Vocal Tips for the Changing Seasons

It's currently 4am and I'm having a hard time sleeping because of the cough from which I'm currently suffering and which I have much anxiousness. However, I think it's a great time to FINALLY get this blog post out!

Over the years, I have found that the weather really affects our health especially as the seasons change. With so many people getting sick - myself, included - I wanted to pass down some wisdom to help keep our voices healthy and strong! Since it's that time of year for auditions and holiday concerts, this is the perfect time to get these ten tidbits of truth to get us prepared!

1. WATER IS YOUR FRIEND - STAY HYDRATED

Every student of mine has been asked, "Did you drink enough water today?" during a lesson. The usual answer is a bashful "no" and a quick swig from their water bottle. Go ahead! Ask them! Staying hydrated is super important for singing and definitely worth the multiple bathroom breaks. Be sure to have room-temperature water as cold water can damage your vocal folds. One of the key things in maintaining vocal health is to be sure that your vocal folds are slippery and moist. I know, sounds gross. But the changing seasons means the air is getting colder and dryer so it is imperative that you take good care of your voice. You can do this by steaming - holding your head over a pot of hot water while inhaling its steam - or by sleeping with a humidifier, which pumps water vapor into the air and keeps your throat nice and moist.

2. Vocal Rest + Silent Practice

Resting your voice is super important, especially if you're using your voice often to talk or in rehearsals. When you don't have to talk or sing, DON'T. If you really need to solidify any music, Silent Practice is a go-to method while you're taking a period of vocal rest.

Story time: A month before my first senior recital (yea, I had two recitals during my senior year - I was kind of insane), I got pneumonia which caused my vocal folds to swell a lot due to all the coughing and throat clearing. In order to minimize the use of my voice, I listened to my recital repertoire with my music in front of me and followed along. When it came time to perform the recital, I wasn't at 100%, but I sure did know my music! It would have been an awful experience to have performed that recital with my voice in worse shape than it was, but vocal rest coupled with silent practice really saved me (Below is a video of one of my songs from that recital)! Another wonderful thing that helped me through this time - and continues to help me when the going gets rough - was Throat Coat Tea.

3. Throat Coat Tea

I'm not being paid by Traditional Medicinals or anything, but Throat Coat is AMAZING. It's my go-to "feel-better" tea once the seasons start changing or when I start to feel a twinge of sickness. The ingredients that make Throat Coat work like magic are the licorice-root and marshmallow. Licorice root soothes and protects damaged tissue and helps to keep the body well hydrated. Marshmallow works the same way. I enjoy Throat Coat with Lemon Echinacea. Along with the wonderful properties of the licorice-root and marshmallow, echinacea is a natural immune-system booster! It does taste a little weird and is definitely an acquired taste, but if you add a bit (or a lot) of honey, it's sure to keep any sore throat blues away or at bay!

4. Steer Clear of Throat Clearing

If you're already sick or have had seasonal allergies to fight, you've probably had your fair share of phlegm. The natural thing to do is to cough or to clear your throat. What's awful is that these very natural reactions actually hurt your voice! What happens in your throat is your vocal folds slamming against each other, causing inflammation and irritation. Try keeping it to a minimum!

5. Wear a scarf

Scarves are great for spicing up an outfit, but their main purpose is to keep our necks warm. It's been said that as long as certain parts of the body are kept warm, you will be fine during the colder months. Keeping your neck warm will keep your larynx (where you house your vocal folds) warm and safe.

6. Perfectly Timed Lozenges

Contrary to what people believe, throat lozenges aren't actually the best things to suck on during choir rehearsal or right before you sing. Cough lozenges like Halls are packed with medicine that is meant to soothe your throat by numbing the tissue surrounding your throat. What's the problem? Pain lets you know that something's gone wrong. With that sensation taken away, you won't know if you're causing further damage to your voice. But that's not to say it's not helpful ever. Timing is key when it comes to using lozenges, especially if you intend on using and keeping your voice around for a long time! If your throat is REALLY irritated, I recommend taking a lozenge 3-4 hours before singing. I also like to pop in a lozenge before going to sleep (before brushing my teeth, of course) so that any medicinal properties can settle in my throat throughout the night. My favorite brand is Ricola because it doesn't taste like medicine and they've got tons of natural herb combinations to choose from!

7. Limit Caffeine & Dairy

Caffeine dries your vocal folds. Dairy produces phlegm. As a black-tea-with-half-and-half lover, this is pretty difficult but since I love singing more, it is so worth it.

8. Gargle

Gargling is weird, but it's WONDERFUL. Gargling with warm water and salt is standard but if you add a 1/2 tsp. of baking soda, you may have a hit! Gargling at a high pitch will ensure that the vocal folds make the most contact and get the most out of that weird mixture!

9. Don't Whisper

Whispering is actually WORSE for your voice. Talk at a much lower pitch or don't talk at all! Now that we have texting, this should be a lot easier!

10. Get Lots of Sleep

At this very moment, I'm failing at this. While you sleep, your body does a lot of healing. So after you've had a lovely cup of Throat Coat with Lemon Echinacea and a Ricola throat lozenge for some extra soothing, gargle some warm salt water - brush your teeth - and get a good night's sleep!

I hope these tips help as you navigate the changing seasons. What's great is that you can use these tidbits of truth all year long! Below is a printable graphic that'll help you remember these tidbits! Keep them on the fridge or in your voice lesson notebook for easy access!