Actors and singers always warm up their voice before going on stage. Take your lead from these professional voice users and prepare your voice – and yourself – for the working day.
A bit of extra snooze time in bed is very tempting, but is it really worth the resulting rushed start to the day? It’s said that the voice is an instrument dependent on its carrying case, i.e. your body. So give yourself time in your morning routine to prepare both for the day ahead.
Cats have got it right: a lazy yawn and stretch is a good way to start waking your body up. You don’t even have to get out of bed for that.
Add a big sigh or two on a breathy hoooo if you like.
Save the coffee or tea for later. A glass of water when you first get up flushes toxins through your kidneys, kick-starts your metabolism and lubricates your vocal folds. Warm is better than very cold.
Gentle humming in a warm steamy shower is the ideal way to clear away any mucus that has accumulated in your nasal passages and head sinuses overnight.
A free voice needs a relaxed body to operate from, so when your muscles are nicely warmed up from the shower do a few simple stretching exercises. Be sure to include some gentle shoulder and neck rolls: this area is very tension-prone as well as being important for the voice.
Your clothes should give you enough room for your abdomen to move in and out as you breathe. Anything tight round your waist will encourage you to breathe from your upper chest rather than the diaphragmatic breath you want.
Layers are the obvious answer to keeping comfortable if you will be in different spaces with varied temperatures.
While you’re getting ready, prepare your mouth and jaw muscles for the day’s work by yawning, chewing an imaginary toffee, and then saying some tongue twisters (see Section 1.6 for some suggestions).
Your voice performs less well when you’re tired, losing both power and tone colour. Some complex carbs with protein (e.g. porridge with nuts) should get you through the morning without resorting to a sugary snack. Your body will thank you if you take the time to enjoy your food and chew it well.
A good belly laugh exercises your abdominal muscles, which helps good diaphragmatic breathing. It also has many other health benefits, including reducing stress levels and releasing endorphins (the feel-good hormones): just what you need before you head out for work – and the ideal excuse to watch funny YouTube clips.
Adding even a few of these suggestions to your morning routine will help your voice and body cope with the day.
Actors and singers always warm up their voice before going on stage. Take your lead from these professional voice users and prepare your voice – and yourself – for the working day.
A bit of extra snooze time in bed is very tempting, but is it really worth the resulting rushed start to the day? It’s said that the voice is an instrument dependent on its carrying case, i.e. your body. So give yourself time in your morning routine to prepare both for the day ahead.
Cats have got it right: a lazy yawn and stretch is a good way to start waking your body up. You don’t even have to get out of bed for that.
Add a big sigh or two on a breathy hoooo if you like.
Save the coffee or tea for later. A glass of water when you first get up flushes toxins through your kidneys, kick-starts your metabolism and lubricates your vocal folds. Warm is better than very cold.
Gentle humming in a warm steamy shower is the ideal way to clear away any mucus that has accumulated in your nasal passages and head sinuses overnight.
A free voice needs a relaxed body to operate from, so when your muscles are nicely warmed up from the shower do a few simple stretching exercises. Be sure to include some gentle shoulder and neck rolls: this area is very tension-prone as well as being important for the voice.
Your clothes should give you enough room for your abdomen to move in and out as you breathe. Anything tight round your waist will encourage you to breathe from your upper chest rather than the diaphragmatic breath you want.
Layers are the obvious answer to keeping comfortable if you will be in different spaces with varied temperatures.
While you’re getting ready, prepare your mouth and jaw muscles for the day’s work by yawning, chewing an imaginary toffee, and then saying some tongue twisters (see Section 1.6 for some suggestions).
Your voice performs less well when you’re tired, losing both power and tone colour. Some complex carbs with protein (e.g. porridge with nuts) should get you through the morning without resorting to a sugary snack. Your body will thank you if you take the time to enjoy your food and chew it well.
A good belly laugh exercises your abdominal muscles, which helps good diaphragmatic breathing. It also has many other health benefits, including reducing stress levels and releasing endorphins (the feel-good hormones): just what you need before you head out for work – and the ideal excuse to watch funny YouTube clips.
Adding even a few of these suggestions to your morning routine will help your voice and body cope with the day.
