Singing is me.  I’m nothing if not a singer.  I’ve listened to a lot of voices, taught a lot of voices (and still do), and heard a lot of “stuff” in voices that I love or hate.  This singing page is for the best advice I can give on voice and singing, and musings on the subject as well.  Right now we are entering a period of time when there is a lot of singing going on…spring concerts, college recitals, and church music with Easter on the horizon.  So a lot of people are practicing long hours and worrying about their voices.  And with the change in weather from the cold and dry winter to spring, with its budding flowers and trees and grass and…allergies, the old adage applies…”singers live in fear of their next cold.”  Ha!  Truer words were never spoken.

My advice for the current situation is to NOT overdo it at all.  Practice when you are healthy, don’t practice long hours at one time, and above all, when you are ready to sing (perform), another old singing adage applies…”never leave your voice in the practice room.”  Vocalize and practice your music in the days before you have to perform.  The day of the performance should be given over to not using your voice too much and vocalizing just to warm up.  Other than that, shut up!

Voices thrive on healthy activities, just like your bodies.  Lots of sleep is a must.  Foods that give you energy and digest well are also a must.  For example, red meat digests more slowly than poultry, a softer meat.  You might think about that when your next performance is upon you.  When I was giving my graduate recital some years ago, I ate Eve-friendly foods that I knew wouldn’t give me heartburn and would digest easily.  I had a dinner of chicken, potatoes and broccoli, with an apple for dessert, and I ate this about 3 hours before show time.  It served me well.

Also, drink water.  I never recommend anything else before singing.  Hot drinks tend to dry you up and cold ones are just too cold.  Avoid citrus as that dries you up as well.  I always advise to NOT submit your vocal folds to extreme temperatures when you have to sing.  Cool water, sipped regularly, serves you best.  And always drink water in your daily life as well.  Just drink water.  Forget soda, juice and too much caffeine.  Lots of water.  And NO alcohol before you sing.  Good grief!  Alcohol swells the tissues, and that means the tissues of the layrnx (vocal folds) as well.  Wait until afterwards for a glass of wine.

Treat your vocal folds with respect and they will perform for you the way you want.  It really is that simple.  More to come…stay tuned.