04.20.08
Avoiding “Morning After” Voice
“I recently went to a rock concert and woke up with a scratchy voice. Are there any tricks of the trade to help avoid this? - Chris R.
Chris,
To avoid “morning after” voice - or that scratchy, hoarse throwback from a long, loud night - there are steps you can take before, during, and after the vocal strain is going to happen.
Before: If you know you’re going to have a long, loud night, make sure that you hydrate that day. Also, take it easy on dehydrating agents such as caffeine, overly salty foods, and alcohol.
During: Of course, there’s a good chance you may be drinking alcohol throughout a long evening, so make sure you’re keeping up on your water as well. Also, during the event be aware of how loudly you’re speaking, singing, or cheering. Loud venues bring out The Lombard Effect, or an unconscious increase of vocal volume to compete with surrounding noise (this is also why people listening to music with headphones on, tend to yell when they talk.) The best thing to do is to enjoy the evening with no yelling or screaming. But we all know that a really great concert can make us scream ourselves silly, despite our best vocal intentions. So, if you must be loud, keep your breath supported and don’t max out your voice - keep it at 80% volume or less.
After: If you still find your voice scratchy the next morning, drink plenty of water, opt for herbal tea instead of coffee (caffeine dehydrates, remember), and take a hot shower and breathe deeply in the steam. Also, while you’re in the steam, do about 10 minutes of gentle humming through your range to warm up your voice. You should be sounding better after this, but if you’re still hoarse and breathy it means your vocal cords are probably swollen and you should really avoid singing, speaking or whispering for a few hours. In the meantime, keep that water and hot, herbal tea within reach - hydration and vocal rest (and a nap if you can get it) are your best bet for feel better soon.
Best of luck at the next concert, Chris!
~ Rebeqa
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