone again with my teaching. I had forgotten how useful it was in that I never have to raise my voice, I can keep my rehearsals moving without having to stop for every little thing, and I'm getting better at adjusting the levels automatically for when I'm addressing a class or when I'm singing (I sing with much more focus, so I have to turn the mic down). The best part is that I don't get as tired vocally and physically.
Some other things have helped, too, in that I'm wearing contacts now and don't have the struggle with where the headpiece for the microphone sits. I give my back relief between classes and remove the headset between classes.
Students and teachers alike seem to think having the microphone is very professional and adds to what I am offering in the classroom.
I've gotten into a better habit of recharging the battery by finding an easy location where I leave the charger.
This week, I have a cold and my energy level is really low, but with the help
of the microphone, I feel I am just as effective with my teaching as when I'm
feeling better.
I've enjoyed the process I've gone through in becoming more aware of how and when I use my voice. The only thing that really concerns me still is the weight of the battery on my middle back, but I'm in an exercise program now and hopefully can strengthen this too. Understanding and taking care of our voices is vitally important. It's what I teach all day, and demonstrating good vocal care myself should have a positive affect on my students.