1. Vocal Health

2. Instrumentalists can replace their instrument when damaged.

3. We only get one instrument so we must take care of it.

4. Your Vocal Folds
Men and women have different sized vocal folds. In men, they are usually the size of a nickel, while in women, they are usually the size of a dime.
Your vocal folds are located in the larynx, which is also known as your “adams apple”.
Your larynx moves up and down as you sing.

5. The Voice Your vocal folds are muscles
Men’s voices vibrate 100x/second
Women’s voices vibrate 200x/second
Singing voices can vibrate anywhere from 50x/second to 10,000x/second
The folds would only make a buzzing sound if your head wasn’t attached on top of them

6. Hydration
Your vocal folds need moisture to vibrate just like a car needs oil to run
Wet mucous should be clear thin and watery
Thick yellow mucous is a sign of trouble
Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day

7. If your voice is worse at the end of the day
You could have a technique problem

8. Technique Problems
Yelling – This can really damage your chords.

9. Poor Speaking Technique
You must balance the air from your diaphragm and the usage of the vocal fold muscle
Use air to power the voice, not muscle, you will wear out your voice if you use all muscle

10. Clearing the throat too much
You can get a Granuloma from constantly clearing your throat
Nodules or cysts can be caused from hitting the chords together too hard too often in the same way

11. If your voice is worse at the beginning of the day
You could have a medical problem

12. Smoking
Tumors are white patches all over the vocal folds usually caused from smoking
You will not sing again if you get a tumor

13. Acid Reflux
This is brought on by soda, acidic foods, caffeine, chocolate, tomato, spicy foods and sleeping right after you eat
Can irritate the chords and strip them of the healthy mucous they need to vibrate properly

14. Bleeds
Chords can swell up with blood when you are sick and if you hurt or abuse the folds they can bruise and bleed
If you continuously burst the blood vessels when you are sick they can scar
Scar tissue never really goes away

15. Should I sing if I am Sick?
If your speaking voice is clear then it is fine to sing
However you might not want to sing in the extremes (highest, lowest, loudest, softest)
If you are hoarse you should not sing or talk

16. What can happen if I sing sick
You risk injury because the blood vessels are swollen
It can lead to vocal fold hemorrhages or scarring
It can also lead to nodules, polyps or cysts

17. What to do if you are sick
Increase rest and hydration
Use mucous thinning medicine (Mucinex)
Avoid Antihistamines
Be careful with decongestants
Do a nasal saline rinse (neti pot)
Limit vocal use: Talking, yelling, phone use
Don’t sing if you are hoarse

18. Types of Injury
Vocal Nodes: spots similar to callouses on the membrane of the vocal folds.
Vocal Polyp: a blister that has formed on the vocal folds.
Vocal Hemorrhage: A burst blood vessel on the vocal folds.
Vocal Edema: swelling of the vocal folds caused by fluid, most often occurring in smokers.
Vocal Fatigue: caused by overuse of the vocal chords.

19. What if I have injured myself
Ear Nose Throat (ENT’s) Doctors can use a stroboscope to view your throat and folds
Complete vocal rest may be prescribed, steroids or surgery may be necessary
SING UPMC Voice Center
Voiceproblem.org
Voicehelp.org
Entnet.org

20. What else can I do to take care of myself
Use good technique to sing and talk
Don’t yell
Get lots of rest
Eat a balanced diet
Drink lots of non caffeine beverages (8 glasses of water a day)
The voice is very resilient don’t stress about a small illness but do take care of it

21. It’s the only instrument we have!