Vocal Rest for Singers

As a singer, sometimes you just need to give your voice a break-- be quiet and go on vocal rest! A couple of weeks ago I had a really awful sinus infection.. my ears were clogged, my nose was stuffy and I had a really uncomfortable itch in my throat that made me sound hoarse when I spoke. I tried to sing a couple of times and it wasn't pretty. So how did it go away? Well, I cancelled all of my sessions that week and refrained from practicing any songs. I also limited my talking and went on vocal rest. Within 5 days of taking medication and literally not singing, I walked into my gig on Sunday and sang effortlessly and beautifully. It felt so amazing to have my real voice back!

According to the NYU Voice Center, vocal rest is a time of introspection and delegation. Vocal rest gives your voice time to heal, settle and relax. When your voice is fatigued or if you're trying to overcome an illness, the fastest way to let your voice heal is to refrain from using it. Believe it or not we use our voices for just about everything... when we cough, sneeze, clear our throats, hum and even whisper. During vocal rest, try to limit or even avoid doing all of these things to expedite your recovery. 

If you have a really busy performance schedule that requires you to sing almost on a nightly basis, try not to speak the entire day leading up to your call time. As it gets later in the day, closer to when you have to go on stage, gently start to warm up your voice (starting at the middle of your range, slowly working your way upwards and downwards) and take two shots of honey. Honey will lubricate your voice and will give your cords an awesome coating to help facilitate the production of sound with a lot more ease. If you're not at 100% during your gig, amp up your monitor mix or sing your song in a lower key. Always listen to your body when your voice is trying to tell you something. If it hurts, stop and take a couple of days off so that you can rest. 

Giving your voice the respect that it deserves is an amazing investment in your future as a vocal professional. If you can incorporate small bouts of vocal rest during your practice and performance schedules, then you will be able to accomplish the following things:

• The avoidance of more severe vocal problems that may require longer periods of vocal rest, therapy and even surgery.
• Stronger vocal muscles. Strength in muscles comes from stress AND recovery, and adequate recovery time is just as important as your training. 
• A longer lasting vocal career!

I hope this helps and if you have any questions, please let me know. Also, I would like to know if you have any vocal rest tips of your own!?

What to Eat Before You Sing

Some of my students have asked me what they should eat before they sing or have a performance. Since the voice is part of the human body, what we consume affects what we produce. You want to make sure that you are in fact eating- you don't want to starve. Starvation is unhealthy and won't give you the energy that you need for your performance. But, you also want to consume foods that will give you the stamina and nutrients that you need without hindering your vocal instrument.

The following are some tips that I always try to live by before I have a gig:

1- Hydrate!

There's a reason why hydration is #1 on this list. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids. Water and non-caffeinated tea are best. Stay away from caffeine and alcohol. They will actually do the opposite--dehydrate and irritate the voice. If you hate the taste of water, add lemon, berries or non-sugary powders such as Crystal Light. If you don't like tea, add honey or lemon to your drink. When your voice is hydrated, a healthy amount of mucous membranes coat your cords and you're able to sing with a lot more ease. 

2- Eat protein.

Lean meat will give you the energy that you need to sustain throughout your performance. Grilled chicken and fish are great examples of what you can make at home or eat at the place that you are performing. If you are on the go, try grabbing some deli meat (turkey, ham) and snack on that with some WheatThins or Triscuits. These lean proteins will keep you satisfied and serve as the fuel for your voice and breath-supporting muscles. 

3- Eat your veggies.

Vegetables are just really good for you and will give you the vitamins that you need to maintain your health. Working long hours and sleeping irregularly can affect your immune system and eating properly will help give you the stamina that you need to stay healthy and strong. Salads, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower are just some veggies that provide great benefits to your overall health and voice. I like to munch on carrots and celery when I am on the go. If I am at home, a quick salad is very refreshing.

4- A spoonful of honey.

Honey is a singer's best friend. Honey is filled with so many awesome benefits for the body and the voice. Its a great lubricant for the voice because it literally just coats your throat and soothes your muscles. Honey serves as a natural healing property and bacteria killer, gives you energy and boosts your immune system. If you keep a squeezable bottle in your car (its okay to it leave out in the sun and it never expires), then all you have to do is have a little bit of honey when you are en route to your gig.

5- Granola Bars.

I love granola bars (Kashi is my favorite) because they give me a lot of energy and are very filling when I am on the go. They are also a great little snack to have if I have a break between a 4 hour set. Healthy granola bars provide a great combination of fiber, protein and carbohydrates. I make sure to pack at least one when I have to perform. Sometimes I get anxious before I sing and am literally not hungry. A healthy granola bar also serves as a quick compromise if you just need to put something in your stomach. 

I hope that this list helps you next time you are wondering what to eat when you have a performance or gig. Overall, you shouldn't starve yourself or overeat. You should eat until you are satisfied and make choices that are beneficial to your body and your voice. 

Remember... you only have ONE voice!

The Solution to Sore Throats: Ricola

As a singer, having a cold or sore throat can be very uncomfortable and inconvenient. Regardless of whether or not I am sick, I still need to use my voice on a daily basis. Besides my Throat Coat tea recipe, another solution to sore throats is Ricola cough drops.

I recommend the Ricola Honey-Lemon with Echinacea flavor. The combination of honey, lemon and echinacea is the most gentle on the voice. Echinacea is a natural ingredient that helps fight colds and flus. The honey serves as a great lubricant for the vocal cords and the lemon helps stimulate the immune system.  

I woke up today with a sore throat and you better believe it that I'm going to the store to get my own bag! I've been using these cough drops for years and they never disappoint! Not to mention, they are really yummy, too!

Home Remedies For Your Voice: Steaming

During this time of the year, a lot of us suffer from allergies and congestion. One home remedy that we can do for our voice is something called steaming. Just simply do the following:

1- Boil 2 cups of water.
2- Add 1 teaspoon of salt.
3- Breathe deeply into the steam.
4- Repeat 5-10 times. Clear your nose in between if you need to.

I learned this trick from my old voice teacher in college and it works! The steam will loosen up your congestion and the salt will serve as an antibacterial. Try this whenever you feel yucky. It'll clear up your passageways and allow you to breathe and sing a lot better!

Diva Tip: Be sure to pull your hair back and take off your mascara! One time my eyelashes almost melted and that's not fabulous! Hope this helps to keep you singing this summer!

Keep Your Voice Hydrated This Summer

As we enter the summer months, it is important that we take the time to drink plenty of fluids and keep our voices hydrated. The hotter the weather, the more hydration is required. Just think about how much you sweat when you're outside under the hot sun, that's how much water you need to drink in order to replenish yourself--even more so if you are a singer!

When we are dehydrated, the mucous membranes in our vocal cords dry out as well. Without lubrication between our vocal cords, it becomes harder on the voice to produce sound. The wheels become creaky. As a result, our vocal cords become fatigued. This makes it harder for us to sing.

I recommend always keeping a refillable water bottle. You can fill it up while you're at home and take it with you on-the-go. I use SmartWater bottles because they are durable and can hold up to 4 cups of water. I suggest drinking at least 2-3 of these servings a day.

Trust me, your voice will thank you and singing will become more enjoyable. =)

Throat Coat Recipe for Vocalists

Throat Coat Recipe for Vocalists:
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of boiling water
- 1 Throat Coat tea bag
- 1 teaspoon of organic honey
- 1/4 wedge of fresh lime or lemon
Directions
- Pour boiling water into a mug.  Melt honey into the boiling water and stir. Insert tea bag and let seep for 10-15 minutes. Squirt fresh lime/lemon. Enjoy!

Drink this special tea before singing for any special event, when getting over illness and whenever you feel like giving your vocal cords a special treat!


You can purchase Throat Coat at your local supermarket, Walgreens, and Whole Foods. You can also order directly online from their website.


Can't live without my Throat Coat! It's any vocalist's best friend!


Till next time Divas,
*Katrina*