Music Minute Monday: Keeping Your Voice Healthy in Colder Weather
’Tis the season for colder weather and, in some parts of the country, it’s already snowing (No, thank you). That means warm fires, cozy afternoons and… FLU SEASON! (…dun dun DUN!)
While I am not a medical professional, I do know a thing or two about keeping your voice healthy during this super fun season where the weather seems like it’s only out to get you.
Wear Layers!
This seems obvious, but staying warm when it’s cool out keeps your muscles (including your voice) nice, relaxed, and ready to go!
Wear a scarf, daily!
Scarves are a great way to protect your throat from the cold. Much like the rest of our muscles, when the muscles responsible for our voice get cold, they get tense, making it much harder to sing. In fact, have you ever watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and wondered how on earth the performers are singing in such cold weather? Spoiler Alert: they’re not. It’s actually dangerous to sing in certain temperatures and can cause damage to your vocal folds. So, while your favorite Broadway cast is dancing away, they’re actually lip syncing to create the illusion of a live performance!
Drink warm tea & local honey!
Tea is a great tool for your voice in general. It lubricates the voice and keeps those muscles warm & plyable (herbal tea is best as black tea & green tea can cause dryness.) Local honey is not only a great way to help your body get acclimated to your area’s pollen, it’s also a fabulous anti-oxidant. Not to mention the benefits it has for your voice! It coats your throat & vocal folds creating a smoother tone in your voice and it helps you recover faster from vocal fatigue!
While there are many other ways to help your voice stay healthy this winter, these three tips are a solid starting point. If you want to learn more about good ways to have a healthy voice, private lessons are a great way to improve your overall vocal tone and quality, and be a better informed vocalist!