Tips for keeping the old voice...

[jerrymc]

in shape???.Can anyone offer a guy whose "getting on a bit" any tips ..I currently have a "one man show", and as Im not a fantastic musician, I usually have to do quite a lot of singing...this can be up to two / two and a half hours, and lately, I noticed that my voice is suffering.I get colds often, and this really piles on the pressure.
Can anyone, who has been on the road for some time, offer any remedies / potions that you find helps.Anything will be considered at this stage.

Regards

Jerry

[Emerald Midi]

Hi Jerry.

This is a timely thread. I was suppose to be gigging tonight but due to a very sore throat I have had to pass the gig on to a friend.

Thing is, no matter how hard you try, or what precautions you take, you will always get a sore throat at some point, so don't feel bad. It happens to us all. Those who say they have never had any throat problems are either very soft singers (whisperers) or just extremely lucky

To answer your question most singers I know use Vocalzone to help keep their throats in shape. I user fisherman's Friends myself. Others use a mixture of honey and water, or just a spoonful of the stuff on it's own?

Remember there are no absolutes, no guarantees out there, but using these products certainly can be helpful in keeping your voice up to the mark.

[paulhcctt]

avid vocalzone user also *Guilty!!* also top up on the antibiotics now and again

[pmalcolm]

Colds are often passed on by punters who are far too ill to go to work but have to have a night out to get over it!

[gibbo]

Two tips I find invaluable;
Drink lots of water, keep your body fully hydrated.
Stop kissing everyone you meet! (Just kiss the really cute ones who don't sneeze!)

[themd21]

Honey & Lemon seems to work for me and try chewing some gum during the R&R numbers. Keeps the juices flowing and looks cool if you manage to sing and chew at the same time.

Finally a hint from the pros, who will always warm up the old vocal chords before a show. Try hunting out some vocal warm up techniques and exercises.

[weegeo]

A little cider vinegar and honey always hits the spot for me

[oldsage]

i used to prefer a good 12year old single malt whisky! ,after 5 or 6 of these it really used to loosen up and i used to sing a lot better!.any tips for a broken old voice lads or wee lassies! now i,m nearly 60 i,m afraid the old whisky doesn,t work any more! tastes darn good though!

[jerrymc]

Thanks all...some good advice as usual...and the only one Ive tried is that offered by Oldsage....as you say...tastes darn good

Jerry

[shanless]

Vocalzone here too..........and to EMERALD...I wouldnt fancy suckin on a fisherman's friend lololol..........

[Emerald Midi]

shanless said:

Vocalzone here too..........and to EMERALD...I wouldnt fancy suckin on a fisherman's friend lololol..........

Kev, mate, you are naughty

[Tubbs]

I would,nt advise topping up on antibiotics, unless specifically prescribed, however, after trying a lot of remedies i found good old listerine mouthwash works best for me.

[guilty]

You can follow this link for a few more suggestions.

midimart.proboards56.com/index.cgi?board=anything&action=display&thread=1165637972

[shyamwestwind]

Its actually difficult to say what works but a warm salt water gargle sure helps. I wish I could try Vocalzone and Fisherman's friend, but they arent available here.
Whisky and Brandy, I feel , only gets one high when it doesnt matter if you have a sore throat or not !!!

[dingadong04]

along with getting into the habit of drinking at least 8 pints of water a day , cutting down on the old swally (alcohol) i,ve have started doing warm ups for the the ould throat on a daily basis and i have ta tell ye i,ve never felt better.. i got a few tips of this site on youtube ..the lip trill is working wonders for me .. i don,t know how to create a link but heres where ta go on you tube.. Vocal Warmup: Part 2 - Freeing Your Vocal Range ..or.. www.myspace.com/ericarcenaux
hope this helps jerrymc..all the best fir nigh

cubb

[jerrymc]

Many thanks indeed for all your suggestions...got a lot to try...will update if I find something that I feel works.

Jerry

[blonaybear]

I made a posting yesterday under Chit Chat, Strained Vocal Cords about a company offering various treatments for singers. Have a look.

[onager]

I have found over the years that Lemon Juice works for me. I have been told that the acid in the Lemon Juice kills any bacteria on the vocal chords which is can cause a sore throat and or a loss of vocal abiltiy. I have also found over the years that sipping Lemon Juice on stage with an empty stomach, can lead to a need for an early break. Eat a little food before hand.
Good Luck!

[gibbo]

There are a couple of things that REALLY should be noted;
1. The vocal cords/folds are part of the larynx located in the airway of the body. Check out Wikipedia for images of the airways.
2. The epilglotis, situated above the larynx, functions to close off the airway so that food and drink doesn't enter the airway, otherwise you'd choke or drown! (The most common cause of food or drink in the airway is; talking while you eat or drink, hence the number of choking scenes in restaurants).
3. When you drink anything the vocal cords do not get involved, they're simply not part of the digestive mechanisms. It's possible that you could breath in remnants/vapors of the fluid.
4. Many singers swear by their favorite remedies (there are countless ideas about this, sometimes completely opposed to each other), and these things do encounter the back of the throat and can be soothing to that area.
5. The only thing that can touch the vocal cords, apart from air, comes from breathing in vapour/fumes/steam/smoke etc. If you inhale steam, for example, it will bathe the vocal cords. Similarly smoke, alcohol-fumes, menthol-fumes, throat sprays done whilst breathing in, etc. can also reach the vocal cords. Steam is probably the best, we all sing better in the shower, eh?
Try breathing in steam with a bowl of hot water and a towel (as in the old Vicks Vaporub routine) or in the shower and see how that feels. Don't forget the most critical aspect; keep the body hydrated by drinking PLENTY of water, every day but especially when singing.
I'm not being critical of anyone's solutions, I'm just trying to add a bit of clarity to the subject.

[levi2]

Yupp vocalzone here aswell helps you get thru the nite