A Guide to Good Vocal Hygiene

Vocal hygiene is important for singers, because a singer’s entire body is the instrument. Therefore, it is essential that a singer lives a healthy lifestyle, in order to maintain good vocal health, and to reach their fullest potential as a singer. “Talking [and singing] is a physiologically demanding activity, with major effects on the cardiovascular system. It increases blood pressure, heart rate, and arrhythmia . . . even [when] about non-stressful subjects” (Cazden 66). It is vital that a singer eats a healthy balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins in order to fuel their body to sing. It is essential for a singer to drink plenty of water every day to stay hydrated, because the vocal cords need to be hydrated in order to function properly. Dehydration causes the vocal folds to tire more quickly, and it can result in vocal fold injury. It is also important that a singer gets enough sleep every night, and rest so that they can sing well. Fatigue from a lack of sleep will result in the inability to support the sound properly while singing. Physical exhaustion can make it especially difficult for a singer to hit high notes with the proper breath support, because the abdominal muscles are too tired to support the sound, and it takes more airflow to sing high pitches. The vocal cords will also get tired more easily when singing difficult passages and intervals, and the lack of the proper breath support may lead to vocal fold damage.

“Talking is a physiologically demanding activity, with major effects on the cardiovascular system. It increases blood pressure, heart rate, and arrhythmia . . .” ~ Anne Karpf

Regular exercise, especially cardiovascular exercise, can help to strengthen the lungs, and breathing muscles to increase stamina for performing, and singing difficult repertoire. Strength training exercises can also help to strengthen the spine, and all of the muscles in your body to improve your overall posture for singing. Remember, if you are a singer, you are the instrument. Your entire body is the instrument, therefore, treat your body like it is a valuable instrument.

“If you are a singer, you are the instrument.”

Here is your guide to good vocal hygiene:

1. Do not whisper.

2. Do not grunt or make noisy sounds, because it creates traumatic adduction of the vocal folds. Do not clear your throat continually. Exhale when lifting heavy weights, or objects, and do not hold your breath in order to avoid tensing, and squeezing the vocal cords shut.

3. Do not yell, or scream, or talk loudly.

• Use a whistle, or a bell to grab someone’s attention from a distance.

• Only speak to someone when they are close to you.

• Use facial and physical gestures to express emotions.

• Use “hissing” as a non-voiced method to express anger or frustration.

4. Avoid noisy environments.

• In noisy environments such as planes, restaurants, concerts, etc., do not force your voice to speak uncomfortably loud for a long period of time. Instead, try to speak at a natural pitch.

• Face the listener, and make eye contact

• Gently over articulate your words without increasing your volume

• Slow your speaking rate to avoid the need to repeat yourself

5. Avoid excessive talking.

• Schedule vocal “naps” throughout the day. At least rest your voice for 20 minutes 2 to 3 times per day. Your vocal cords need rest in order to recover from the pressure and vibrations of singing and speaking.

• Use texting, messenger, snap chat, email, and social media to communicate to others instead of talking over the phone in order to rest your voice.

• During times of heavy voice use/ singing, write down what you want to say to others rather than speaking in order to rest your voice.

6. Avoid drinking excessive amounts of caffeine and energy drinks.

• Caffeine has a diuretic effect, and depletes the vocal cords of much needed hydration.

• Drink 1 cup of water for every cup of coffee, soda, or energy drink that you drink in order to prevent dehydration.

7. Hydration

• Drink 8 cups of water per day, which is a total of 64 ounces of water.

• Drink plenty of water, or a whole bottle of Gatorade, Coconut water, or Powerade at least 4 hours before a performance, or a rehearsal, because it takes about 4 hours for your body to digest the water, and hydrate the body. Your vocal folds are the last muscle in the body to be hydrated.

• “Pee Pale, Sing Clear!” Your urine should be clear. Yellow colored urine is a sign of slight dehydration, and the darker the color of your urine is the more dehydrated you are.

8. Do not eat at least 2- 4 hours before singing, so that your stomach is empty. Singing puts pressure on the stomach muscles, which can cause acid reflux, and burping.

9. Sleep

• Sleep between 6-8 hours per night

• Avoid sleeping for less than 6 hours per night, especially before performances, and rehearsals.

• Schedule your sleeping patterns by using an alarm clock. Go to bed at the same time every night, and set an alarm to wake up at the same time every morning in order to regulate your sleep.

10. Practice proper speech etiquette.

• Do not talk on an uncomfortably low or high pitch. (The “hummm” pitch is the pitch that you should be speaking at).

• Do not try to change your natural speaking voice.

• Support your speaking voice the same way that you do when you are singing, especially when you want to speak louder.

11. Vocal Warm- Ups

• Begin by stretching your back, neck, chest, and shoulders.

• Start with tongue trills, lip trills, humming, buzzing, and vocal glides.

• Then, begin singing on vowels in the easiest part of your range to sing.

• Slowly, expand your range from your highest note to your lowest note.

• It should take about 10 minutes to warm-up your voice before you begin singing your repertoire.

12. Do not smoke marijuana or tobacco.

13. Avoid medications or drugs that can affect the larynx such as the following:

• Antihistamines

• Steroids

• Marijuana

• Aspirins

• Thyroid drugs

• Hypertension drugs

• Double check all medications with your doctor to make sure that they are safe for singers, and actors.

14. Important Rules for Singers:

• Do not sing higher or lower than is comfortable.

• Do not sing on a voice part in choir that is too high or too low for your voice type, or that is in an uncomfortable range for your voice type.

• Do not sing if you are coughing a lot, or if you have laryngitis. Rest your voice, and avoid talking.

• Do not “over sing” (If you are hoarse after singing than either your singing and speaking technique needs improvement, or your voice is simply wore out, and needs rest).

• Do not sing if it hurts to swallow.

• Do not sing if your voice box (larynx) is swollen. You can test whether your larynx is swollen by singing “Happy Birthday.” If you are not able to sing all the notes to “Happy Birthday” comfortably, and with a clear tone quality than stop singing, and rest your voice until the swelling goes away.

• Avoid talking a lot on a performance day.

• Get plenty of sleep the night before a performance.

• Do not drink alcohol the day before, and the day of a performance.

• Always stretch your back, neck, chest, and shoulders before you sing.

• Always vocally warm- up before you sing.

Works Cited

Cazden, Joanna. Everyday Voice Care: The Lifestyle Guide for Singers and Talkers. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2012.

Rosen, Clark A., and Thomas Murry. Guidelines for Singers: Preventing Vocal Problems. University of Pittsburgh Voice Center, 2006.

About the Author:

Violet Mandic, soprano, began studying voice with Christa Warda, a professor at Muhlenberg College soon after she graduated from high school. She began studying classical piano at the Tri- County Conservatory of Music. Violet continued her music education at Bucks County Community College where she earned her Associates Degree in the Arts in Music. She became a part of the International Dean’s List Honor Society in 2012. She graduated from Bucks County Community College with an honors in Summa Cum Laude. She transferred to Moravian College to continue studying music. At Moravian College, Violet became a part of the Delta Omicron Music Honors Fraternity in the spring of 2016. Violet won the Charlotte E. Newcombie Scholarship in the fall of 2015, and the Louise Moore Pine Music Scholarship in the fall of 2016. Violet graduated from Moravian College with a Bachelors of Music Degree in Voice Performance in the summer of 2017 with an honors in Summa Cum Laude. Violet is currently working at Miss Cindy’s School of Dance as a voice and piano teacher. She also teaches voice and piano lessons in her private home studio. Violet writes her own articles on voice pedagogy, vocal health, and music. She belongs to the Palisades Community Choir, and the choir at her home church. She is currently working on earning a certification in yoga teaching, and music education.