You may have heard the statement before “our body is our instrument” when it comes to voice. What this means is that when we sing, we don’t push any buttons on our chest or neck to create sound. Creating a beautiful sound is about maintaining a healthy, relaxed voice which is supported by air. This time of year, illness is always a problem and it’s important for singers especially to take care of themselves. Here are some of my tips:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink lots of fluids – a great tea I like to make is made by boiling fresh ginger root, lemon peel, and peppermint leaves in water for about 10 minutes. This will be very strong, so when you pour yourself a mug, dilute the mixture evenly (1 part tea to 1 part water). I find this is a great way to soothe the vocal folds during illness – or even just when it’s cold outside. Obviously, make sure you have no allergies to ginger!
- If your voice is sore, don’t sing and avoid over-speaking unless you have to. This is hard with all the winter concerts we have, but essential if you want to keep your voice healthy.
- If you can, get an appointment with an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT). Every singer should have one as our voice is our livelihood.
Wishing everyone a happy and importantly HEALTHY holiday season!
Yours in Song,
Tim
TMWC Music Studio 