Vocal Health Tips For Auditioneess!!!

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>Hi all - </p>

<p>As you may know, I’m a Speech Pathologist who specializes in treatment of the professional voice as well as an audition vocal coach. I work full-time at the University of Pittsburgh Voice Center, one of the best specialty voice care clinics in the world (and feel soooo lucky to be there!), and I have spent much of my 3 years on this board answering important vocal health questions. Many of those are emergency troubleshooting questions, and I realized that it would be helpful to compile a list of PREVENTIVE voice care tips for our auditionees to have going into this audition season. The following info is basically what we tell our patients at their initial voice therapy sessions - not only WHAT to do to help yourself out vocally, but WHY this is necessary (from an anatomy and physiology perspective). All of tips below have a solid scientific base to them - and I’d be glad to answer any questions about these items and especially to address anything that’s not on the list but which people have heard of as good remedies or vocal health tips. There is a lot of INCORRECT info circulating among singers and even some voice teachers - but my info comes from surgeons and speech pathologists who all treat patients AND do clinical research about best voice care practices. </p>

<li>HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE!!! </li>
</ol>

<p>Sure, we all know this - but WHY is it important??? Here’s the scoop: basically, your vocal folds are the same substance on their outer (superficial) layer as your eyeball. This mucosa, as it’s called, needs to be covered in VERY thin, serous mucus in order to allow the vocal folds to rub together (how sound is made) w/o friction - imagine your 2 eyeballs rubbing together - friction = baaad!! Being properly hydrated is the key to this mucus production. If you’re not, the mucous glands will produce thick, gunky mucus instead of the good, thin mucus - think of oil in a car. Good, clean oil helps the engine; when you don’t get your oil changed, the “dirty” oil is bad for the mechanisms of the engine.</p>

<p>You have to hydrate WELL BEFORE you need to use your voice, since all of the mucus production comes from within your body - gotta give the water time to do its job. (Nothing you drink goes to the level of the vocal folds - if it did, you’d cough it out - that’s what “swallowing down the wrong pipe” is.) A good rule of thumb is “pee pale, sing clear” - in other words, if your urine is colorless or VERY pale yellow, you’re hydrated enough. We recommend about 60 ounces MINIMUM of H20 a day - that’s three 20-oz. bottles. And remember, if you drink 20 oz. of caffeine and 20 oz. of H2O, you’re basically at ZERO hydration, because caffeine dries you out. So if you have to drink your Starbucks (and hey, who doesn’t sometimes ;)), drink TWICE as much water!!!</p>

<li>STEAM </li>
</ol>

<p>Get a personal steamer!!!
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Vicks-V1200-Personal-Steam-Inhaler/dp/B0000TN7MY[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Vicks-V1200-Personal-Steam-Inhaler/dp/B0000TN7MY</a></p>

<p>Seriously!!! They are small enough to take to all of your auditions, and you SHOULD. Steam is the ONLY way to provide SURFACE hydration to the vocal folds - b/c anything you inhale goes right past them into your trachea (windpipe) - so the vapor-filled steam is great for vocal folds!!! I’d say 99% of my patients LOVE their steamers - not just singers but actors, teachers, etc. Steam can also help melt away gunky mucus on vocal folds if you’re sick. </p>

<p>You can’t “overdo” steam, so experiment BEFORE you have auditions and see how long it feels good for you to steam - in the morning when you get up, right before you sing, and at night/at the end of your period of voice use are all good times to do so.</p>

<li>OVERALL WELLNESS </li>
</ol>

<p>Your body IS your instrument - any tension, fatigue, or illness in any part of your body can affect your singing - as I’m sure you all know. So eat right and SLEEP!!!</p>

<li> REDUCE “PHONOTRAUMA” - ESPECIALLY PHONE USE!!!</li>
</ol>

<p>Phonotrauma basically means behaviors that can hurt your vocal folds. So don’t yell to your friends across the room…don’t cheer at games…and reduce your cell (and other) phone use!! I love my cell phone, too - but we talk more emphatically (and therefore often slam our vocal folds together pretty forcefully) when we’re on the phone, due to lack of visual communication (body language, facial expressions, gestures.) So text instead!!! :)</p>

<li>WARM UP ANNNND DOWN!</li>
</ol>

<p>You are vocal ATHLETES. Although you should not be squeezing your laryngeal muscles when you sing (we call that pressed phonation & experienced ears can hear it), you are still USING your muscles. Most of us know to warm up, of course, but warm DOWN, too - it helps soothe and relax your laryngeal muscles after your singing “workout.” (But again, don’t think of singing as voice muscle work - this wil create strain!!!)</p>

<li>DO NOOOOT SING THROUGH SICKNESS!!</li>
</ol>

<p>NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NOOOOOO!!! :frowning: This is the NUMBER ONE reason of acute vocal injury - aka vocal hemorrhage:
<a href=“Redirect Notice”>Redirect Notice</a> </p>

<p>And yes, I mean a “simple cold” - ANYTHING that causes voice changes. If you REALLY must (aka the only audition for your top school is coming up…), see a laryngologist so he can clear you - or not. No matter HOW big the audition or gig, risking vocal hemorrhage isn’t worth it - after one, you can scar, and vocal fold scar is virtually unfixable in any way - and will RADICALLY change your sound to something hoarse!!!</p>

<li>USE NON-MENTHOLATED THROAT DROPS INSTEAD OF COUGH DROPS</li>
</ol>

<p>Menthol is drying and an irritant. I like Halls’ Fruit Breezers - Ludens also makes Throat Drops…</p>

<p>Throat drops are good to keep your mouth moist (b/c when you suck on something you produce saliva) and to stretch your laryngeal muscles some (since when you swallow, as you do frequently when you’re sucking on something, your larynx moves up and down.)</p>

<li>BEWARE OF ANTIHISTAMINES!!!</li>
</ol>

<p>They dry you out - so if you MUST take them, HYYYYYDRAAAAATE!!! But better to take PLAIN Mucinex (not Mucinex D or DM - the generic name is guaifenesin) or rinse your nose with a saline nasal spray or Neti pot.</p>

<p>Keep in mind Tylenol PM has benadryl (an antihistamine) in it!!!</p>

<p>That’s all for now - I’m sure I’ve missed some things, but I wanted to get the basics up ASAP. Feel free to ask questions - and I’m hoping that CollegeMom will pin this to the top of the board, since it’s such key info!!! :slight_smile: And also edit the typo in the title of the thread!!! ;)</p>

2

<p>Thanks you so much CoachC!! You are such an asset to this board! Auditionees, PAY ATTENTION to this advice, CoachC knows what she is talking about. A vocal coach with a degree in speech pathology is rare, and we are fortunate that CoachC is willing to take the time to share information with us!</p>

3

<p>Thank you CoachC. This is extremely helpful information as my d enters college audition season and we are really new to all of this. </p>

<p>So I have a timely question for you. My d is supposed to audition this coming Friday, her first. She has had a routine headcold and sore throat for about a week and a half -- we stopped voice lessons during this time. She woke up yesterday with an obviously-turned-from-viral-to- bacterial infection in her throat. She is now on powerful antibiotics -- HOWEVER -- she was to have had her last 2 lessons before the audition tonight and also Tuesday. I've already cancelled tonight -- that leaves Tuesday before the Friday audition. So -- what should she do? Is it a bad idea to go to this audition with no lessons in almost 3 weeks (by then) and should we reschedule to a later audition? Or if her throat is better by Tuesday, should she do one more lesson and go for it? I'm so afraid with the power she needs to sing her songs, she's going to blow out her voice and do some of this damage you're talking about? Many thanks for any advice you can provide.</p>

4

<p>Forgot to mention that she has been singing (ever so softly) in daily chamber chorus rehearsals plus is in a dress rehearsal and concert this week for a county honors chorus before the audition. Yikes! I'm going to tell her to "mouth" the music!!</p>

5

<p>Get your D to a laryngologist right away - tomorrow am. They need to look at her vocal folds and advise on whether she can sing or not. You need a LARYNGOLOGIST - a voice specialist -for sure! Tell them she's a "sick singer" and needs to be seen right away to know if she can sing or not. If you PM me and tell me where you're located I can recommend who you should go to see. Good luck!!!</p>

6

<p>Thanks so much CoachC for the advice. I'm a Speech-Language Pathologist as well but I specialize in pre-school speech/language disorders so I am of little help to my S beyond basic optimal vocal care. I have a question. My S surfs and, believe me, a fair about of salt water ends up going up your nose and into your sinuses when you do this. What is your opinion of the possible beneficial or negative effects of this? Granted, ocean water is not sterilized saline and is probably more concentrated than a nasal spray. I'm thinking ahead to his auditions which start next month and whether he should keep his surfing to a minimum during that time period. Thanks! :)</p>

7

<p>What a cool question!! I'll ask the docs tomorrow and find out - our current resident (UPMC, the University of Pgh Medical Center system, has a great otolaryngology program so we have a new resident every 10 weeks) is actually a surfer himself and REALLY on the ball - he's a PGY5, I think (or maybe 4 - but he knows his stuff). And the other docs will weigh in, too!</p>

8

<p>Thanks! Sounds like you have a cool job. That's great that your current resident is a surfer himself. He'll understand the mental benefits/stress relief of surfing and if that outweighs any negative physical effects. Thanks again!</p>

9

<p>I tried to send you a PM but it says your inbox is full!! I can email you if you email me first . :)</p>

10

<p>I cannot say enough to all of you about Coach C and the UPMC program. My daughter was having some voice issues/sickness upon getting to college and Coach C got her in with this wonderful group of people who were so helpful and knowledgeable! I feel so fortunate that my d is going to school in Pittsburgh where she can get access to such an amazing facility if she needs it!</p>

11

<p>These are great tips not only for auditions, but also because i'm working at one of the top haunted houses here in Ohio and i'm screaming my head off 4 nights in a row with a total of 16 hours lol. Thanks Coach C!!!</p>

12

<p>nate nate nate - DON'T SCREAM!!!! :(</p>

13

<p>CoachC
Any specifics for how to deal with serious cold and teching this week two productions this week? D is a cheerleader in HSM and I don't think she is micked for this, but that means they won't really hear her if she yells or not. But it is a 2,000 seat + theatre so they all might be.This opens Friday. </p>

<p>She is also in tech week for two dance performances on Thursday, one of which she has en extensive parterning section. She doesn't sing or talk for this, but the dancing leaves her physically tired and dehydrated. Her voice teacher complains to her that the dancing (all ballet) leaves her very tight in the neck and upper back, of and the breathing is wrong too.</p>

<p>Are there ways to make a quick, hydrating and relaxing transition between these two? Dance is from 1 - 5:30 and HSM is from 6 - 9, there are 19 shows for HSM (it's shortened to just an hour and they do school shows) and 3 dance performances (one the week after).</p>

14

<p>CoachC..
Regarding the personal steamer. do you recommend using just plain water, or do you endorse using any kind of drops or additives (i.e. on the amazon link you posted, someone talked about adding a couple drops of eucalyptus oil)</p>

15

<p>There is a throat spray called entertainers secret. Its all natural, and it is amazing if your throat feels dry/scratchy/hoarse. I have severe acid reflux which causes really bad hoarsness, and this throat spray has literally made all the difference in my singing voice..I would recommend it to anyone.</p>

16

<p>From Coach C's recomendations in the past do not use the additives in the personal steamer, they usually contain menthol which is very bad for the cords. Actrss 100, is your acid reflux being treated? I undertand it can be damamging for the cords, regardless of what other methods of treating your throat you use. My other S (not the one I post about here) uses the same throat spray and says it really helps, he also likes to eat an apple prior to performing. My MT/VP S likes Fruit Breezers and Throat Coat tea. He also had a personal steamer which he really liked untill he knocked it over and broke it. He does have a humidifier in his room which he leaves on all of the time and of course he drinks alot of water.</p>

17

<p>Actrss, I believe that spray will relieve the symptoms of acid reflux, but will not prevent acid reflux. If you are not under the care of a Dr. for acid reflux, it might be a good idea to schedule an appt with a larynngologist. A laryngologist will make the appropriate diagnosis and prescribe treatment if indicated. Acid reflux can be very damaging to the cords.</p>

18

<p>Don't worry, my voice only gets a little raspy and then goes back to normal within 1-2 days!!</p>

19

<p>I would suggest using the personal steam inhaler without the menthol pad.</p>

20

<p>I will be stopping by a Walgreens today to see if I can get my son a personal steamer. He started the Airborne yesterday and I have picked up the Halls Breezers to have on hand. I love the tip about eating an apple; I had never heard of that before. My son complains often about feeling "gooky" and clears his throat often. </p>

<p>Thank you Coach C!!</p>