Sing on an indispensable minimum of breath; the least amount of air you can use, but no less.”

- Edgar F. Herbert-Caesari, Author of Voice of the Mind

Breath Pressure

While it is true that efficient breathing is important to a balanced vocal production, too much breath support can vastly overpower and threaten the balance of the vital and delicate mechanisms of the vocal folds, the glottis, and the larynx. Because it is the only part of the vocal system we can easily watch, it’s importance to singing is often overestimated. Too much breath pressure at the glottis (area of the vocal folds) is very dangerous and can lead to:

• Hyperaemia (increase of blood flow)
• Edema (increase of interstitial fluid in any organ, or swelling)
• Nodules (mass of tissue that grows on the vocal folds)
• Varicosis (presence of vericose veins)

Singing requires more than breath support. It requires a BALANCE of air, efficient vocal cord closure, and a stablized larynx.

Health and Diet

Anything that can affect your health, skin, or your mood can affect your singing as well. The good news is that you can manage those things easily enough if you know the following guidelines.

Nerves

Most performers become nervous before a show. Allow yourself to be nervous and use that nervousness as an energy boost on stage. After having performed literally thousands of shows, many veteran performers still however get nervous before they go on. You are in good company there. However, nerves are not the same thing as stress. If you become stressed, make sure you have a routine – physical, emotional or otherwise – to get you into a healthy place where you can sing. Sometimes the act of singing itself will make most of the stress fall away. Never forget that getting on that stage is supposed to be fun for you and for the audience watching you. Allow yourself to have fun up there – that’s the payoff.

Acid Reflux

This is a problem many people do not even know that they have. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid comes up into your esophagus and touches your vocal cords. This can damage the cords and surrounding tissue. Even a tiny amount of stomach acid burped up can cause you to have problems. Since the problem most often occurs while you sleep, avoiding meals before bedtime and foods that you do not digest properly are the best ways to prevent acid reflux.

Allergens

Most humans have a reaction to cow’s milk, so avoid dairy (meaning milk, cheeses, cream, and most chocolates), and be on the lookout for any allergies you might have that give you a runny nose or breathing problems. Allergic reactions can cover your vocal cords with a sticky mucus, giving your voice a muddy sound. It is not recommended that you sing while this going on, but if you must sing no real harm will come out of it if you do not push too hard. Antihistamines can dry you out too much, so if you are taking them you should mist, humidify, and yes, drink plenty of water too. Breathing through a warm wet towel will do a lot for you as an emergency fix, also inhaling steam from boiling water, or steam room.

Caffeine

Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, and cola, and should be avoided before a performance, as it dehydrates the tissues of the body. Go for water, or herbal tea instead.

Physique

Today’s artists are required to dance, act, and generally do a great deal of physical work while singing. The good news for SLS students is that once you master the technique, you will no longer have to “think” about the singing part. Singing will really take care of itself. So the real trick is to be in good enough shape to cope with everything else you need to do. An athlete’s resting heart is far lower than a non-athletic person’s; their breathing is also slower. By maintaining a physical fitness regimen you will also be more efficient and therefore less winded and stressed during performances.

Hormones

Hormonal changes during the “monthly cycle” may affect some women’s vocal cords. SLS will ensure that changes in the thickness of the cords due to hormonal fluctuations can be compensated for with correct technique.