Singers often dread the winter months because of the extra effort they must exert to keep their voices healthy. The common cold and flu are at the top of the list of those things “feared,” but there are many things to consider for staying healthy and keeping our voices in good shape. Here are some of the most effective things to consider:
- Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Most experts recommend 7-9 glasses of water per day. While that may sound excessive, our vocal folds need to stay lubricated, and drinking lots of water is the easiest and most effective way to accomplish that.
- Get plenty of rest. It’s important to get a good night of sleep, but it can also be very useful to take short breaks throughout the day when you close your eyes, don’t talk, and try to relax as much as possible. Doing this two or three times a day for about 10 minutes each time can make a tremendous difference in how you feel.
- Exercise. Remember that your body is also your musical instrument. Physical activity, especially that which gets your heart rate up, is one of the best things you can do to improve your physical, mental, and emotional energy levels.
- Tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine do nothing to help the singing voice. There really can be no convincing argument to use tobacco, and if alcohol and caffeine are used (in moderation), you should at least make sure not to use them 2-3 hours before singing.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. The goal should be to consume a diet (in moderation) from the basic food groups – 1. milk, yogurt, cheese; 2. meat, poultry, seafood, dry beans, nuts; 3. vegetables; 4. fruit; 5. bread, cereal, rice, pasta. Remember also, several small meals spread throughout the day are healthier than fewer meals of large amounts of food.
- Consider your speaking voice. How much you talk and how you talk will certainly influence your singing voice. Most of us speak too deeply. Try to speak with a higher and lighter placement. Know also that yelling or speaking too loudly can be harmful to the singer. At the other extreme it is important to know that excessive whispering should also be avoided.
- Avoid throat clearing. During the winter months we often must contend with sinus drainage and troublesome mucus. It is common to deal with this problem by clearing our throats or coughing. Try not to do this since it can cause irritation to the edges of the vocal folds. Try to swallow instead. If you must clear your throat, do it as gently as possible.
These are certainly not the only things you can do to keep your singing voice healthy and beautiful, but if practiced regularly, I promise you will find yourself enjoying many more days of rewarding singing!
