Vocal Health

Vocal Health Tips

The 3-Dimensional Voice: A Fun & Easy Method of Voice (The Wilson Voice Series) Comment from one of the reviewers: ....Joni Wilson makes caring for your voice and exercising to improve the quality of your voice FUN! She uses her personal experiences to demonstrate the pitfalls of not caring for your voice and how to recover from damage that may already be done. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is serious about improving and caring for their "instrument".

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Singing (Complete Idiot's Guide to) See Taking Care of Your Voice section

The Contemporary Singer : Elements of Vocal Technique (Berklee Guide) - If you're singing in contemporary musicals with pop/rock score, this book could help. See especially the "Maintaining Vocal Health" section.

Caring for Your Voice - tips, folk remedies, science

Notes from MusicalSchwartz webmaster Carol de Giere:

When Stephen Schwartz performs, he often brings a thermos full of Throat Coat tea. Throat Coat Tea (Amazon.com links). Other singers suck on black current pastilles, but I haven't been able to locate a source.

Stephen Schwartz's assistant, singer Michael Cole, and others have offered some tips on the Schwartz discussion forum. Here's a discussion thread Advice for someone who loses their voice while performing

Folk remedies and tips for vocal care - from various lists:

a. Don't strain

b. Gargle

c. Relax

d. Drink lots of water - Did you know: Scientists believe that when the body is slightly dehydrated, the mucous made by the throat to lubricate the vocal cords becomes thicker. This thicker mucous can interfere with vocal cord vibration.

e. Use Slippery Elm Bark tea or zinc losenges

f. Boil potatoes (with skins) and inhale the steam

g. Drink hot water with lemon & honey

h. Avoid "drying" irritants:

* caffeine
* chocolate
* alcohol
* antihistamines
* diuretics
* vitamin C (in large doses)
* cigarette smoke

i. Reduce mucous producing foods - nuts, dairy products, any allergens

Q and A page with Vocal Health Consultant Dr. Michelle Yagoda

What to take and not take if you're sick (for singers) Comments from E. Prescott

"Maintaining Vocal health" article

by David Otis Castonguay, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, Radford University

For pop singers, but some principles apply " How To Care For Your Voice"

Vocal health - scientific:

Journey of the Voice: Anatomy, Physiology and the Care of the Voice

University of Pittsburgh Voice Center - Preventing Vocal Disorders

Tips for Singers with Colds, flu, hoarse voice or Laryngitis

Folk remedies for hoarse voice

e.g. Sea salt Make a gargle of sea salt and water and use several times a day. | Suck on a piece of ice. It will stop spasms in your throat.

Singers with colds, etc. - a long discussion that includes: Humidifying the ambient air and drinking plenty of fluids are well known precautions taken by professional singers. In the absence of a humidifier, lock yourself into the bathroom, run the shower to stream up the room while you drink a litre of mineral water.

Vocal damage: nodules

Vocal nodules article

Exercise

Alexander technique for singers
Full text article alexandercenter.com

To send suggestions, comments, or questions write to info@musicalsingers.com with QUESTION or COMMENT in the subject line.