Humming is one of the best vocal warm-ups because it doesn't put a lot of strain on your vocal cords. Place the tip of your tongue behind your bottom front teeth and hum up and down the major scale while keeping your mouth closed.
Toast and Unsalted Crackers
You can keep your voice naturally hydrated by eating toasted bread and unsalted crackers. This is because as the bread becomes stuck, the mouth produces extra moisture to help it break down, which then is swallowed, lubricating the throat.
A healthy voice requires a strong body with generally good muscle tone and endurance. So plan to eat a balance of protein, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans, and moderate amounts of healthy fats and oils. The current typical American diet of highly processed, packaged food lacks many essential nutrients.
If you're wondering what to drink to sing better, the answer is simple: water. Water is one of the best drinks for your singing voice, with herbal teas (but not too hot) in second place. Drink water throughout the day, and keep a water bottle nearby during lessons and rehearsals.
Honey is known to have powerful soothing effects on your voice, vocal cords, and throat. It's rich in antioxidants and has antibacterial properties which help fight bacterial infections in the throat. Honey can help singers recover quicker from strained, sore, and lost voices.
The creamy texture of bananas can produce extra mucus and coat your throat, which leads to unclear vocals. The thickness of a banana will inhibit your singing ability and are best to be avoided right before your performance. Eating a banana is essentially the same as eating dairy before singing, both are bad news.
Fruits containing large amounts of water are excellent hydration-conscious snacks, including apples, pears, watermelon, peaches, melons, grapes, blueberries, oranges, pineapples, plums and raspberries. These fruits are a good source of water that helps to keep lubricated the vocal cords.
Why shouldn't you drink milk before singing? While there's no evidence that dairy products actually produce phlegm, too much dairy in your diet can thicken the mucus that's already present in your airways, which negatively affects your singing voice.
Is lemon good for your voice? Yes, as lemon has a high source of vitamin C to help fight infection and, like honey, contains calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. Lemons contain citric acid which helps to break down the mucus in your throat and also helps to relieve you of throat inflammations.
Chamomile tea has the added benefit of being calming, which can take the edge off pre-performance jitters or help with winding down. Peppermint (right) is another popular herbal for voice work as it helps to soothe a raspy or hoarse throat.
The best tea for a voice and vocal cords won't include caffeine. Instead, choose teas for singers such as herbal and green teas. Alongside lemon and honey, these can help to soothe your vocal cords and could lead to improved singing performance.
Unfortunately, coffee can seriously dehydrate you and create havoc with your voice. It can damage your vocal cords, increase acid production, and act as a diuretic – not a good thing!
Is hot water good for your singing voice? Singers shouldn't drink hot water. Hot water increases the amount of mucus surrounding your vocal cords – and too much mucus is just as bad for your voice as too little. Hot water can ruin your tone, making your voice sound stuffy and phlegmy.
You are not doing your vocal exercises long enough. If you've been singing or touring a lot and your vocal stamina is up, you may need 5 or 10 minutes of warm-up. If you haven't been singing regularly, have been sick or just have some mucous build-up, you might need 20 to 45 minutes.
For most people, eating dairy products like milk, yogurt, ice cream or cottage cheese will create mucus, and should be avoided within a couple of hours before singing. For most, hard cheeses don't do that. Mucus coats your throat and makes it harder to sing.
Some foods and beverages to avoid prior to singing are mucous producing foods such as dairy, stimulants such as caffeine and spicy foods, soft drinks, refined sugars, chocolate, iced drinks and alcohol (including wine and beer).
Milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy
But dairy in general is difficult for the body to break down. It's a big no-no before your show. In many cases, it causes acid reflux that can creep up your esophagus and burn your vocal cords.
Fruits With Vocal Benefits
Avocados, perhaps due to their natural oils and properties, seem to moisturize the throat and give it an extra layer of protection like a balm.
Foods that are rich in iron, such as leafy vegetables like spinach or broccoli, can help maintain vocal strength and stamina.
Apples, apple juice, and apple cider vinegar can help, but they aren't any more beneficial for your voice than most other fruit or juice. An apple's acidity does make you salivate, which improves vocal performance.
Foods to avoid include foods with high fat content, like fried or greasy foods, eggs, butter and other dairy products; and acidic meals like spicy foods, peppers, concentrated tomato dishes, vinegar, and citrus fruits. It's almost impossible to sing well while burping.
Your voice can sound different if you consume too much sugar before singing. The sweetness can linger in your mouth and coat your throat with mucus, causing a build-up of phlegm. This can make your singing voice sound throatier.
A: The most important thing we can consume to improve vocal health is water. Staying hydrated helps your body produce thin, watery mucus. Your vocal cords vibrate more than 100 times a second when you speak, and they need that mucus to help them stay lubricated. We recommend drinking 64 ounces of water each day.