Becoming a singer requires ongoing vocal training to improve range, strengthen the voice, and learn new techniques. Singers must protect their voice from damage by keeping their whole body in good shape, avoiding unhealthy foods and drinks, and incorporating relaxation exercises into their warm-up routine. Drinking lots of water is the best fluid for the voice.
Becoming a singer requires not only natural talent, but also ongoing vocal training. Singers are constantly striving to improve their range, strengthen their voices and learn new techniques. Before starting any kind of music career, a singer must first learn to train and protect his or her voice. While other musicians have external instruments to play, requiring only the interaction of hands, fingers, wrists or mouth, singers face a more difficult challenge because the vocalist’s instrument is built in. Therefore, the whole body must be kept in good shape, not just the throat itself.
The first step to becoming a singer is to take singing lessons. This training should not consist of just a few lessons; most professional singers will have an ongoing course of lessons throughout their career. A vocal coach works one-on-one with a student to create the singer’s voice with a variety of singing and breathing exercises. Vocal trainers also teach aspiring singers how to protect their voice from damage. Singing improperly can result in the development of vocal nodules or polyps on the vocal folds, often requiring surgical removal. In some cases, the damage can be permanent and so extensive that it can even end a singer’s career.
Keeping the vocal cords, neck, shoulder and face muscles relaxed is key to preventing vocal damage. When studying to become a singer, the student will be given various relaxation exercises. This often includes stretching, neck movements, singing scales, and other techniques. It is important for the singer to incorporate these exercises into their warm-up routine. Even on days when the vocalist is not scheduled to perform, the vocal coach will usually recommend that the student continue these exercises daily to maintain vocal strength.
Singing students also learn from a vocal coach what types of unhealthy foods, drinks, and other habits to avoid. Because the vocal folds are extremely fragile, they require constant lubrication to stay healthy. Certain spices, beverages, and cooking medications can act as vocal cord irritants and damage the voice. Dairy products, such as milk, for example, contribute to excessive mucus production in the throat and nasal passages. Any beverage containing caffeine dries out the throat and strains the vocal muscles. Alcohol also has a drying effect.
Many untrained singers mistakenly believe that drinking hot lemon tea – a common home remedy for a sore throat – will help the voice. While it may relieve pain temporarily, lemon tea can actually do more harm than good. Even decaffeinated teas can dry out the throat; exactly the opposite of what the singer needs. Citrus fruits like lemon and lime juice make the vocal folds contract and can also contribute to acid reflux, creating even more discomfort for the singer. Vocal trainers uniformly agree that the best fluid for the voice is at least 10-12 glasses of clean drinking water a day. Drinking lots of water is a tip that vocal coaches most often emphasize to any student who wants to become a singer.
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