If you are a vocalist, then you know your voice is an instrument. It is your primary instrument, so whether you play the guitar, keyboard or sax, they are second to your voice. And what this means for you is that you should take care of your voice as much as you take care of those instruments.
Talent is just one of the ingredients for success. If you have a great voice that you don't take care of, with time, that voice will begin to sound not so great. And I cannot begin to tell you how much good a great or at least a suitable voice does to a song. The sweetest words still need a good voice, or else it's just another one going down the drain.
However, taking care of your voice is not limited to what you do. It also includes what you don't do to it. Even if you are not a musician, I am sure you would find this list helpful too. While some are things you need to stay off from permanently, some are just things to avoid/refrain from a few hours before singing.
- Cold water -constricts the muscle in your throat, which results in loss of flexibility.
- Caffeine/Coffee -causes dehydration and irritation of vocal cords.
- Spicy food -causes heartburn.
- Alcohol -leads to dehydration in your throat and excessive mucous that will cover your vocal folds.
- Screaming -stress your vocal cords and results in temporary loss of voice.
- Drugs -can destroy the thickness of your vocal cords.
- Smoking -causes dryness and throat irritation.
- Late nights - not having enough sleep affects your general health, and if it continues that way, it also takes a toll on your voice.
- Dairy products i.e. milk, yoghurt, butter -thicken the mucus already in your throat.
I understand that it’s not easy to break away from some of the items on this list. However, it is a necessary sacrifice for a great musical career. Maybe you should take it one at a time; start with the easiest one for you and work it all the way up from there.
Happy singing!
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