Things to Avoid when You’re Going Through Vocal Training
Are you currently taking up singing lessons? If you are, then for sure you are also being compelled to undergo rigid discipline. This is because if you are truly aspiring to become a singer, you not only strive to learn how to do it right; you also have to be conscious when it comes to taking care of your voice.
There are actually a lot of things to avoid when you are going through vocal training, and many of these you are not conscious of doing. And in case you are looking for a checklist to improve your singing discipline, then here are the most important pointers to keep in mind:
- No to sweets.
Sorry, but sugar is highly detrimental to your singing voice, as it contains a lot of bacteria that affect the vocal chords. Sweets such as chocolates, candy, cake, and ice cream easily irritate the vocal chords because of their sugar content, causing you to croak or feel an itchy throat in the middle of your song.
This can be a very difficult commitment, but you may want to stick to this regimen while undergoing singing training, just so to keep your voice at its best shape.
- No to cold water.
Yes, cold water is very soothing especially when you have become thirsty after a long day of practice. However, the chilly effect of cold water when it runs through your system puts a toll on your tonsils, windpipe, esophagus, and vocal chords. Cold water also weakens the ability of the vocal chords to produce the right sounds, and in turn may produce a crooked or raspy and out of tune voice.
Long term drinking of cold water while singing also contributes to losing your voice altogether, and this is the last thing you’d want to happen especially when you are striving to sing professionally.
- No to smoking.
Another major no-no when undergoing vocal training is smoking. Smoking is also full of bacteria and unwanted chemicals that affect your voice and breathing in a negative way. If you may notice, a lot of previously famous singers who are also known smokers are no longer able to sing the same way they did, and this is because of the tar and nicotine that have damaged their vocal chops.
You may also want to steer away from secondhand smoke, not only because it is more dangerous, but also because inhaling it also affects your normal breathing and vocal health.
- Over practice.
Over practice is also a big no-no, but yes, you may say you just can’t help it. It is common for aspiring singers to overdo their rehearsals to achieve perfection, but you should keep in mind that your body needs to rest too.
You may be able to hit your notes perfectly during practice, but by overdoing it you may accomplish the same quality once you are on stage, so it is just right to give things a rest.
- No to self-inflicted jitters.
By self-inflicted jitters we mean making yourself worried. If you are undergoing vocal training for an upcoming event, it is best to keep thinking about the fun and positive aspects of the whole journey, and not about making mistakes once you’re in front of an audience. Always carry an optimistic attitude, and of course, stay away from people or things that only make you feel restless or anxious. Without proper confidence, you won’t be able to sing properly even if you’ve already completed your training.
