Vocal Health

Vocal health is an integral part of being a singer. Just like any other musician, sports person, dancer etc it is of the upmost importance to keep healthy, remember, unlike any other musical instrument the voice is a living instrument and will work in accordance to how it is treated. In other words if you abuse your voice don’t expect it to perform at it’s best. So, how do we keep the voice (and body) in the best condition for singing.

Generally keeping fit will go a long way to keeping your voice in good condition. You wouldn’t be expected to work out like an Olympic athlete but a general level of fitness is required. I was told by my vocal coach many years ago to think of myself as a vocal athlete and to keep my voice and body well exercised.

So what are the Do’s and Don’t s for having a good healthy instrument

1. Do live a reasonably healthy lifestyle while not abusing your body.
2. Don’t smoke. Smoking is not only bad for your general health but particularly bad for the voice.
3. Do drink around two litres of water per day. The vocal folds are the first part of your body to dehydrate and the last to hydrate.
4. Do eat a healthy balanced diet without too many spicy or fatty foods.
5. Don’t consume too much alcohol.
6. Don’t take dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter as this can cause a coagulation on the vocal chords causing problems when controlling the voice.
7. Don’t over use the voice either by shouting clearing the voice coughing or speaking for long periods or speaking loudly with no proper technique as these can lead to problems with the voice resulting in vocal nodules (small blisters on the vocal folds) forming by the vocal folds colliding violently over a period of time which then results in major problems in voice use giving either a husky or raspy sound to the voice and problems reaching high notes.
8. Do have vocal coaching from a good experienced coach. It is money well spent.

Just as looking after the body and voice will go a long way to making you a good singer, singing will also go a long way to being good for a healthy body.

Here are some of the proven benefits of singing

Children
Alan Jonson Education Secretary, says that research shows that singing can improve attainment and concentration levels in children.
Children who sing regularly have a greater concentration span and an easier understanding of accademic subjects within their school work.

Singing Helps Your Memory

A BBC report indicated that singing can help Alzheimer’s sufferers to regain parts of their memory.
Research has shown that people who suffer memory loss such as Dimentia and Alzheimer’s disease conditions improve when they sing.
It is not known exactly how this occurs but it has been proven time and time again.
Experts seem to think that the part of the brain which deals with music and singing works to help the brain retain information which would otherwise be lost with sufferers of these types of conditions.

Physical And psychological Benefits of Learning To Sing

Professor Graham Welsh, Chairman of music education at the institute of education in the University of London has made a study for the past 30 years on the health benefits of learning to sing to be both physical and psychological, helping to reduce stress and anxiety

Singing Gives Your Heart A Workout

National Director of Heart research UK Barbara Harphan says that singing will not only make you feel better emotionaly but it has been proven to have positive benefits to a healthy heart.
The heart has it’s own workout as we sing, helping to keep it healthy and in good condition.

Singing Gives Your Heart A Workout

National Director of Heart research UK Barbara Harphan says that singing will not only make you feel better emotionaly but it has been proven to have positive benefits to a healthy heart.
The heart has it’s own workout as we sing, helping to keep it healthy and in good condition.

Singing Is Good For Conditions Such As Asthma And Bronchitis

When we sing with the correct methods we use our lungs to their full capacity which has many benefits for our health.

I remember about 20 years ago when I was learning to sing my tutor told me of a doctor who was going to him for singing lessons.

He was sure that the breathing exercises that he was being given to help him sing with the correct technique would be of benefit to some of his patients who had breathing difficulties such as asthma.

He found that by introducing these exercises to his patients, they found in a very short time that their breathing had improve immensly, thus giving them a better all round health and quality of life.

Singing Helps To Keep You Looking Younger

It has been proven that singing can keep your face looking younger.
When we sing we use our face muscles much more than we would in our normal daily routines. This gives the face a workout just the same as if you were in a gym doing a body workout.
The face muscles are tightened helping to keep the skin from sagging. This is much better and a lot less expensive and more beneficial than most of the anti-ageing creams that are on the market.
So if you want to stay looking younger for longer give your face a physical workout and learn to sing.