For professional voice users, such as singers, actors, teachers, television and radio

presenters, ministers, event speakers, lawyers.

IMPORTANT: You should always feel relaxed in the upper body and neck area when using your
voice. The lower body should be braced to do the work, not so much your vocal apparatus. If
you have a microphone, you don’t need to shout. The PA is doing the work for you. It is often
psychological that we strain – often when the fold-back is inadequate. Ask for more!
It is always very beneficial to warm up your body before voice use, gently stretching the areas
that are going to be used, especially in colder weather. These exercises are also good if your
voice has been damaged in any way, or just worn out.

WARM-UPS & STRETCHES: WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE VOICE?

Breathing: (THIS FEELS REALLY GOOD!) • Plenty of sleep.
Breathe in (thru nose), stretch arms up & count to • Plenty of water. Recommended for good
3, and then breathe out (thru mouth), arms down, hydration – 2 litres daily. The larynx needs to be
count to 3. Do this 3 times. lubricated.
Shoulders: Roll them backwards 6 times, and • Regular exercise & healthy food.
forward 6 times. Up and down together (gently!) 6
•Chamomile tea (relaxes the muscles in the whole
times, and alternately 6 times.
vocal area, and your whole system). Any warm
Neck: Take right hand over head and gently pull drink, except one with lots of milk in it!
head towards the same shoulder and stretch for 7
• Avoiding viral colds and flu. Wash your hands
seconds. Then the other side.
regularly. Wear a mask on public transport when
Back: Clasp arms behind your back, squeeze there are viruses about. I personally recommend
shoulder blades together, count to 3; let go & count (and so do many doctors now) taking a good
to 3. Do this 3 times. ascorbate powder and olive leaf extract daily as a
preventative measure.
Mouth & face: Open mouth and eyes as wide as
possible – to the “O” position , alternating to a very
wide “A” position, back and forth. Blow two or three
COLDS, FLU, SORE THROAT? BE CAREFUL
big raspberries!
WHAT YOU SUCK!
Voice: Lift the back of your throat as if you are
• Best are Vitamin C & Zinc lozenges, Propolis
going to sob or yawn, and whine – over and over.
lozenges (from bees), Vocalzone and Bioglan
In the same position, say “Whee” – start low and
lozenges, or Fishermen’s Friend. Other throat
slide up, not too high at first, gradually getting to
lollies such as Butter Menthols can be very high in
your highest pitch by about the 6th time. Also try
sugar and cause more mucus build-up! Check the
saying “ng” in the same yawning position, sliding up
labels.
and down as far as your voice will take you (called
“SIRENING”). • Use a personal steam inhaler – very cheap from a
pharmacy – with or without eucalyptus drops.
Especially good for getting over throat infections
and damage etc: With the mouth closed, form a • Olive oil, honey & lemon juice – in equal parts – is
deep “O” position and make a low, minimal sound on great. A spoonful before voice use.
a hum, with as little air as possible passing through • Lip trills. Giggle, sob, yawn exercises that lift the
the vocal cords. Long notes, 3 or 4 times. soft palate and relax the vocal production.
• Peace and calm in your soul. • Whispering for long periods thinking this is
gentler on your voice – it’s actually harder on it
• Sing (or hum) gently every day, and always
– muscularly tiring and also drying! It’s better to
support your voice with your core.
speak on a quiet but clear voice.
• Check the sound of your voice. Is it raspy, or
• Long periods of stressful projection: Talking
“grunty”? Correct it straight away; relax the effort
constantly on a long car trip. You tend to strain,
in your throat.
unconsciously, over the engine noise. Speaking
Engaging the lower body or core, and not expecting above noises such as crowds, music, and machines
your vocal cords to take the brunt of your etc. – for the same reason as above. Long phone
vocalization. conversations can be very tiring for your voice,
especially if you are tired or you have a cough or
cold etc.
WHAT’S NOT GOOD FOR THE VOICE?
• Stress – causes muscles to contract and constrict
• Not enough sleep. your throat.
• Not enough water. Too many caffeinated and • Breathing smoggy or polluted air – car exhaust or
alcoholic drinks – these are dehydrating. smoky bars.
• Excessively sugary, salty or spicy foods. Also • Grunting, laughing loudly suddenly, or screaming
dairy foods – to digest dairy, the body creates & shouting! Especially if emotionally upset. The
more mucus. Dairy is more troublesome for some vocal folds slam together in such instances, and
people than others. your voice is damaged by the sudden impact.
• Smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes. Marijuana • Speaking without support from your body
burns much hotter than tobacco, so it can take a muscles.
week or two for the vocal folds to heal from one
marijuana smoke. (Also smoking pot does nothing
for your intelligent focus!) ENGAGING THE CORE
• Dry, heated or air-conditioned premises. Place hands on diaphragm, with middle fingers
• Very cold or iced drinks before voice use. meeting. Breathe in thru nose and fingers should
part. This means you are breathing deeply
• Orange juice before voice use. It irritates the (abdominal breathing) and not shallowly (clavicular
mucosal lining in your throat and causes a mess breathing) – and out fully. Repeat until you know
that is hard to work through! Tomato juice is a you are breathing deeply and relaxed. Now breathe
good alternative for some. Also try pineapple. in, breathe out fully, then without breathing in at
all, sing a note for as long as you can. (It won’t be
very long, but you will be engaging the diaphragm to
COLDS, FLU, SORE THROAT? BE CAREFUL
work correctly)
WHAT YOU TAKE & SUCK!
• Do NOT use ANY analgesic medication or spray
that numbs the throat, as they allow you to work CONTROLLING THE FLOW
your voice much harder than you should in the Breathe in deeply, and on that breath sing a long
inflamed condition, and therefore cause more relaxed note, trying to keep the note as consistent
damage. in sound as possible (this is what trains your
• AVOID Antihistamines – they dry up all the diaphragm, and gains you more control over your
secretions, and singing and speaking in this breath, and therefore voice support).
condition is harmful to your throat.
• Try to AVOID clearing the throat, or coughing to
clear it – or at least do it more gently, if you have
to at all. Clearing is very harsh on the vocal folds
and causes more mucous to come in as protection,
thus creating a vicious cycle. Try swallowing
instead. If it’s really troublesome, try bending over
and saying “ng” and shaking head side to side –
this should loosen the offending phlegm. @2003 Sharny Russell van Herp