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Voice Care: Looking After Your Voice

Welcome!

If you’re a professional voice user, there may be times when something’s not right with your voice.

First of all, it’s not your fault, it happens to everyone at some time. We’re here to help with some advice, resources and our Professional Directory.

If you’ve had significant problems for more than three weeks, the UK NHS guidelines recommend seeing your GP.

While progressing through that journey, read on for some help and advice.
Try to stay as well as you can
Warm up your voice at the start of every day, and cool down after voice use. Try the warm-up suggestions below…
Take frequent short breaks during practice, rehearsals, lessons and performances. This limits any swelling in the larynx from over-use
Have you made space and time for yourself? When was the last time you saw the sea, walked in the woods, looked at the horizon?
Ok - I know about drinking water, what else can I do?
Will that stop me from getting tired?
Are there other things I could be doing?


5 Simple Ways to Look After Your Voice

1. Warm up your voice
If you know you’ll be using your voice a lot, start gently. Humming and gliding through your range can help prepare your voice for the day.

2. Give your voice a break
If your voice feels tired, talk less and avoid situations where you have to speak loudly or for long periods. Your voice needs rest too!

3. Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day rather than trying to catch up all at once. A well-hydrated body supports healthy vocal function.

4. Look after your whole self
Your voice is connected to your overall wellbeing. Good sleep, nourishing food, regular movement and finding time to switch off can all support your voice.

5. Listen to changes in your voice
If you notice a negative change in your voice that doesn’t settle after 3–4 weeks, speak to your GP and ask about a referral to a specialist voice clinic. Persistent changes are worth getting checked.

Read more here
If you’re still here and thinking
“Yeah, I’m doing all of that, what now?”

For more information on how to maintain a healthy voice, Voice Care for Singers is an accessible resource created specifically for singers and professional voice users.

This online course brings together key content from our world-renowned Vocal Health First Aid, Vocal Habilitation Professional and Fundamental Anatomy courses, alongside five brand-new videos created especially for this resource.

Through short, easy-to-understand videos, you’ll learn more about how your voice works and how to care for it as part of your everyday voice use.

Find out more here
Additional Vocal Health Resources

Looking for more information about a particular aspect of vocal health?

Explore our collection of resources covering a range of common voice-related topics, including information about voice care, vocal health and factors that can affect your voice.

Voice care is an important part of looking after your voice, and there’s lots we can all do to support healthy, efficient voice use. In this collection, our VRS students share some of their knowledge, tips and practical advice around voice care — helping you better understand your voice and how to look after it.

Want to dive a little deeper? Explore our videos from Voice Rehabilitation Specialists, covering vocal wellness, warm-ups and practical tips for supporting your voice.

Did you know that vocal cool-downs can improve your recovery time between singing sessions?

This video takes you through a guided vocal cool-down sequence. Perfect for the end of a rehearsal or gig, and particularly useful for higher voices. Voice Rehabilitation Coach Gillian will help you reset your voice, so that you are ready to go again the next day.

Disclaimer: This video is guidance only and not intended as a replacement for medical advice. If you are worried about persistent changes in your voice, or if any of these exercises make you feel uncomfortable, please check in with a voice specialist or clinician.

This video is suitable for public speakers and anyone who uses their spoken voice a lot in the workplace.

 It doesn’t matter if you’ve had any previous experience taking voice lessons or any vocal coaching in the past, Gill will guide you through a step-by-step sequence to connect you to your breath and set your voice up for success. You will need a bottle or cup of water and a straw for this warmup. We recommend a Boba tea straw if you have one, but any straw will do.

 This video is not suitable for anyone who has been diagnosed with a vocal injury and is under the care of an ENT/Laryngologist or Speech Therapist.

Explore more vocal health support on our YouTube channel →

Vocal Health Education Youtube
Still got questions?
Now if you’ve got this far, there’s still something you want to know about your voice or something not quite right with your voice, so you’re hanging on in there to see what else we can do for you?

Ready to speak to a professional?

The next step in your vocal health journey may be to speak with one of our Vocal Health First Aiders or Habilitation Professionals. You can explore our Practitioner Directory to find someone who has completed our training.

Waiting for a clinical referral?

If you’ve been to your healthcare provider and you’re waiting for a referral to clinical voice specialist, you may be waiting months to be seen, depending on your country of origin and healthcare cover. If so, you may wish to have an initial assessment with a Voice Rehabilitation Specialist.

find a practioner

Stephen King, one of the founders of Vocal Health Education, along with Lydia Hart SLT have written a book just for you.

“Help! I’ve got a voice problem” was written for people like you in mind, and covers a comprehensive view of function and dysfunction, and begins to answer the question: “Why do I have a voice problem?”