When you think about singing, you may think all you have to do is take a deep breath, open your mouth and let the sound come out in the form of a melody. That's part of it, but singing is so much more! Have you ever heard the analogy about achieving your dreams? They say if you aim for the stars you'll reach the moon.
When you apply this concept to singing, you can see that it's about always doing more than just the minimum, going a little beyond what you think you have to do. When you take good care of yourself, and practice regularly, you'll see results much quicker!
You'll be able to sing longer phrases, add layers of phrasing, emotion, and stage presence to your singing, and be ready for any performance or audition coming up. Keep reading for some basic tips on being a "whole" singer.
Drinking water
It's a great idea to drink water every day and stay hydrated. It's not a great idea to wait until the day of your voice lesson and drink a lot of water to make up for the entire week (kind of like practice-cramming). It's important that the vocal chords don't get dry, as this would make it harder for the vocal folds to vibrate and produce a beautiful sound. Tip: When you're getting ready to sing, drink room temperature water for the most comfort and ease.
***TIP: Don't clear your throat before singing. Just produce a cough, which is more natural and won't hurt your vocal chords like clearing your throat will. And see the note below about dairy...
Eating healthy-It's not breaking news that eating a balanced diet and avoiding junk food is good for you, but here are a few specifics when it comes to singing. When you have a lesson or performance in the next 24-48 hours, it's best to stay away from spicy or greasy foods, which can irritate your stomach or even your throat and vocal folds. It's also best to avoid dairy right before singing, because it can cause phlegm to coat the throat. A healthy, balanced diet full of fruits and veggies is always best! Your immune system will be stronger also, which will keep colds and other illnesses away--especially the kind that stick around and hurt your singing voice!
***TIP: Avoid throat lozenges in general; they coat the throat in order to make it feel better, and then leave it cold and raw which hurts your singing. Especially avoid analgesics, which mask throat pain and cause you to think you can sing longer than you should, causing damage.
Exercising
Everyone knows you should be active in addition to eating healthy, in order to be in your best shape! For singing, it's especially important to have a great lung capacity. To increase your ability to breathe correctly, aerobic exercise is a fantastic idea! Have a dance party in your living room, go running or speed walking, swimming, or anything else you can think of to get moving for a little while every day!
Getting enough sleep
This is possibly the single most important habit you can develop. Most of us who sing are also involved in other things and stay too busy in our lives. However, if you make good sleep a priority, you'll find that your voice, and your whole body and mind, are better able to handle the demands of singing. You'll be able to sing longer and stronger, and have more control over your voice. Try to relax and turn off all electronics for a while before going to bed. Drink a cup of hot tea and read a book, or just meditate or pray for a few minutes to help you go to sleep better. Try it and "watch what happens"!
A few things to avoid
Smoking: Bad, bad, bad for singing. It will hurt your overall range, cause your vocal chords to swell, and cause you to lose control over your singing gradually. Just don't do it!
Too much caffeine: It's okay to have some caffeine in your life, but avoid before singing. It's a diuretic, which means you'll have to go...you know where...more often!
Carbonated drinks: They cause gas (never a pleasant thing), make singing uncomfortable, and also cause going to the bathroom, which can cause dehydration. With too much sugar and caffeine, these are just something to avoid all around.
Over singing: It is very important to never sing if your throat is tired or sore. Singing through soreness can cause serious damage to your vocal folds and hurt your recovery time if you're sick. Just like an injury in sports would bench an athlete until the injury was healed, you should not try to sing if it hurts. Ever.
Allergens: If you have allergies it's best to steer clear of things that will aggravate your throat, sinuses, and general health. Some allergens can't always be avoided, so take care and follow the advice above, and rest your voice as needed.
***Final TIP: If you recognize any bad habits in yourself, try working on one at a time for about 10-14 days at a time, and you'll be surprised how much better your singing, and your health, will be! Go for it! The only think stopping you is yourself!
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