For singing: How do u keep from having ur voice/throat dry out or what's the best way for reaching high notes?

Question

I am singing and playing piano (for alicia keys - if i ain't got you) at our charity fashion show at our school

i need some tips on singing high notes. sometimes when i get there my throat dries out and then its all bad from there, . other time i crack or something when i sing high. most of the time i am able to do it but yeah i want to make sure i can sing well for it. i dont wanna screw up and embarrass myself.

anyone have tips for singing?

Answer 1

Most important: don't drink any dairy before you sing! Try hot tea with honey/lemon, ice cold water and/or a little soda-no caffine.

Answer 2

To keep your voice from drying, get some tea. My personal favorite is Decaf Mint, and put honey in it. Alternatively, if your voice gets tired from practicing, you can "dry" it out first by gargling warm water with salt. There are also products out like Vocal-Ez that will relax your throat when you spray them, but its basically just an antiseptic to keep it from hurting when it gets sore. Its really only good in emergency situations in my opinion.

As far as hitting higher notes, basically just push your voice a little bit higher than what you can comfortably do, and practice that until you no longer need to be almost to the point of straining to hit it. If the note is too far out of your range though, or you get tired, you can damage your vocal cords and actually decrease your range (and tone) if you're not careful. Its all about being able to step out of your comfort zone until you can set a new goal to hit.

The key is to practice everyday if you can (even if all you would have time for is warm ups, that will still keep your cords in good shape), but when your throat gets tired, take a break.

If you're singing, not in practice but in front of ppl, a good method is to decide quickly if you can definately hit the note, or if it may crack or come out off pitch. If you think you might not hit it, as far as other ppl hearing you, it may be better to hit either an alternate note, like a harmony, or to hit it an octave lower. Guys have the wonderful advantage, where if I'm about to hit a high note and think I will miss it, can switch to falsetto, where I know I will hit it right on.

Answer 3

Buy some "Entertainer's Secret" at Walmart. It's a spray that you spray into the back of your throat, and it lubricates the throat and keeps it from drying out when you sing.

You can also drink lemon juice (a little gross, but it works!) -- because it causes your salivary glands to begin working to counteract the sour nature of the lemons.

If you are not a trained singer, and you try hitting the notes that Alicia Keys can hit, you will strain your voice and it will hurt. She and other trained singers rehearse and practice to get their vocal chords into shape to hit those notes, and they do it gradually.

Be careful about straining your chords; you may hurt your voice so badly that you won't be able to sing at all the day of the show.

Answer 4

Lollipops are good for coating your throat and sour ones make your saliva start to work more. And as always, Water Water Water!!! As for high notes, make sure you can at least sing the notes in your head voice (light airy sound) before moving onto your mix/ belting range. And if your throat starts to get warm and dry you are straining too much. Take a big breath and aim the sound for the roof of your mouth not your throat, that should release tension if you visualize it. Good luck!

Answer 5

I sing all the time. High notes and low notes. To keep my throat from drying out I drink plenty of water and do exercises for my voice to keep it strong. On the high notes you have to not try so hard to hit it. Most people who try really hard screw up really bad. If you can hit it only sometimes then it is not your note to sing. You can practice and then maybe you will be able to hit it every time and not have any trouble with it. I hit High notes every time because that is my key, but you can teach yourself to hit it by practicing. GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 6

Her voice is somewhat of a natural talent, some people just can't hit the notes she does, she supposedly can sing in more than the average octaves...which is quite a talent. However instead of placing insurance on her vocal chords, she placed them on her thunder thighs. Singing coaches won't help, you have to be capable of hitting notes like she does.

Answer 7

luke-warm water.
to reach high notes,you need to practise with the correct technique.such as project your voice,don't swallow.keep practising in order to get comfortable with your tone placement.i assume you still have ample time to prepare n practise.
emergency case:if during your presentation you don't feel confident of hitting that high notes,then switch to falsetto.at least u won't embarass yourself from cracking your voice.
everything will be fine.don't worry.

Answer 8

Sounds like you have a case of stage fright. When you get to the hard part you are tightening up your throat and making your voice crack. Just make sure you have some water handy if you need it and try not to worry. Be confident!

Answer 9

Puschase some Slippery Elm lonzenges from a health food store, all the big name singers swear by them. Also my son is a singer and he uses them, they coat your throat and prevent the vocal cords from drying out.

Answer 10

If you want exercises that will help prevent breaks/cracks in your voice then go to www.ForTheSinger.com and I also believe if you search around on that site you can also find Vocal Health Products.