The Young Americans College

of the Performing Arts

September 2012
Vocal health: the internal and external factors that
contribute to healthy functionality and longevity
of use of ones vocal apparatus.
Observing the following guidelines for a healthy
voice will create the capacity for quality of sound,
tissue and time using ones instrument.
Choosing alternate paths will often determine that
the individual will suffer with pain, loss of quality,
hoarseness, illness and possible pathology.
 Aerial
View
 Internal
View
** Hint to remember term: ** Hint to remember term:
Abducted: b for breathe Adducted: d for dialogue
 Video Stroboscopy of the Vocal Cords
(Dr. Christopher Chang)

Opera Singer videoendoscopy

(Shirley Ocampos, Soprano)
 Stay hydrated!!!
Use airflow efficiently
Get adequate sleep
Exercise regularly
Eat a balanced diet, including vegetables, fruits and whole grains
Use the pitch level in your speaking voice in the same range as when
you say, Ummm-hmm?
Avoid throat clearing and coughing
Avoid hard vocal attacks on initial vowel words
Relax your neck, shoulders and jaw while singing or speaking
Engage in frequent and thorough VOCAL WARMUPS
 Video Clip

Steven Tyler endoscopy and demonstration

 Smog/Air Quality
Weather
Room size/Conditions
Smoking
Drugging/Alcohol
Diet
Vocal Training
 Smog/Air Room Size/
Weather Conditions
Quality

Wind-born pollens Dry strips the throat Large rooms

(allergens) of moisture Dust-filled
Car exhaust fumes Cold muscles need to Temperature
Back/Onstage particles be warmed for Acoustically too flat or
(dust, mold, dry air, paint optimum usage (When too live (Outdoor: few
fumes, poor ventilation) cold, we raise our
hard surfaces to contain
shoulders, tighten the neck
Aircraft environs (dry, sound waves. The voice
and jaw, pull back our
recycled germs) fades as it travels;
heads and fold arms across
Indoors: Multiple hard
our bodies. Difficult to
surfaces and high
vocalize healthfully in this
ceilings create an echo
position)
chamber)
Humidity optimum 40- Indoor pollution
50%
 Smoking
In addition to nicotine & tar,
smokers inhale over 4000 other
chemicals in cigarette smoke
Heat of the smoke in the throat
is dangerous
Damage of respiratory tract
tissue
Harsh, breathy voice and loss of
upper range clarity
Tightening of muscles
Compromises immune system
so smoker is more prone to
infection including flu and
pneumonia
Irritation of the trachea
(windpipe) and larynx (voice
box)
Reduced lung function and
breathlessness due to swelling
& narrowing of lung airways
and excess mucous in lung
passages
Impairment of lungs clearance
system, leading to buildup of
poisonous substances
Major cause of refractory vocal
nodules
Cancer of the mouth, throat,
lungs & esophagus
 Leukoplakia is a white
patch on the vocal fold. It
may be from any irritation
such as reflux or smoking.
Leukoplakia is most times
a pre-cursor to cancer.

Leukoplakia covers not

only the vocal cords, but
also the interarytenoid
area as well.
Smokers Throat - Polyps, Polyp removal

Smoker's Throat - Laryngeal Cancer

 Marijuana smoke causes even
more irritation to throat & trachea
than cigarette smoke; abrasive
particles impair vocal folds by
roughing them up
Side effects of mj: sleepiness,
inability to perform tasks requiring
concentration/coordination, dry
mouth/throat; memory/language
impairments; middle or high notes
in mixed voice harder to
coordinate
All drugs/alcohol cause excessive
dehydration
Alcohol works as diuretic &
depressant of central nervous
system
Red wine can cause stuffy feeling
due to histimines in grapes
Antihistimes & steroids: drying effect
Nasal decongestants: rebound effect
Contraceptive pills: Swelling effect
Local Anesthetics (e.g. Chloraseptic
throat spray): masks signs of injury
therefore encourages further abuse
of vocal folds (like playing piano with
gloves on!)
 Diet

High Fat foods Whole Grain foods

Foods with high acidity Fruits
Caffeine Non-acidic vegetables
Dairy Water, water, water
Soft drinks Garlic
Spicy foods Ginger root
Alcohol Licorice root

Deviating from the beneficial food list can result in acid reflux disease or
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder) which can in turn affect the singing voice.
The acid being refluxed burns the esophagus and vocal cords and creates scar tissue
therefore producing hoarseness especially in the mid-range of singing.
Late night eating is also responsible for this destructive condition.
 Vocal Training

Resonant voice Screaming

Proper space & Throat clearing/coughing
placement Whispering
Adequate warm-ups Hard vocal attacks
Relaxed posture jaw, Growling
neck, shoulders Excessive belting
Correct breathing Singing in extreme
techniques tessitura
Use confidential Hyperfunctional voice use
speaking voice
1. Garlic has healing properties for
better vocal production.
2. Tea and lemon provide relief and
healing for the vocal cords.
3. Smoking produces an aesthetically
pleasing jazzy sound.
4. Throat Massage damages vocal tissue
if performed too frequently.
5. There is a correct way to scream.
6. Licorice Root helps eliminate vocal
fatigue and coughing.
7. Throat Coat Tea is a must.
8. Papaya Enzyme Tablets aids in
digestion thus reducing swollen
membranes of the voice.
9. Cheese, yogurt and ice cream are
items you should ingest before a
vocal performance.
10. 7-9 hours of sleep nightly can
greatly improve your vocal
performance.
11. Stress affects every system in the
human body.
12. Cough Drops help the voice during
a cold or flu.
 Polyps, Nodules & Cystsoh my
Breath Support/Breathing Techniques
Physical Health
Mental Health
Discipline/Mental Commitment
Stress
 Polyp on left vocal fold with capillary in it seen
during stroboscopy while vibrating at a mid range
pitch. This photo is taken at maximum opening to
demonstrate the translucency of the polyp. It
compresses a little at this pitch.

Fungal infection from steroid inhaler. This is

most common in asthmatic patients
dependant on steroid inhalers.
Granulomas may form with a chronic cough. At left is
the view with breathing. At right is the view during
phonation. They are also caused by vocal trauma
such as speaking at too low a pitch.
Left: A bacterial infection of the larynx is very serious as the swelling can nearly close off the
airway in an adult and easily closes off the airway in a child. It is typically called epiglottitis or
supraglottitis. The danger lies in the softness of the tissue which can easily expand, particularly the
loose tissue of the arytenoids can be drawn in during inspiration. Here the arytenoids are very
swollen and limiting the opening of the vocal cords.
Right: After two days of antibiotics and some steroids, the swelling (and pain) has greatly
improved.
Left: This is the common winter cold. The vocal cords are pink and
swollen, the voice deep, the secretions thick.
Right: The vocal cords have returned to normal
These small vocal cord elevations or
nodules have a tiny capillary in the
one on the right. They impair the
singers voice on soft singing above
note G5 up through C6.

A muscle tension often develops

holding the cords slightly apart with
nodules. They must be held slightly
apart during vibrations or they will stop
This is the prephonation position just
vibrating because the nodules dampen
before blowing air through the vocal cords.
the cords when they touch.
Notice a gap in front of and behind the
central vocal elevations or nodules.
Diaphragmatic Use (properly supported)
Engage core muscles
Breathing exercise lying
Replicate exercise standing
Voice Teachers teaching professionals who work on vocal/singing technique
with use of exercises, vocalises & explanations of the physical singing apparatus
Otolaryngologists (ENT) A physician specializing in treatment and disorders of
the neck and head, especially the ears, nose & throat
Speech Therapists a licensed therapist who uses physical exercises to strengthen
the muscles used in speech (oral-motor work), speech drills to improve clarity, or
sound production practice to improve articulation.
Laryngologists A physician who studies and treats the larynx, the pharynx and
fauces
Gastroenterologists A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment
of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine,
large intestine, pancreas, liver, gallbladder and bilius system
 Home remedies Medical Intervention
needed for:
Steamer/Humidifiers
Nodules
Neti pot
Other growths
Herbal Treatments
Acid Reflux
Silver Bullet Throat
Bacterial Infection
Spray
Mental Health/Anxiety
Throat Coat Tea
Muscle tension
Garlic
 Physical Condition
Physical warm-ups
Injury
Optimistic vs. Pessimistic Thinking
Sleep!
Stress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 Ware, Clifton. Basics of Vocal Pedagogy. The McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc. 1998
Ostrom, Julie. University of Iowa, Voice Academy; Dept of Speech
Pathology and Audiology
www.thevoicedoctor.net
TheSingersResource.com
Boston Singers Resource
Deva, Jeannie. Article. Singer Universe
www.medterms.com (medical definitions)