Please DO:
- Avoid dairy products and orange juice the day of a performance.
- Avoid places with toxic substances in the air (chemicals, tar, etc.).
- Stay relaxed (avoid stress), especially in thedays before a performance.
- Eat a healthy diet (plenty of good protein, fresh fruits and vegetables).
- Get plenty of rest especially two days before a performance.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Train with a qualified teacher regularly.
- Speak at your own pitch (as in agreeing with someone by saying “mmm-hmm”).
- Vocalize daily.
- Warm up properly before singing.
- See a qualified ENT if you have prolonged hoarseness.
- Sing softly (mark) new songs when you are first learning them.
- Support your singing voice properly.
- Keep your larynx in a comfortable resting posture while singing
(don’t let it lock down or jam up).
Please DON’T
- Belt songs with pure chest voice above your passage
- Clear your throat continually.
- Drink alcohol on the day of a performance.
- “Pull” the chest-voice (if you are chronically hoarse after singing, see a teacher!).
- Cough excessively.
- Drink coffee directly before a performance, especially if you are sensitive to it.
- Smoke any substance.
- Talk a lot on the day of a performance.
- Try to talk or sing over a chest cold or laryngitis.
- Try to talk over loud noise, (like in bars, amusement parks, big parties, etc.).
- Try to sing if it hurts to swallow.
- Whisper loudly or sing in a “breathy” voice for prolonged periods of time.
- Scream.
- Use recreational drugs and/or mind-altering drugs before singing.
- Try to change your natural speaking voice (make it lower or raspy)
1998 Guy Babusek