Ssh! No Talking!

Wanna know how to get hoarse in a hurry?
Talk. Especially among a group of people. Like at a potluck, or in a gym, or on a bus. I was reminded of this vocal health hazard last weekend as my son's homeschool choir went on tour. Seven concerts was vocally taxing enough, but couple that with the forty-one teens (and around ten chaperones) on the bus all trying to be heard at once, and you've got some major vocal abuse to report.

The remedy? Do you keep shushing these lively youngsters (and their chaperones)? May as well shush the 4a.m. avian crowd these days.

I recall times when I was a guest soloist for a church function (at which in Wisconsin at least it goes without saying that there'll be home-cooked food served) (which is another subject all to itself concerning vocal health!) and the bottom dropped right out of my voice by the time I was to sing, and all because of friendly conversation--trying to be heard over the other voices in the room. And I had arrived in great vocal shape. If you're struggling vocally to begin with, it's even worse.

Back to trying to shush your bunch: not a viable solution. If you find yourself or your choir in a situation where you'll be in a talking group of people before singing, try these things:

1. Warm up your voice in the morning before speaking. This will also raise your awareness level so you're less likely to misuse your voice.

2. If you're part of a choir, try to gather them together for warmups before turning them loose as a group.

3. If you're responsible just for yourself, simply being aware of the dangers can help you not to join loud potluck conversations, to limit how much you speak, and to smile and nod a good deal more. Try keeping your mouth full of food.

4. Remind your choir (or yourself) to support the speaking voice in the same way the singing voice should be supported.

4 1/2. Please stay away from lemon juice! That's an old wives' tale not based on good sense. It's caustic on the throat and gives an unpleasant pucker to the face to boot. Try water. Not iced.

5. If the group members are attending Saturday night hockey games, are football players, or cheerleaders, you're on your own. The only remedy I know of for those things is a cancelled game.