Voice Care
By Lisa Mills, Artistic and Musical Director for Jesus Christ Superstar, April 2006
Many singers easily strain and ruin the tone of their voice through lack of understanding about the voice. Having gone through the process myself, and fortunately come out the other end, it's worth noting a few basic things about the voice in order to maintain a good healthy voice tone.
The voice is a muscle and anyone who just 'sings' without warming up should think about this : A show is a strain on the voice. The voice is used for talking all day in our jobs and then at night when we get ready for the show and then for 2 hours on stage, both singing and talking and then afterwards, revelling in the success of that night, often in noisy smoky atmospheres at the pub!
As a muscle, it can't cope with this day in day out (such as show week and the intense rehearsals up to it) if it is not properly warmed up. Ask yourself if you would enter the Robin Hood or London Marathon without any training and expect to get away injury free..!!!?
"Superstar", for the characters of Jesus and Judas, and the chorus come to that, was a very big sing with huge vocal ranges up to 3 octaves, so we did basic vocal warm ups before all rehearsals and show nights. It is crucial to do this to maintain your voice tone, voice power and ultimately vocal sound. People that don't do this end up hoarse at the end of every performance or, worse still, get laryngitis - this can ultimately lead to vocal nodes and that often requires surgery to correct.
So, with a 10 minute warm up all this can be avoided if you are sensible and don't push the voice.
- LIMIT phone talk, never whistle or whisper, these are really bad and put a great deal of strain on the voice box, don't sing out of your range, no matter how much you want to, as this strains the vocal chords also.
- AVOID lots of alcohol, smoking, caffeine, orange juice and milk will all have a negative effect on the voice.
- DON'T gargle either!
- DO steam with untreated water, don't add oils etc., and drink lots of water and pineapple juice (pineapple contains an enzyme that coats and protects the vocal chords)
Many singers have very big ranges, but repeated use of too big a range causes voice strain also. Find your comfort zones and stay there. If you are extending the vocal range, this needs to be done through daily practise and over a long period of time.
Talking from a great deal of experience (6 years in total!), in the days when I abused my own voice, I strongly recommend everyone does this before doing over and above what the voice naturally does in a normal day.
If you know you have a big 'voice' day at work - warm up first.....NOT IN THE CAR though, as your diaphragm is too constricted in a seating position. Basic scales and arpeggios are fine, add tongue twisters in and repeat simple phrases getting higher and lower.
I have been very lucky - suffering through ignorance for some 3 years before I realised the potential problems and then taking another 3 years to correct them!.......I'd hate foranyone to go through the same when it can so easily be avoided with a little care and knowledge.
Have fun - sing safe!