water and the vocal chords

[ridl]

That's pretty handy to know. Could it be people thinking of soothing their throat rather than vocal cords?

 

[OpenD]

Yeah, that's it. If the throat is dry or irritated chances are the chords are too. But even if the throat is feeling ok, the cords may be a little dryer than the throat. The lemon juice stuff has a little immediate effect because it keeps some mucus from getting on the cords. But since lemon juice is acidic, it will dry out the area and irritate the cords too. Same with any kind of alcohol. Short term results but medium term failure. 'Course if you've got a good buzz on you don't really care... With water, if you consitently keep hydrated, it thins the mucus which makes it less irritating to the cords; also the water is absorbed deep into the cords which makes them happier.

smellyfuzz has it right too. there are a ton of superstitions out there about the voice. I've tried a lot and still do a couple because they have other benefits.

but the folks I know who know say the same thing
water, water,water

 

[James Argo]

1) No substitute for lessons

This is true. Learn, learn, learn. And in fact, it helps alot to have an ability to play melodic instrument (Guitar, piano, etc. not percusive) as you learn sing. It's not absolut, but most of the time, it helps you to learn pitch recognizing.

2) Some days you can sing great and some days you can't sing at all.

This one even more valid than anything. There are so many things related to do a good sing. Physic, Mental, Psycho, Emotions, Health, etc... etc... Soooo many. Just accept it.
Sometime you sing good... and your friend just loved it.

And sometime you still sing good... but your friend telling you that be quite is better for you than sing

Good post, Fuzz...

Jaymz


and tell you what... Young -pretty sexy charming girl, rather than 70 years old opera geek- instructor will improve your singing ability much much better. You should consider get some other tutor, fuzz... Trust me on this

 

[lronhoover]

Not saying this is right or wrong, as i've never tried it. I was watching tv the other day and that actor Antino Bandress (misspelled) Is singing in a play. And he said he tried the tea and all the other stuff. Some opera singers told him the best thing is lots of water, and potato chips. The oil from the chips oils the vocal cords. Sounds strange.

 

[smellyfuzz]

Sounds strange

YEP !

 

[MrLip]

What the heck is this doing in the Event forum??

Anyway...

I am a self-taught singer just like most singers out there.

However I was lucky enough to work with a vocal coach who worked for Seth Riggs for 5 years and was vocal director for one of Bett Midler's world tours.

You know what this guy made us do that was so different from my 'usual' singing?

WARM UPS.

10-15 minutes of warm ups.

I think simply warming up everyday before you sing will improve your singing a lot. At least it did for me. It gave me a chance to 'learn my instrument' better. And it left less up to CHANCE.

I agree with what was stated before, some days you'll sing good and some days you won't, BUT I think warming up properly will reduce this margine by a great deal, it will make your voice more stable/reliable. As long as you don't abuse it, you'll be able to count on it. During the several months that I worked with this vocal coach there were only 2 days when I felt I couldn't sing, the first was after a night of booze and the second was when I ate a bunch of nuts right before rehearsal (they dried out my throat really badly). Other than that, I could hit the high notes every day -- although the the degree of quality was variable, mainly depending on my health/phsyical condition.

You said that your voice was tired after warming up all day. How did you warm up? You should warm up LIGHTLY and save your energy for the show (the 'motor boat'/lip-flapping thing is great. Both Seth Riggs and Mark Baxtor teach this exercise)

AND you should ALWAYS warm up, by this I mean before rehearsals too. This will get you into a pattern, so that if you can sing it well at rehearsal, then you will probably be able to sing it well at the show (since you've wamed up just the same.)


I hope I don't come off sounding like some know-it-all, I just want to share with you what I learned.


Oh-- and yes, he recommended to drink 2 liters of water per day, and no coffee.

 

[smellyfuzz]

WARM UPS.

10-15 minutes of warm ups.

I think simply warming up everyday before you sing will improve your singing a lot. At least it did for me. It gave me a chance to 'learn my instrument' better. And it left less up to CHANCE.

Yes, unless your singing wrong in which case you can do damage.


Sean

 

[yiordanaki]

hehe

Thanks Lip

How did you warm up?

Probably the wrong way, I mean i started with soft singing and scales - but it was a long drive to the venue and there were some good songs on the radio!!
some of which i just couldnt resist singing along too, some of which required yelling..........................


I know, its my own fault.



y

 

[djc]

Half a bottle of good Tequila does it for me. By then, I don't care if I can sing.

 

[Tim Brown]

I got myself a tea spoon full of cheap Chinese powder (Cheng sie lung hau fung san) an hour before stage. I got from the drugstore. It's good. Comforts my throat.

You need to try what I do.

I scratch my balls with a dead chickens foot, then I wrap it up in a worn out sock, then I walk backwards three times around a mulberry bush in the dark of the moon, and bury it under a piece of dog poop.

This technique works like a charm!

Seriously....the best thing out there is room temperature water. it take about 20 minutes for the water to get into your system...so if you drink 8 oz. of water right before you go onstage-then it won't get to your vocal chords until at least 20 minutes into the set!

People have no idea how much what they eat and drink effects their voices. Dairy products? Lose them! Sugar? Caffienne? all of that stuff is bad for your voice.

In all honesty, The problem with singing is that YOU are the Instrument, and until we - as musicians- get that into our heads, we'll never really "get it"...I mean, you almost have to train like you are an athlete.


Sure, everybody knows of the ONE singer in town who does drugs and smokes 5 packs of cigarettes a day and all of that crap, but that one singer is an oddity... he's the local Steven Tyler.


Tim

 

[smellyfuzz]

TIM;

Seriously....the best thing out there is room temperature water. it take about 20 minutes for the water to get into your system...so if you drink 8 oz. of water right before you go onstage-then it won't get to your vocal chords until at least 20 minutes into the set!

Yes, that does work ok for me too, especially in the beginning, but it might not work for every one.

Now I can drink coffee, Jack Daniels, coke, what ever, does phlegm me up a bit, but that's it.

In all honesty, The problem with singing is that YOU are the Instrument, and until we - as musicians- get that into our heads, we'll never really "get it"...I mean, you almost have to train like you are an athlete.

That much is 100% true !!!!


Sean