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CANADIAN VOICE CARE FOUNDATIONHOW TO GET THE BEST MILEAGE
FROM YOUR VOICE: VOCAL HYGIENE
Do Don't
• Do drink plenty of water. • Don't drink or eat caffeine products,chocolate, milk products, nuts or popcorn before performing, don'tsmoke or drink alcohol excessively.
• Do swallow slowly. • Don't eat just prior to performing (3hours).
• Do relax your throat, by doingabdominal breathing.
• Don't clear your throat or coughhabitually.
• Do vocal warm-ups prior tospeaking, lecturing or singing anduse vocal exercises afterward tobring voice back to a relaxed state.
• Don't speak, sing or lecture withoutwarming up and don't just stop atthe end of a performance withoutcool down exercises.
• Do allow the breath to replace itself naturally.
• Don't raise shoulders or tightenneck and throat while breathing.
• Do be aware and allow naturalexpansion/release in lower torsoabdomen, back and sides duringthe breathing cycle.
• Don't hold your breath or squeezeor push the voice out.
• Do speak slowly, pausing often atnatural boundaries to allow thebreath to be replaced beforecontinuing.
• Don't speak beyond a naturalbreath cycle or squeeze out the lastfew words of a thought withoutsufficient breath.
• Do wait until your breathing patterncan accommodate optimal voiceproduction.
• Don't yell or speak extensivelyduring strenuous exercise.
• Do be aware of the effects of emotions have on you, especially if it causes muscle tension in your neck, throat, jaw or chest.
• Don't do prolonged, loud andvocally aggressive laughing or crying.
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• Do initiate voice gradually on theoutflowing breath, as on a sigh -aahhh.
• Don't initiate voice with a harsh or sudden glottal attack.
• Do allow registers to change as
pitch rises and drops, consult asinging teacher to assist withsmooth register changes.
• Don't speak in a low monotone or
allow pitch vocal energy to drop solow that the sound becomesgravelly (glottal fry).
• Do keep the voice at a comfortablepitch.
• Don't force your voice in a register beyond comfortable pitch.
• Do keep your keep your upper andlower teeth separated allowing the
jaw to remain passive and flowingas you speak.
• Don't ever clench your teeth or holdyour jaw tense.
• Do whistle, clap, blow a horn or ringa bell to attract attention in a noisyenvironment.
• Don't yell, cheer or scream. Note:"Lombard effect": a tendency tospeak more loudly in the presenceof background noise.
• Do learn to project your voicethrough proper conduction of breath.
• Don't use your voice in noisyautomobiles, planes, trains etc.
• Do position yourself as close as
possible, and always face theperson you are speaking with.
• Don't out-talk or out-sing
environmental noise.
• Do use a microphone for publicspeaking, practice microphonetechniques to keep your voicerelaxed and at a comfortable level.
• Don't try to lecture or speak to alarge audience without the aid of amicrophone.
• Do speak softly in a natural pitch. • Don't ever whisper.
• Do allow for several periods of
voice rest during the day, especiallywhen ill or tired.
• Don't use your voice extensively
when you have a cold.
• Do learn to recognize the first signsof vocal fatigue (hoarseness, drythroat, tension, and poor vocalprojection).
• Don't use your voice when it feelsstrained.
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• Do consult with your doctor whenyou experience throat discomfort or hoarseness for more than six days.
• Don't ignore prolonged symptomsof vocal strain, hoarseness, pain,fullness, heartburn or allergies.
• Do maintain proper humidity, bothinside and outside your body
• Don't expose your voice toextensive pollution, cigarette smoke
or chemical fumes.
• Do avoid self-medication. • Don't use aspirin or similar medication. It has a tendency tocause bleeding and predisposes thevoice user to vocal foldhemorrhage, especially when usedfor menstrual cramping.
Adapted by Katherine Ardo, Director, Canadian Voice Care Foundation,
from: Morrison, M.D. et. al. The Management of Voice Disorders (AppendixB), T.J.Press (Padstow) Ltd., Cornwall, U.K., 1994
