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Vocal Care
For Songbirds with Sore Throats...
*scroll down for discount!
- Vocal Care
- Ten Vocal Care Tips for Winter
- Testimonials
- Bee in for a discount...
There is not a magic formula or secret potion that will always ensure good vocal health. However, there are certain things we can do to help look after our voices - and this is particularly important during winter when coughs, colds, and sore throats are common.
It is normally true that if we are generally healthy, our voice will be too. In this way, looking after our voices is not about tips and tricks, but rather about sensible lifestyle choices. However, practically speaking, it is not always possible to live exactly the way we should - very few people can honestly claim that they get regular exercise, eight hours sleep a night, don’t drink alcohol or caffeine, and are never stressed...
Unfortunately, sore throats and the like are as much part of winter as Christmas shopping, eating too much, New Year’s resolutions, and Slade’s “I wish it could be Christmas every day”. The first thing anyone with a sore throat should do is rest themselves and their voice, drink lots of water or other fluids (but not dehydrating drinks like coffee and alcohol) and avoid dust and smoke. It is also important not to use pastilles and vocal sprays that numb the throat, masking the problem, as then more serious damage can be done unwittingly.
Green Bay’s Manuka Honeysuckers are ideal for those trying to look after their voice. The honey soothes an inflamed throat, and by taking two lozenges, your throat is exposed to five minutes of anti-bacterial action, eliminating staphyloccus bacteria that can cause sore throats.
Honeysuckers also prevent the throat and mouth from drying, and facilitate good digestion (which then prevents the acid reflux which damages the throat) - not to mention the fact that they’re delicious, portable, and come in five different flavours: a natural and highly effective way to help protect your voice this winter.
Ten vocal care tips for the winter:
Edward Elias- Singer & Green Bay
Spokesperson for Vocal Health
1. Drink plenty of fluids: but avoid too much alcohol or caffeine, as they will dehydrate you.
2. Diet: certain foods can be detrimental to the voice. This varies from person to person, but generally speaking very spicy foods and too much dairy products should be avoided.
3. Coughing: although coughs are inevitable, try not to cough every time you feel a tickle, but try swallowing instead. The same is true for clearing the throat.
4. Stress: If you’re stressed, your whole body will feel the effect, and your voice is no different.
5. Sleep: it’s crucial to get enough sleep, particularly when your body may be fighting off infections which are prevalent in winter. Your voice is particularly effected by this.
6. Environment: try to avoid being in a dusty, smoky, or polluted environment. Even cold air can affect the voice - if it’s cold, wear a scarf over your mouth and try to breathe through your nose.
7. Steam: is good for you, as it hydrates the vocal folds. Inhale the steam from a hot drink, have a hot steamy shower, or go to the steam room if you have a gym with one.
8. Throat sprays: be very careful, as most have anaesthetic properties. This can ease sore throat pain initially, but will numb the voice so you won’t know what damage you may be doing if you speak or sing too much afterwards. Green Bay Manuka Honeysuckers however, contain natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties so will soothe a sore throat whilst combating infection.
9. Decongestants: although they may help to unblock your sinuses when you have a cold, be aware that most of the over-the-counter decongestants available are likely to irritate your throat too.
10. Medical: if you’re currently taking any medication, that may affect your voice, and although we’re all susceptible to get colds, coughs and sore throats during the winter months, if you have any serious complaints or pain you should go to see your GP.
Testimonials...
Chrissie Hammond- Lead Singer in Cheetah & Actress in Musical Theatre
For some time I played Grizabella in Cats. Its a vocally challenging role as the voice needs to be in optimum shape nightly. Although some vocal sweets will help a tired or compromised voice in an emergency, ultimately the usual ingredients have a dehydrating and quite stripping effect on the chords. I had always found Manuka honey helpful, but inconvenient whilst travelling, so was delighted when I came across the Honeysuckers. A revelation and a solution!
They provide a non dehydrating antibacterial treatment, (there's always a lurgy ready to pounce) whilst they sooth and lubricate topically. There's just nothing in them that's anti-vocal. They've become a valuable part of maintaining vocal health. When I ran out of them in Germany last year, I had some sent over and guarded them fiercely!
They are great in studios too, when you're facing a long recording day.
For singers, they're like a vocal survival kit in a sweet!
www.ralphallwood.com
I think the lozenges are absolutely delicious, and so does my sister. I won't presume from my ignorance to say anything medical about their benefits to the voice, but the sense of well-being they give certainly won't hinder good singing!
Ria Keen- Vocal Coach
www.riakeen.net
My preference was for the lemon ones, closely followed by the berries. I used them on several occasions to help soothe a sore and infected throat when teaching singing, and found them to have a soothing effect.
Tom Last - St. John's College Chorister
Eleven-year-old Tom Last has been a chorister in the world-famous choir of St John’s College, Cambridge for four years and sings up to twenty hours per week.
Singing aggravates throat conditions. I get a sore throat which goes into a slightly barking cough for three to four days. Once I have a cough, I can’t get above a D. I try to do my best, but the note doesn’t really happen. However I have found that taking Honeysuckers for a sore throat can really help. The average throat sweet makes my voice feel better for a short period of time, but then I can feel terrible again shortly after, whereas Honeysuckers make my voice feel good while I’m singing and they seem to make it better longer term.
My favourite flavour is Blackcurrant Bliss and they go down well with all my friends too- if I share them around with the other choristers, they’ll go in a minute!
Sally Rivers - Record Label Acclaimed Vocal Coach & Session Singer
www.coachingwithsoul.co.uk
www.thesessionsinger.co.uk
I'm an industrial voice user! I spend my days nurturing & inspiring singers in my role as vocal coach (often speaking for hours non stop!). At the weekends, I rock out with Sally Rivers & The Big Bash Band & in amongst all that, I am a busy mum to two very active boys!
In my role as session singer, I am often expected to sing for many hours without a break & it is essential I maintain the clarity of my voice. I've always taken the care of my voice very seriously & have taken Manuka honey for years. I am delighted to have discovered Honeysuckers - They taste divine & are perfect for when you are on the go. I generally don't recommend the use of lozenges to singers as they are nearly always packed with sugar & chemicals, but at last we can have something that might actually do us good! I love Honeysuckers.
Line Hilton - Top vocal coach and highest qualified SLS teacher in the UK
www.singvocalstudio.com
I'm already huge fan of Manuka honey as a medicinal remedy for throat infections etc. Honeysucker's recently helped me through a long day of teaching voice. I was experiencing a dry and scratchy throat at what turned out to be the start of a cold and I wondered if my voice would last through the day. I notice immediate relief after sucking on two Honeysucker losengers and my voice made it through to the end of the teaching day without conking out. I have already been recommending the Honeysucker range to my vocal students. My personal preference is Blackcurrent Bliss!
Bee in for a Discount...
As the cold and flu season is now upon us and with all that Christmas carolling coming up, Green Bay are running a 15% discount on all flavours of Honeysuckers to singers all through December as we know that you want to make sure your voice is kept in good condition throughout the festive season. So don't waste time and order now using the code below!
DISCOUNT CODE: VOCALCARE15
Green Bay's Vocal Care Range :
