5 Tips For Singing When Having A Cold

 A cold can be uncomfortable, with symptoms like congestion, coughing, a sore throat, and hoarseness. As singers, taking care of our voices in those times becomes even more crucial.

In this episode, we will look at five tips for keeping and protecting your voice when you have a cold. By following these tips, you can heal faster and avoid long-term damage to your vocal cords.

Beginner singers tend to make these mistakes:

❌ Not being mindful of their vocal boundaries often leads to hoarseness. 

❌ Not doing anything to take care of the hoarseness and just waiting for it to pass.

If you are aware of these mistakes, you may take corrective action. And this is where we are gradually moving into the world of trained singers. We only have one voice, and we must take care of it.

Here are five effective ways to care for your voice when you have a cold.

1. Vocal rest.

When you have a cold, giving your voice a break is essential. Like any muscle, you need to give your voice muscles time to rest when overworked. Resting your voice allows your vocal cords to heal and recover faster.

2. SOVT (Semi Occluded Vocal Tract ) exercises

SOVT can enhance airflow and sound pressure levels, producing more efficient vocal fold vibration. Some exercises you could do are humming or making a 'BRRRR' sound, or singing on a straw. These exercises will help the swelling (which causes hoarseness) to go down.

3. Hydrating your voice. 

One of the most important things you can do to care for your voice during a cold is to stay hydrated. 

👉 Drinking fluids before singing helps soothe your throat and lubricate your vocal cords. 

👉 Steam inhalation is also an effective way to relieve congestion and soothe your throat. Boil water in a pot, remove it from the heat, and place a towel over your head to create a tent-like structure. Lean over the pot and breathe in the steam for 5-10 minutes. Be cautious not to burn yourself. 

👉 Nebulizing a saline solution is another effective way, and it's safe for the vocal cords, as they are non-drying.

4. No whispering and no shouting

Whispering or straining your voice can cause additional strain on your vocal cords. We pinch our vocal cords more firmly when we whisper, which may lead to pressure, especially if inflamed. Because whispering does not vibrate our vocal cords, this squeezing might cause vocal cord discomfort from dryness.

5. Be mindful of your voice and utilize the vocal techniques that you've learned. 

Your vocal techniques protect you from straining your voice, crossing boundaries, and hoarseness.

Taking care of your voice is crucial to ensure a speedy recovery and avoid long-term vocal damage when you have a cold. Following the tips above, you can protect your voice and get back to singing more quickly.

If you would love to improve your vocal techniques further, I invite you to join this free training: https://www.singinginsiders.com/30-days-to-better-singing-workshop-opt-in-page  

Thank you again for joining me this week, and I hope to see you again next time!