There are many steps on the journey of learning how to sing better, but one of the most crucial is learning how to care for your voice. Without proper care and attention, it's easy to strain your voice and put yourself out of action. There's nothing more damaging to your development as a vocalist than not being able to practice because you have damaged your voice.
In this article we break down some methods that you can use to properly care for your voice, and ensure longevity for yourself as a singer.
Benefits of Caring For Your Voice
For singers who want to know how to sing better, there are countless benefits that come from looking after your voice. Most importantly though, caring for your voice will allow you to sing with more confidence, as you know that your instrument is well conditioned and can handle whatever you throw at it.Â
Caring for your voice will also help you to sing with an increased vocal range, as your voice will be relaxed and allow you to access the full scope of your singing range. Without proper care, your voice will retain tension and constrict your range, giving you less power and vocal consistency.
Longevity is also another huge factor when it comes to caring for your voice. Your singing voice will naturally change as you get older and mature through wear-and-tear. By caring for your voice, you are ensuring that your singing ability will not be severely impacted by this aging process, and you can keep singing well into old age.
Avoid Overuse
One of the key things in caring for your voice is to avoid overuse and pushing too hard. Avoiding strain is the name of the game when it comes to preserving your voice, and so you should take regular breaks when singing, and also warm up adequately when attempting songs that require a high intensity. Furthermore, if you know you will be practising at full vocal power you can schedule a rest day beforehand to let your voice rest. It's also a good idea to avoid talking as much as possible when resting your voice, as talking can tire out your vocal cords as well.Â
Staying Hydrated
The importance of staying hydrated when caring for your singing voice cannot be overstated. Water will help to keep your throat and vocal cords lubricated during singing sessions and allows you to recover after heavy vocal exertions. Having a dry throat can wreck your singing and so even when not practicing, it's important for singers to keep mindful of their hydration and make sure that they are preventing their mouth and throat from becoming dry. It's also important to be mindful of the conditions you are practicing. In winter for example the air tends to be colder and dry which will drain your voice more quickly than when there is more moisture in the air.Â
Drink A Soothing Tea
There are many herbal remedies which can be used to complement your vocal care routine, but we think the best is to regularly consume a soothing tea. A natural blend with minimal sugar is the best option, but truly any herbal tea will provide many benefits for singers.Tea contains many helpful nutrients such as vitamins and antioxidants, which can help the body to heal and repair itself. As a warm beverage, tea also has the effect of lubricating the vocal cords, and the heat from the drink aids the vocal muscles to relax and lengthen.
For a basic vocal care concoction, we recommend using a green tea with a teaspoon of honey for maximum effectiveness. The addition of the honey will help to further enhance your vocal care, as the glucose mixed with water creates a syrupy texture that works wonders for vocal lubrication. You can experiment with different tea blends and herbal additives to find the perfect flavour for your taste buds.Â
Rest and Recovery
Whilst it's not very rock n roll, having a consistent sleep schedule and getting enough quality sleep is one of the best things you can do to care for your voice. As the day progresses, the body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol, which can lead to inflammation and tightness in the body as the levels increase. This is why our voice is often strained after a late night even though we might not have overused it. Our body simply hasn't been given the time required to rest and repair. By going to bed at a reasonable time and staying consistent in your sleep schedule, you protect yourself against any potential damage and preserve your voice. This doesn't mean you have to be a saint and never have late nights, by all means go out and enjoy yourself! Just be mindful that you will need to catch up on your recovery to restore your voice to full strength, so try and avoid going out when you know you have a singing session the next day.
We hope that by following these tips you can give your voice the care it needs to thrive. Thanks for checking out this article! If you enjoyed reading then please share this post with a fellow singer.
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