HEALTHY TIPS FOR SINGERS

Healthy Tips forsingers As musicians, we have a variety of instruments that we use. For us to produce best results, every instrument needs to be take n .great care of. One of the most important instruments is the voice, which, if not maintained, is the most delicate. Here are some tips to take care of our voices. The Zimsimplified | MUSIC

1. What singers should not eat during performance period

- Here is a list of some of the foods that we enjoy much, but are not good for our voices. Milk, yoghurt, cheese, and other daily products - Milk and other dairy products produce phlegm (chikararwa in Shona) which ruins high pitched notes. Phlegm is quite irritating as you’ll always want to clear your throat here and there, thereby disturbing your good singing. Processed sugar

Caffeine Chocolate Fried foods Butter Ice water Soda Alcohol Spicy foods

2. What to eat and drink before singing

- The vocal cord should always be lubricated/moist to avoid numbness and vocal loss during singing. - As far as food is concerned, it is important to avoid singing with a completely empty stomach. However, it is also vital to avoid sing with a completely full stomach. When the stomach is full, it is difcult to take low breaths necessary for healthy singing. - Singing requires some energy, so you need to eat, but don’t over eat. - A singer’s meal before performance may consist the following among others: Beef Chicken Fresh sh Boiled eggs High quality vegetables like lettuce Bread Sadza (small portions) Rice Potatoes (especially boiled) Also drink as much of room temperature water as possible 100% Pine apple juice Honey Watery fruits (without acids)

NB: Avoid carbonated soft drinks like coke, Fanta, sprite, e.t.c

A singer’s best ‘friend’ is

Pine apple juice

- Pine apple juice is a natural anti amatory. If you feel dry or you’re coughing, one of the best ways to make you feel comfortable is consuming 100% pine apple juice. Since I personally started drinking it, my voice never runs dry even if I sing the whole day. It is really the best drink for a singer. You can as well eat the pine apple fruit as it is.

3. Causes of voice hoarseness

- Voice hoarseness is a condition whereby the voice sounds breathy, strained, rough or raspy. - Have you ever lost your voice? Our voices are created by vocal cords and singers should jealously take care of own voices. When we use our voices in an abusive manner, the vocal cords become swollen and inamed. Here are some of the causes of the things that cause a singer to lose their precious, God given instrument, the voice: Voice abuse or misuse; shouting and improper breath control when talking or singing. Flu and laryngitis (upper respiratory infection) - The u virus irritates the throat and leads to coughing. Coughing hits the vocal cords and causes them to swell. Acid reux (do not lie down or

sleep soon after eating a meal)

- Acid reux is when acids from the stomach come up to the throat and injure vocal cord linings. This may cause some small lumps in the throat leading to voice hoarseness. Allergies. - Some allergies cause running nose and phlegm as the human system will be trying to ght the allergic infection. Coughing and clearing the throat will then cause vocal loss. Vocal cord cancer. - This is a serious cause of vocal loss.

NB: This mainly affects those who consume alcohol and smoke

regularly. If you listen to the voice of a smoker and a drunkard, you’ll notice the difference.