Every car comes with an owner’s manual which instructs
you to pull over immediately if the oil light on the dash illuminates. A better idea, if
you’re in the habit of waiting until the trouble light comes on before taking care of
your engine, would be to put a "for sale" sign on the vehicle. Allowing a car to
run without enough lubrication is a sure recipe for trouble down the road. The same is
true for singers who don’t keep themselves hydrated. Without adequate protection, the
activity of singing causes the membranes in the larynx to swell. The problem is friction.
The body has a natural solution, however, if we would only follow the owner’s manual
for our bodies.
Keeping yourself hydrated is an all-day affair. Often, we
wait until we’re thirsty to reach for a drink. This is too late for singers --
especially once you’re on stage. It takes at least twenty minutes, on an empty
stomach, for water to cycle around your system and show up at the membranes where
it’s needed. Other beverages take longer because they must be digested. This means
drinks on stage don’t take effect until after the set. So why does it feel like a
quick swig of something between songs offers immediate relief? Two reasons: The first is
that there are receptors in the throat which signal the brain that fluids are on the way.
The second is the physical action of swallowing.
Contrary to belief, nothing we swallow touches the vocal
folds. All of the potions singers consume in an effort to wet their whistle are channeled
away from the larynx by the epiglottis and sent down the esophagus. It’s just as
well. Like the eye, the larynx should be awash in saline, not tea or honey. Even if your
drink seeps down to the vocal folds, the air stream created to sing promptly blow-dries
the area. If you are driving your voice hard, or are nervous, the muscles in the throat
tighten. The tension closes the saliva ducts designated for the larynx. Like blinking,
swallowing changes the muscles’ position for a second and allows the ducts to open
and relubricate -- that’s if you are hydrated in the first place.
Two thirds of your body weight is water. It would make
sense, then, to replace what’s lost with the same. A general rule is to consume 1Ú2 an
ounce of water for every pound of body weight per day. The water you eat counts, so if
you’re not fond of drinking the stuff, load up on high-water content foods like raw
fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, beer, coffee and sodas don’t count. Even though
each contains mostly water, their ingredients trigger the body to flush itself, leaving
you with less water than before. Certain foods will also drain your internal water supply.
Since digestion is the number one priority of the body, when we fill up on low-water foods
like breads, crackers, chips, cheese and prepared meats and potatoes, the throat and
larynx are robbed of hydration to make up the deficit. Basically, if you have to have
something to drink with a meal, the foods you are eating are too concentrated. A good
routine would be to hydrate well before a meal so you won’t feel the need to dilute
your digestive process. I know this goes against the ever-so-common practice of eating and
drinking at the same time, but that tradition was not put in place so we would sing
better.
Athletes hydrate well before a game so their muscles
don’t cramp; singers should do the same. Maintaining a lubricated larynx means
you’ll be able to swallow during a song without sucking on a water bottle. Remember,
rehearsals are no easier on your instrument than gigs, so get into the habit of staying
hydrated. If your budget is tight, there’s nothing wrong with tap water. It’s a
good idea to filter it, though, to remove the chlorine. It’s best to drink water at
room temperature to avoid tensing throat muscles. No matter what style music you sing, you
will notice a significant improvement in your vocal longevity once you get yourself up to
specs. A good measure of a proper water level is clear urine. Since there is no light on
our bodies to warn us when we’re running low, let the following statement be your
mantra, "Don’t wait -- to hydrate"
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