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 .
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