Some people spend hours at the gym or
pounding the pavement to keep their bodies in
shape. But beyond singers and actors, who
worries much about their voices?
You should, say Norman Hogikyan and
colleagues at the University of Michigan
Health System.
"Your voice is your ambassador to the outside
world," Hogikyan contends. "It portrays your
personality and emotions. People make
assessments about you based on your voice,
so it is very important when you're speaking or
singing to think about what people are really
hearing. Problems with your voice also can
have a tremendous impact on your life."
According to the American
Academy of Otolaryngology.
Hogikyan and colleagues have put together
the following 10 tips to help keep your voice in
shape:
1. Drink water to keep your body well
hydrated, and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Your
vocal cords vibrate very fast, and having a
proper water balance helps keep them
lubricated. Important note: Foods containing
large amounts of water are excellent
hydration-conscious snacks, including apples,
pears, watermelon, peaches, melons, grapes,
plums, bell peppers and applesauce.
2. Allow yourself several "vocal naps" every
day, especially during periods of extended use.
For instance, teachers should avoid speaking
during the breaks between classes and find
quiet ways to spend the lunch hour rather than
talking in a noisy staff room with colleagues.
3. Don't smoke, or if you already do, quit.
Smoking raises the risk of throat cancer
tremendously, and inhaling smoke (even
secondhand smoke) can irritate the vocal
cords.
4. Don't abuse or misuse your voice. Avoid
yelling or screaming, and try not to talk loudly
in noisy areas. If your throat feels dry or tired,
or your voice is getting hoarse, reduce your
voice use. The hoarseness is a warning sign
that your vocal cords are irritated.
5. Keep your throat and neck muscles relaxed
even when singing high notes and low notes.
Some singers tilt their heads up when singing
high notes and down when singing low notes.
"The high notes are on the ceiling and the low
notes are on the floor," Rosenberg says. "Over
time, you'll pay for that"—not just with strained
vocal muscles but also by causing future limits
on the vocal range.
6. Pay attention to how you speak every day.
Even performers who have good singing habits
can cause damage when they speak. Many
skilled singers don't continue their healthy
habits when they speak; indeed, says Herseth,
"many people—including singers—should have
much more breath flow when they speak."
7. Don't clear your throat too often. When you
clear your throat, it's like slamming your vocal
cords together. Doing it too much can injure
them and make you hoarse. Try a sip of water
or swallow to quench the urge to clear. If you
feel like you have to clear your throat a lot, get
checked by a doctor for such things as acid
reflux disease, or allergy and sinus conditions.
8. When you're sick, spare your voice. Don't
talk when you're hoarse due to a cold or
infection. Listen to what your voice is telling
you.
9. When you have to speak publicly, to large
groups or outdoors, think about using
amplification to avoid straining your voice.
10. Humidify your home and work areas.
Remember, moist is good for the voice.
Further, warming up the voice is not just for
singers, the researchers say. Think of it like
stretching and loosening up before exercise.
Easy, daily warm-ups for your voice:
1. Do lip or tongue trills in the morning (try it in
the shower or on your drive to work) to
facilitate better use of airflow and breath.
2. Perform gentle humming and cooing to
warm up your voice in the morning.
3. If you do more vocally complex warm-ups
too, such as vocal scales, do the simple
warm-ups first.
4. Repeat these exercises throughout the day
to reduce muscular tension in the neck,
shoulders and jaw.
5. At the end of the day, perform a cool-down
of the voice with similar vocal tasks.
pounding the pavement to keep their bodies in
shape. But beyond singers and actors, who
worries much about their voices?
You should, say Norman Hogikyan and
colleagues at the University of Michigan
Health System.
"Your voice is your ambassador to the outside
world," Hogikyan contends. "It portrays your
personality and emotions. People make
assessments about you based on your voice,
so it is very important when you're speaking or
singing to think about what people are really
hearing. Problems with your voice also can
have a tremendous impact on your life."
According to the American
Academy of Otolaryngology.
Hogikyan and colleagues have put together
the following 10 tips to help keep your voice in
shape:
1. Drink water to keep your body well
hydrated, and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Your
vocal cords vibrate very fast, and having a
proper water balance helps keep them
lubricated. Important note: Foods containing
large amounts of water are excellent
hydration-conscious snacks, including apples,
pears, watermelon, peaches, melons, grapes,
plums, bell peppers and applesauce.
2. Allow yourself several "vocal naps" every
day, especially during periods of extended use.
For instance, teachers should avoid speaking
during the breaks between classes and find
quiet ways to spend the lunch hour rather than
talking in a noisy staff room with colleagues.
3. Don't smoke, or if you already do, quit.
Smoking raises the risk of throat cancer
tremendously, and inhaling smoke (even
secondhand smoke) can irritate the vocal
cords.
4. Don't abuse or misuse your voice. Avoid
yelling or screaming, and try not to talk loudly
in noisy areas. If your throat feels dry or tired,
or your voice is getting hoarse, reduce your
voice use. The hoarseness is a warning sign
that your vocal cords are irritated.
5. Keep your throat and neck muscles relaxed
even when singing high notes and low notes.
Some singers tilt their heads up when singing
high notes and down when singing low notes.
"The high notes are on the ceiling and the low
notes are on the floor," Rosenberg says. "Over
time, you'll pay for that"—not just with strained
vocal muscles but also by causing future limits
on the vocal range.
6. Pay attention to how you speak every day.
Even performers who have good singing habits
can cause damage when they speak. Many
skilled singers don't continue their healthy
habits when they speak; indeed, says Herseth,
"many people—including singers—should have
much more breath flow when they speak."
7. Don't clear your throat too often. When you
clear your throat, it's like slamming your vocal
cords together. Doing it too much can injure
them and make you hoarse. Try a sip of water
or swallow to quench the urge to clear. If you
feel like you have to clear your throat a lot, get
checked by a doctor for such things as acid
reflux disease, or allergy and sinus conditions.
8. When you're sick, spare your voice. Don't
talk when you're hoarse due to a cold or
infection. Listen to what your voice is telling
you.
9. When you have to speak publicly, to large
groups or outdoors, think about using
amplification to avoid straining your voice.
10. Humidify your home and work areas.
Remember, moist is good for the voice.
Further, warming up the voice is not just for
singers, the researchers say. Think of it like
stretching and loosening up before exercise.
Easy, daily warm-ups for your voice:
1. Do lip or tongue trills in the morning (try it in
the shower or on your drive to work) to
facilitate better use of airflow and breath.
2. Perform gentle humming and cooing to
warm up your voice in the morning.
3. If you do more vocally complex warm-ups
too, such as vocal scales, do the simple
warm-ups first.
4. Repeat these exercises throughout the day
to reduce muscular tension in the neck,
shoulders and jaw.
5. At the end of the day, perform a cool-down
of the voice with similar vocal tasks.
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