Christmas Vocal Tool Kit

So Christmas is a few days away and worship leaders are gearing up for extra church services that always occur this time of the year.  My church has an extra 3 services PLUS 3 carol singing sessions. For many churches there can be DOUBLE that depending how big the church is. 

So I've been thinking about the best items I need to have to hand to get through the next 2 weeks.

The items need to be:
- handy and be able to fit in my pocket or handbag.
- accessible and does not need any technical expertise; simple to use and store

With these pre-requisites in mind these are the 7 items in my Christmas Vocal Toolkit
​

1 Pack of Vocal Zone

Vocal zone is designed specifically to relieve irritations due to excessive singing, speaking or smoking. It also soothes dry, irritated throats that often accompany a common cold. ​

You can buy a pack from your local pharmacy.

You can also look for alternatives such as  Entertainers Secret

​A Personal Steamer

This one cannot fit into my pocket but when I get home, its already sitting on the side in the kitchen. I just have to add the boiled water.  Very accessible.

The benefits of steaming are: 

1. Steam inhalation: Inhaling or breathing steam helps the voice box stay moist and can be very soothing to irritated vocal folds. Breathe the steam through your nose for three to five minutes, two or three times per day. You can try any of these methods:
2. Breathe shower steam.
3. Breathe steam from a personal steamer. You can buy these at many drugstores.
4. Run hot water into a sink or basin and inhale the steam. You can also boil water, pour it into a sink, and breathe the steam. Never breathe steam standing over a hot stove or boiling water.
5. Run a washcloth under hot water, wring it out, and hold it over your mouth and nose and breathe in. 

credit: Duke Voice Care Centre
​

A Warm Up Checklist

Having a warm up check list can help to remind you to prepare the voice before singing.

Create a list of the exercises that work best to quickly warm up your voice.

It could look something like this


             Exercise                   Time

             Neck Rolls                1 min
             Shoulder Rolls          1 min
             Jogging on the spot 2 min
             Humming                 2mins
             Sirens                       1 min
             Lip trill                      1 min
             Tongue Trill              30 secs
  

The above list is just an example. You can use any exercise
that works for warming up the body and voice as long as it
​does not put excessive strain on the voice box.  ​

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A Pack of Ear Plugs

Our mouths are in front of our faces and our ears and team members are to the side. 
The monitors are also in front of our ears, so there is a lot of excessive 'noise' when singing that can make it difficult to hear your own voice. 
A nice pair of ear plugs helps to cancel excessive 'noise' so you can hear your own voice clearly.

When you can hear you own voice, it reduces the need to shout which puts strain on the voice box.

Ear plugs discreetly fit into the ear so you can keep them in during rehearsals and worship service.

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A Couple of Straws

​Singing through a straw during rehearsals or warming up can help to stretch the vocal cords  and reduce inflammation if your voice is dry.

Singing through a straw also helps to create back pressure in the pharyngeal cavity helping the vocal cords to vibrate more  freely and relax larynx muscles.

Voice Scientist, Dr Ingo Titze developed the straw technique. Watch him demonstrate its use

Bottle of Water

​A handy bottle of water keeps you hydrated. Drink lots of water, preferably room temperature--as cold water tends to "freeze" the vocal cords, which will affect your ability to sing--with lemon in it, to cut through phlegm in your throat.
​Also you may want to try drinking hot tea with lemon or honey; this usually has the same effect.

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A Pack  of  Juicy Sweets

Yep, a nice packet of juicy sweets that make you salivate and smack your lips! Salivating is nature's water hose for your voice box. My favourites are Haribos or Starburst. But there are also, Fruitella, Love Hearts,Juicy Fruits, Sherbets and Lollypops. In fact any sweet that makes your mouth water is fine. 

Be sure to avoid anything that drys out the voice, like mints for instance, and do not eat whilst singing in case it flies down your throat!!

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What will you have in your vocal toolkit this Christmas?

Do you have a really good warm up routine or a favourite sweet?
What would you add or take away from the list?

Share your thoughts and comments below.


Have a great Christmas. (Remember Jesus is the reason we are celebrating)

To Your Vocal Success

​Dionne