“That voice crack though...”
One of my fifth graders sympathized after I squeaked out a few high notes after a long day of teacher. While my fifth graders on the brink of puberty were understanding towards my raspy notes and voice cracks, my vocal chords were certainly not. Eight hours a day, five days a week of singing and speaking over elementary schoolers was finally taking its toll.
The strain teaching has on your voice is something that is not widely addressed in the elementary music teaching community and the detriments are real. While I’d love to compare ourselves to Adele where we sacrifice our health for our art, the reality is that when it comes to voice health we cannot afford the damage a world-famous vocalist can.
In short: Save your voice! Instead of Adele, be like early career Brittany Spears. Here are three portable microphone and voice amplifier packs that you can use to relieve stress on your vocal chords and have the stamina to sing all day long.
Price (approximate): $40 Size: 3.3 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
Battery Life: 10 hours
Inputs: MP3 aux cable
Links: Amazon, Croove Website
Pros: When considering voice amplifiers for the elementary music classroom, battery life is one of the key considerations. Class after class, with very little breaks in between makes longevity a necessity. While the specs online list the Croove as 10 hours a charge, anecdotal evidence online suggests it can last much longer! Some users state that the Croove lasted almost a week without a charge, with one review stating that it lasted a month with daily use of 4 hours. That’s 80+ hours of battery life!
Alongside battery life, longevity is also important in elementary teaching tools. While some companies don’t supply replacement parts for their products and require purchasing a completely new model, Croove has replacement parts available for every accessory that accompanies the amplifier. Next time you accidentally spill your early-morning-kindergarten-is-coming coffee, you can replace any parts worry-free!
Cons: The included waist band is a flimsy and tends to shift and fall, especially if you’re on your feet and moving. The headset also runs large, so it may slip or fall if you have a smaller head. This could be worked around by purchasing a different clip on microphone to use instead of the headset, but considering this is the most expensive headset out of the three this would add even more to the cost. (If you would like to invest in a clip on mic to supplement the Croove, here is an economic option.)
If your elementary music classroom tends to do a lot of movement and dancing, this may not be the microphone for you because of the shifting and necessary readjustment.
Price (approximate): $28 (as listed on Amazon) Size: 4.3 x 3.5 x 1.8 inches
Battery Life: 3-8 hours
Inputs: TF card, MP3 aux cable, USB flash drive
Links: Amazon, WinBridge Website
Pros: The WinBridge is the most economic voice amplifier on the list – and it doesn’t sacrifice quality. It includes almost all the accessories as the Croove and more flexibility! Not only does it have an MP3 aux port where you could plug in music to play for the class, it also has a TF card port and USB port as well to play the music you want.
The WinBridge headset is also a standout among the three voice amplifiers; it is made of rubber instead of metal and is much more comfortable for extended periods on time. It seems to have been designed for someone more mobile when giving a presentation - perfect for the elementary classroom! The built-in clip on the amplifier attaches securely and gives you the freedom to move around the classroom without encumbering your movement like a belt would. The wear-ability of this portable amplifier is a standout between the three.
Cons:
The WinBridge does not include a charger. You can plug the included USB chord in to a laptop to get a charge but this can be inconvenient. If you're running late and need to rely on wall outlets for much faster charging, you will need to purchase a USB-compatible to do so.
The battery itself is also the weakest on this list. It has 5-8 hours of charge with MP3 playing and only 3-8 hours with prolonged microphone use. Beware of the microphone usage draining the battery, especially if you tend to use higher volume settings in a noisy class! You may just look down and find you're out of battery before the end of the day.
Price (approximate): $30 Size: 4.1 x 1.4 x 3.4 inches
Battery Life: 10-12 hours
Inputs: TF card, MP3 aux cable, USB flash drive
Links: Amazon, Zoweetek Website
Pros:
The Zoweetek is perfect if you want the affordability of the WinBridge with just a little more. The most notable difference is the battery life: With up to 12 hours of battery life, it blows the WinBridge out of the water! It has the TF port, the MP3 aux port and the USB port like the WinBridge. It includes a belt as well as a clip-on built into the speaker which gives you many options to secure the amplifier onto your body, another edge it definitely has over the Croove.
Cons:
Considering the pros of the Zoweetek compared to the others, there are very few drawbacks to this portable amplifier.
However, one thing to consider about the sound of this amplifier (and small portable amplifiers in general) is that the sound is tinnier and thinner than that of larger amplifiers. This isn’t too much of a concern if you are primarily talking and singing but this might be a deal breaker if you’re a baritone or bass or rely heavily on playing music from your amplifier. The lows won’t cut through as well and if you really wanted to crank the bass this may damage the speaker or leave you wanting more.
For general use in the elementary music classroom, however, especially if you have a different sound system for detailed listening and don’t have a bass/deep baritone vocal range, the Zoweetek will function perfectly.
Conclusion
It’s a mixed bag when choosing a portable voice amplifier. If you’re looking for a model that will last you a long time, look no further than the Croove. If you’re looking for a more economic option, the WinBridge is a great quality for its price. The Zoweetek voice amplifier is perfect if you want the affordability of the WinBridge with just a little bit more.
Go forth like Brittany Spears! With portable amplifier in your tool belt as an elementary school teacher, you'll save your voice for years to come. Your students may even think you're a pop star.