• Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day to keep your throat moist.
• Warm up your voice by singing or humming in the shower.
• Use good posture while speaking whether standing or sitting.
• Speak clearly, but not too loudly on your cell phone.
• Breathe from deep down in the small of your back, letting air flow easily into your lungs as you inhale.
• Be sure to exhale during exertion, do not grunt.
• Articulate the ends of words to slow down your rate of speech.
• Do not speak with too many words on one breath. Inhalation should be automatic and inaudible.
• Avoid dairy products that thicken mucus and cause throat clearing.
• Stop smoking and avoid excessive alcohol use.
• If hoarseness persists, see your physician or otolaryngologist.

Some suggestions about Cell Phone use.

• Speak softly: a cell phone amplifies your voice.
• Articulate clearly and distinctly.
• Use an earpiece and position the microphone under your mouth for optimal sound projection.
• Turn your cell phone ringer off or on vibrate mode during a meeting.
• Use good posture while speaking, whether standing or sitting.
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day to keep your vocal folds moist.
• Turn off your car radio or CD while you are speaking to avoid speaking more loudly than you should.
• Pronounce the ends of words to slow down your rate of speech and improve speech clarity.
• Do not speak on your cell phone in a confined public setting. It is impolite to subject others to your conversation.
• Smile as you speak. Listeners will hear energy in your voice.

Common Causes of Hoarseness & Fatigue in Speakers.

• Speaking at too low a pitch level and ‘on’ your vocal folds. You should speak at basically the same pitch level as you sing, but do not use an affected speech tone.
• Letting your breath drop at the end of a sentence. Maintain breath support throughout the end of an utterance. Articulate the last word.
• Speaking with too many words or thoughts on one breath. Use an inaudible, replenishing breath with you need one, rather than running out of air.
• Talking nonstop. If you are in a vocally demanding profession such as sales or teaching, schedule 10 minutes of vocal rest per hour.
• Yelling and loud talking at parties, work, or on your cell phone. Focus your voice properly and use breath support if you must project. Wear one ear plug to monitor the loudness of your voice in noisy settings.
• Constant throat clearing and coughing due to sinus problems, allergies, asthma or a dry environment. Sip water and use a dry swallow or silent cough ("huh") if you must cough. If you use an antihistamine or steroid inhaler; drink at least 80+ ounces of water and consider mucinex or guaifenesin; medications that increase and thin mucus. Low blood pressure and antidepressant medications also dry out your vocal folds. Do not gargle Listerine or mouthwashes containing alcohol.
• Aspirin products. Speakers should avoid use of aspirin products on a day in which they are to speak excessively. This includes Aleve, Motrin, Advil, Aspirin, etc. If coupled with excessive voice use, these agents thin your blood and can predispose you to a vocal fold hemorrhage. Tylenol is acceptable.
• Frequent heartburn, a bitter taste in your mouth, lump in your throat, excessive mucus and throat clearing may indicate acid reflux, which may irritate your vocal folds. Avoid mints, fatty foods, nuts, chocolate, eating late at night and eliminate spicy or high-acid foods. Take Pepcid AC or Zantac and elevate the head of your bed with a wedge or bricks under the bed legs. Eat 3 hours before sleeping; if you can’t, eat light and no-fat.
• Alcohol and caffeine. You must drink an extra glass of water for each caffeinated or alcoholic beverage you drink to prevent vocal fold dehydration. Drink water until your urine is clear.
• Physical fatigue. Try to get 8 hours of sleep and eat balanced meals.
• Do not smoke cigarettes. Smoke is detrimental to vocal fold tissues.

Tips to Warm Up Your Voice.

• Sing or hum in the shower every morning.
• Drink enough water until your urine is clear. Add an extra glass for each alcoholic and caffeinated beverage.
• Recite a poem, prayer, or story aloud every morning. Speak slowly and breathe when your body says so.
• Be aware of proper sitting and standing posture. Stand with your breast bone facing forward. Ground your feet.
• Take a relaxed breath before you speak. Keep your shoulders down and use natural gestures.
• If your mouth gets dry before you speak, bite the tip of your tongue with your back teeth or move your tongue tip back and forth inside your bottom lip.
• Avoid milk products, chocolate, and fatty foods prior to a lecture. They will thicken your saliva.
• Say tongue twisters every morning and before you present. Red leather–yellow leather-light blue leather.
• Pronounce the ends of words which will slow down your rate of speech. I would like to talk now.
• Smile as you speak. It gives your voice energy.

Public Speaking Tips

• Drink a glass of water before you speak.
• Avoid fats or dairy products before you speak.
• Moisten your mouth by biting the tip of your tongue with your molars or swish tongue inside your bottom lip.
• Inhale slowly down into your feet and exhale slowly relaxing your arms, shoulders, and chest. Breathe through your nose with your jaw relaxed but lips closed.
• Keep your back teeth apart and your jaw loose.
• Hum a few lines to a song as a vocal warm-up.
• Rapidly repeat tongue twisters to loosen your lips, tongue, and jaw.
  Red leather-yellow leather-light blue leather
  A big blue badly bleeding blister
• Keep your arms relaxed and by your sides and gesture naturally.
• Articulate the ends of words to slow down your speaking rate.
  I want to target this point.
• Stand tall... look at your audience ... pause ... then speak.
• Smile and enjoy the applause.

Common Causes of Hoarseness & Fatigue in Singers

• Speaking at too low a pitch level and ‘on’ your vocal folds.
  You should speak at basically the same pitch level as you sing, but do not use an affected speech tone. Just as your singing voice resonates in the mask, so should your speaking voice.
• Letting your breath drop at the end of a sentence.
  Maintain breath support throughout the end of an utterance. Articulate the last word.
• Talking nonstop.
  If you are in a vocally demanding profession such as sales or teaching, schedule 10 minutes of vocal rest per hour.
• Yelling and loud talking at parties, work, or on your cell phone.
  Focus your voice properly and use breath support if you must project. Wear one ear plug to monitor the loudness of your voice in noisy settings.
• Constant throat clearing and coughing due to sinus problems, allergies, asthma or a dry environment.
  Sip water and use a dry swallow or silent cough (“huh”) if you must cough. If you use an antihistamine or a steroid inhaler; drink at least 80 + ounces of water and consider Humidbid or guaifenesin; medications that increase and thin mucus. Use a steam inhaler for 5 minutes in the AM and PM. Perform nasal irrigation in the shower – make your own saline solution. Don’t gargle Listerine and mouthwashes containing alcohol.
• Aspirin products.
  Singers should avoid using aspirin products at all times. This includes Aleve, Motrin, Advil, Aspirin, etc. If coupled with excessive voice use, these agents thin your blood and can predispose you to a vocal fold hemorrhage. Tylenol is acceptable.
• Frequent heartburn, a bitter taste in your mouth, lump in your throat, or excessive mucus may indicate acid reflux, which may irritate your vocal folds.
  Excessive thoracic pressure typical of singing may cause reflux. Avoid mints, fatty foods, nuts, chocolate, eating late at night and eliminate spicy or high-acid foods. Take Pepcid AC and elevate the head of your bed with a wedge or bricks under the bed legs. Eat 3 hours before sleeping; if you can’t, eat light and no-fat.
• Alcohol and caffeine. Drink an extra glass of water before and after each caffeinated or alcoholic beverage to prevent vocal fold dehydration. Pee Pale!
• Physical fatigue.
  Try to get 8 hours of sleep and eat balanced meals.
• Do not smoke cigarettes.
  Smoke is detrimental to vocal fold tissues and limits your ability to breathe deeply. Smoking marijuana is 20 times worse than cigarettes.