Care of the Voice

							                TAKING CARE OF THE SINGING VOICE

MAINTAIN A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM:
      o get rid of stress and excessive responsibilities that bring no joy
      o stretch, do yoga/pilates or just move your large muscles 2 or 3
         times a week
      o drink water, drink water, drink water
      o eat a balanced diet and watch out for dairy products (can lead
         to phlegm in some singers) and alcohol (can dry out vocal
         cords in some singers)
      o get plenty of sleep
      o wash your hands frequently

EXTRA TIPS:
      o run a humidifier frequently since we live in a dry environment
      o avoid lozenges that contain "anesthetic" on the the label
      o avoid nasal decongestant sprays
      o warm up your voice whenever possible
      o don't attempt to sing over top of loud noises or sounds
      o do not sing with a sore or inflamed throat...but go to rehearsal
         and listen!

POSTURE:
      o relaxed shoulders
      o align neck with spine
      o loose jaw and free head on top of spine
      o open chest
      o check for tension in your body and breathe it out
      o sit up straight to sing, away from the back of your chair
      o feet flat on floor, not crossed legs
      o hold music up high enough to see conductor since this
        encourages good posture
      o don't sing into your book but just over top of it