Vocal Care Part Three

by Jeannie Deva

Caffeine

The principle sources of caffeine for most of us are coffee, black teas, chocolate and many soft drinks like colas are caffeinated. Caffeine is a diuretic which means it induces your body to expel fluid with resulting degrees of dehydration. In addition to caffeine, the oils and acidic quality of coffee, have been found to be an irritant to the muscles, mucous membranes and tissue of the vocal folds. This tends to create mucous build-up. You may experience a slight burning or irritation of your vocal folds or the need to clear your throat excessively after drinking coffee.

Everyone has different sensitivities and coffee may not have a noticeable effect on your voice. Notice how your body and voice feel for up to an hour after drinking it. It may take that long for it to be absorbed and show any effects. If you decide to continue as a coffee drinker, be sure to include drinking plenty of room temperature water throughout the day (as much as 8 - 8oz. glasses daily). This will help to flush out your system and restore the bodily fluids that have been lost from caffeine's diuretic effect.

Many singers have complained to me that they have stiff and mucous ladden vocal folds in the morning. These singers were found to be drinking coffee on an empty stomach immediately upon waking. The body tends to cleanse itself while sleeping and it uses water in the process. I recommended to these singers, that they drink a large glass of water upon rising to rehydrate their body. Then to eat something, no matter how small, such as a piece of fruit, before drinking their morning coffee. Following this advice resolved the symptoms for most of them.

Reactions to coffee can vary from one singer to the next, but to play it safe, don�t drink coffee or black tea within several hours of a gig or recording session. If you feel you need to have some coffee the day of a performance or recording, drink it black (no milk or cream). Milk or cream being dairy products, can intensify the mucous production of your vocal folds.

Handling Dehydration

The cold outdoor air and heated indoor air of the winter months create dry conditions which can make singing more difficult and for which we need to be prepared. If you live or travel in a cold climate, you will probably notice that indoor heating makes the air very dry and may effect your voice.

These conditions are not limited to cold climates. Spending many hours in air conditioned vehicles and buildings in warm climates like Los Angeles, is also dehydrating. Air conditioners remove moisture from the air as they cool it. Did you ever notice the water dripping from the outside of a window air conditioner? That is the moisture that was extracted from the inside air.

If you notice your voice responding poorly under these conditions, you should use a humidifier or vaporizer. It is best to have several, each in a different room, so that the air in your home or office retains enough moisture. Vaporizers use heat to produce steam which can humidify the air more quickly while killing bacteria that may build up in the water supply. They also help to warm the air in a cold climate.

In air conditioning, use an evaporative humidifier instead of an ultra-sonic model. Evaporative models use a fan to help circulate moisture into the air. The water that evaporates does not carry bacteria with it. An ultra-sonic model uses sound waves to turn the water into a fine mist which can carry bacteria into the air.

Traveling

Air travel and hotel stays can be even more dehydrating than either cold weather or prolonged air conditioning in warm climates. While on the road, travel with a vaporizer if possible or fill the hotel ice bucket with water and place it near the room heater.

When going outside in cold weather, wrap your neck with a warm scarf, and pull it up over your nose. Breathing with your nose covered, will capture the moisture of your breath and recirculate it as you inhale. Who knows, maybe we�ll start a new fad for winter wear?

Re-Hydrating

Drinking lots of water is very important for a singer. Along with helping flush out impurities in your blood stream, water replenishes your bodily fluids and promotes healthier vocal folds. A common difficulty with drinking lots of liquid before and during performance is the fact that you may need to frequent the toilet. There are throat lozenges and sprays made specifically for singers that moisten without drinking. This is a supplement to the throat�s natural moisturizing secretions, rather than a medication. There are several good products designed for healthy throats needing extra moisture which will be available on our website in the very near future.

Hope this helps,
Jeannie Deva

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Jeannie Deva teaches in Los Angeles, California and has worked with singers from around the world. She is the Founder of The Deva Method �, A Non-Classical Approach for Singers � and of The Jeannie Deva� Voice Studios. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed vocal home-study course: "The Contemporary Vocalist" and "The Deva Method Vocal Warm-Ups" CD. Her studios service an international clientele and are staffed with certified Deva Method voice trainers, now celebrating their 25th anniversary. Clients include: Members of the J. Geils Band, Fame and Jesus Christ Superstar, Aimee Mann, Patty Griffin and many more.

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