5 Vocal Tips During Winter
Anyone else feeling vocal strain during this dry winter?
The polar vortex can be rough on our voices, as can a four-hour cover gig schedule. Here are five tips that have helped me beat vocal fatigue over these last three years of full-time performing:
1. Warm-up before home practice, rehearsals, and gigs
While driving to gigs, I use Kate Hart‘s vocal warm-ups, religiously. Working with Kate during private lessons and using her warm-up CDs has been essential for maintaining my vocal health. If you have never had vocal lessons, and you are losing your voice at gigs, I encourage you to get some coaching!
2. Practice singing every day
It’s OK to take day off now and then, but becoming a weekend warrior will destroy our voices. Like exercising for sports, it’s essential to have a practice routine for singing.
3. Drink plenty of water
I drink a ridiculous amount of water before, during, and after gigs. I also ask for no ice in my water during gigs. Room temp is best.
4. Avoid caffeine and alcohol
I know, I know. Who doesn’t like to have a drink or two to loosen up during a gig? But honestly, I don’t have more than one beer on a normal day, and if I’m gigging three to five gigs in a row, I avoid alcohol completely.
Now, coffee’s my biggest vice! I drink too much caffeine, and I can tell when it gets the best of my vocal cords. I’m trying to supplement with more teas, often herbal lemon blends, in the morning, but that French Press gets the best of me.
5. Lower song keys to rest upper register
There is no shame in lowering a key half a step or a full step to give your voice a break on the upper register. It’s common to sing a song a half-step lower live than you might on the recording, especially when doing the four hour cover gig routine.
I bring a second acoustic guitar tuned down a full step for my solo, cover gigs that are four hours to allow myself some versatility of full open chords, and lower keys to help my voice stay strong.
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