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A Treatment For Laryngitis That Relies On Your Own Wisdom
Plus 5 Highly Recommended Vocal Exercises...
Seeking a treatment for laryngitis that you can control as a singer?
The treatment involves both:
1. prevention and
2. taking special care with what you do when you are recovering from a throat condition.
CHOOSE TO BE QUIET
The prevention aspect is where your wisdom comes in. This part is under your control: When you have a very tired voice, stop using it! Speak only when necessary. Give yourself some real rest.
How long? if your voice is just tired.... then a couple of hours of quiet time may help. If you DO have laryngitis - then it may take a couple of days (or more) for your throat to begin to feel better. Don't sing if it hurts. Don't sing again until you can speak easily. If laryngitis lasts for more than a week, see your doctor.
CHOOSE SEVERAL TOOLS
This is the important first step in recovery. If you continue to speak and sing when your voice is over-tired, you may begin to develop vocal habits that are detrimental to your singing.
One of my singing teachers told to me "Never sing when you have a cold - unless you absolutely must. Your ear and throat will remember how you had to use those muscles differently in order to produce tone. And you will have to work hard to unlearn those bad habits."
So:
#1 - SHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (be quiet)
#2 - Develop several exercises that you can turn to when you are feeling tired or strained. See a list of 5 highly recommended exercises!
#3 - if you think it is your way of singing that is tiring your voice, see a good voice teacher and learn how to sing without strain, as soon as possible.
A VOICE DOCTOR WHO ALSO KNOWS HOW TO SING!
Read what Dr. Titze (a fine singer & renowned vocologist) has to say about prevention and treatment for laryngitis:
"This involves properly hydrating your body with at least 64 ounces of water a day, using adequate support from your abdominal muscles when you speak or sing, and avoiding vocally abusive behaviors such as throat clearing, coughing, yelling...
And, when you have had a throat problem...
"Be careful when taking over-the-counter medications such as aspirin products (Aleve, Motrin, Advil, Aspirin, and Excedrin) as they are blood thinners and can put you at greater risk for sustaining a vocal fold hemorrhage (bleed)."
Read more about his expert suggestions to singers here (Plus his 5 Favorite Vocal Warm ups!): Avoid Vocal Strain! (preventive treatment for laryngitis) Here is a short video that gives you a quick and informal demonstration of my understanding of these exercises.
I recorded this clip in a noisy room, so the sound is a little uneven.
I do not know Dr. Titze, but I like his approach to healthy singing very much. I demonstrate his choice of exercises with gratitude to him.
Look here for more information about the famous messa di voce exercise.
Dr Titze's Favourite Vocal exercises from Barbara Lewis on Vimeo.
Be sure to check out the fuller explanation of the exercises.
May you learn to use your own wisdom as a treatment for laryngitis.
I wish you great, wise and trouble-free singing!
Back from treatment for laryngitis to Singing Tips With Barbara Lewis
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