“The vocal folds need to be lubricated with a thin layer of mucus in order to vibrate efficiently. The best lubrication can be achieved by drinking plenty of water.”
-Texas Voice Center
The Musician’s Way, p. 270
The human voice is perhaps the most sublime of instruments, capable of heart-wrenching music and world-changing speech.
Yet its power is generated from the most delicate of tissues: the vocal folds in the larynx.
Professional singers are attuned to this interplay of grandeur and vulnerability, so they acquire keen voice-care skills.
Student musicians, though, may not realize the many ways in which their habits can support or undermine vocal health.
Moreover, singers aren’t the only ones who benefit from voice care know-how. All of us have much to gain, especially people such as rappers and music educators for whom speaking is central to their work.
Hydration and Vocal Health
According to the website of the Texas Voice Center, “The vocal folds need to be lubricated with a thin layer of mucus in order to vibrate efficiently. The best lubrication can be achieved by drinking plenty of water.”
Bear in mind that, when we drink water, the throat is moistened, but the liquid doesn’t contact the vocal folds. If it did, we’d gag.
The water we drink has to be processed by the digestive system for that lubricating mucus to be produced.
If we become even minimally dehydrated – and by the time we register thirst, dehydration has begun – the mucus is likely to thicken and lead to inferior sound.
When dehydration worsens, vigorous vocal use can irritate the folds and bring on injury.
“The human voice is perhaps the most sublime of instruments, capable of heart-wrenching music and world-changing speech.”
Here, then, are 3 ways to ensure that we drink ample water.
Three Ways to Ensure Ample Water Intake
1. Keep Water Handy
A basic strategy is to have a container of noncarbonated water handy and steadily sip so that our daily water intake totals about 2 liters (64 ounces).
Of course, we also consume water via the likes of soups, juices, fruit, and herbal teas, so we may not need to swig two liters of water daily owing to alternative sources in our diets.
Regardless, we should drink extra water in sweltering conditions, if we’re highly active, at the onset of a cold, and in arid environments such as we find on commercial jets.
Note that individuals with health conditions, such as impaired kidney function, should consult their physicians regarding how much they should drink.
2. Restrict Caffeinated, Carbonated, and Alcoholic Beverages
Caffeinated and alcoholic drinks draw water from our bodies, so we should partake of them in moderation, or abstain, and increase hydration in step.
We might drink an extra cup of water for every cup of coffee, let’s say, or dilute regular coffee with decaf.
We should additionally limit our intake of high-acid soft drinks. Not only are many soft drinks spiked with caffeine but also the phosphoric acid in some of them is corrosive enough to dissolve an iron nail. Besides, consuming carbonated beverages can contribute to acid reflux.
“Consuming carbonated beverages can contribute to acid reflux.”
3. Watch Out for Two Signs of Dehydration
Every voice user should be on the alert for two signs of dehydration:
- First, if we often need to clear our throat, it may be due to mucus thickening from dehydration. If boosting water intake doesn’t help, singers should see a laryngologist (a physician who specializes in voice care).
- Second, dark-colored urine may signal dehydration. Health experts advise that our urine should be pale yellow or colorless, with the possible exception of when we rise in the morning or because of coloration from vitamins.
See Part III of The Musician’s Way for detailed guidelines to maintain vocal health and prevent music-related injuries – must-know information for both vocalists and instrumentalists is included.
Related posts:
5 Causes of Musicians’ Injuries
10 Warning Signs of Vocal Trouble
The 12 Habits of Healthy Musicians
Heeding the Signs of Injury
Safely Increasing Practice Time
© 2018 Gerald Klickstein
Adapted from The Musician’s Way, pages 268-271.
Photo (cc) by Sylviarita via Pixabay.com