Wasn't sure if I should post this here or in the OT board, but obviously this won out.
Alright, so here's the deal. I just got cast in my first lead role in a musical (hooray community theatre), but I'm really worried about keeping my voice strong and healthy since I have to belt to a high F. So, besides water... what do you suggest I drink and what should I stay away from so I can sing my best? Any advice for anything else would be extremely welcomed, too!
Tea with HONEY-also, I've noticed that actually taking the honey itself helps-I put it on a spoon and dip it into the tea, then eat it.
Also-warm water (sounds gross but works!) Cold water makes your vocal cord tighten, so warm (room temp.) water is best.
Also-avoid alcohol in any form.
"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world."
"Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.
Other than water, nothing. Water's the best for vocal health
Frankly this is more of a technique issue than a liquid issue. How do you keep your voice healthy? Have a REALLY solid technique. I suggest a voice teacher if you can. THEN you can do all the other stuff to keep healthy (no alcohol, smoking, drink water, don't talk etc.)
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Eastern medicine supports always drinking warm/hot water, even in the warmer months. Cold and ice cold drinks are bad for the voice, throat, and cool the internal fire.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
the musical director for all my musicals in college reccomended that the hours during a performance that organic, non-sugar, no preservative room-temperature apple juice is best. apparently its closest to human saliva. Yeah gross, but keeps the throat lubricated naturally.
she could have been off her rocker, but it did work very well for me.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
It's the purest, most natural method of keeping your voice healthy.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
The other day when I went to see Jersey Boys, Daniel Reichard and I were talking about this and he suggested Smart Water because of the electrolytes in it.
Careful of the lemonade. The acid ain't so hot for the chords.
If you go the tea route, make sure it's herbal and non-caffeinated. Also, I was told to try to avoid the mint teas, no matter how delicious. The herbal tea recommended by Dr. Gwen 'ENT to the Stars' Korovin (back when she was accepting insurance) was black currant herbal tea.
But water is and always will be the best.
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."
Back in my younger days, I was in the ensemble of SWEENEY TODD and drink a milk shake between acts...and it didn't bother me one bit. Which was nothing compared to the smoking and boozing I did in college and beyond. And it didn't bother me a whit.
But, alas, I am no longer young.
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."