Vocal health is just as important as physical health. Whether you are a vocalist of 30+ years or someone who is new to the game, it is crucial to take care of your voice and vocal chords. Often times amateur singers sing until their voice is hoarse simply because they love to sing but don’t know how to properly take care of their vocal chords. Luckily, Cari Cole of Cari Cole: Voice + Music Co. has provided us with some knowledge on the subject in her article, “The 10 Pillars of Vocal Health & Wellness.”
2. Vocal Care & Hygiene.
Your vocal instrument would appreciate some care to help it stay healthy ;). Gargling with warm salt water, steaming and gentle vocal massage are ways to care for your voice on a daily basis during performances.
Who would think about using steam to heal vocal chords and keep them healthy? It makes so much sense! Keeping your vocal chords and throat properly hydrated is key to healthy singing.
Cari also make a fantastic comparison between athletes and singers:
Being a vocalist IS like being an ATHLETE. You are using the muscles in your throat on an Olympic level and you must warm up, cool down and give your voice the nutrition it needs, just as much as a football player needs to stretch, warm up and cool down before a game.
This, too, makes so much sense! Instrumentalists can’t just pick their instrument up and start playing: string players have to make sure everything is in tune; saxophone and clarinet players have to soak their reeds; flute and brass players want to run through some scales to warm up the instrument and ensure better intonation; and so on. So why not treat our voices with the same respect?
Cari Cole is a celebrity vocal coach, artist development expert, and new music business mentor. To read the whole article and learn more about vocal health, please visit Cari’s site here: https://www.caricole.com/10-pillars-vocal-health-wellness/
