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"Hoarseness:
The Top 5 Causes & How to Avoid It"
by
Tammy Frederick
Maybe
you are like many singers who have experienced a dry,
gravelly voice the morning after a hard night of singing.
You may not be too concerned about this vocal roughness
if you are able to rest your voice for a few days, but
what if you have to perform again tonight? What if tonight’s
performance has to be the best of your life? Now, the
state of your voice becomes all consuming.
How
can I fix it? Is there some miracle liquid I can drink?
How much water can I drink before the show?
Although
there are some tactics that will help ease hoarseness,
curing chronic hoarseness permanently begins long before
it even happens and it involves dealing with the number
of factors that cause it.
Cause
#1 - Poor Vocal Technique
The
number one cause of hoarseness and vocal fatigue is
poor vocal technique. If you find you get hoarse after
performing or rehearsing it is very likely that you
are singing with a high larynx. To make matters worse,
you are probably forcing large amounts of air through
this high larynx by shouting or singing loudly.
The
larynx goes up when the throat muscles or swallowing
muscles engage and yank it up in their effort to help
you reach those higher notes. When this occurs the larynx
becomes unstable and tension sets in. Then, in your
effort and determination to hit those high notes you
force a lot of air through the larynx, increasing the
volume, and essentially muscling your way through the
range of the song. This sets you up for a prime case
of hoarseness. All that pulling and pushing and forcing
of air has fatigued your vocal cords and they have swollen.
When this happens the cords are no longer able to connect
properly, affecting the quality of your sound and seriously
hindering your vocal range.
Solution:
Seek out competent vocal training. Competent training
is key, since there are many teachers out there who
can do more harm than good. If you can’t afford
training, try some practice techniques. Practice your
songs quietly, but don’t hold your breath. Breathe
while you sing. You will have more control over your
sound if the vocal cords are able to adjust to the pitches
you need without the extra-added musculature. Try singing
other genres of music and songs that are not like your
own. Think of it as cross training for your voice. A
more immediate solution would be to lower the keys of
your songs so as to avoid having to push and strain
for the top notes. If you take time to develop your
instrument you can increase your range and up the key
again later.
Cause #2 - Inadequate or No Vocal Warm-up
It
is shocking to me how many singers come into my studio
with the complaint of chronic hoarseness and when asked
if they warm-up before performing the answer is no!
Always, always, always warm up your instrument! How
long would an athlete last if they did not warm up their
body prior to competing? Singing through your songs
ahead of time is not a sufficient warm-up. You need
to vocalize beyond the range of your songs.
Solution:
Warm up your instrument before any performance, recording
or practice session. If you work with a vocal teacher
you should already have a vocal warm up recorded. Otherwise,
find a keyboard and run through some scales using liprolls
or tongue trills and words such as “mum” and
“woof”. The key to a good warm-up is to make
sure you are breathing and not straining. Also include
a physical warm-up. Do some general stretching to loosen
up your limbs. Despite what some people may think going
on stage “raw” only makes for inconsistent
performances. And in any business, not just music, consistency
is what makes for a successful career.
Cause
#3 - Smoking, Alcohol and Coffee
Smoking,
alcohol and coffee all do the same thing to the body,
they dehydrate it. In order to function optimally the
vocal cords need a certain amount of lubrication. When
the body is dehydrated the vocal cords can become irritated.
More pecifically with smoking the heat from the smoke
cause the cords to swell, the cords then become thicker,
making it more difficult to hit higher notes. I have
heard horror stories of people who have started smoking
to increase their bottom range - thicker cords produce
lower sounds (because of the swelling) but at what expense
to the longevity of your vocal career, not to mention
your overall health. Competent vocal training can also
increase your range – healthfully. Even if you
are a non-smoker but sing, reside, or work in a
smoky environment your vocal health will be compromised.
Solution:
I know I may not be able to convince the smokers to
quit but my general advice to all is to stay hydrated.
Drink water throughout the day. Drinking only during
a performance or recording session isn’t enough;
your body needs to be hydrated long before you start
singing. If you drink coffee and alcohol try to match
your consumption,
drink for drink, with an equal amount of water. If you
like to drink tea for your throat, keep it as natural
as possible. I suggest licorice root steeped in hot
water and then cooled to room temperature. Drinking
liquids at either end of the extreme is not good for
the voice so keep drinks as close to room temperature
as tolerable.
Cause #4 - Excessive Throat Clearing
Excessive
throat clearing can also cause hoarseness. When you
clear your throat your cords slam together. If done
excessively they will swell and fatigue. The need to
clear our throat is usually a result of excess phlegm
or mucous sitting on the cords.
Solution:
Avoid consuming phlegm-inducing foods such as dairy
products, chocolate and orange juice. Try to avoid eating
right before a erformance or practice session. After
eating, extra mucous is produced making it hard for
the vocal cords to perform optimally. However, it takes
a lot of energy to sing, so singing with no fuel in
your body can be equally detrimental. Eat a regular
meal a few hours before you have to perform and then
eat a small snack about 45 minutes before you go on.
If you need to clear your throat, cough and swallow
instead followed by a drink of water.
Cause
#5 - Illness and Fatigue
It
goes without saying that if you are sick with a cold
or the flu you will not be able to sing at your optimum.
In a case of laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx)
your cords are not able to stay connected due to the
excessive swelling caused by a bacteria infection. If
you suffer from chronic sore throats or laryngitis it
is safe to say that you are physically run down. Fatigue
will take a toll on the body and prevent the body from
being able to deal with the stresses faced throughout
a day. Our bodies are exposed to bacteria and viruses
on a daily basis and if we are well rested our body
has the ability to fight it off, if however, we are
fatigued, under nourished and dehydrated the body’s
ability to fight off these invaders is diminished significantly.
Solution:
The key to vocal health is overall health. It is imperative
that you take care of yourself. Eat well, drink water,
and definitely get an adequate amount of sleep. Even
grabbing a quick nap can make a big difference in your
body’s defense system. If you find yourself battling
with a cold or flu remember to avoid singing with a
sore throat.
Singing with a sore throat is like walking on a sprained
ankle. Give yourself adequate time to rest and recover.
It
is completely possible to have a vocal career free of
hoarseness but it takes time and care to eradicate it
permanently. Take the time to adjust your vocal habits
and you will be able to deliver a consistent performance
every time you sing and if you take care of your vocal
health, it will ultimately take care of you.
Reprinted
with kind permission from Tammy Frederick, columnist
for Canadian
Musician Magazine and professional vocal instructor
who offers private lessons and voice workshops through
her studio Tammy Frederick's Voice Studio in Toronto,
Ontario.
Visit her website at: www.tammyfrederick.com
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