Singing Instruction - How Does Acid Reflex Affect Our Singing?
Our vocal cords are located in the middle of the throat
, accessible from above through the mouth and nose, and from below, through the digestive tract from the stomach.
We all understand that what we breathe in can irritate the cords in many ways.
Breathing in very cold air causes the cords to tighten and cause problems. Breathing in very warm air loosens them and causes problems. Breathing in dry or humid air affects the cords, and breathing contaminants can be a singer's nightmare. Air-bound pollen, etc can cause allergies. You get the idea. What we breathe in affects the vocal cords in many negative ways.
The vocal cords can also be greatly affected by swollen and dripping glands.
So vocal problems can be caused from above by what we breathe and the health of nearby glands. But what about problems caused from below the cords?
Well, when we are severely overweight, or after a big meal our breathing is affected, which causes the cords to malfunction due to lack of sufficient fuel (air).
And a big problem coming up from below the cords is acid reflux. This problem, often called "heartburn" is caused when stomach acid seeps back up into the esophagus after reaching the stomach. This stuff is very powerful and dangerous anyplace other than in the stomach. When this backup occurs one of the first places it hits is the vocal cords, causing swelling, hoarseness and singing malfunction.
So, when you are experiencing "heartburn" take care of it quickly. It's not only painful, but dangerous to your singing.
More Singing Tips - How to Add Rasp or Growl to your Voice Without Damage
Most of us who sing rock, pop, country or blues use rasp or growl in songs. But is this damaging to the vocal cords, and if so, how do we minimize the damage?
Let's get this out of the way right now...rasp or growl can damage the vocal cords, even to the point of requiring surgery. In order to make a raspy sound, the cords have to change the way they function to cope with friction and forced air pressure.
Does this mean you should never use growl or rasp? No. But understand that a little of this goes a long way. In fact, overusing rasp, screaming or growling reduces their emotional power because the listener gets used to them. Put some in occasionally and the effect is much stronger.
"But" (I hear you say) "What about Bob Dylan, Janice Joplin and Louis Armstrong. They are known for their rough raspy sound, and they never had problems." O yes they did. Vocal damage affected all of their voices throughout their careers. You simply cannot continuously push raspy sound through your vocal cords without damaging them.
1. Always warm up before singing. If you don't have a private teacher there are many recorded warmups available for download, including mine. Do not use songs as your warmup. Daily use of the warmup will go a long way toward easing vocal damage.
2. Pick the places in songs where you want the rasp, where it will be the most effective. Use it sparingly. You don't need to stop using it or be afraid of it. Just be smart.
3. Drink a lot of water during the day. This will produce lubrication for the vocal cords to function both in normal singing and in singing rasp. Understand that the water you drink during a performance or rehearsal will keep your throat more relaxed and comfortable, but does nothing for the vocal cords (anything we swallow never goes to the vocal cords. If it did, we would choke). You need to be hydrating hours before a performance
by: Gen Wright
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