Training to become a singer? Most people go to voice coaches for help with this career path, but you can actually approach medical professionals for this too.
To be precise, it wouldn’t be odd to ask an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor for advice on this. After all, ENTs are often consulted by professional singers when it comes to taking care of their voices and the body parts responsible for their vocal skills and control.
We ourselves approached one of the best ENT specialists in Singapore for advice on the matter. We asked him for tips that can help with vocal preservation and vocal control — tips that are backed up by science!
Anyway, here are the tips that Dr. Dennis Chua gave us. He says that these are ideal for people who want to control their voice better, whether in singing, public speaking, voice acting, or any job that requires using your voice.
Drink Lots of Water
It’s a no-brainer to hydrate often if you’re a singer. Your vocal folds work best when they’re well lubricated, and Dr. Chua advises to regularly drink warm water or room-temperature water.
Another good drink for your vocal cords is warm (not hot) herbal teas or warm citrus tea with honey. He also suggested that singers may want to drink honey with squeezed lemon juice, especially as honey is known to be antibacterial.
Indulge in Vocal Rest
Dr. Chua also told us to set aside some non-speaking hours each day.
“These ‘vocal naps’ are quite important for your vocal cords, especially after extended usage,” said Dr. Chua. They can help the vocal cords rest and recover, particularly after strenuous exercise.
This can help singers prevent themselves from overtiring their vocal cords by accident. Damage caused that way can prevent them from singing for a while, which will only slow down their progress in their craft.
Avoid Smoking
“Smoking, as we all know, does a lot of damage to the lungs, but even more so to the throat,” Dr. Chua said. “When you smoke, several types of toxins and irritants enter your throat, drying it out and raising the risk of throat cancer. Even secondhand smoke does a lot of damage when you inhale smoke.”
Dr. Chua also told us that singers should lessen alcohol intake because it causes dehydration and inflammation of the throat. Sugary cocktails are also not a good choice when maintaining your singing voice.
Avoid Bad Speaking Habits
Even if singers maintain their vocal skills by practicing, bad speaking habits don’t count as “practice”. That’s because they can ruin your cords.
Avoid screaming or yelling. Making a habit of either of those things can do lasting harm to your voice.
Relax Your Throat Muscles
“When you belt out high notes, or go low, relax your throat and neck muscles,” Dr. Chua told us. “Otherwise, you’ll strain it on the long run.”
He also says that warm-ups are always a good idea, and one must never forget to do a warm-up when training for a performance: “And also do 5-10 minute cool-down exercises like trilling, gentle lip rolls, and tongue drills before allowing your voice to slowly go into its normal speaking range.”
In conclusion, keeping your vocal cords healthy involves some careful upkeep and avoidance of many harmful substances and habits. Fortunately, with these tips from Dr. Chua, you’ll be able to take care of your throat, and by extension, your voice.
Follow the tips above and do all you can to keep your body’s main musical instrument healthy. That way, it will keep producing the dulcet or stunning tones you need to make it in the industry.
