Steps to Take to Keep Your Voice Strong and Healthy:
- Do drink 6-8 eight ounce glasses of water daily
- Do treat allergies and infections promptly
- Do rest your voice in times of illness
- Do keep background noise to a minimum
- Do find a vocal coach - classically trained singers have less vocal tension and can produce a clearer, stronger voice than non-trained singers who are consequently more likely to injure their voices
- Do stay relaxed - release stress with yoga, aerobics and meditation
- Don't clear your throat - sip water or take a deep breath instead
- Don't cough if you don't have to - it will become a bad habit
- Don't sing after drinking alcohol - the alcohol may numb your vocal cords and you may be unable to feel their fatigue
- Don't accept roles out of your vocal range to "gain experience" - the price of injury can be quite high
- Don't clench your teeth - this will cause tension in your jaw muscles
- Don't raise your voice when you are angry - yelling may injure your cords - take some deep breaths through your mouth and let the air out with a soft sigh
- Avoid caffeinated, alcoholic and acidic beverages
- Avoid smoke-filled environments
- Avoid excessive yawning - this may strain the muscles of your throat and voice
- Avoid frequent aspirin use - it may contribute to vocal cord hemorrhage
- Avoid unnatural uses of the voice such as imitating machine noises, sirens and animals, etc.
- Avoid excessive loud talking - this may lead to vocal strain
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