1. Avoid abusing your voice.
·
Do nothing to
your voice that results in hoarseness and/or throat pain
·
Avoid yelling
or screaming to the point of causing hoarseness.
·
Avoid singing
so loudly that you develop hoarseness, and avoid singing in situations that are
so noisy that you cannot hear yourself singing.
·
When you have
a cold or laryngitis, do not try to talk or sing "over the problem. This
can lead to vocal fold damage; see your doctor.
2. Avoid misusing your voice.
·
Be careful
when using character voices, not to strain, and use especially good breath
support.
·
Don't attempt
to alter your “normal” speaking voice to create an effect; particularly avoid
pitching your voice too low. (If you are using the lowest note of your pitch
range for everyday conversation, this is too low.)
·
Avoid taking
on roles that you cannot do, that is, don't attempt roles that are out of your
range.
·
Avoid use of
long run‑on sentences and a rapid speaking rate that stress the vocal
apparatus; good breath support for conversational speech is every bit as
important as good breath support for singing. (If you don't know what this
means, you should consider taking voice lessons, and/or seeing a voice
therapist.)
3. Avoid overusing your voice
·
In very noisy
environments such as airplanes, minimize conversation.
·
Examine your
vocal schedule carefully. Remember that all of your vocal demands are not of
equal importance. Avoid making a schedule that leaves no room for rest and
recovery.
·
Use
amplification when available and appropriate, especially for rehearsals.
·
Use “marking”
techniques when appropriate, especially for rehearsais.
4. Monitor your work and home
enviroments for possible problems.
·
Avoid, if
possible, performing in smoky, dusty, and noisy places.
·
Humidify your
bedroom, especially during the winter when when it is dry.
5. Monitor your diet and lifestyle.
·
Eat
regularly, and eat a healthy diet.
·
Avoid fried
and other fatty foods.
·
Avoid
dehydration, since this adversely affects the vocal folds; drink plenty of
water.
·
Avoid eating
or drinking, particularly alcoholic beverages, within three hours of bedtime.
·
Minimize
consumption of caffeine-containing foods and beverages.
·
Strictly
avoid smoking or other tobacco use, if you smoke, quit.
·
Exercise
regularly; aerobic exercise is best.
6. Avoid unnecessary medications.
·
Don't
medicate yourself.
·
Avoid drying
medications such as antihistamines.
·
Avoid
anesthetic throat sprays.
7. Consider taking voice lessons, even if you've never had a voice problem. Voice
lessons have been shown to increase vocal efficiency and decrease the
likelihood of developing voice problems.
8. If
you need a physician, consult wlth other singers to find an otolaryngologist
who has experience in treating vocalists.
