How Not To Sing: Colds & Sore Throat

The average person in the USA faces two colds each year and I am pretty sure you had one too in the last months.

But how should a singer face this annoying condition? Your throat is sore, it seems like you have to cough all day long and anyhow – everything is mucilaginous.

You won’t like to hear that but the best way to deal with a sore throat or a cold is to prevent it from ever showing up. Below I will list some advise to strengthen your immune system and prepare for the next cold.

If you are already suffering from a cold don’t worry further below there are also some tips on how to deal with that.

How to save your voice? Here are five ways to prevent colds:

#1 Avoid excessive stress or anxiety

Both are bad vitamin killers and your immune system craves for that stuff! Learn how to become a cool singer and don’t be scared by challenges too much.

#2 Maintain a healthy diet

Not to mention the benefits for your overall health this will keep phlegm and colds away from your valuable throat. So what is a healthy diet? Fruits, vegetables and meat. Stay away from overprocessed food like fast food.

Not possible? Okay if you are giving a dozen performances each month then you maybe can’t choose where to eat all the time. But just try to eat healthy as often as you can!

#3 Exercise

Ok I know you don’t want to hear this. But you have to keep your body in shape to prevent illness and give your voice the background it needs. A sick body produces a sick sounding voice.

By the way you don’t have to go to the gym three times a week. What about a weekly basketball game with your friends? Or walking to the supermarket instead of driving?

#4 Stay warm

This should be obvious. If it’s cold wear socks and a sweater. After a hot gig don’t jump outside in the dark night with just a t-shirt and a mini-skirt. Be extra careful when you were sweating heavily. Also keep an eye onto your alcohol level: When you are drunk you won’t notice when it’s getting too cold. Also avoid air conditioner and ventilators.

#5 Sleep long enough

The life of a singer can be damn exciting but don’t forget to sleep at least six hours daily so your body can regenerate and your vocal folds have some time to rest.

But what if the cold has already hit you? Can you nevertheless sing? Yes – you can sing with a cold. But you have to prepare your vocal cords in the right way before you sing or you will hurt them.

Gargle with salt water and drink at least two liters of water to decrease the mucus in your throat.
Start your vocal warm up exercises with low volume humming. Don’t force your voice to work and take an extra long vocal warm up session before you start to sing.
Avoid dairy products like milk or yoghurt because they can produce extra mucus. If you are sick mucus is your number one enemy! There is only one exception to this rule:
Before you go to sleep drink a glass of warm milk with honey and garlic. Tastes terrible but it helps.
Sleep as much as possible. Without enough sleep your body can’t recover and you will be longer sick than necessary. Aim to at least nine hours of sleep even skip rehearsals if possible to take extra naps.
Right before a performance try to use a throat opening gel. I have no experience with them but you can easily aquire them in a drugstore and maybe they help.
Eat something small and healthy before you perform. That will coat your sore throat and give your body some much needed vitamins.

Okay now you are prepared to face the next flu season so keep going I want to hear your voice!