voice care 1

7/27/2019 Voice Care 1

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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

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