26 Apr 2018
- You are a vocal athlete. You need to exercise!
- Learn good posture. You speak and sing with your whole body.
- Reduce any habitual postural or physical tensions.
- Align yourself with an imaginary plumbline through the body – crown of head, shoulders, crest of hips, knee joints, arch of feet.
- Keep energy levels right – neither depleted nor over-pressured.
- Avoid tiredness. Get sleep! It is the best friend of the voice.
- Pace your practice and avoid using voice when stressed by sickness/fatigue.
- Keep fit by taking aerobic exercise.
- Keep neck, shoulder and upper chest muscles free, not tensed.
- Release your jaw from the hinge, keeping space between upper and lower molars.
- Exercise the tongue to keep it flexible and precise.
- Take time to breathe. Do not starve yourself of breath.
- Power your breath and voice with the strong torso muscles.
- Learn to release the abdominal muscles for a really deep in-breath.
- Learn about good breath flow and avoid breath-holding.
- Aim for a clean, clear, carrying sound, neither breathy nor pressured.
- Learn how to free the larynx and avoid constriction.
- Avoid coughing and throat-clearing. Sip and swallow instead.
- Drink plenty of water. Keep humidity high enough in surroundings.
- Eat a balanced diet, avoiding too many dairy foods.
- Avoid excessive caffeine and anti-histamines if possible: they dehydrate.
- Explore your full vocal range and don’t get stuck in a range too high or low.
- Avoid talking on a monotone pitch.
- Minimise talking in noisy environments like buses, planes, parties.
- Keep away from chemical fumes including household cleaning agents.
- Don’t smoke, or use harmful drugs.
- Don’t drink alcohol excessively.