From: Nancy Snyder
To: vocalist
Subject: Re: Do's and Don'ts of voice
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Hi,

I had the page and once tried to print it but it cut off the right side
so I retyped the whole thing in MS Word and have pasted it here in case
this helps.

Nancy


University of Pittsburgh Voice Center
Guidelines for Singers: Dos and Don=92ts
Preventing Vocal Problems

Clark A. Rosen, M.D.
Thomas Murry, Ph.D.

Do Not . . .

smoke tobacco

smoke marijuana

use drugs

drink alcohol the day before or the day of a performance

drink coffee before a performance

become a cheerleader

shout & scream at sporting events

go to loud clubs or bars

talk on a bus or airplane

try to be heard in noisy places like bars, sport arenas, large family
gatherings, airplanes, buses

vocalize a sneeze Note: This does not mean you should stifle a
sneeze=97never do that! Go ahead and sneeze, just don=92t phonate while
doing so.

phonate while yawning

stay up late the night before a performance

sing outdoors

cough

clear your throat continually

sing if it hurts to swallow

try to talk over a cold or laryngitis

sing higher or lower than is comfortable

=93over sing=94 (if you are hoarse after singing, something is very wrong)

whisper loudly, or for very long

raise the chest or shoulders when inhaling

be a vocalist in an acid rock or heavy metal band

use the belt voice

lift weights

scream

cry

talk on a lower or higher pitch than is comfortable for you. The =93huumm=94
pitch (expressing mild
surprise) is the pitch at which you should be speaking!

try to change your natural speaking voice (=93vocal image=94 e.g., sexy,
macho)
talk a lot on the day of performance


Do . . .

If undergoing surgery, insist that the intubation be performed by
someone well acquainted with the
risk to the vocal folds

speak at your own pitch (like Julia Childs and opera divas)

support your speaking voice just as when singing

get plenty of rest

be happy

laugh a lot, but with good support

avoid stress

avoid places with foul air. Everything you breathe passes through your
instrument.

inhale at the belly (like inner tube around your waist) relax belly to
inhale (i.e., let your belly hang out, =93feel fat=94)

eat well (as do Pavarotti & ladies of the opera)

avoid dairy products prior to a performance

treat your body like a valuable instrument

humidify your bedroom during winter months

drink lots of water -- 8 glasses a day =93Pee Pale, Sing Clear=94=97your u=
rine
should be clear -- yellowness means you are dehydrated (the more yellow
it is, the worse)