3 Tips for Keeping Your Voice Healthy

Vocal health and hygiene are crucial for drama students. Whether students are working on monologues, group scenes, or musical numbers, having a healthy voice is a must. It’s important for drama students who prefer to work backstage as well – stage managers must communicate verbally to technicians and assistant stage managers over headsets, and cannot afford to have scratchy and sore voices. Here are three tips to share with your drama students, to help them keep their voices healthy and strong.

Many of these tips will seem like common sense, but it is always good for your students to have reminders!

1. Take care of the voice from the inside out.

Illness and stress causes strain on students’ entire bodies, including their vocal folds. Students must take care of themselves in order to stay physically healthy and keep their voices strong. This means:

• Drinking plenty of plain water (less sugary drinks like pop and juice) to keep the vocal folds moist and lubricated.
• Eating nutritious food (lots of fruits and vegetables).
• Avoiding throat clearing (this causes strain on the vocal folds).
• Getting plenty of rest – so students aren’t exhausted and straining their voices – and giving their bodies adequate time to heal.
• Dressing appropriately, especially during cold weather (students may want to invest in a warm scarf to keep their throats warm).

These simple actions really add up to keeping students’ voices healthy, as well as contributing to their overall health and wellness.

2. Make smart choices.

Drama classes and theatrical productions require strength and stamina. Students should consider the following choices, when focusing on their vocal health:

• Avoiding excessive screaming and yelling, such as at a dance, football game, or rock concert, and choosing to forgo the occasional activity that may risk hurting their voices.
• Engaging in vocal rest (which means ZERO talking or singing outside of the performance) when their voices are tired or feeling strained. (This one is REALLY hard for students!)
• Staying away from people who smoke, as well as environments that are dusty or contain pollen or allergens.
• Focusing on not leaving assignments and other commitments until the last minute, to avoid getting stressed out – which could make them sick.
• Spending plenty of time warming up their voices before singing or speaking, and practicing proper vocal techniques to avoid vocal strain.

It can be tough for students to make these choices, especially when their friends are out doing fun activities that they may have to miss out on. Remind students of their commitment to the show they are working on, as well as the joy they receive from their theatrical endeavours. While in the short term, making these choices isn’t always fun, in the long term, their smart choices will pay off with a wonderful, healthy production.

3. Know when to seek help.

Nobody is perfect, and illness and vocal strain are bound to happen at some point to even the most diligent student. Students must learn to recognize when to seek help, in order to avoid further damage to their voices.

• If something hurts, stop! Students should not try to force themselves to keep singing or speaking if their voices are feeling sore or scratchy.
• Students must be aware of their vocal limitations. They must not try to force themselves to sing beyond their range, or belt without the assistance of a vocal coach or musical director.
• If students are sick, they should stay home and rest, and get to the doctor for the appropriate treatment. They don’t need to risk their own health (as well as the health of other students and teachers) by coming to class or rehearsal sick.
• If students are taking medication for their illness, they may feel temporary relief and wish to jump back immediately into singing and speaking. Remind students who are recovering from illness to do lots of warm-up activities and ease back into their vocal performance slowly. Monitor their vocal performance to ensure they don’t re-strain their voices.
• Students may wish to search out further opportunities to improve their vocal strength and singing techniques, such as working with a vocal coach, taking singing lessons, or joining a choir.

BONUS TIP : It is especially important for teachers to model these healthy behaviours and smart choices themselves. Students look up to their teachers, and, by demonstrating the importance of vocal health yourself, you are leading by example and showing your students the proper ways to keep their voices in peak condition.