How to Take Care of Your Instrument

Your body IS your instrument. Here are some tips on how to treat it with care:

Vocal health is of the utmost importance to any singer. It should be the goals of all vocal teachers, coaches, and instructors to impart good vocal health techniques as part of their curriculum.

So how can I make sure I take care of my voice?

Summary: Drink Water. Get sleep. Rest. Manage stress.

Take care of you body! Your guitar doesn't get the flu. Your piano can take the abuse of hours of play (if your hands can bear it) and be ready for you the next day. Your body? Not so much ne (make sound). Make sure you are drinking water throughout the day, not all at once. When the body does not get enough sleep, it can be prone to dehydration. When we are tired our muscles are less likely to engage properly, and more prone to injury due to improper technique.

What are vocal nodules and vocal hemorrhage?

Vocal injury does not mean the end of your career.

These words can seem scary, but injuries are a reality that athletes have to face. Some injuries can be slight and others can be more debilitating. Vocal nodules are when the fold have developed a thickening due to an excess of friction over time. A vocal hemorrhage is when a blood vessel on the chords has ruptured and happens quickly due to forceful vocal chord contact. Vocal injury can be due to poor technique, or singing while in comprised vocal health. Injury is not the kiss of death! There have been advancements in medicine that have given singers more options for rehabilitation and getting their voice back to normal.

Can I sing sick?

Do you have to?

Certain illnesses and symptoms can impede singing in general. Postnasal drip (dries out the vocal chords), swelling (either in the throat or the chords themselves), and/ or coughing (intense air pressure against the chords) can all increase the potential for vocal injury. When you have a sore throat your vocal chords are most likely swollen. Any sickness that puts strain on your voice should be taken as a sign to rest.

What about smoking? Drinking? Can I live my life at all?

Everything in moderation

Sorry singers. Smoking and drinking will dry out your vocal chords. Creating more chord on chord friction, leading to swelling, and decreased vocal health. Does that mean you can never have a glass of wine, or two... NO! You have to be a human first. You have to get joy out of life. Be aware, however, of how your body responds to these elements. Don't sing a full set in a smoke filled room, a couple beers in, and expect to come off stage in fantastic vocal health.

Please consider investing in a good laryngologist (a doctor whose primary focus is the larynx/voice). Even if you are healthy, it is a good idea to get checked at least once a year to make sure everything in looking good. If you are able to get a check when you are healthy, it may help your doctor should you ever get an injury.