/EINPresswire.com/ As the winter months begin, TakeLessons shares essential tips for vocal care for singers who are feeling under the weather.
Great news for Adele – the singer is officially on the road to recovery after her throat surgery last week, following a vocal hemorrhage that forced her to cancel all remaining tour dates for the year. “I’m doing really well, on the mend, super happy, relaxed and very positive with it all,” she wrote on her blog. “The operation was a success and I’m just chilling out now until I get the all clear from my doctors.”
TakeLessons (http://takelessons.com), the nation’s fastest growing music lessons provider, took the opportunity to share with its readers some essential tips for caring for one’s vocal cords, especially in light of the upcoming winter months. The information comes from Joanna Cazden, a Los Angeles-based speech pathologist, as originally published on the Singer Universe blog.
The following is an excerpt from the blog post:
“The common cold — what we in health care call an upper respiratory infection or URI — is caused by a type of virus that likes cold, dry conditions. You can ward off some URIs by washing your hands frequently when in public places, and keeping your immune system strong with good nutrition, exercise, rest, and social support. But a further recommendation, especially for singers, is to keep your breathing environment humid rather than dry.
Running a vaporizer at night will make you less susceptible to colds, and more comfortable if you catch one. Take longer showers and baths; if you have access to a steam room, use it! Keep a hot beverage near your workspace, and sniff the steam in between sips. Steam soothes and protects your entire airway, and also helps clear extra phlegm.
If a URI bug does make its way into your throat, the vocal cords can become inflamed. Swollen cords vibrate more slowly, which makes your pitch lower. The vocal cords may also vibrate unevenly, leading you to sound hoarse or rough. Other vocal symptoms of a URI can include a smaller pitch range (inflamed cords don’t stretch as far) and less control over loudness (that all-or-nothing honk.)
Extra congestion in the nose or sinuses can temporarily block resonance, making your voice sound dull. Chest congestion or overall fatigue can diminish breath support. Repeated coughing can irritate otherwise healthy vocal cords. Under any of these conditions, pushing or tensing to try to sound “normal” will give you more trouble in the long run. Instead, a few days of relative silence — plus sleep, fluids, and steam — will help your voice recover quickly.
Avoid excessive use of over-the-counter decongestants, because while you feel more comfortable, your airway will be drier and more vulnerable to infection. Pain-killing throat lozenges also tend to be drying, and may tempt you to use your voice more than is wise. Drink steamy beverages instead, and use that vaporizer at night.”
By sharing the tips with blog readers, TakeLessons aims to continue engaging current students and help them reach their musical goals. Readers are invited to share their own tips and advice by commenting on the TakeLessons blog, where fans can also learn what makes catchy songs stick, and comments are also welcomed on Facebook (http://facebook.com/takelessons).
About TakeLessons
Headquartered in San Diego, CA, TakeLessons is America’s full-service music and voice lessons provider. With private lessons taught by TakeLessons Certified™ instructors in cities nationwide, students of all ages can start living their dreams through music. Founded in 2006 to help people discover their creativity and pursue their passions, TakeLessons also offers turnkey music programs for schools and community centers.
Jon Crim
TakeLessons
877-231-8505
http://takelessons.com
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