Learn to Sing Article 05: Singing with a Sore Throat or Cold

In this how to sing article we are going to cover one of the setbacks of singing. It is something that happens to all of us whether we are singers or not. It is one of the most common adversities that occurs to every human being in the world. It is the setback of the common cold and sore throat.

The real problem is that as a singer, you cannot afford to contract a sore throat as often as the common folk gets sick. You need to learn how to take care of your singers throat so that you can be sure that atleast 99% of the time you do not suffer the setbacks. Getting a sore throat will damage your singing ability completely for as long as you have the symptoms. Therefore it is in your best interest to keep those feet of your dry and make an effort not to sit in a cold draft. Otherwise you will run the risk of getting a sore throat.

If you do start feeling the symptoms of a sore throat such as the slight burning in the throat, especially when swallowing, then it's time to act fact. It would be unwise to think that a singer's sore throat will go away over night. This way of thinking will not only damage your singing voice, but it will generally affect your overall health.

As a singer, when contracting a sore throat, immediately begin to drink some hot water with a splash of squeezed lemon juice in it. The lemon in itself will help counteract any acidic conditions in your body. However, if this does not remedy your sore throat, it is imperative that you contact your family doctor at once and have him prescribe something. You could be suffering from an advanced form of sore throat common to most professional singers aclled strep throat.

If you are still reading, I'm sure you already know how catastrophic singing with a sore throat can be. I would assume that you already know the dangers in this and how you shouldn't even contemplate trying to sing with a sore throat. So I am going to move on and discuss some of the possible reasons as to why a singer might contract a sore throat.

A dry throat is usually the cause of a sore throat. Therefore as a singer, you should try to consume atleast a gallon of water a day. If this is impossible for you, try to atleast drink 2 to 3 quarts a day until you get used to it and slowly move up to a gallon. Also try keeping your throat dryer by breathing in through your nose most of the time as this will help to moisten the air before it reaches your vocal chords. Breathing in through you mouth tends to over dry your throat which could lead to a sore throat.

Another common cause of a singer's sore throat has to do with vocal abuse. Singers that sing to loud for too long or too high will more than likely develop a sore throat. Some more common reasons are screaming or yelling at a basketball game or any other sporting event, trying to sing in a raspy voice like some rock singers do, or even breathing in cigarette smoke whether it be first or second hand. Try to avoid any of the above situations as much as possible to ensure your best and healthiest singing voice.