I'll start with a scenario you probably know all too well.
You've had a long night. Whether you were out with friends, performing, working, or even just enjoying a night in, you're likely both mentally and physically exhausted. You hop into bed without any second thoughts. Next thing you know, you wake up with that familiar sting or ache in your throat. Great.
Illness, specially voice-loss, can be detrimental to any singer. A simple cold can turn into practices missed or notes left unsung. God forbid this cold stretch into audition season or wiggle its way into tech week.
In my experience, the worst part about not being able to sing is not being able to practice. As musicians, we tend to be perfectionists and become hung up on the tiniest mistakes. Being sick, or rather, the inability to access your greatest joy can make you feel pretty terrible.
First and foremost- the biggest advice I can give is to stay true to vocal rest. If you decide to go on vocal rest, it is pertinent that you actually don't sing. I've tried to sing through a *completely* busted voice and it only lengthened that period of silence. Don't push yourself too hard. This is something my voice teacher has always told me. Sometimes we end lessons early if I'm sick for this very reason. Stay in tune with your voice!
Now, let's talk about remedies.
As far as actual medications, I take the following:
DAILY
Zyrtec-allergies
Women's Vitamins
Nasal Spray
A probiotic
AS NEEDED
Mucinex-Clears Flem (THIS IS MY HOLY GRAIL)
Vitamin C Tablets
I really started taking more supplements and vitamins as of this past year. I noticed I was getting sick frequently as a result of increased stress (yay junior year!). I noticed a huge difference within the first few months. I wasn't feeling at all groggy or gross anymore and my mask felt clearer. I find that my allergy medications really make the greatest difference in the quality of my voice. Because of this, I really recommend finding medications/supplements that work for you! This is a really interesting quiz to start with.
I actually found my specific garlic pills through a Broadway actress I follow on Instagram. She posted a photo of her daily medications in her hand and explained what each of them does to help her body. I was inspired to start taking better care of my body and health.
Tea is another holy grail of mine. I recently became an avid tea drinker as a result of my mom trying this awesome monthly subscription box. I'm drinking around 3-5 cups a day. To state the obvious, not only is this a great caffeine alternative to coffee (which I usually put milk in, dairy+voice=BAD), but it really warms up your vocal cords and makes warm-ups a breeze. My favorites are throat coat, chamomile, black, green, and chai. I used to keep a few bags of tea and a mug in my locker at school so I could throw some together in a pinch.
The moment you've been waiting for: cough drops! These, like tea, are a lot about personal preference. It's all about what flavor you prefer and the strength you need. These are my personal favorites- they're super sweet and taste like candy! But, when I need some serious help, I use Fisherman's Friends. They look, taste, and smell pretty strong of menthol and pain, but they REALLY clear you up. I carry a little bag of these in my backpack at all times. They were actually a recommendation from my voice teacher. She also recommends both lemon and lukewarm water as opposed to ice water.
Above all, as I said, give yourself time to heal. It will be severely frustrating at times when your goals and your body don't exactly line up. However, the truth of it is, this is really just another opportunity to learn more about your voice and how it responds to different things. This understanding is crucial to your growth as a musician.
Anyways, I hope some of my recommendations and/or advice resonated with you!
Today's #Songforthesoul is Veronica Swift's "No Regrets". I have recently fallen in love with this girl's voice- seriously, she's amazing! She's a 25-year-old jazz singer in New York who has played with the one-and-only Wynton Marsalis. Props to her! You'll definitely see more of her songs being recommended in the future.
Thanks,
Arden
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