Hydration: The vocal chords need a thick layer of mucus in order to vibrate efficiently.  

• Drink 2 quarts of water daily.  A good indication is to drink water until your urine is pale.
• Caffeine and alcohol pull water out of your system and deplete the vocal folds of needed lubrication. Caffeinated drinks include coffee, tea and soft drinks.  Small amounts of the beverages are acceptable, but must be counterbalanced by drinking more water.
• Other factors that can affect lubrication of the vocal folds is a dry environment. Examples include: gas furnaces, air conditioners, and various climate control devices.  To counteract these harmful elements Use a humidifier at night.   

Throat Clearing/Harsh Coughing is traumatic to the vocal folds and should be reduced as much as possible.      

• A cause for clearing ones throat is thick mucus (due to a cold) on or below the vocal folds.
• The safest way to clear mucus is by using a gentle, breathing, productive cough where there is high airflow with little sound.
• An example of a proper cough is to take in as deep a breath as possible, momentarily hold your breath, and expel the air with a sharp, silent "h" sound.   

Drugs

• Antihistamines:  Often prescribed to treat allergies and are present in some over the counter cold medications. They should rarely be used because they tend to cause dryness.  Prescription nasal steroid sprays such as Nasacort®, Nasonex® and Flonase® will often relieve symptoms of nasal allergy without drying side effects of antihistamines.
• Analgesics: Aspirin products and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen® should be used with caution as they cause platelet dysfunction. They may predispose a person to bleeding.  Tylenol® is the best substitute for pain relief.
• NSAIDS (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) include Celebrex® and Vioxx® are effective for moderate pain relief without affecting platelets and may be prescribed by your physician. 
• Mucolytic agents such as Mucinex® help to liquefy vicious mucus and increase the output of thin respiratory tract secretions. This may be helpful for singers who complain of thick secretions, frequent throat, or postnasal drip.

Note: these drugs must be taken with lots of water daily to be effective. 

o       Avoid local anesthetics that are over the counter like the plague!  Singing under their influence is like "trying to play the piano with gloves on." 

o       Be careful of the use of progesterone dominant birth control pills.  They may cause virilization of the female larynx and a loss of the upper vocal range.   

GERD (Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease) is the production of too much stomach acid that goes up through the lower sphincter and into the esophagus.  

LPRD (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease) is when acid reflux makes its way all the way up and through the upper sphincter and into the back of the throat

• GERD and LPRD are very damaging because the structures in the throat (pharynx, larynx and lungs) are extremely sensitive to stomach acid and can cause severe damage.
• Symptoms of LPRD include hoarseness, a chronic, ongoing cough, frequent throat clearing, pain or sensations in throat, the feeling of a lump in the throat, problems with swallowing, bad and bitter taste in ones mouth (especially in the morning), asthma-like symptoms, ear pain, post-nasal drip, singing difficulties especially with high notes.\
• Medications for LPRD such as proton pump inhibitors are best in treating LPRD.  Examples include:  Prilosec®, Preracid®, Protonix®, Aciphex®, and Nexium®.     

Self-destructive Behavior

• Avoiding smoking anything. It is bad for ones heart, lungs and vocal tract. Tobacco and marijuana are irritants to the vocal tract. Smoking is DISASTROUS FOR THE SPEAKING AND SINGING VOICE!!

Note:  when you sing you must be in control of all body systems physical, spiritual, and mental. Less is more in terms of vocal longevity.  Reduce the amount of vocal usage and increase the frequency of rest periods.  

Avoid speaking or singing in a pitch range (or tessitura) that is continually near the extremes of your own vocal range.

• Limit the use of your voice in high noise environments such as loud restaurants, bars, parties, cars or planes. 
• Avoid shouting, screaming, loud laughter and excessive loud speech.
• Avoid whispering. In fact, it is more harmful to whisper than talking when you are ill.  This includes the "Stage Whisper"
• Reduce general voice use before a performance.  Think voice conservation!! 
• Vocalists must remember their musculoskeletal system must be treated with as much care as an athlete.
• Vocal warm-ups should always be used prior to singing.  Vocal cool downs are also essential to keep the singing voice healthy.   

Optimal Speaking Techniques

• Use good abdominal/diaphragmatic breathing support by breathing silently. This reduces laryngeal muscle tension.
• Learn to use upper voice with as little tension and effort as possible.
• Speak in phrases and not in paragraphs. Take "breath-pauses" when speaking long sentences.
• Avoid hard vocal attacks on initial vowel sounds
• Allow the neck jaw and face to be relaxed.
• Maintain a smooth legato speech pattern.
• Place or focus the voice appropriately. Speak in the same pitch range where you automatically would say "umm-hmm."
• Speak at a normal rate of speed.
• Use good vocal infliction                               

Requirements for a Healthy Voice

Try your best to maintain good general health.  Get adequate rest to minimize fatigue.  Be sure to exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals including vegetables, fruits and whole grains.  Maintain body hydration, drink 2 quarts of water daily and speak with more air.  Avoid dry artificial interior climates and breathing smoggy polluted air.  Avoid throat clearing and voiced coughing. STOP YELLING!! Avoid calling from room to room and move closer to those with whom you are speaking and face them whenever possible.  Reduce demands on your voice. Don't do all the talking.  If you need to get someone's attention, use non-vocal sounds such as clapping, bells or whistling.  Use amplification when speaking to groups. I want to wish all my students the best of luck in their development and careers!  I look forward to working with you and I will see you at your next lesson! 

Sincerely,

Tona