Another one from me

[willis35]

This one is to all of the singers...what is the best way to sing without losing your voice?  I know this sounds funny, but it's serious.  I'm in both praise team and choir and i have lost my voice more than once.  it comes back usually the next day but also with these sinus problems and colds that i have been having, i'll either lose my voice or it won't be as strong as before.  in fact, it seems to me that my voice has changed from high soprano to alto (i do alto for praise team and then soprano in the choir).  i just want to know if any one has any suggestions for maybe breath control, increasing the quality in my voice, ect.... thanks. :wink:

[BBoy]

Rest your voice sometimes. Take a day off from singing and drink some warm tea (NOT hot, but rather WARM TEA) with LOTS of lemon . . . not the pre-juiced kind, but squeeze your own lemon into your tea . . . and don't let people wear your voice out. Spend some quiet time reading, listening to music, and humming the melodies to the songs.

Rest that voice . . . it's your God-given instrument.

I hear . . . not sure if this is true or not, but I HEAR . . that some singers lay off of the dairy products . . . cut back a bit on the cheese, milk, etc . . . because it congests your chords and results in more flem in your throat. Actually, I must admit it does seem to result in a lower range for a while after drinking milk. Don't know if that's my imagination, though.  :wink:

But yes, PLEASE take some time to rest that voice. We need to hear it, and it needs to be well.  

Be Blessed . . . :lol:
 
BBoy  

[Dooley]

Im not necessarily a singer, but breath control is almost the best way to go.  If you take correct breaths before the next like you sing, your voice will not only be stronger for that part, but after the night is over, you will still have your voice.  Also, since you are singing in a choir, try to blend your voice with everyone elses so that you arent carrying the section.  So make sure you arent too loud, but not too quiet.  People often lose their voice because they are carrying a section, rather than blending with everyone else.  
Also, warm up in the car or before you sing, before rehearsal, and before sunday morning, or whenever else you have to sing.  So, try something like 1,2 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1   You go up the scales through 9, and then back down.  So if you play piano, in C its C D E F G A B C D C B A G F E D C.  And modulate up...you dont have to start at C. I would start at B or something.  So that will help your voice warm up properly, and even help increase your range.  
Hope that helped

[Dooley]

In my previous post, That should say before the next "LINE" you sing, not "LIKE"

[jayjay]

I just want to support what the others said.  Rest, Diet and Water is the key.  Also certain medications can affect you voice.  Stay away from dairy and caffiene before singing.  Do warm up exercises for voice, it's a muscle, so treat it like one.  Let the voice warm up and stretch before putting it to full use.  Also consider some formal voice lessons it won't hurt.  The water aspect can't be understated.  You must keep those vocal folds(not chords) hydrated.  Keep a couple bottles of water with you and use before, during and after singing.  Cough drops with menthol and eucalyptus are not a great idea, also peppermint is not that good to sing on either.  Lemon has atringent properties to it so it can tighten the vocal folds, so be careful with that too.  Lemon and peppermint is good to help calm nerves and give a sense of comfort after your singing, but again be careful.  Something that we don't always talk about in gospel and that is making sure that you sing in your range and with comfort and ease.  We admire and want to sing like those singers who can tear a church down with vocal gymnastics and growling, but if we are the average singer we have to know our limits.  The voice was meant to last a life time and if you are losing it frequently then that is a sign that you are doing something incorrectly.  stay focused and blest

[JoyCH]

Just four years ago I found out I had allergies. What you are saying about your sinus and cold problem (especially with change in seasons - ex: spring into summer) sounds like an sinus infection. I would see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist if it doesn't go away after you have tried the others techniques.

Joy

[willis35]

I just want to thank everyone with their replys to this topic...I'll try them out and see what happens!   If anyone else has any more suggestions though, pls feel free to comment.  I also wanted to know: Is it possible for your voice range to change after a while?   :?:  I mean I'm young (18 yrs old)  but it seems that my voice range is starting to shorten and get deeper.  Let me know what you guys think about this.  But again, I say thanks.