What can be done when allergies affect your voice?
1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. An adult should try and hit the 1/2 gallon mark daily. That's 8 glasses of water a day! If you're not well hydrated, the membranes in the nasal passages won't be either, and you won't be able to "feel" the sound. As a result, you may push or strain to try and compensate. The result: A tired voice and an unfulfilled singer. By equipping your body with maximum hydration, it has the resources to lubricate, as well as flush our the unwanted impurities.
2. Steam away the thick mucus. Use a personal steamer, or my personal
favorite - a hot steamy shower, to help loosen up mucus and moisten nose, throat and lungs.
3. BUBBLE! That's right. Make the same lip-vibrating "bubble" sounds that babies make. They make it because it's natural. The lip-trill, or bubble resembles what a horse does with huge, flopping lips. First, do it with just air . . . then add sound. You can even "bubble" the melody of a song. The vibration will help lubricate the vocal folds. At the same time, it will literally loosen the "junk" (think mucosa) that prevents your voice from feeling alive and vibrant. If you're taking medications for allergies these tips are even more important. Most allergy medications have the side effect of drying out those areas that need to be moist and vibrant. If they're not moist, we tend to over-sing and push, thereby fatiguing the voice.
1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. An adult should try and hit the 1/2 gallon mark daily. That's 8 glasses of water a day! If you're not well hydrated, the membranes in the nasal passages won't be either, and you won't be able to "feel" the sound. As a result, you may push or strain to try and compensate. The result: A tired voice and an unfulfilled singer. By equipping your body with maximum hydration, it has the resources to lubricate, as well as flush our the unwanted impurities.
2. Steam away the thick mucus. Use a personal steamer, or my personal
favorite - a hot steamy shower, to help loosen up mucus and moisten nose, throat and lungs.
3. BUBBLE! That's right. Make the same lip-vibrating "bubble" sounds that babies make. They make it because it's natural. The lip-trill, or bubble resembles what a horse does with huge, flopping lips. First, do it with just air . . . then add sound. You can even "bubble" the melody of a song. The vibration will help lubricate the vocal folds. At the same time, it will literally loosen the "junk" (think mucosa) that prevents your voice from feeling alive and vibrant. If you're taking medications for allergies these tips are even more important. Most allergy medications have the side effect of drying out those areas that need to be moist and vibrant. If they're not moist, we tend to over-sing and push, thereby fatiguing the voice.
