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Help with an ageing voice

#1 User is offline   Terrydh Icon

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Posted 24 February 2012 - 01:20 PM

I have been a singer/songwriter for more than 40 years, I am a male and in my 60's. I have had quite a bit of vocal instruction over the years and hope by now I have the basics under control (warmup etc). What I find now is my voice is very "loose" and pleasant and controllable in the morning but starts to get "tight" in the evening (of course that's when I perform!). I don't know if it's something I'm eating, drinking or whatever that's doing it. I have asked a couple of singing coaches but to no avail. It would be great if I could just book gigs in the morning! Is there anyone out there who has had this experience and what can I do about it???
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#2 User is offline   Lazz Icon

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Posted 24 February 2012 - 03:19 PM

Get up much later.
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#3 User is offline   Terrydh Icon

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Posted 24 February 2012 - 03:27 PM

Dang! Never thought of that one. Wonder if I can sell it to my her.
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#4 User is offline   neuroron Icon

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Posted 24 February 2012 - 03:59 PM

View PostTerrydh, on 24 February 2012 - 12:20 PM, said:

I have been a singer/songwriter for more than 40 years, I am a male and in my 60's. I have had quite a bit of vocal instruction over the years and hope by now I have the basics under control (warmup etc). What I find now is my voice is very "loose" and pleasant and controllable in the morning but starts to get "tight" in the evening (of course that's when I perform!). I don't know if it's something I'm eating, drinking or whatever that's doing it. I have asked a couple of singing coaches but to no avail. It would be great if I could just book gigs in the morning! Is there anyone out there who has had this experience and what can I do about it???

How much do you talk during the day? That can really wear out/fatigue your voice - Much better if you alter your speaking voice during the day to a higher pitch, less throaty. Also make sure you drink a lot of water during the day and reduce caffeine as the vocal folds tend to dry out so anything you can do to maximize hydration - alcohol also hurts in this regard and unfortunately, we're more susceptible to this as we get older - good luck - Ron
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#5 User is offline   Terrydh Icon

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Posted 24 February 2012 - 05:19 PM

caffeine!!!

You could be on to something there. Three to four cups of black tea in the morning. I know that onions dry my vocal folds out, and I'm sure other foods do too. I just haven't identified which ones yet. I'll try eliminating caffeine and see what happens.
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#6 User is offline   DannyDep Icon

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 09:22 PM

View PostTerrydh, on 24 February 2012 - 01:20 PM, said:

I have been a singer/songwriter for more than 40 years, I am a male and in my 60's. I have had quite a bit of vocal instruction over the years and hope by now I have the basics under control (warmup etc). What I find now is my voice is very "loose" and pleasant and controllable in the morning but starts to get "tight" in the evening (of course that's when I perform!). I don't know if it's something I'm eating, drinking or whatever that's doing it. I have asked a couple of singing coaches but to no avail. It would be great if I could just book gigs in the morning! Is there anyone out there who has had this experience and what can I do about it???
Hi Terrydh,
Somebody else from my neck of the woods. B)
Except that I haven't gigged in almost 30 years.
More power to you for keeping it going.
I don't have any first hand info on your question but if you google "foods that help vocal chords" you'll see quite a bit of info on the subject.
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