Needless to say, the voice is a singer’s most important asset. So whether you’re a country singer-songwriter, a pop icon in the making or the front of a thrash metal band, you need to take care of those chords.
Here are our five key tips for looking after your voice.
Stay hydrated
Professional singers try to drink two-three litres of room temperature water throughout the course of the day. Ice cold water is bad for you, as it restricts your throat muscles.
Ice cold drinks and drinks that are too hot are bad for your voice in general. Try to stick to drinks that are either slightly warm (to relax your throat muscles) or room temperature. Fizzy drinks are also best avoided as they can put a lot of gas into your stomach.
Diet
The things you eat and drink can have a big impact on your voice. Things like caffeine, red wine and citrus fruit and juice can dry out your throat, while spicy and acidic foods can irritate it. You should avoid food and drinks heavy in dairy products, like milk, yoghurt and ice cream, as these can create mucus.
Watch the times of your meals, as well. You’re better off not eating immediately before a performance. Ideally, you should allow between one and two hours to digest a meal before you perform. You should also try not to eat before you go to bed, as this can cause acid reflux during the night.
Don’t smoke
Yes, a lot of famous singers do smoke, and yes, a lot of them do still have great voices. However, if you want to maximise your chances of preserving your voice you should avoid smoking. You already know the health risks associated with smoking, so we won’t bore you with those, but remember that a reduced lung capacity can be a major hindrance to a singer.
Don’t use the extremes of your voice
It should be pretty obvious for you to not go around yelling, but did you know you should also avoid whispering? It sounds silly, but using both extremes of your voice can be damaging, so try to talk at a sensible level as much as possible.
Whispering can be especially bad for you when you’re ill or have a sore throat. That’s why lots of singers will have days of silence where they won’t say anything to help mend their voice. 48 hours is the recommended length of silence for a singer trying to rest their voice
Things to soothe your throat
Honey is great for soothing your throat, not just when you’re ill, but in general. Try mixing a small spoonful of honey into tea or water to soothe and prevent vocal strain. Cool cups of herbal tea are very popular among singers and can help relax your throat. Other singers swear by liquorice – liquorice root in particular. It can help to soothe inflamed vocal muscles, as well as protect them in the future.
