Top Ten Tips & Cures for a Lost Singing Voice (Updated November 2022)

So you've scored a really great gig and you''re getting more and more excited about it as D-day draws near.  Then it happens...  You wake up one morning and realise that your singing voice has gone AWOL!  It could be down to a cold or cough... or you spent too much time in a smoky atmosphere... or you've been out the night before shouting over loud music... or you were shouting at your favourite sports team during the match...  or you've been overworking and not getting enough sleep... or ... well, to be honest it doesn't matter what the cause was.  All you want to know is how to fix it.  Below are the top tips from various sources for the best ways to get rid of that "frog" fast.

In no particular order:

1  Steam

A steam treatment can break up nasal congestion.  You inhale the steam while holding your face over a bowl of hot water whilst covering your head with a towel.  Probably needs to be done every couple of hours if the problem is severe.  Most people seem to think plain steam is best but variations include adding herbs and essences such as eucalyptus, peppermint, sage, thyme, chamomile, rosemary, pine, oregano and juniper.


2  Nasal Saline Irrigation


Cleaning out the sinuses with salt water is an old remedy to alleviate congestion.  A saline solution (using distilled water) is poured or sprayed into the nostril and then flows through the sinuses, cleaning out bacteria and allergens.

Here are a couple that I've bought over the years:

Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Economy-Light-Weight-Neti-Pot-Friendly/dp/B072MLPNKS/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=neti+pot&qid=1669654879&sr=8-15

Amazon.uk https://www.amazon.com/Economy-Light-Weight-Neti-Pot-Friendly/dp/B072MLPNKS/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=neti+pot&qid=1669654879&sr=8-15

3  Pastilles and Potions


There are many types of throat pastilles and mixtures available over the counter at the pharmacy.

Pastilles:  Fisherman's Friend, Vocalzone and various other throat sweets/pastilles can be bought easily from most stores.

Liquids:  Glycerin linctus, pure glycerin and manuka honey all have their fans.


4  Medicines


Personally, I wouldn't recommend using any medicines unless prescribed by your doctor as the voice is such a delicate instrument.  However, some swear by using cough mixture in order to thin the mucous, as a temporary cure.  But make sure to use the gentler children's version!  Gargling with soluble aspirin has also been mentioned.


5  Drinks


My personal favourite for a voice that's playing hard to get is a hot drink made with boiled water, honey, lemon juice, fresh grated ginger and a tot of rum (optional). For me, it's the ginger that does it - the hotter the better - and it seems to chase away any colds that may be hovering about too.


Other suggestions are:  Gargling with hot water with honey and cider vinegar; gargling warm salt water; drinking fresh pineapple juice; drinking hot and cold drinks alternately every half hour (apparently this works like a hot/cold compress does on the body); drinking lots and lots of water!


6  Herbs and Spices


Recommended herbs for the voice are freshly-grated ginger, sage, turmeric.  These can all be used in solutions for gargling.


7  Vocal Exercises


Consider how you are warming up.  Make sure that the warm ups you do are not only exercising the larynx, but also warming up your voice when you bring chest resonance into play.  Your voice resonating and vibrating in your chest will work to dislodge some of the mucus before you start singing.  Lip trills are good.  Also short sharp notes sung using the diaphragm - sounds like laughing and is a lot of fun!


8  Rest


Sometimes though what the voice really needs is some good old R&R.  Try not to speak much and definitely don't shout or raise your voice.  Fresh air and exercise could also help to kick any lurking bugs and make sure to get plenty of sleep.


9  Voice Specialists


If all else fails, it might be time to call in the specialists.  I'm sure there are many qualified practitioners out there but it's always best with this sort of thing to get recommendations.

10 Miscellaneous

Not so sure about some of these but if you're desperate they might be worth a shot:

• Avoiding diary products - thought to create excess mucus
• Taking lots of Vitamin C
• Eating crisps (yes, someone seriously recommends this!)

And finally...


Prevention is better than cure


Drink lots of water, eat healthy to make sure you get all your vitamins and minerals, get plenty of sleep, wash your hands often to avoid bugs and viruses, avoid too much alcohol or caffeine. For dry air due to arid climates or indoor heating, use a hot steam vaporizer. Avoid stress and emotional upset before shows or recording. If you are taking an airplane,  wrap a scarf around your mouth to protect your voice from dry air. Also, try a sleep collar or scarf to keep your  throat warm.  But of course, all this is much easier said than done.  :-)  Good luck!




Special thanks to Tamsin Collison for many of the ideas in this article.

Musicians and Copyright

Apologies for being AWOL recently but I've been super-busy!

So far this summer I have been to Greece twice, up north to Wirral and I'm about to start my rural tour in Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland tomorrow.  And BBC weather states that we're heading for a UK heatwave - yay!  I won't need any wellies - which is just as well as I couldn't find any sequinned ones...

And next month I'm off to Moscow to perform there for the first time.  Before that I'll be back up north to Wakefield and then in December back again to Greece for some gigs over the Christmas period. :-)

I've also been rehearsing for a new European project with guitarist Jonny Phillips for the London Jazz Festival in November.  I'm planning to sing songs in Italian, French, German, Spanish and Russian!  Time to brush up on those language skills...

But back to the reason for this post.  An excellent guide to copyright has just been published by the wonderful Jazz Services.  It contains important information that every musician/composer should know.  Definitely worth checking out to make sure you're not missing out on any potential income.

Download the Jazz Services Guide to Copyright here

Preparing for a Radio or Newspaper Interview

Only one week until the start of my "Celebrating the Divas of Jazz" tour!  The first gig is Stratford Jazz at The Chapel in Stratford upon Avon on Sunday 6th February.

Last week I appeared on two radio shows.  The first was an interview with John Hellings for BBC Hereford and adjoining regions and the second was with Ruth Fisher for the Good Groove Show on Solar Radio.  Listening back I realised that I might have done better if I'd prepared a bit.  I spent a lot of time searching for things to say and interspersing my sentences with "you know" - one of my pet hates!  Here are the sorts of questions I should have been prepared to answer:

How did you start out?
Which artists are you influenced by?
Who have you worked with?
Who would you like to work with?
What's been the highlight of your career?
What are you currently working on?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What's on your wish list?
What are your plans for the future?
When/where are you performing next?
(And remember to plug website, facebook, twitter etc!)

I suppose I know most of the answers to these but put on the spot and not having  thought about them recently meant my answers ended up a bit garbled.  So next time I will be prepared!

I've got a rehearsal with my band this week.  Can't wait!  And I've still got to decide what to wear for my first gig.  Swithering at the moment between either a black or a red dress...




About to be interviewed at Solar Radio studio



Organising a UK Jazz Tour - Update

I've just realised that I've been a little lax lately with the blog posts.  So thought I'd update you and let you know how I've been doing with my "homework"...

• Contracts/email confirmations have been received and signed for all dates.
• Received 80% of the funding grant awarded by Jazz Services. (The final 20% to be sent on the completion of the tour and my return of assessment reports/forms for each gig.)
• Flyers and posters printed and sent out to all venues for February dates.  Publicity material for March dates to be sent out in the next couple of weeks.
• Press release emailed to radio stations.  So far 3 interviews have been booked - BBC Stoke, BBC Devon and Solar Radio.
• Press release sent to local newspapers.  Nice preview in Berwickshire newspaper and another feature planned.
• Tour details uploaded to sites like remotegoat and ReverbNation.  I'd definitely recommend remotegoat as it very helpfully syndicates automatically to local newspapers and other online sites like Ents24.
• Accommodation booked.
• Rehearsal with band organised. 

So almost time to concentrate solely on the music...  Aaah - my favourite part!  :-)

How To Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

Do you make New Year's Resolutions?  I gave up making them a few years ago thinking that if I need to change something I can do it at anytime and shouldn't have to wait for January.  But they say a change is as good as a rest so on 1st January 2011 I've decided once again to make those promises that just beg to be broken...  To give myself a fighting chance I did some research into ways to help keep those promises.

According to various sources, there are 5 qualities that a successful resolution needs to have:

Specific: The desire to change is sometimes vague. Do some research and ask some important questions such as, "What risks am I running by going along just as I have been?"

Measurable: Weigh the benefits of change. Set small goals and monitor your behavior. For example, keep a record of how much you eat, drink, spend, etc.

Attainable: Begin making small changes. For example, you might give up some TV time and redirect your energy. Tell family and friends that the leopard is about to change his spots. Make a firm commitment.

Realistic: Banish and sacrifice vices while embracing and committing to new virtues. Give yourself all the help and support you can by creating a sense of accountability to others. Encourage family and friends to prod, provoke and push you.

Maintainable: This is the challenging part. You're finished with your old habit and into your new life. It is a lot easier to maintain your resolution than it is to regain it. Do your self a monumental favor and stay focused on WHY you set this resolution in the first place!

Those who stay the course and fulfill their resolutions share these characteristics:

1. They believe in their ability to change.
2. They did not indulge in self-blame or excuse making.
3. They avoid wishful thinking and concentrate on results.
4. They understand their motivators and reasons why the resolution is important.

And just because I love lists and Top 10s here are the

Top Ten Most Common Resolutions:

1.   Enjoy life more
2.   Get fit/Start exercising
3.   Lose weight
4.   Stop smoking
5.   Find true love
6.   Cut out alcohol
7.   Save money/Get out of debt
8.   Learn something new
9.   Help others/Become a volunteer
10. Get organised

Do any of these make it onto your list? Seven out of the Top Ten apply to me!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Live Music and the Recession

I've just read an interesting article on Yahoo News that reports that revenue has fallen for touring bands this year.  When I said "interesting", what I meant was depressing!  Just last year, live gigs and selling merchandise was being touted as the saviour of the music business.  Yes, album sales were down with the increase in downloads but if musicians and bands were any good then they could prove their worth and increase their income by touring.  And personally I've found that live gigs are the only way to sell albums now with record shops having all closed down...  So what now?  Answers on a postcard please.  Or in the comments section at the end of this post. :-)

In other news...  I've just ordered my flyers!  Found a really great site called alocalprinter.com that produces eco-friendly flyers cheaply and efficiently.  Hopefully they'll arrive sometime next week.  Just in time really because most of the venues need them 6-8 weeks in advance of the performance date.  I've 13 dates in total now.  I was let down by 3 venues but thankfully found 3 more to replace them.  Just as well that 13 is my lucky number!  I'm really hoping that things turn around by next year for the live music industry or that someone comes up with an ingenious solution that will save my tour in the comment section below...  Here's the final list:


Juliet Kelly presents... Inspired: Celebrating the Divas of Jazz
UK TOUR

Featuring George Moore - piano/arrangements, Oli Hayhurst/Dave Mannington - bass & Milo Fell - drums

06 Feb - Stratford Jazz, Stratford upon Avon 8pm

14 Feb - Royal Albert Hall (Elgar Room), London 8.30pm

17 Feb - Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham 8pm

18 Feb - Voicebox, Derby 8pm

19 Feb - The Maltings, Berwick-upon-Tweed 7.30pm

24 Feb - The Hawth, Crawley 8.15pm

25 Feb - Camberwell Crypt, London 9.30pm

05 Mar - Jazz Cafe Posk, London 8.30pm

10 Mar - Joe's Bar & Grill, Oxford 8pm

17 Mar - Restormel Arts, St Austell 8pm

18 Mar - The Bebop Club, Bristol 9pm

19 Mar - Chapel Arts Centre, Bath 8pm

20 Mar - Ipswich Jazz Club, Ipswich 8pm



And December's Vocal Zone goes out tonight at 8pm on UK Jazz Radio.

Gig Checklist (or Procrastination is the Thief of Time)

Last week I pre-recorded my first show for UK Jazz Radio.  Should be hitting the airwaves soon - will keep you posted!

I haven't completed all the "homework" for this week though...  When you were at school/college studying, did you ever do that thing where you procrastinated by buying and arranging new files or arranging folders on your computer and changing your desktop or screensaver instead of doing any real work?  Makes you feel as if you're doing something to get organised but in reality not much gets done!  Well, I've had that sort of week...  So I thought I'd post my efforts in creating an excellent gig checklist so that you'll have no excuse when it comes to arranging YOUR gigs/tour! :-D  Feel free to copy and share.

Gig Checklist

Venue
Date
Address
Contact
Marketing contact
Technical contact/ Sound engineer
Capacity
Box office tel/ Ticket price
Fee/Guarantee/Door Split
Payment arrangements
Merchandise sales (commission?)
Photo & copy deadline/ requirements
Number of flyers/posters
Parking and loading
Local newspaper contacts
Local radio contacts
Soundcheck time/ Doors open
Set times
Piano
Food/Drinks
Accommodation
Travel directions

10 Tips to Improve Your Voice and Become a Better Singer

I came to singing quite late compared to most.  No school or church choir for me.  So when I started studying jazz singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, I became very quickly aware of just how much I didn't know!  But I was a quick learner and soon got to the stage where I was passing on my newly acquired knowledge in workshops and adult education classes as well as private singing lessons.  I stopped teaching a couple of years ago but am often asked for lessons from singers who have come to see me perform or visited my website.  I don't really have much time for teaching these days so thought I'd pass on these tips to help singers and would-be singers improve and make the best of their voices. 

1.  Breathing:  I know it sounds boring but breathing really is the cornerstone of all singing.  Or maybe I should phrase that differently...  It's really all about breath control.  The most common mistake seen with novice singers is that when they take a deep breath, they end up with their shoulders around their ears.  Most of the expansion should take place in the lower part of the chest and this is known as diaphragmatic breathing.  Sounds complicated but in simple terms it is just making sure that your lungs fill up from the bottom first and on no account should those shoulders be raised.  Also be careful that you're not holding your stomach in.  So often we try to flatten our stomachs by holding them in (especially if there's a bit of excess baggage in that area!) but to breathe correctly, especially at the beginning, we really need to let it all hang out!  A good exercise is to practise deep breathing whilst lying flat on the floor which prevents shoulders from raising as we breathe in.  After you have mastered diaphragmatic breathing you will then move on to controlling the flow of air and soon you'll be able to impress with those super long notes!

2.  Mirror:  I could also have called this tip Posture but I've called it mirror because if you're on your own you'll need a mirror to check your posture and the position of your mouth and jaw.  Shoulders need to be relaxed and down, weight ideally balanced (no hunching and no putting most of your weight on one foot!) and the mouth needs to be open fairly wide with the jaw relaxed.  This is the position that should be adopted for vocal exercises.  We'll come to those later.

3.  Relax:  This follows on from the point about the shoulders - keep them back and down.  But the throat, jaw and chest also need to be relaxed.  I know - it's easier said than done!  If there's tension in your throat you'll end up straining your voice.  In most cases, if your throat hurts when you sing, then you're doing something wrong.

4.  Listen:  It always surprises me how little time singers who are just starting out devote to listening to other singers and instrumentalists.  In jazz this is doubly important - in fact I'd say it's mandatory.  As I mentioned earlier, I starting singing quite late and I'd never listened to jazz much before I started singing it.  But I made up for that by listening to the greats like Ella Fitgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone etc etc for hours upon end.  I also listened to instrumentalists like Horace Silver, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Lee Morgan, Herbie Hancock and many more.  Most importantly, get out and go and see today's artists performing live.  On that note (ahem), this link takes you to a list of my upcoming gigs. :-) Juliet Kelly Live  And if you're a jazz singer, please remember that you also need to go and listen to instrumentalists as well as singers. 

5.  Record Yourself:  I know it's painful sometimes but it really helps A LOT to listen to recordings and or videos of yourself singing.  It helps you to hear where you're going wrong as it's sometimes difficult to tell "in the moment".  And if nothing else, it will be a record of how much you've improved a few months down the line!

6.  Lyrics:  For me, performance is equally as important as vocal technique.  And as a singer, if you only pay attention to the melody, tone and rhythm you may sound amazing but this may be at the expense of making a connection with the audience.  Of course your technique matters and a great tone and a beautiful sounding instrument is important but as a singer you have the bonus of being able to communicate to the audience with lyrics.  To make the most of this, think about the lyrics and the meaning of them and use this to inform the choices you make about your tone and phrasing.   

7.  Find A Teacher:  This is not always absolutely necessary but if you intend to sing professionally, I would advise going to see a vocal coach or singing teacher at some point.  It's probably most useful at the beginning as it stops you getting into bad habits but can also be useful later on to move your technique to the next level.  Always get a recommendation as, like anything else, there are a lot of bad teachers out there as well as good ones.

8.  Quit:  Okay - I know this won't be popular but if you're a smoker, it really will help your voice if you quit smoking.  There are a lucky few who can smoke 50-a-day and still have a beautiful tone and powerful lungs but these are very few and far between.  Why not quit for 3 months and then if you really don't see any improvement in your breathing, your range or tone then start smoking again... ;-)

9.  Find Your Own Style:  When we first start out it makes sense for us to emulate the singers we love and that's totally fine.  But there will come a time when, to stand out from the crowd, you'll need to develop your own style.  Everyone has a different physical and psychological make up - why not make your unique sound your strength rather than trying to sound like someone else? 

10.  Practice:  Couldn't leave this obvious one out!  Little and often is more effective than getting all enthusiastic and doing 3 hours one day and then leaving it for a couple of weeks. Try to do at least 10mins a day to start off with.  There are some excellent free videos on YouTube.

Wow!  That turned out to be a lot longer than I thought it would be but I hope you've found some useful information here.  Please feel free to comment and/or add your own tips.  And please don't hesitate to ask any questions and I will do my best to answer!

How to Plan and Carry Out a Successful Jazz Tour

Okay - I've decided what I want to write about.  The title of this post is perhaps a bit of wishful thinking at this point as I'm far from sure that the tour will be a successful one!  But I thought it might be helpful to myself and others to document my journey - setting up, marketing and carrying out a jazz tour in the UK. 

I've completed five UK tours in the past.  For three of them I've had help from Jazz Services and for the other two, I've been fortunate enough to receive an Arts Council award.  My last UK tour was at the end of 2009 where I promoted my latest album, Licorice Kiss.  Although up to now I've mainly concentrated on writing, performing and recording my own original songs, my latest project is going to concentrate mainly on jazz standards.  I've called it "Inspired: Celebrating the Divas of Jazz" and it will feature new arrangements of songs from the jazz singers past and present who have inspired and influenced me.  I'll also include specially written songs alongside those of  the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Norma Winstone and Cassandra Wilson,

So... to get you up-to-date, here's a short summary of what I've been up to over the last few months:

April-July 2009

• Called up various promoters throughout the UK to ask if I could send them info about my new project
• Checked availability dates with my band  (can be problematic - especially if like me your band is comprised of excellent in-demand musicians!)
• Sent an email with a few paragraphs about the project and proposed dates with an attached mp3 of the band
• About a week later, followed up the email with a call to see if they've had a chance to listen (at this stage, barring a couple of exceptions, most of them hadn't)
• Another follow up call 10 days later.  Tried to get an idea if they were interested and attempted to get either a booking or a pencilled date if they were.
• And repeat...  and repeat...  and repeat...

August 2009

• Filled in my Jazz Services touring support application form.  (Important to get this in before the deadline and to read guidance notes carefully.)
• Waited to hear decision about grant...

September 2009

• Got news of successful application.  Yay!  I didn't receive all the money I asked for as funds were very tight and quality of applicants very high but it's great to have help to make this tour happen!

Next on To-Do List: 

• Confirm pencilled dates and confirm dates with band
• Write press release for tour
• The music!  Never as much time as I would like for this but need to write some new songs and work on new arrangements with my pianist George

If you have any comments, tips, suggestions or questions I'd love to hear from you.  I'll try to help you if I can and will of course appreciate any help from other bloggers, musicians, fans, journalists, etc etc...