Importance of a healthy voice as a singer

As a musician, we all have questions related to voice like - "My voice is not good, am I able to sing?" "What are the best vocal tips?" "Which food can we take?" And many more.

As human beings, we need to maintain good vocal health and hygiene as it's our primary mode of communication. And if we are a singer we should be more aware of how we are using our voice. Voice is the most precious asset for a singer.

A good voice is the add-on quality a singer should have. Those who have a healthy and good voice are blessed and lucky. While some people/singers face regular vocal issues. This can be caused by various factors - 

  • The overuse or misuse of voice.
  • The environment in which your voice is being used.
  • Over stress and tension.
  • An unhealthy diet and lifestyle.
  • Respiratory tract infections.

Following the proper voice care habits helps you to establish a good healthy voice. The following are the Do's and Don’ts to maintain a good voice.

1. Do’s:

Keep yourself hydrated always

Drinking plenty of water is an important tip to keep your physical and vocal health good even if you are not singing. Drink at least 6 - 8 glasses of lukewarm water per day. Having sips of water in between will help to lubricate your vocal cords and to avoid dryness. 

Do proper warmups before singing

Always make sure that you are not making your voice afraid of singing in the higher notes. Start your singing with a proper warm-up - humming vowels or notes, lip trills, tongue rolls, neck and jaw exercises to get more comfortable and flexible. Singing scales also help a lot.

Comfortable pitch

Singing at your comfortable pitch is very important, it reduces the strain.

Make practice a regular habit

Practicing consistently will help you to have effortless singing. Irregular practice strains your vocal cords. A healthy practice includes 10-20 minutes of breathing and warmups followed by singing for another 30-45 minutes. 

Take vocal naps and small breaks

Unlike when we need to sleep for 7-8 hours, giving a periodical rest for voice is absolutely essential. Take a small break for some days to retain your healthy voice after a packed up schedule.

Rest your voice

If you use your voice for 2-3 hours continuously, then it's a must to rest for about 15 minutes. 

Use natural products

If you suffer from sore throat or any voice related issues, you can go for the mix of turmeric powder and honey. Since ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, it's good to add in your tea or water which soothes and relaxes your throat after a strain. Licorice with honey is also a best choice. Eat more fruits and vegetables.

2. Don’ts:

  • The extremes of your voice creates a bad impact on your vocal cords.
  • Avoid shouting and yelling.
  • Avoid cold food items.
  • Use a microphone if necessary to avoid the strain.
  • Don’t clear your throat, instead drink some water.
  • Don’t smoke, it irritates your throat.
  • Don’t sing if it hurts.
  • Avoid singing or straining your voice when you feel sick.
  • Don’t drink an excessive amount of tea, coffee, alcohol, or soda.

Tip: Start your basics with proper guidance from a professional. Spardha helps you in finding your favorite teacher from your favorite space. Your teacher will guide you through these voice tips and techniques which improve your vocal quality and bring up healthy singing. Book a free trial, now!

Written by
Anagha Murali
Carnatic Vocals SME