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Do’s and Don’ts of Vocal Wellness |
Don’t: |
Do: |
| Don’t clear your throat or cough frequently. | Do substitute swallowing saliva or water. |
| Don’t yell, cheer or scream. | Do substitute clapping, whistling, ringing a bell, blowing a horn for yelling or cheering. |
| Don’t talk across long distances, especially outside. | Do adjust the environment to reduce the background noise. Wait until it is quiet. Face and get as near as possible to the people with whom you are speaking. Find non-vocal ways to get attention. |
| Don’t speak or lecture without using a microphone. | Do keep your voice relaxed and let the microphone amplify your voice. (Be sure to drink ample liquids before, during and after any speaking engagement.) |
| Don’t talk very much with laryngitis. | Do rest your voice like the rest of your body. Minimize talking, and speak softly and gently. |
| Don’t laugh or cry out loud aggressively for extended periods of time. | Do speak in a low-volume, easy and relaxed voice. Do be aware of the effect stress and emotion have on your voice. |
| Don’t yell or speak extensively during strenuous physical exercise. | Do be aware of the effects of physical exertion on your voice. |
| Don’t talk beyond the natural breath cycle. | Do breathe deeply from your diaphragm (the muscle below the lungs and that is responsible for breathing). Pause often, and replace breath as needed. |
| Don’t tense the upper body and throat to inhale. | Do relax neck and jaw muscles, breathing from the diaphragm (Your abdomen should expand more than your chest during breathing.) Think of breathing as filling your lungs with air instead of as actively sucking air into the lungs. |
| Don’t sing beyond comfortable pitch and loudness range. | Do allow registers to change as pitch rises and drops. |
| Don’t make unconventional sounds for prolonged periods. | If you must do this for acting performances, Do talk with a qualified teacher to learn techniques without vocal strain. |
| Don’t clench your teeth and hold your face tense. | Do allow the jaw to relax and "float" as you speak. |
| Don’t strain when talking. | Do pay attention to soreness or tightness in the throat. Do use a soft-voiced tone. |
| Do organize your day to include voice rest periods. Use an easy effortless voice and use yawns, sighs and hums to relax your voice. |