Saturday, June 19, 2010

#1 Rule for Singers - Protect Your voice


As singers we depend upon our voice to consistently deliver a well executed sound. To know that every time we sing we can be assured that we get the sound we want is perhaps the biggest confidence-builder. We no longer have to be concerned about our singing....or do we?




Every singer at one time or the other has experienced a dry throat which impairs the singing.


And the dreaded mucous that blocks our sound puts the vocalist in a terrible position. Then, of course, some of us experience the emabarrasing breaking or cracking of the tone, especially on a higher pitch. The feeling of fear or extreme nervousness man cause an otherwise smooth and even sounding voice to shake or tremble.




All of these physical symptoms are a red flag meaning that your voice is not being protected properly. And you will continue to have these vocal problems unless you do something about it now. So, to help you out, I have listed some of the top reasons for vocal abuse along with what you can do about it.






  • Protect your voice by warming up for at least 20 minutes before singing.


  • Hydrate your vocal cords by drinking plenty of room temperature water.


  • Avoid ice or cold drinks as cold will restrict your vocal folds (cords).


  • Never consume dairy products 4-6 hours before you sing, as mucous will develop.


  • Absolutely no smoking (obviously),or caffeine. Caffeine drys out the vocal cords.


  • Refrain from yelling or screaming. Over time, this habit may cause vocal nodules.


  • The day of performance, rest your speaking voice completely.


  • Chocolate is not good for the voice before singing.


  • On cold, drafty days, wear a scarf to protect your throat.


  • Avoid throat lozengers unless they have glycerin in them.


These are the most common. For questions shoot me an email. vocalprolessons@yahoo.com