217216 1705 Performing Arts Vocals & Singing true Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:59:45 -0800 DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, sing, singer, singing, voice, vocal, cords, care, caring, take, taking, vocals, protect, protecting, soothe, soothing How To Take Care Of Your Vocal Cords http://www.howcast.com/videos/217216-How-To-Take-Care-Of-Your-Vocal-Cords http://www.howcast.com/videos/217216-How-To-Take-Care-Of-Your-Vocal-Cords/edit approved 8 ShannonH http://img.howcast.com/images/icons/howto-xxlarge.png 6183 82382 13217 0 Step Drink water Drink lots of water. Singers need more water than the average person in order to keep the vocal cords and the mucous membranes surrounding them moist. Aim for eight to 10 glasses every day.

]]> 82383 13218 0 Tip Always drink water at room temperature; cold water can damage vocal cords.

]]> 82384 13219 0 Step Warm up Warm up your vocal cords frequently. Just as a pitcher needs to warm up his arm before taking the mound, a singer needs to loosen up his vocal cords to keep them in optimal shape. Just don’t overdo it.

]]> 82385 13220 0 Step Limit dairy Limit dairy products, which can cause mucus to build up in the throat, leading to irritation.

]]> 82386 13221 0 Tip Resist the urge to clear your throat; doing so causes the folds of the throat to slam together, causing irritation.

]]> 82387 13222 0 Step Take slippery elm Take the herb slippery elm, which singers discovered more than a century ago was a good way to coat the throat and soothe tired vocal cords after a performance. Slippery-elm lozenges are available in health-food stores.

]]> 82388 13223 0 Tip Whispering to save your voice? Don’t! Studies show whispering actually makes your vocal cords work thirty percent harder.

]]> 82389 13224 0 Step Turn off the AC Turn off the AC. It can dry out the air—and your vocal cords!

]]> 82390 13225 0 Step Use a humidifier Sleep with a humidifier by your bed, especially before an audition or performance: vocal cords work best when moist. In fact, you need to keep the surface of the cords slippery enough to vibrate up to 1700 times per second!

]]> 82391 13226 0 Tip Steam your throat regularly by holding your head over a pot of hot water, covering your head with a towel, and inhaling deeply.

]]> 82392 13227 0 Step Sip hot tea Sip hot tea, especially marshmallow-root or licorice tea. Both contain mucilage, which has been proven to coat the throat and soothe vocal cords. Drink it preventively and for relief when you get a sore throat.

]]> 82393 13228 0 Tip Don’t add lemon to hot tea. It can be drying.

]]> 82394 13229 0 Step Gargle Gargle with a mixture of warm salt water and a quarter-teaspoon of baking soda to help keep the vocal cords moist.

]]> 82395 13230 0 Tip Gargle in a high pitch; it forces your cords to contract, making gargling more effective.

]]> 82396 13231 0 Step Limit alcohol and caffeine Limit alcohol and caffeine, which can be drying to vocal cords. And if you have a cough or cold, avoid antihistamines and menthol cough drops, which dry out and irritate vocal cords.

]]> 82397 13232 0 Step Limit air travel Limit air travel, which can dehydrate you and cause your vocal cords to swell.

]]> 82398 13233 0 Fact Like a fingerprint, every person has a unique “vocal print” that belongs only to him.

]]> 1705 186496 How To Make Basic Beat-Box Sounds AssignmentGuide 10143 Thu, 28 May 2009 18:17:24 -0700 25 michaelrsanchez ]]> 163 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/96/64/18/186496.flv performing, arts, singing, recording, vocals, rap, beatboxing, beat-boxing, beat-box, percussion Performing Arts Vocals & Singing 7 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/186496/Basic_beat_box_sounds_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/186496-How-To-Make-Basic-BeatBox-Sounds 1705 241159 How To Warm Up Your Voice Before Singing AssignmentGuide 482 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:47:09 -0800 0 Equilibrio ]]> 105 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/49/23/27/272349.flv singing,music,warming,up,voice,before,scales,intervals,breathing,exercizing,practice,instrument,vocals,throat,larynx,tune,song,volume,resonance,pitch,key Performing Arts Vocals & Singing 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/241159/WarmVoiceBeforeSinging_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png 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29 Jan 2009 11:16:53 -0800 8 natewood ]]> 115 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/33/73/12/127333.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, acting Performing Arts Acting General Acting 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/127333/Picture_20_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/127333-How-To-Cry-Convincingly-on-Stage 1056 144556 How To Overcome Stage Fright AssignmentGuide 4360 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:16:57 -0800 11 natewood ]]> 165 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/56/45/14/144556.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, acting Performing Arts Acting General Acting 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/144556/stage_firght_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/144556-How-To-Overcome-Stage-Fright 1056 204919 How To Get Into the Screen Actors Guild AssignmentGuide 685 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:32:14 -0700 2 downpourpro ]]> 82 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/19/49/20/204919.flv screen, actors, Guild, sag, screen actors guild, get into, get in, film, movies, acting Performing Arts Acting General Acting 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/204919/Picture_8_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/204919-How-To-Get-Into-the-Screen-Actors-Guild 1056 211687 How To Prepare a Monologue AssignmentGuide 596 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:17:28 -0700 6 Booner ]]> 85 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/87/16/21/211687.flv performing, arts, acting, preparing, auditioning, choosing, practicing, monologues, learning Performing Arts Acting General Acting 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/211687/Picture_7_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/211687-How-To-Prepare-a-Monologue 1058 130997 How To Impress a Casting Director AssignmentGuide 2320 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:38:10 -0800 12 natewood ]]> 226 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