Varun Uday
you produce a free and well projected sound by tapping into the natural resonator of the body such as the chest , bones of the skull , bones forming your larynx , nasal region .
Which brings us to the next critical factor - if you speak right you can almost always sing right . Speak with a full sound ( do not mistake it for a loud sound ). Utilise the natural resonators such as the mask region ( nasal bridge , your lips , upper teeth ) and direct your voice to the hard palate and last but not the least , breathe well and maintain the required breath flow !
Few other pointers off the bat - refrain from screaming ! One must learn how to use the body to support the sound so as to avoid hurting your vocal cords . Being loud and screaming are two completely different things . In most cases when one screams it is either when you are excited or when you ’ re upset . It is in these situations that we often forget the usage of the various mechanisms involved in producing a heathy sound . Rather avoid such circumstances ; after all prevention is better than cure .
Avoid whispering - many think it is okay to whisper because it hardly involves effort but please note , it is just as bad as shouting if not more . Don ' t do it !
Exercise - mainly cardio workouts such as running , swimming , jump rope , give your body ample opportunity to build the lungs along with your diaphragmatic muscle and core which are responsible for building a great breathing mechanism that directly helps you keep your voice in good shape . And of course , all the oxygen that enters your system , helps rejuvenate and reinvigorate your senses .
Vocal and physical warm-up – Undertake any suitable form of a physical warm-up such as a short jog , a walk , surya namskaras and then add some smooth and gentle humming followed by lip rolls at a comfortable pitch . Post that , move up and down across your natural vocal range to get the voice started before you dive into any talking or singing .
Myths about vocal health ?
Clearing your throat helps you clear your throat - Not true . Drink water to do the trick .
A tight abdomen is not good for singers - Well , a tight abdomen is not good for sure , but a strong well developed core is absolutely essential - build your core strength whilst maintaining its flexibility .
You must avoid certain types of foods - Each body type is different and your nutrition needs may differ accordingly . You need to chart down what suits your body the best . It is not always necessary to avoid all the things we singers have added to the “ do not eat this if you want to sing ” list . Eat healthy , eat right !
Whispering is saving your voice - No just stop talking if you need to , steer clear from whispering and putting undue pressure on your vocal chords .
Breathy tone = Sexy voice - You are actually setting yourself up for a lot of trouble when it comes to your voice . Adding breath to your tone / voice will dry out the vocal folds leading to irritation .
Water helps moisten a dry throat immediately - The vocal cords have to be hydrated through the water absorbed by our system . Simply drinking water washes down the mucus present as lubricants in our throat which takes a couple of minutes to replenish , roughly about 5 to 10 mins . So keep yourself hydrated at all times .
The ideal diet for a healthy voice ?
I would say the key to a healthy voice is moderation . Eat what you like but moderately . Understand what suits your system . If some particular food bothers your system , avoid it . Learn your body and its needs over time .
Having said that , some pointers on how and what you could eat :
Keep your diet as clean as possible .
Include a lot of dark green leafy veggies , which are a good source of iron amongst many foods , iron primarily helps carry oxygen to various parts of the body from the lungs . Vegetables in general are fabulous for your health contributing to the vitamins your body needs to function effectively .
Consume good fats such as nuts , one whole egg , avocados , Virgin olive oil and cheese to name a few . Avoid added sugar as much as possible because it adds to the acidic levels of the body and slows down the process of recovery of your muscles , huge amount of energy is invested in digesting these processed sugars . Eg . Chocolates , candy , canned juice etc Stick to natural sugars from fruits such as apples , banana , carrots , honey , dates etc .
Include lean protein such as chicken , fish , eggs , sprouts , low fat paneer in your diet so as to help your muscles recover And of course drink plenty of water . It plays a vital role in your system than just quenching your thirst . It hydrates your voice , helps remove toxins , carries nutrients to the various parts of the body , amongst other functions ! So drink up !
Try to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum - we all know that it leads to dehydration . And smoking is a complete NO ! Need I have to explain the ill effects of smoking .
In a nutshell :
Train and master you breath mechanism . Sing after warming up the body and the voice .
Speak with your full tone and a healthy support system from the body . Stay hydrated ( 3.5 to 4 ltrs of water a day ).
Eat as healthy as possible . Get sufficient rest and good sleep .
Practice in multiple short intervals ( 20 min sessions ) through the day . For all the reasons you can think of - Do not smoke !
Varun Uday
Varun Udayakumar is a Performer , Singer / Songwriter , and a Vocal coach . He has trained in Western Classical Vocals ( Specialised Vocal Program ) at KM Music Conservatory founded by Dr . AR Rahman . He has toured with AR Rahman as a soloist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and was part of the KMMC choir which toured with the Bablesberg Film Orchestra ( Germany ). He has also ben part of the Opera Scenes productions produced by KMMC such as Pasticcio Madras , The Lobby , # itscomplicated directed by Dr . Gilles Denizot as one of the lead Tenors .
The Score Magazine highonscore . com
41
you produce a free and well projected sound by tapping into
the natural resonator of the body such as the chest, bones of
the skull, bones forming your larynx, nasal region.
Which brings us to the next critical factor - if you speak
right you can almost always sing right. Speak with a full
sound (do not mistake it for a loud sound). Utilise the natural
resonators such as the mask region(nasal bridge, your lips,
upper teeth) and direct your voice to the hard palate and last
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