Healthy Voice – Joann C. Chang

How To Maintain A
Healthy Voice

Vocal Fitness

Develop Vocal Warm Up Routines. Carve out at least 15 min a day to do vocal warm up exercises to get the vocal cords warmed up, your air circulating, and engaging the diagram core muscles are that essential in preparing to sing a song. Warm ups should include a breathing stamina exercise, lip trills on a scale from your lowest note to your highest note, and then some mixed voice exercise involving different vowels and slides for a basic warm up. If you want more advanced training, I would recommend doing some riffs and runs and articulation exercises on faster tempos. Of course, I encourage singers to strengthen parts of their voice that are weaker. Once you finish your warm up, you will be equipped to your songs with more consistent tone, projection, ease, and without strain.

How To Maintain

A Healthy Voice

Special Vocal Tools

Vocal Nebulizer

Helps lubricate your vocal chords especially in dyer weather or you have respiratory sensitivities. This is a sure fast way to warm up your voice along with your warm up exercise routine. Many singers use this especially if they are about to perform.

Singing Straws

These straws are an advanced semi occluded way of warming up the voice. They help singers improve breath control, reduce vocal strain, and enhance resonance. By practicing straw phonation, singers can warm up their voices, strengthen vocal endurance, and balance airflow, making it easier to sing with less tension and better vocal control.

Vocal Trainer

Improve their vocal technique, control, and overall performance by working on elements like breath support, pitch accuracy, tone, and vocal range. They guide singers through tailored exercises and provide personalized feedback to help them overcome vocal challenges, develop healthy singing habits, and reach their full potential.

Cool Down Your Voice

Often singers know how to warm up your voice, but it’s just as important to cool down or warm down your voice. After singing for a while, you want to start slowly speaking in your natural speaking voice. To properly warm down your voice as a singer, start with gentle humming to relax your vocal cords, followed by lip trills and sirens to release tension.

Incorporate soft vocal exercises using low-volume scales or vowel sounds, and remember to hydrate with warm water or herbal tea. Finally, include gentle neck and shoulder stretches to alleviate physical tension. These techniques help maintain vocal health and prevent strain.

Vocal Hydration

Studies have shown that men should be drinking about 13.5 cups a day and 11.5 cups a day for women. Thinking of singing as a sport. If you’re working your voice more than the usual person singing, then it’s highly encouraged to drink more than what’s recommended here. The amount of water to drink a day can also depend on your body weight. Other beverages to help keep your voice healthy are aloe vera and coconut water.

This has lower sugar quality which decreases the potential build of mucus which affects vocal performance instead of dairy drinks. Drinking coffee, and alcohol is discouraged as it can dehydrate the voice. However, throat coat tea is a great remedy for vocal health while adding a bit of honey. Usually this is a great option to drink after performing.

HOW TO

Decrease Inflammation

Vocal Rescue

Helps soothe and hydrate a singer’s vocal cords, reducing inflammation, dryness, and irritation caused by overuse or environmental factors. They typically contain natural ingredients like herbs and oils that provide quick relief, helping singers maintain vocal clarity and health during performances or practice sessions.

Throat lozenges

Soothe the throat and reduce inflammation, keeping the vocal cords hydrated, which is essential for singers. They’re beneficial for maintaining a healthy voice, especially when you’re sick or experiencing throat irritation, providing quick relief and supporting overall vocal health.

Turmeric Drops

Help singers by reducing inflammation in the vocal cords, aiding recovery from strain and irritation. The active compound, curcumin, supports vocal health and can enhance overall vocal function. Additionally, turmeric’s antioxidant properties contribute to maintaining vocal quality.