It is the most wonderful time of year, that is for sure, but it can be really hard on singer's voices. Winter months can be tough on your singing stride during these cheery times for a variety of reasons:

1. There are a lot of different colds and illnesses that go around. (I've got a gentle bought of laryngitis as I write now.) You are are spending a lot of time indoors at school and work recycling shared air...

2. Heaters... They are necessary and fantastic but so drying for your voice (and skin).

3. Adjusting to both in and outdoors.- I remember years auditioning for things in New York. Leaving a dry heated apartment, walking the streets in bitter weather cold wet weather, and then entering a new warm dry place for the audition.- Tough

4. Festivities. There are a lot of parties this time of year. If you are doing some important singing in the days following you may have to skip out on celebrating. The hardest thing you can do to your voice is speak loudly over loud music at parties. It is a terrible strain on your voice.

5. Alcohol and cigarettes- I hope if you are a singer you are not a smoker, but you may be around a lot of them at parties. Also, alcohol really dries out the voice and sets the body off.

So what can we do about it all?

Be smart, think about yourself as a singer in every situation, not just your audition or performance. If you have important singing coming up that matters you need to stay hydrated, wash your hands a lot to hold back germs, switch seats when you are near someone coughing, stay quiet at events until you get to a quiet area to speak. Keep the alcohol intake to a minimum, drink lots of water to counter it. And DON'T SMOKE PERIOD.

Remember if you are in performance mode with your singing you should treat your body like an athlete during training. It is the same exact thing. We are requiring the appropriate muscles to support our vocal mechanism so that we can freely release and project beautiful sounds. It is like we are running or dancing. We need to baby our physique so it all works correctly.

I find when performances are coming up I often go a bit recluse on everyone just to protect my vocal mechanism and body from germs and strain (boring I know, but definitely effective).

-They don't call as divas for nothing. We have to protect ourselves. If you are on stage and can't hit your high note because you are dried out, strained, or sick, there is no time to stop a show and explain. The healthy singer will take your place.

Sing well!

Ariella Vaccarino (creator of Voice Lessons To Go)

Here is my Vocal Repair CD for the tired, overused voice:

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