Get A Better Broadcast, Podcast and Voice-Over Voice

2023.03.11 – 0800 – The ‘Puh-Tuh-Kuh Puh-Tuh-Kuh’ Vocal Warm Up The Puh-Tuh-Kuh exercise·        Without pushing or forcing, sound “puh-tuh-kuh” individually, slowly at first, noticing how the different words are created in different places in your mouth and with different tongue movements, over enunciate with exaggerated lip, jaw, and tongue movements·        Repeat several times, gradually building up speed.·        Then switch from “puh-tuh-kuh” to the opposite “kuh-tuh-puh” and gradually speed up·        Repeat the process with the ‘voiced plosive’ sounds of “buh-duh-guh” and then “guh-duh-buh”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.03.10 – 0799 – A Trill-iantly Easy Lip Warm-Up  Lip trills These encourage you to relax your mouth and lips, easing the muscles associated with enunciating, warming them up and encourage a consistent air flow·        Close your mouth and teeth and relax your lips and cheeks·        Exhale to vibrate your lips until you use up all your breath (if this is tricky, put an index finger on each cheek at the end of each lip, and press lightly)·        Repeat with short bursts of ‘trills’, gliding from a low tone up to a higher one to make a sound similar to a child doing a car impression – or a braying horse on a rollercoaster ·        Repeat with more tense lips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.03.09 – 0798 – Giving Your Lips A Work-Pout LipsGive your lips a work-pout with these great exercises. Lip pouts ·        Make an exaggerated extended lip-purse as though moving in for a big kiss. Open and close the lips while in this position, like a fish (a ‘trout pout’?!)·        Then tuck them in, folding them against each other inside your mouth·        Add a big wide grin into the mix·        Work though these three movements (out, in, grin), but don’t clench your jaw or let your neck muscles become tight.·        Silently move between the vowel sounds ‘ooo’ and ‘eee’ as fast as you can using strong lip movements;·        Now, vocalise this exercise, sounding ‘ooo’ and ‘eee’·        Then silently and then vocally do the same exercise with ‘or’ and ‘ee’, then ‘oh’ and ‘ee’, all the while keeping clear, intentional articulation.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.03.08 – 0797 – The ‘Pucker Muscle’ and the ‘Smile Muscle’ The ‘Pucker Muscle’ and the ‘Smile Muscle’ The ‘pucker muscle’ that controls lip movement to shape sounds is the ‘orbicularis oris’ muscle. The’ zygomaticus major’ runs from your cheekbone to the corners of your mouth to help create smiles and other facial expressions, as well as sounds such as ‘eee’. (Fun fact: This muscle can contract with a force of 200 g.[1]) [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0268003309001521 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.03.07 – 0796 – Bits About Lips Bits About LipsLips are more than just the ‘lipstick bit’, their muscles extend into the cheeks and so affect (and are affected by) the whole of the face and expression. Holding tension in yur lips, or barely using them when speaking (some people rely on their tongue to do a lot of the hard articulatory work), can restrict your understandability, as how you hold your lips helps create word-sound groups. Stiff lips may be a result of the perceived danger of sharing:·        The ‘stiff upper lip’ – being afraid to show and share emotion in your face and mouth, from a wince of pain or a smile of pleasure, because of how you were brought up, that you shouldn’t show your feelings·        Mouth embarrassment – a worry of what others may think of stained or misaligned teeth, braces, gaps or fillings, a cold sore…·        Content concern – the worry you may have about what others may think about what you say, that you may be through stupid. You are literally holding back your voice, your thoughts, feeling, emotions and contributions. ·        Articulation and accent worries – maybe there’s an idea that your accent is in some way not good enough or your articulation not clear, so even though you want the world to your words, they struggle to fly-free because of how others may judge the voice you use to explain them.All this can lead to mumbling, stiff lips, a stiff jaw and a muffled sound, instead of the lips being used to their full capability as part of intentional articulation. Articulation? Yes because as we saw many episodes ago (Number 89), the lips are an integral part of saying consonants ‘p’, ‘b’ and ‘m’. Say the phrase “Peter’s many books” slowly and consider the initial letters and how the sounds are formed. Now say the phrase “very few westerns” and you’ll notice that the lips are also used to form, to a lesser extent, the initial letters ‘f’, ‘v’ and ‘w’. But it’s not just consonants. The lips help shape the sounds ‘oo’, ‘oh’ and  aw’, helping give more resonance and colour (“Oh! Awesome oozings!”) Along with articulation, animation also helps tell a story and draw in a listener. We have already seen how facial expressions help us express emotions vocally, and that includes the use of the lips and cheeks. So it’s important to keep them in working order! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.03.06 – 0795 - The ‘Mouth’s Mystery Muscle’ Tongue Root Tension and the ‘Mouth’s Mystery Muscle’  We all know about the tongue yeah? We can see it in our mouth, we know it is very sensitive to temperature, taste and texture (babies instinctively feel things with their tongue), and its complex fibres and nerves makes an extraordinary range of precise movements possible for speaking[1] (Episode 76 “Your Multi-Function Mouth Muscle” has the full list of the tongue’s eight great attributes). But hidden from view the less-sensitive part of the tongue connects into the larynx via the hyoid bone. A ‘tight tongue’ limits your range. If the underlying muscle is tight, the larynx can’t move as easily. The result of that is that then other muscles (the ‘wrong ones’) are used to move it instead, which means more effort to create the sound (and not the best sound either) which leads in turn to muscular and laryngeal strain and fatigue, and so causing more tightness. A tense-free tongue therefore has a hugely beneficial effect. [1] Or even tying a knot with a cherry stalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFqv-QOSDfg and https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/23/magazine/how-to-knot-a-cherry-stem-with-your-tongue.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.03.05 – 0794 – Blowing Raspberries Blowing Raspberries·        Relax your mouth, lips and cheeks and slightly stick out your tongue, resting it on your lower lip.·        Slowly exhale as you blow a raspberry, vibrating your tongue, lips and cheeks. (Beware of spittle!)·        Now gently vocalise that airflow creating a slow deep vibration·        Next, keeping a consistent, controlled airflow, move up and down the tonal scale.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 2023.03.04 – 0793 – The Right Way To Use Tongue Twisters As An Articulation Exercise Tongue TwistersOnce you have warmed up the tongue, you can try some tongue twisters to put it through its paces (if you try a tongue twister before you’ve warmed up the tongue and you’ll just end up tongue-tied and demoralised…) What do I like about a tongue-twister? It’s hard to say (!), but having said that, their name is a bit of misnomer because they not only help stretch and strengthen several of those tongue muscles, but also warm up your other ‘moveable articulators’, the lips and soft palate too. That aside, adding them to your routine can lead to better enunciation and expression which will help you master more complex reads. From scripts and everyday life, make a note of the words and phrases that trip you up most, then pick a twister that includes those sound combinations. Start slowly and make sure each phrase is clear and crisp, pronouncing each of the consonant and vowel sounds accurately. Then repeat the twister gradually increasing pace and exaggeration, starting again after any stumble. Aim for six twisters 60 minutes before a studio session, as well as more as part of your regular routine. An A-Z of Tongue Twisters can be found in episode 106… but these are made up word-forms that you’re unlikely to encounter in real life. That’s not to say they’re not useful tests, but don’t forget the more regular phrases that you may find yourself stumbling over (I remember “international coronavirus restrictions ”). Oh, and after you have tried a twister a few times, try it with a pencil in your mouth (or a chopstick or something similar). Hold it horizontally between your teeth, across your mouth pushing back your cheeks to just short of where they start to hurt. Then do the twister again a few times to help you concentrate on the words. Finally try the same phrase without the pencil to see how your speed, and diction accuracy has improved.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.03.03 – 0792 – The ‘Tongue Curl’ Vocal ExerciseCurled Tongue·        Put the tip of your tongue behind your lower front teeth, and arch the middle of your tongue so it touches the roof of your mouth. Repeat five times, like press-ups for the tongue!·        Now open your mouth and, with a relaxed jaw and the tip of your tongue still behind your lower front teeth, push the middle of your tongue forward towards your open mouth. Repeat five times, increasing speed each time.·        Now with the tongue lying on the floor of your mouth, curl the tip up and back along the roof of the mouth. Then after that front-roll and back roll, make a ‘taco tongue’ making it into a tube shape[1] ·        Next stick your tongue out either side of your mouth, darting to the left and then in and then stretching out to the right·        Then all the way forward towards your nose.[2] [1] Only about 80% of the population can make this shape: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180130-do-you-inherit-the-ability-to-roll-your-tongue [2] There are five specific tongue movements in a healthy population, including the ‘clover leaf’. This article lists them with pictures: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33040201/   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.03.02 – 0791 – A Drumroll For The TongueTongue Trills·        Relax your mouth and tongue and have your lips slightly apart. Purr like a cat (or like a drumroll), relaxing your tongue and letting its tip vibrate on the roof of your mouth just behind the upper teeth, as you breathe out. ·        Try this gently at first before you make the vibration faster and stronger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.03.01 – 0790 – The ‘Toothpaste Tongue’ Vocal ExerciseToothpaste Tongue·        Imagine there’s a blob of toothpaste on the tip of your tongue and give each tooth and individual clean with the tip of the tongue. ·        Keep the jaw as relaxed as possible as you run your tongue all around your mouth to ‘clean’ it: between lips and gums, behind teeth, along the roof and floor of your mouth, even counting your teeth with your tongue. ·        Keep going for 30 seconds.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.28 – 0789 – Getting a ‘Slug Tongue’ Slug TongueRelax the jaw, drop the tongue out of the mouth and count slowly out loud to 10. Then recite the ‘Happy Birthday’ song or something similar, keeping your tongue relaxed and floppy.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.27 – 0788 – Tongue Stretches Tongue Stretches·        Open and relax your mouth with your lips apart, then stick out your tongue as far as it will stretch. Hold it there for 30 seconds while breathing. Check you are not tightening your neck muscles (use a mirror or put a hand on your neck to feel for tension) ·        Stick your tongue out and slowly draw a square with the tip of your tongue. Try different shapes and try ‘writing’ your name. Do this 5 times, with increased speed each time·        Stretch the tip of your tongue to the tip of your nose and then relax it. Do this five times. Then stretch it down to touch your chin five times.·        Put your tongue back in and move it slowly as far as it will stretch in all directions in your mouth to explore all ‘four corners’ and all points in between: across the front of your top teeth to the depths of the bottom of the mouth.·        With your mouth closed, teeth and lips together, and a relaxed jaw, and the tongue inside the mouth (obviously!), rotate it to the right 8 times. Then to the left. Then repeat 7 times, 6 times, and so on until you’re down to one rotation right and one left.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.26 – 0787 – Tongue FunThe TongueYour tongue is a major articulator helping form sounds into recognisable words (as well as being used in swallowing and eating). It moves courtesy of eight muscles: four intrinsic muscles run along its length and change and the shape of the tongue (lengthening and shortening it, curling and uncurling its tip and edges as in tongue rolling, and flattening and rounding its surface), and four extrinsic muscles change its position (for protrusion, retraction, and side-to-side movement). The main articulator bends and shapes sounds to create understandable words, from complex car-deal criteria to mouthfuls of medical manuscripts so it’s important to be dextrous and strong.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.25 – 0786 – The Exaggeration Vocal Exercise Over EnunciationSilently say a phrase (“Get A Better Broadcast, Podcast and Voice Over Voice”) with really exaggerated mouth, lip and jaw movements. Repeat it, with really big, animated and exaggerated articulation. Now put the sound in and keep the performance. Finally, relax and speak the phrase normally with your usual face and you should feel more freedom, and ease of movement.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.24 – 0785 – Jaw MassageJaw Massage Let your jaw drop slightly and put the balls of your hands just under your cheekbones. Rub firmly into the hollows of your cheeks as you let the lower jaw drop into a more open position.Temple MassageWith the tips of your fingers, massage your temples as you open and close the jaw, circular movements in both directions. As you close your mouth you will feel a bulge of the associated muscles.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.23 – 0784 – The Toffee and Chipmunk Jaw ExercisesThe JawIf you experience a popping or clicking in their jaw, it’s a possible sign that you are tensing or clenching it too much. But of course, you need to be able to drop the jaw when you speak, to allow the tongue to move freely and the sound to come out. Some of the muscles that close the jaw fan out towards the temple and skull, the ones that open it are linked to the neck and larynx, so any tightness here can affect a large area.·        Relax your jaw and keep your lips closed. Let it hang loose for one minute.·        Then do each of these for a count of five:o  With your lips still closed, stretch your jaw as far open as you cano  Carefully move your lower jaw from left to right…o  … and then up and down.Now, open and relax your mouth with your lips apart, a ‘gormless’ look, and repeat the exercise.·        Chew big, slow and exaggerated, letting your mouth open as you do so, for 30 seconds[1]·        Then quick and small, chipmunk-style [1] Some people chew actual gum for a few minutes before a studio session to relax their jaw, although doing it for too long will make it ache.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.22 – 0783 – The ‘Silent Laugh’ Vocal Exercise  The Silent LaughImagine you’ve just been told a joke but you’re not allowed to laugh out loud, instead do so silently and gently inside your throat with no sound. If you find this tricky at first, laugh vocally, and sense what is happening inside your mouth and throat and replicate this, silently. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.21 – 0782 – The ‘Yawn Sigh’ Vocal Exercise   Throat The Yawn SighYawning opens and stretches muscles at the back of your throat.·        Stand up and inhale as you yawn, a full-bodied one, wide and deep. Get your whole body involved: open your mouth, keep your tongue relaxed and gently touching your lower teeth, soft palate raised, stretching and widening at the back of your throat, scrunch your face, stretch your arms over your face and really let it all go. Consciously feel your diaphragm as you breathe air into the very bottom of your lungs; a good stretch of your throat. Sigh your breath out as silently as you can.The Yawn Sigh – with soundThis work-out exercise will help increase your pitch range so you do not sound quite so flat.·        Repeat the Yawn-Sigh exercise, but this time make a gentle sound with your voice as you sigh, gliding down in pitch from high to low like a siren. Repeat 5 times.·        Keep the yawning ‘ahhh’ sound, but stop short of it starting to ‘gravel out’ as you run out of breath. Repeat this five times, each time projecting slightly more with the sound coming from your chest, not from your throat.The Closed YawnClose your lips and then yawn. Be conscious of the space and air contained in your mouth and throat. Repeat 5 times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.20 – 0781 – The Ubiquitous Panting Exercise PantingYour vocal folds make a tense and strained sound if they are closing too tightly over the airflow, but a pleasant and easy sound is made when the folds meet and vibrate, stimulated by air passing over them. In this exercise we’ll first work on ‘aspirant consonants’ which are produced with the vocal folds open and not vibrating at all.·        You can let more air through, by making a breathier sound such as ‘h’: panting like a dog or ‘her her her’ with lots of air and no ‘r’ sound. (Monitor your feelings so you don’t feel dizzy during this exercise.) ·        Now, a breathy ‘ahhh’ up the scales as a glide (it doesn’t matter if you are in tune!).  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.19 – 0780 – Tarzan and The Wake-Up Hum    Let’s start with the larynx. Larynx Your voice needs to start slow, so we’ll start by awakening the cords with humming, a great go-to for easing-in your instrument.The Wake-up HumBe sure that your jaw is loose and your teeth are separated to create more room for resonance. Humm from your throat and chest in your usual register. That is, not from your lips. SireningNow gradually move up a register. Don’t stop and reset, but glide up and then return to your ‘home’ tone. Then glide up further, and back down, and so on, through the pitch-range. Return to your usual register, and repeat the exercise going down in register. Do not force your voice to approach anything that starts to hurt.  Tarzan HummingTake a breath and, as you breathe out, gently beat your chest with your fists while letting out a single, long ‘ahhhh’ sigh-sound. Repeat with an ‘ooooh’ sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.18 – 0779 – Why Warm Up Your Voice?     Warming upThe intensity, speed and duration of any voice-over work can cause vocal fatigue. Not warming up will lead to a longer recovery time and possible ongoing injury. These exercises will improve your vocal flexibility and eliminate unnecessary levels of tension in your body and voice.  The Exercises These easy-to-learn exercises are ones that you can do at home, in the car, in the shower or in the toilet at work. Do them regularly to get the most out of them, not just on a ‘studio’ day. They are presented in the same order as ‘the voyage of your voice’, from larynx to lips, including the nasal cavity.Note that main breathing and skeletal exercises are later, although there may be elements of them combined with exercises here. We’ll do one or two exercises a day, that way you can go away and practice yourself for 24 hours before we move on to another one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.17 – 0778 – Vocal Exercise Advise    A quick health warning:·        Like at the gym, always do a warm-up before you do a work-out·        The first part of the warm-up (see below) should also include physical and mental work, which in this book you will find in separate chapters·        Pace yourself. Vocal exercises should be challenging in a similar way to going to the gym is challenging and when you stop you should feel better than when you began. You should not end up feeling sore.·        Before you try any new exercise, note how you feel and perform first. Then during the technique, monitor what’s happening, your feelings and your performance. And after (both immediately and after several days of this routine), gauge again what difference it is making to your sound and strength.·        These exercises are generic. They were not designed for you specifically. If you can’t make a certain sound, don’t worry!·        If you feel dizzy, something hurts or doesn’t feel right, stop and seek professional help Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.16 – 0777 – Vocal Work-Outs, Warm-Ups and Winding Down    %VOCAL WORK-OUTS, WARM-UPS AND WINDING DOWNA dance or sports person wouldn’t dream of performing without a warm-up, or suddenly stop at the end of a race without a cool-down regime. To do otherwise would risk temporary or permanent injury to their muscles and ligaments, and they would not be working to the best of their ability. You are a ‘vocal athlete’ and you too need training, warm-ups and proper rest to lead to greater vocal health, more stamina and less injury.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.15 – 0776 – Help! I’m Getting A Cold!    Help! I’m getting a cold! (Or blocked nose, sneezes and sniffles, itchy mouth, catarrh, sore throat, dry cough, headache, hoarseness and general feeling of being unwell… it’s all literally a pain in the neck.)During this period your voice will sound deeper, rougher and may almost disappear, because swollen vocal cords vibrate more slowly and unevenly. With a blocked nose, your sound will be nasally because of reduced resonance. And you will have less projection. Coughing will be slamming your vocal cords together at high speed. Prevention - Using anti-bac hand gel on hands and surfaces, and not sharing cups and cutlery and so on will help. As will being physically fit in the first place with a good diet and exercise regime.If you’re already infected:Keep your nose and throat warm and wetDrink plenty of water or hot drinks, and keep well hydrated to thin down mucus and wash away any inhaled irritants Use a water-only steamer to reduce swelling of the mucous membranesTurn off air-drying systems such as air con and air convection heating and keep the room humidBeware OTC meds: they are ok in an emergency but decongestants don’t last long; medicated lozenges literally don’t touch the problem (although can help produce helpful saliva)Some say gargling with salt water can helpCancel any immediate studio work and begin complete voice rest - Talking can delay recovery even longer, affecting vocal stamina and quality for several weeks or even months. Don’t whisper!Avoid irritants such as alcohol and smoking (including other people’s smoke)Sip water and inhale steam to rehydrate and flush out the bugsInstead of coughing (which irritates the throat even more) sip a drink or do a hard swallow Mental and physical rest – to give your body a chance to recoverEat plenty of fruit and vegetablesIn ‘recovery mode’, short periods of talking but stop if your voice feels hurt or tired and build in plenty of vocal rest. Do some gentle voice exercises with lots of air such as ‘woos’ and ‘yawns’ (see below for more warm-up exercises).Taking a couple of days to develop, it may be two weeks before you properly sound and feel yourself again. And for a pro, if your voice is unreliable, work may be significantly affected or simply impossible, which knocks on to your earning-power.If your voice isn’t back to normal within 3 weeks, seek professional help. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.14 – 0775 – Vocal Fold Haemorrhage    Continued talking may lead to ‘vocal nodules’ on your folds, which are common with loud, tense, constant talkers. (Polyps are similar but usually occur after a single cough or shout, rather than long-term abuse, and happen when the folds haemorrhage.) Know your body. If your body is hurting (even a sore throat), stop. It’s a sign that something is not ‘quite right’. Speaking when hoarse, or worse still, shouting to deliberately make yourself hoarse (yes, some people do this to achieve a lower voice), can be very dangerous in itself and can permanently damage your vocal folds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.13 – 0774 – Voice Advice From Justin Timberlake and Larry Hagman   ‘Resting’ actorsLarry Hagman was best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera ‘Dallas’ and the befuddled astronaut Major Anthony Nelson in the 1965–1970 sitcom ‘I Dream of Jeannie’. For 20 years he undertook “silent Sundays” after a doctor suggested that he did not talk for a few days after he strained his vocal cords. For one day a week he said not a word to anyone.[1] Ultimately though it is reported that he had to give it up when he realised that the benefits were outweighed by missed opportunities. More recently bruised vocal cords left Justin Timberlake on vocal rest, so in 2018 he ‘talked’ about his book, ‘Hindsight: And All the Things I Can’t See in Front of Me’, with Jimmy Fallon using pen and paper, plus charades-like hand gestures.[2] [1] Source: https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/360655/How-Larry-Hagman-couldn-t-have-been-further-from-his-fiendish-alter-ego-JR-Ewing [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGMx9zuB_3M Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.12 – 0773 – Polyps, Nodules and Phonal Trauma   Treating your voice badly, shouting[1], smoking or straining it, is not showing it the respect it deserves. These actions can lead to ‘phonal trauma’ such as nodules or polyps (small growths) on your vocal folds. These can be painful and if they heal at all can take a long time. At an extreme, they may need to be removed in an operation. (Wince…) “Once, a year or two back, I’d lost my voice during the evening… really lost it and I had to do all the evening, the late news etc etc and then I had to do the Shipping Forecast [at 00:48 hrs]. I had a gallon of water beside me which wasn’t very helpful to be honest, but I just had to keep on closing the fader, having a sip of water, trying to get some sort of voice back. The listeners could just hear it disappearing, during the whole eleven minutes. It was torture! And in the end you have to say ‘and that’s the Shipping Forecast, have a peaceful evening’… and I said that and then I just said, ‘I have been Lee Marvin, goodnight.’ ”[2]Susan Rae, BBC radio 4 newsreader/announcer, “You’re On The Air” podcast December 2020 [1] Some voice professionals ‘fake cheer’ at sporting events and concerts, opening their mouths but staying silent.[2] Actor Lee Marvin had a voice once described as “like rain gurgling down a rusty pipe”. He used his gravelly singing voice on a number of occasions, duetting with John Wayne in ‘The Comancheros’, and most notably performing ‘Wand'rin' Star’ in the movie musical ‘Paint Your Wagon’, which earned him a hit single. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.11 – 0772 – The Greatest Vocal Athletes   The voice-overs with perhaps the most vocal stamina have to be the audiobook narrators. Recording day after day for a total of 70 hours is not unheard of, and on top of that (for fiction books at least) creating and remembering different voices and accents for different characters, and reading with different sets of emotions and volumes.  Another skill is keeping up the enthusiasm, perhaps for page after page of content that you are not particularly interested in, and not letting your mind wander. And painting the picture with your words… well, OK the words of someone else but you are the conduit between the page they wrote and the ears of the listener. Think of what you are doing as a heightened state of performance. Most people listen to audiobooks while doing something else, and your presentation has to cut through. Having said all that, for fiction book narrators, it’s not necessarily having a ‘good voice’ (whatever that is!), but the ability to use it properly in telling a good story; a clear voice.  These narrators are truly actors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.10 – 0771 – Vocal Conditioning Through Proper Pacing  If your body is tired, your voice sounds tired: it’s one of the first areas where your lack of zeds shows itself.  Before a recording session, get plenty of sleep so your voice doesn’t sound too husky or in a lower register than the producer was expecting when they booked you from your demo reel.  Voice overuse and misuseTotal voice rest This is an important part of recovering from a voice injury, but not something that is advisable long-term. Your vocal folds need to be exercised if they are not to decondition through lack of use. Therefore, more than a day or so without speaking is not advisable. Better is to stop a problem from developing in the first place, with better vocal conditioning through the use of proper pacing.  If you know you are going to have to do some strenuous voice work then try and leave it to the end of the day. By then your voice will have warmed up, and you will have taken plenty of rest between readings, but the ‘necessary’ strain will not have an immediate adverse effect on the rest of your work.  Pianists insure their fingers for huge sums, ballet dancers their legs, violinists their actual violins. Your voice is your instrument, it’s your asset, it’s you! So, you need to look after and nurture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.09 – 0770 – Why Having A Secret May Be Hurting Your Voice  Whispering – Normal speaking is with a regular airflow and closure. With whispering you get no closure and you need more effort to make a lesser sound. Try it right now and feel the strain your vocal cords are under. What you are doing is pushing them into an unusual shape and then passing extra air over them that only adds to their dryness. Instead, if you are going hoarse or are speaking secretly, don’t be careless with your whisper but just speak really softly.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.08 – 0769 – Why African Elephants In Underpants May Be Hurting Your Voice  VowelsSay the following phrase aloud, word by word: “African. Elephants. In. Our. Underpants”. Each word begins with a vowel, A, E, I, O and U. And as we saw before, it’s these sounds that are made with a lot of potential pressure on the larynx. Say “African” again and you will feel that the initial sound is quite harsh (unlike, say “European” which is more of a gliding first sound), as the air that has for a split second been held back, now blasts past the vocal folds (‘pressed phonation’ or ‘hard onset’). The sense of holding back the air before these sounds is because of ‘sub-glottal pressure’, that is the pressure that is under (‘sub’) your vocal folds and it’s a small version of the extreme pressure that you use when you consciously close your vocal cords before you lift something heavy. Try it!  ‘Aspirate phonation’ (or ‘balanced onset’) sends more air through the vocal folds and is kinder to them such as making a ‘sigh’ sound, a breathy, throaty ‘hum’. Now, try putting a ‘silent-h’ sound at the start of each word in our phrase above, so that you glide into each initial vowel rather than ‘attacking’ it. Give it breath rather than pressure: “(h)african. (h)elephants. (h)in. (h)our. (h)underpants”. Hear and feel how this is stopping your vocal folds slamming together.  Now obviously we have looked at the extremes of the spectrum from hard, stabbing attack to an airy, breathy and light sound. You will need to find and practice a happy balance between air and muscle, to help reduce the pressure and potential damage to your folds.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.07 – 0768 – What To Say To An Anaesthetist Surgery – Intubation is when a tube is fed into your mouth (‘endotracheal intubation’) or nose (‘nasogastric intubation’) and then into the airway to help you with breathing, deliver anaesthesia or medications, and bypass a blockage. Be aware of the potential damage to your vocal folds during intubation anaesthetics, and prior to planned surgery make sure that an anaesthetist is aware of your profession.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.06 – 0767 – How A Kettle Can Help Your Voice Steam inhaling - can help the health of the vocal folds and the mucous membranes that line the nasal and mouth cavities. Steaming once or twice a day for 10-15 minutes will:·        allow the water vapour to get into places that no lozenge, gargle or linctus can ever reach, soothing and moisturising and helping to thin the mucus, so it’s more slippery·        help relieve a tired sore or hoarse voice·        calm an irritating persistent cough·        improve your ‘voice recovery rate’ after a cold·        be useful as a ‘night-time moisturiser’ after you have used your voice heavily in a noisy or smoky environmentSo, what’s going on here? Well, dryness adds to vocal strain and can cause a cough and heavy voice-use creates tension. But the steam puts moisture into the whole throat area, thinning thick mucus, increasing flexibility and encouraging relaxation and so, healing.[1] Similar to a steamer, a nebuliser is a machine that turns liquid medicine into a fine mist. You then breathe in the mist through a mask or mouthpiece. Ask a medical professional whether a .9% isotonic saline solution, which matches the make-up of solutions in the body and so gets to larynx, might be useful for any vocal problem you have. [1] Inexpensive steam-inhaling mugs are much easier to use than the hot, claustrophobic and boring “head over a basin with a towel” method. You use just boiled water, add a decongestant if you have a cold (real lemon juice is OK but not artificial fragrances), and then breathe normally, through the nose or mouth for 10-15 minutes replacing the water once the steam has gone. (Electrical steam inhalers such as https://www.amazon.co.uk/LIVIVO-Facial-Steamer-Aromatherapy-Diffuser/dp/B01LZSVNB2/ref=asc_df_B01LZSVNB2/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309816017895&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2838250047919569824&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007135&hvtargid=pla-563356315330&psc=1 pump out a steady stream of steam.) Impractical? Inhale while taking a hot shower, like in the scene in ‘Terms of Endearment’ (Debra Winger is in the bathroom next to the hot shower, as her child has a bad cough and she’s trying to use the steam to help them breathe more easily).  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.05 – 0766 –Voice Problems Caused By Shouting and Smoking Shouting – causes the folds are slammed together harshly. Consider why you are shouting – perhaps it’s because of a loud and busy newsroom, or maybe you are going slightly deaf…? If you are tempted to pick up some part time work say behind a bar where you have to raise your voice to be heard, you may want to think of another job that will put less strain on your folds. Try and speak less, and less harshly and to take regular mini-breaks.  Smoking - In the past some people took up smoking to achieve a deeper, arguably sexier pitch. It seemed to work for many of them… but also made them less able to breathe deeply, created a wheezing exhalation, and promoted lung and laryngeal cancer. A shortness of breath led to a short career… and there’s nothing alluring about cancerous cords. The tar in cigarettes affects the vocal folds and lungs, causes irritation and inflammation and makes them less efficient. Vaping causes hot steam to be drawn in. That alone could be harmful to your folds, but add in the additional artificial flavourings and something else that’s best avoided. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.04 – 0765 – How Snoring May Be Causing Voice Problems  Mouth breathing and snoring - can dry your vocal folds (as we saw previously, part of the job the nostrils have is to humidify the air as it enters your body). Although it’s OK to take gasps of air through your mouth as you speak, try to otherwise inhale through your nose. That’s especially true at night otherwise for many hours you will have dry, unfiltered air passing your larynx. If you sleep on your back, you’re especially prone to such ‘bad breathing’; try to consciously sleep with a closed mouth and consider having a humidifier in your room. It’s almost obvious to say that if you have a problem, either short or long-term, with breathing through your nose you should consult a specialist. Not only is it a case that ‘the nose knows best’ when it comes to inhalation, but it also is one of the resonators of the voice which helps create a nicer, warmer, fuller sound. Oh, and it’s always good not to just rely on your mouth for your breathing needs, and to have a fully working backup! Rest – a good night’s sleep will help your entire body as well as your voice. If you are well rested then your brain will be sharp and you will make fewer mistakes and so will be more confident and will sound better. Your session will take less long and so will have less time to get tired!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 2023.02.03 – 0764 – How Meds Can Hurt Not Help Your Voice Medications – Again, sticky-sweet, tongue colour-changing over-the-counter lozenges do not touch your vocal cords. Although they might have a placebo effect (you feel as though they are helping, and so your confidence returns), the ones with anaesthetic or numbing properties may actually be causing further damage, giving you a false sense that everything’s OK. Instead, focus on the root cause of your vocal fatigue by practising with a vocal routine. Other medications can affect your voice too:·        Inhalers and steroid sprays·        Antihistamines (such as hay fever remedies) can also dehydrate·        Antibiotics·        Antidepressants ·        Oral contraceptives ·        The menthol in some cold remedies may be an irritant ·        Decongestant meds for nose and throat problems often work by drying out the local tissues. That’s obviously not good news. If you have a cold and a subsequently blocked nose, you may have a dried-out nose caused by your meds and a dried-out mouth caused by having to use it for breathing. Therefore, it’s essential that you take plenty of fluids. Alternative medication may include:·        water, gargling and sleep are free·        steam – is cheap·        mindfulness – takes just minutes·        warm pineapple juice – some find that this can help soothe a throat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.02 – 0763 – How Your Voice Is Affected By Oestrogen, Progesterone and Androgens  Menopause can also affect the voice.[1] Vocally speaking, oestrogen:·        affects how supple the vocal folds’ upper surface (the mucosal layer) is·        supports the folds’ mucus-making glands·        affects the deepest layer of the vocal folds, which produce lower and higher pitchesblocks the effects of androgens, and so prevents the lowering of the voice Progesterone balances the effects of oestrogen as well as:·        causing decreased and thickened secretions of the outer layer of the vocal folds, resulting in drier vocal folds Androgens, including testosterone, which are naturally secreted in women’s bodies, can:·        cause the vocal folds to thicken, which lowers your pitch·        increase dryness of the vocal folds due to changes in the glands that secrete fluids near the vocal folds​. During menopause hormones may fluctuate day to day, making the voice sound unpredictable, unreliable and unstable:·        vocal cord swelling, resulting in less range and a general lower voice·        a drier mouth which may lead to more throat clearing·        reflux·        a ‘lump in the throat’ sensation·        excess or thicker mucus·        vocal fatigue from vocal cord muscle weakness impacting agility, power and projection in your voice·        pain in the throat or neck Don’t force your voice but try more warming up techniques (see later) to make your voice feel easier. [1] Lots more information in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5KhEgedozo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.02.01 – 0762 – How Hormones Affect Your Voice  Hormones - We know how boys’ voices change as they go through puberty, but so do girls’. Testosterone and oestrogen not only affect the voice directly in the vocal folds, changing their shape and so the sounds they make, but also indirectly as the overall body shape changes. Muscles and ligaments develop which can lead to increased lung capacity and other alterations affecting breathing and resonance. For women this is not a one-off hormone flow: menstrual cycles will affect the voice directly in the larynx. During Days 24-28, a woman’s vocal folds may increase in size by around 30%. This can lead to a change in the sound of their voice (a lower range), and also to vocal fatigue and a loss of power.Menopause can cause a drop in a female voice (while older age can make a male voice rise in pitch). Pregnancy can also affect the voice.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.31 – 0761 – The Voice Enemies Of Air Con, Carphones and Coughing Air conditioning – a dry throat can be caused by heating or air conditioning in homes, offices, trains, planes and cars. Try getting more natural air into your life, or invest in a humidifier. Carphones – you tend to talk louder on them as the mic is further from your mouth, because the signal may not be good, you are talking to someone else who is also on a mobile, and to counteract the ambient traffic noise.  Coughing – coughing is a complicated reflex action to clear the airway: inhalation, forceful exhalation against closed vocal cords and then a violent release. A large inhale almost fills the lungs, the glottis at the back of the throat closes and the stomach walls contract. The glottis opens suddenly, with an upward heave of the diaphragm, and air forced out by three different stomach muscles, at the rate of up to 50mph (80km)[1] across your cords. Not nice. So, if you have a tickle, don’t ‘hack’ as that will inflame your vocal cords even more. Simply swallow hard, preferably with some warm water. Excessive throat-clearing can be down to a dry throat, possibly because of an unrecognised allergy or because you’ve developed a habit of clearing your throat. Banging your very vulnerable vocal cords together is ‘violence against your voice’ causing damage to your delicate throat tissue, and possible development of nodules or polyps.[2]  Instead, retrain your brain to either swallow, lick your lips, or pause for a sip of room-temperature water in place of clearing your throat[3] which has the dual advantage of calming the tickle and keeping you hydrated.  Hoarseness – A rough, husky, croaky voice could be caused by the common cold, a laryngitis infection, chronic laryngitis (repetitive bouts of laryngitis, usually with a fever, and caused by regular voice misuse). It could be cancer, so go to a doctor if you’re still hoarse after two weeks. Continual ‘hoarse talk’ could lead to a swelling of the vocal folds. Again, a reminder that, although I know that fear is a big delayer, if something hurts, seek advice. You need to fix the underlying problems: not the cough itself but what’s causing the cough. [1] The American Lung Association: https://www.lung.org/blog/sneeze-versus-cough [2] A good explanatory leaflet from the British Voice Association can be downloaded here: http://www.britishvoiceassociation.org.uk/downloads/free-voice-care-literature/Difficult%20Vocal%20Problems.pdf [3] There are simple and complicated medical conditions (such as acid reflux or ‘GERD’, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) that may make you more prone to throat clearing, so check with your doctor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.30 – 0760 – Signs Your Voice Isn’t As It Should Be   (How To Use Your Voice For A Four Hour Show And Not Damage Or Lose It)??Signs that your voice isn’t as it should be Of course, only you really know how your voice usually sounds and how you usually feel, but there are some tell-tale red flags that may indicate a current or looming problem: Effort - it all needs more conscious energy to speak, not just after a one-off long day, but regularly  Projection – you have to work hard to push or vary the volume of the voice  Throat issues - not necessary pain per se, but sore or tickly. You may want to keep coughing either a dry cough or one with mucus. Voice loss – suddenly losing your sound on a regular basis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.29 – 0759 – Potentially Unhelpful Vocal Rest   Potentially ‘unhelpful’ vocal rest This might include:Not speaking for two days before a studio session to “prepare my voice” – as an athlete might do gentle warm-ups before a big race rather than lie in bed all day, so you should give your voice gentle exercises A voice actor or presenter who feels exhausted after a 4-hour studio session, and decides to skip ‘warming down’ exercises to “save my voice”.​ Think about the ‘back-to-work work-flow’ of an athlete: they rest > exercise gently > train to return to full shape > race > warm-down and so on. Similarly, you too have to ease yourself back into any pro voice work.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.28 – 0758 – The Importance Of Voice Naps   If you are using your voice a lot, try and schedule some specific ‘voice naps’ into your day, where you don’t talk for 5-15 minutes at a time on several occasions throughout the day. By taking ‘voice naps’ you can top up your ‘voice battery’. This may mean:·        Planning your schedule – spread out your vocal tasks, so for example taking a break from bulk-recording several podcasts in a row  ·        Planning your pauses - scheduling your ‘vocal naps’ so you don’t miss them. In a studio, ask for a break yourself, or take any break that’s offered to you; don’t be a hero by ‘powering through’. Most sessions will last 45 minutes or so before a break is taken, with a studio director determining that ‘right now’ is the best time. That may be because they are sensing tension, they need a quiet word with a colleague, they know that there’s a long page of dialogue coming up … all sorts of reasons. A break will rest you mentally, physically and vocally. Don’t use it as a chance to hunch over a mobile screen or make some calls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.27 – 0757 – Outside Elements Damaging Your Voice   As well as external environmental issues such as:·        Air humidity - dry air is thought to increase the stress on the vocal folds, so beware of studio air conditioning. Anything that cools it down or warms it up can dry out the air.·        Hydration - dehydration may increase the effects of stress on the folds Keeping an eye on how your ‘vocal battery’ is can be difficult for a working radio or tv presenter who will spend much of their day on the phone setting up guests, discussing stories in editorial meetings and talking with office colleagues, before rushing into a studio and going on-air. For home podcasters and YouTubers some of these issues are obviously less of a problem, but you may have other considerations which also put a strain on your voice such as talking with the family or raising your voice to the children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.26 – 0756 – Your Vocal Battery   PROFESSIONAL VOCAL STRAINIt is of course better to ‘defend not mend’ – and prevention is easier than a remedy. So, look after your folds and everything else that helps your body create a great sound. Be aware of how much you are using your voice during the day, and how much rest you are giving it.  The ‘Vocal Battery’Think of your voice-use as a battery: you start the day with it fully-charged but during the course of the day with the amount and kind of use, the battery starts to drain. What will discharge the battery the most:·        The amount you use it - how long you speak for·        The type of speaking that you do – close-mic work will have less strain than excitable live sports commentary outside in winter·        Your vocal quality - using a voice different from your usual one, for example, putting on a character voice for a book narration or video game character, or even lots of whispering, can increase laryngeal stress·        The intensity of your pitch - using a higher or lower pitch than normal will also increase laryngeal stress·        How loud you are – we tend to speak louder when background noise is loud, and this increases stress on the vocal folds, so reduce your time speaking at a loud party, gig or sports event·        How fast you speak – the folds move faster So, for a voice professional, try to plan your day of voice-use if you can: ease it in with slower scripts in your normal range at the start of the day, and more demanding ones towards the end. That way around and your voice will be prepped for the strenuous work. The reverse way and it could be tired and scratchy for the ‘straight reads’.  Funny, isn’t it? It’s almost socially acceptable to have a hoarse voice after a loud, late night, but if you woke up the next day and your vision was blurry, we might take that a bit more seriously.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.25 – 0755 – Why Your Evening Meal Could Be Killing Your Voice   Acid reflux[1] This is when digestive juices (made up of strong acids and enzymes) find their way from the stomach into the oesophagus. Known by doctors as GERD (‘gastro-esophageal reflux disease) or GOR (‘gastro-oesophageal reflux), symptoms include heartburn, indigestion, coughing, belching, general discomfort and a sour taste in the mouth.For some people, these juices may even get into the trachea causing irritation to the larynx and vocal folds, and even into the mouth. This is known as LPR, laryngo-pharyngeal reflux, or ‘silent reflux’ as many people don’t have classic heartburn symptoms. This back-flow of fluids can affect your voice by causing: A feeling of a lump in your throat (‘globus’) and so, throat clearing and coughing spasmsAn unpleasant ‘acid’ or ‘bilious’ taste at the back of your mouthA feeling of a build-up of mucus in your throatExcessive burping, particularly during the day A sore, dry or sensitive throatCroakiness or hoarsenessChronic coughing Reflux can be affected by what you eat and drink:Fatty foodSpicy food SugarAcidic drinks such as fruit juicesAlcoholCoffee And your lifestyle:Obesity or poor posture which can affect the valve that should stop this from happeningEating heavy meals or late mealsPregnancySmoking  How to make things better:Avoiding those foods and drinks and changing your lifestyleLosing weight and stopping smokingEating regular and smaller meals, eating more slowly, chewing each mouthful well and then chewing on gum afterwards to increase the flow of saliva which’ll cancel out the acidDrinking more waterReducing pressure on the valve by bending at the knees when you pick things up and wearing looser clothing around your waistSome say sleeping on their left side and with the head elevated (raise the head of your bed a couple of inches) can helpTaking OTC remedies (‘over the counter’) for indigestion or heartburn before getting professional advice to find out exactly what is causing the symptoms, and to get the right treatment. [1] Sources: https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/diet-nutrition; https://www.britishvoiceassociation.org.uk/voicecare_reflux-and-voice.htm; https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg184; https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng1; https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/mib176/chapter/summary   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.24 – 0754 – Why ‘Thirst’ Is Unreliable Your unreliable dehydration warning systemWhen you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. That’s because whereas the body treats food with a ‘store now - use later policy’, excess fluid will simply be excreted. You’ll just pee. So, the ‘thirst mechanism’ is unreliable. To stop feeling thirsty (and so, dehydrated), and because your thirst is satiated before complete hydration is achieved, regular sipping is the common-sense approach. Set a daily fluid-intake goal, either by using a marked-up water bottle[1], or a hydration-tracking app.A good maxim is “If your pee’s all white, you’ll sound all right”, but bear in mind that some food and drinks can change the colour of your urine (such as fizzy vitamin drinks). On the day of a studio sessionGet hydrated and stay hydrated.  Make sure that the day before a lengthy session you have drunk plenty of water so your whole system is hydrated. Then keep sipping plenty of it during the recording, to keep yourself hydrated. This this will also give you a cause to pause and rest your voice for a moment. If you are taking water into a studio with you, put it in a pop-close type sports bottle and put it on the floor. Then if it is knocked it won’t spill on the equipment. [1] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Marked-Water-Bottle/s?k=Time+Marked+Water+Bottle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.23 – 0753 – Hydration Oughta Be Water, But…Where hydration comes fromHydration oughta be water, plain, pure and at room temperature. But if you’re struggling to drink enough try:·        Try flavouring your water with fruit·        Drink caffeine-free tea like chamomile, ginger, or peppermint tea·        Eat foods that contain more water, such as cucumbers or melonso  Cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens and high fibre fruits contain good nutrients and vitamins, which help keep the voice healthy and lubricated·        Keep a humidifier running in the place that you sleep, and also in the place where you work or are most often using your voice. Essentially all fluids count, but it may be an idea to try and avoid: ·        Some people say dairy and chocolate affect their mucus levels, so you may want to monitor your intake and avoid them if you agree ·        Drinks from the machine: cold and fizzy or hot and caffeinatedo  Carbonated drinks will have the obvious result of causing burps and may affect breath supporto  Drinking caffeine (say in coffee) may increase your heart rate and make you more nervous you may have difficulty concentrating on the script or speak too fast. Caffeine can also speed up the production of extra-thick phlegm and that will mean you spend more time swallowing hard or coughing. A widely-held view that coffee will dehydrate you, is now thought not to be accurate, although it may affect some people in that way. ·        Alcohol can make you drowsy, slurred and contains sugarSome medications  may also cause issues:·        anti-histamines, decongestants and anti-depressants tend to cause dryness ·        over-the-counter local anaesthetic medication for the throat create numbness reducing our ability to know if we are damaging our voice further Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.22 – 0752 – Hydrate to Sound Great. Here’s Why…The more dehydrated you are:·        The drier the cords·        The poorer the quality of your voice·        The less you will get from each breath·        The shorter the time you can talk or sing ·        The more likely it is that you will get a hoarse voice·        The more likely it will be that you have weird mouth noises, clicks and sucks·        The more difficult it will be to clearly articulate, resulting in more verbal trips, increased mental anxiety and skeletal tension.So, hydrate to sound great![1] [1] A dry mouth could be an early warning sign for serious illnesses including diabetes, stroke and even HIV. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/dry-mouth-could-sign-five-23901383 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.01.21 – 0751 – A Moment On MucusSo, hydration affects the folds specifically in two ways:·        ‘Systemic hydration’ is the term for hydrating your whole body, the cells and the tissues from inside out·        ‘Topical (or ‘surface’) hydration’ affects the moisture levels of the surface of the vocal folds, keeping them slippery enough to vibrate.  The vocal folds are covered in a thin protective coating of slippery, stringy and slimy mucus[1] made up of water, antibodies, enzymes, proteins and salt. This film allows for optimum vibration with minimal effort, protects the folds from heat and friction, and also helps your tongue form word-sounds more easily.  If air is the fuel for the voice, the lubricants of mucus and saliva are its oil. When you get dehydrated the mucus becomes thicker and offers less protection and it’s more difficult to talk and damage can be caused to your cords. So, let’s hear it for a moist voice and a lubricated larynx! The health of vocal cords is measured in part by their PTP, the ‘Phonation Threshold Pressure’: the minimum pressure needed to get the cords vibrating and making a sound. The higher the viscosity of the cords (that is the thicker the mucous, because of dehydration), the higher the PTP, and therefore the more pressure needed from your lungs to produce a sound.[2] [1] What’s the difference between ‘mucus’ and ‘mucous’? ‘Mucus’ is the noun and ‘mucous’ is the adjective, so mucous membranes secrete mucus. It’s not only snotty (!) biologists who insist on distinguishing between these two words.[2] https://www.drinkhydrant.com/blogs/news/hydrate-your-voice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.