Singing with a Sore Throat
Ok, so maybe this wasn’t the best title, but it got your attention didn’t it?
It’s best advised that singers don’t sing on a sore throat, like, ever. But, as singers, we have performances. Performances that we can’t reschedule.
So what should we do? Here are several options to choose from, and you should pick and choose what works best for you.
1. Drink tea and warm liquids
This seems pretty straightforward, tea, especially with honey, can soothe the throat. Honey is antibacterial in nature and can coat the throat which reduces irritation. Singers swear by Throat Coat Tea, including me.
2. Drink plenty of water
When in doubt, hydrate! While this seems counterintuitive, drinking water (especially ice-cold water) can help soothe inflammation in the throat.
3. Get plenty of rest
This of course only works if you have time before your next performance! Getting a good nights rest or even a power nap can help you recharge and help your immune system.
4. Try an acupressure technique
Ok, I know this sounds strange and I was also skeptical at first. But when I tell you my sore throat went away instantly I was SHOOK. Now I demonstrate it to all my in-person students if they come in with a sore throat and I try my best to explain it to my Zoom students too.
5. Gargle with saltwater
I’ll admit, this method is quite unpleasant. It feels like one step away from swallowing a mouthful of seawater. But, it can reduce swelling and calm inflammation and irritation.
6. Try steam therapy
This is actually easier than what it may sound like. While yes, there are contraptions that are designed specifically to target humidifying the vocal folds, this can easily be done with items found around the house. Simply warm a large bowl of water until visible steam appears, then hover your face over it while draping a towel over your head to trap the steam. The steam adds moister to the vocal folds directly that would normally take the body hours to do by drinking water.
7. Go on vocal rest
Sometimes we get sore throats from overuse like screaming at a concert or talking over loud background noise in a busy setting. In that case, it would be best to take some time off from speaking. I recommend downloading a text-to-speech app on your phone or carrying around a notebook or whiteboard (I used to use a clipboard, a blank piece of paper, and a clear plastic document protector as a makeshift whiteboard) in order to communicate without using your voice.
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Feel free to try one or all of these methods or a mix of several. I personally use a combination of the acupressure technique and drinking tea, but everyone’s voice responds to each method differently, so go ahead and see what works for you!
