Vocal Health Mythbusting

Written By: Chelsea & Cynthia

Is clearing my throat bad for my voice? Will dairy make my voice crack? Is belting going to give me nodes? If you're a singer, we're sure you've heard some of these before and you might be wondering - is there any truth to these?!

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding vocal health, but there are also some important facts to be aware of as well. This is why we want to dispel vocal health myths and share what voice care practices actually make a difference in your voice and your overall wellness!

We do want to preface this by saying that what we share is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Neither one of us are doctors, we are simply voice teachers who have a lot of experience working with singers. You should always refer to a medical professional when it comes to your vocal health. 

But let's dive right into the facts and fiction of vocal health! 

Myth or Fact: Coffee is bad for your voice 

Answer: MYTH! 

As long as you are well hydrated and for your own body, coffee doesn't trigger acid reflux - then coffee is not intrinsically bad for your voice. Studies have shown the diuretic effects or the drying out effects of caffeine in coffee are not enough to mitigate the actual hydration that you get from drinking it. But we do like to note that coffee and other caffeinated beverages may have other personal effects on your voice or ability to perform at a high level. It may increase your anxiety, irritate acid reflux, and cause you to feel jittery or unfocused.

It will affect everybody differently, so take note and do what feels best to you. But no, you do not need to cut out your coffee addiction.😉

Myth or Fact: Dairy is bad for your voice

Answer: MYTH! 

Listen, there's just no hard and fast rule about any foods that you should avoid before singing. Let's remember, nothing we eat or drink actually touches our vocal cords. If it did, that would mean you were choking. Dairy or any food group will affect all singers differently, and dairy has gotten a bad rap because it may increase mucus and phlegm in some people's bodies, and that's a sensation that folks might not like when they're singing. But in general, dairy doesn't need to be avoided before performing.

Myth or Fact: Tea is good for your voice

Answer: MYTH (but also a little true)

If your voice is irritated and your throat is sore, warm tea may feel great, but it's not a magic cure. Again, nothing we eat or drink actually touches the vocal cords (!!). So people's magic remedies of this special tea infused with lemon and a pinch of ginger and boiled at midnight on the 13th night of the month - it's just not true.

It may feel good because it's warm and soothing on your throat, which is the tissue around your vocal cords or it's possible that some of the warm steam from the tea is humidifying your vocal cords. 

But just as we talked about caffeine with coffee, be aware of how green tea or other teas affect your voice.

We should add that if you're already anxious about your sore throat, that can build tension and affect your ability to perform. But if tea helps you relax, it could then make you feel like your throat is improving. So if you feel like the tea if it makes you feel better, then by all means make yourself a warm cup!

Myth or Fact: Poor vocal technique causes nodes

Answer: BOTH

This is a very layered statement. Heavy voice users (people who use their voice a lot, whether they're professional speakers, singers, teachers, or waiters) can get vocal injuries all the time for all sorts of things. And in fact, a lot of vocal injuries are caused by speaking and not necessarily singing. Overusing your voice when you're ill, having intense coughing fits, shouting over loud crowds or music, and then trying to sing or speak. All of these things can factor into why a vocal injury might occur, and it's usually several factors all at once. Like poor vocal hygiene (poor hydration, air quality, irritants of any kind, like smoking of any kind or use of a lot of alcohol) combined with overuse of your voice. 

Inflammation begins the spectrum of vocal injury, and it's extremely common if you have a cold, run a fever, or you overuse your voice the day before, you may experience inflammation in your vocal folds.

So inflammation's really the first sign of some vocal strain. But then we obviously have some more serious vocal injuries that vocal professionals refer to as vocal cord lesions, which are non-cancerous growths that include things like nodules, polyps, and cysts, nodules, or nodes as singers like to refer to them. Nodes are the scary thing that singers are so afraid of, as they are growths on the vocal folds, like calluses on your hands, and cause the vocal cords or the vocal folds to not completely vibrate up against each other and get a really good vocal cord closure.

The point here is that singers get injured all the time and they need help. It's like professional athletes in sports. - we don't shame the football player who trips and breaks his ankle while playing on the field. And the same thing should be true with us singers. Singers are using their voices all the time and a variety of factors play into our vocal health and vocal injury.

And we need help when issues arise, speak with a voice teacher, laryngologist (a voice doctor), or speech therapist who you really trust Don't be afraid to just go and make that appointment, if you have any level of concern, go see somebody

But bottom line is, vocal injuries are very common and there's no shame in it at all.

Myth or Fact: Voice surgery will ruin your voice 

Answer: MYTH

Definitely a myth. If you're a singer, you have likely heard the story of Julie Andrews (the queen of our hearts) getting vocal surgery decades ago and losing her voice afterward. It's a story that has frightened singers for decades.

Do not let this scare you away from surgery, should you need it. We personally know many phenomenal singers who needed vocal surgery, and afterward, they shared that it was like they had a new voice and all of them have wished they hadn't dragged their heels for so long.

If it comes to the point where you need voice surgery, be very conscious, surgery of any kind is a serious situation, and make sure you're a really good candidate for it. Get a second opinion and be honest with your care team - speak up and take care of yourself.

Myth or Fact: Steaming helps you sing your best

Answer: Mostly FACT

This is another thing like magic tea -  many people believe that if they can just steam with the most expensive personal steamer then they'll be able to sing through anything. But the reality is, it's helpful, but only to a certain point.

The Surrey Voice Clinic in British Columbia shares that vocal folds have fluid-filled covers that vibrate to produce the voice. The drier the cover, the harder it is to produce voice, and the harder it is to produce sound.

To help the vocal folds work efficiently, surface hydration, (hydration that keeps moisture on the vocal fold cover) is as important as drinking enough fluid for the entire body, (which is referred to as systemic hydration, hydrating from the inside out). 

So yes, these two things work in tandem. In that regard, steaming can be helpful. But listen, you do not need a fancy steamer to get the benefits of steam. Instead, take a hot shower, breathe in the steam or carefully lean your face over a pot of boiling water.

Other kinds of things that can help with surface hydration are eating wet snacks like watermelon, apples, berries, and grapes. They help your mouth to water and activate mucus production. Hard candies or menthol (a drying ingredient)-free lozenges may also give you some short-term relief.

 So yes, for surface hydration, steam can help. And for systemic hydration - drink lots of water!

Myth or Fact: You should always warm your voice up before you sing

Answer: FACT

Everyone's best practice for warming up is different - some singers need 20+ minutes of vocalizing doing scales, and working out their entire range. While others may need just a few minutes or some can feel vocally warm by speaking.

How long you need to warm up depends on how functional your voice is that day. Something we suggest for singers to do is what's called daily swelling. First, sing in the morning or just at the same time every day. Sing the same phrase of music, or the same vocal exercise in the same key, and make a little note comparing it to yesterday or days ago, to help you understand what variables are affecting your voice.

Variables include hydration, how much sleep you got, what irritants you may have been exposed to, etc. This is a great way to understand where you're starting from and how much of a warmup you may need. And if you are going to warm up your voice, do so intentionally. If you're going to run through some exercises and not give it thought or be tuned into your body or listening to yourself, taking note of your posture, of how your breath feels, then you could end up doing more harm than good.

Myth or Fact: Belting is dangerous

Answer: MYTH

The problem with belting comes with poor training, a lack of experience, and not understanding that belting is a vocal style. It's something we can only lean into for so long. If you can redefine what belting is in your mind, then you've taken away a lot of the fear surrounding belting and will be able to produce your desired sound in a safe manner.

Understanding what belting is and being guided by a great teacher who can help you find that sound, is what will keep your voice healthy. There aren't any voice qualities inherently dangerous when you know what you're doing. 

Myth or Fact: Acid reflux can be solved by a diet change

Answer: BOTH

Often if you're experiencing vocal discomfort or a regular issue in your voice and you can't put your finger on the cause -  acid reflux is often to blame. Everyone's symptoms may stem from different things, so there's no one size fits all approach. However, treatment may include changing your diet, lifestyle, or medical treatment, whether that's over-the-counter medication or a prescription. This is why it's very important to have a voice doctor, or a voice therapist on your team to help you manage it.

However, if you want to see if acid reflux is an issue in your voice and give it a test on your own, try to stop eating four hours before bed and note any improvement. If you want to go one step further, cut out acidic food from your diet for a week or two and see how you feel. 

Myth or Fact: Clearing your voice is bad for your throat

Answer: TRUE

This is true mostly because throat clearing and coughing can turn into a vicious cycle. Think of it like the mosquito bite that you can't quit scratching - it's the same thing with throat-clearing. You might feel some presence of phlegm in your throat, so you clear your throat. Then your voice feels dry and irritated, so then you want to cough or clear your throat again. This could all be caused by a number of things, but the solution is to stay hydrated.

Something we encourage is to honestly vocalize or hum through it. That phlegm will often move on its own. Do some vocalizing, and grab a hard candy or a non-menthol lozenge. But the bottom line is that you need water, and you need it consistently!

At the end of the day, beyond all the myths and facts of vocal health - it's important that you listen to your body and perform in ways that feel the most comfortable to YOU. In addition, it can be empowering to have a team of medical professionals (voice doctors and therapists) on your side to help you maintain your voice to the level of quality that you desire!

If you're interested in diving deeper into this topic, or exploring other interesting musical theatre conversations - check out the Broadway Vocal Coach podcast! Or check us out on Instagram, and get involved in the conversation! 

And if you’re ready to get expert mentorship and ongoing training, then you’re invited to join us inside the BVC membership. Book a free consult with us - we can’t wait to hear your story and help you take the next step in your career.