Vocal Health
Vocal Health Tips for Singers, Actors & Public Speakers
One of the most common questions I get at Hickory Arts from voice students, actors, and performers is:
"What can I do to keep my voice healthy?"
First, I'm not a doctor. I'm a teaching artist, performer, and voice coach who's been singing, acting, directing, teaching, recording, and touring for a long time. These are simply some of the vocal health habits I've picked up through experience, college training, professional performance, and conversations with other singers, actors, directors, and vocal coaches over the years.
Take what works for you. Leave what doesn't.
Jef Hartman, Artist Director
Rest
Sleep and space.
Get plenty of rest.
Sometimes you have to say "no" to say "yes." Cheesy, but true.
If you're exhausted, your voice is usually exhausted too. No amount of vocal technique can completely overcome a body that hasn't had enough sleep.
Hydrate
As much room-temperature water as you can stand.
Notice I said water.
Not tea.
Not coffee.
Not sports drinks.
Water.
A few practical habits:
Refill a 16 oz. bottle three or four times daily.
Drink two glasses of water before meals.
Drink water before bed.
Pee clear. Your body will adjust.
Steamy baths, long showers, and humidifiers are also great ways to help maintain hydration.
You can Google hydration recommendations based on age, weight, height, activity level, and all that good stuff.
Warm Up
Our singing voices are extensions of our speaking voices.
By the time 6 pm rolls around, most people have already been using their voices all day. One of the things drilled into me in college was not to overdo warm-ups.
At that point in the day, some of the best warm-ups aren't vocal at all.
They're physical and enunciative.
Try:
Tongue twisters
Lip loosening
Gentle jaw massage
Shoulder rolls
Neck stretches
Deep breathing
Yawning
Yawn a lot.
Seriously.
It's one of the best things you can do for your voice.
I also encourage students to work voiced and unvoiced consonants:
T vs. D
P vs. B
K vs. G
F vs. V
S vs. Z
M vs. N
SH vs. CH
Pay attention to how you speak throughout the day. Finish your words. Slow down. Pace your speech.
And avoid aggressive throat clearing.
"Ahem" may be cliché, but it's actually a safer way to clear your throat.
Protect Your Ears
Singers obsess over vocal cords.
Not enough singers think about their ears.
Avoid prolonged conversations around loud noise.
Keep quiet during breaks.
Be mindful of road noise, radio volume, crowd noise, and constant background sound.
Personally, I like Hearos earplugs leading up to performances. They're inexpensive, reusable, and available at most pharmacies.
Eat Well
Eat lightly before performing.
Too much food interferes with breath support.
Billy Joel once said he hates digesting while performing.
Billy's m' boy.
Dairy is one of those endless singer arguments. Some people swear it doesn't affect mucus production. I've personally found the opposite to be true for me.
Pay attention to your own body.
Many people are unknowingly sensitive to dairy.
I also try to avoid highly acidic foods before singing.
One old trick:
A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
Followed by a teaspoon of olive oil
Only when I'm fighting crud.
Another tip I picked up years ago from Prince—yes, that Prince.
Apparently his rider included Tostitos and medium or hot salsa before performances.
The texture and light salt help clear some of the crud. The salsa provides a little irritation and stimulation.
Science? Maybe.
Prince? Definitely.
Works for me.
Medications
Many performers don't realize how drying medications can be.
Things that commonly dry you out include:
Cough drops
Throat sprays
Sugar
Menthol
Caffeine
Alcohol
Smoke
Smoking
Vaping
Even some products marketed to singers can have a drying effect.
Antihistamines, aspirin, ibuprofen, and many allergy medications can also contribute to dryness.
For allergies, I've personally had great results with Flonase.
For congestion, Advil Congestion has worked well for me because it addresses swelling and congestion without drying me out as aggressively as some alternatives.
Your mileage may vary.
And yes, tea, honey, and lemon deserve their own paragraph.
They're comforting.
They're soothing.
But they're often misunderstood.
Tea—even decaf—can have a drying effect.
Lemon strips mucus but can also strip some of the natural coating protecting your cords.
Honey is wonderful, but often seems to increase phlegm because it's helping loosen and move things around.
If you're healthy, stick with water.
If you're sick, tea, honey, and lemon can absolutely provide comfort. Just don't think they're magic.
Temperature Matters
Think about your voice the same way you'd think about muscles.
Heat encourages relaxation.
Cold encourages contraction.
Both affect tension.
Both affect pitch.
Both affect range.
That's one of the reasons I generally recommend room-temperature water whenever possible.
Avoid Dehydration
The usual suspects:
Excess sugar
Excess caffeine
Alcohol
Smoking
Vaping
The heat associated with smoking and vaping is particularly rough on vocal folds over time.
If you're serious about singing, acting, public speaking, worship leading, teaching, or performing, hydration is one of the easiest ways to improve consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important vocal health tip?
If I had to pick one?
Hydration.
The second would be sleep.
Most vocal problems I encounter in otherwise healthy performers can be improved by doing those two things consistently.
Is warm tea good for singers?
It can be comforting, especially when you're sick. However, I generally recommend water as the primary source of hydration.
Should singers avoid dairy?
Some singers notice increased mucus production. Others don't. Pay attention to your own body rather than following blanket rules.
Is vaping bad for singers?
In my experience, yes. The heat and irritation can negatively affect range, endurance, flexibility, and overall vocal health.
Do actors need vocal health training too?
Absolutely. Actors often place just as much demand on their voices as singers, especially during rehearsals, performances, auditions, and public speaking engagements.
Learn More
At Hickory Arts, we work with singers, actors, performers, public speakers, worship leaders, and developing artists through private voice lessons, acting lessons, audition preparation, artist development, and performance coaching in Hickory, North Carolina.
Home is where the art is.
Event Photo Courtesy of Carol Anne Hartman Photography
