How to Keep Your Singing Voice Healthy and Performing At Your Peak

How to Keep Your Singing Voice Healthy and Performing At Your Peak

Performing at the peak performance level of your voice requires vocal care, a good technique practice and the use of cool downs and conditioning techniques to keep your voice in great shape. 

In today’s blog I’ll outline the most important elements to keep your voice healthy and performing in peak condition. All of these techniques and methods are taught inside of my Cole Vocal Method, which you can learn inside the Vocal Freedome Circle, an 8 week self-study program.

Click here to: Learn more about the Cole Vocal Method

Click here to: Learn more about the Vocal Freedom Circle

Here’s a quick outline of the topics covered in today’s blog:  

• Vocal care 
• What are Cooldowns?
• How and when to use Cooldowns
• What are Conditioning exercises?
• How and when to use Conditioning exercises 

Let’s dive in!

1. Vocal care 

Vocal care is an essential part of a voice that performs well and can withstand the wear and tear that accompanies performance. 

Vocal care from a holistic perspective encompasses the body, mind and spirit of the singer to keep the voice healthy. 

Let’s start with the physical: 

To take care of your voice, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, avoid smoking, and rest your voice if it feels hoarse or strained. Using a humidifier and avoiding excessive yelling or whispering can also help maintain vocal health.

Vocal care physiology also involves understanding how the vocal folds (or vocal cords) function to produce sound and how to maintain their health. Key aspects include proper hydration, vocal warm-ups, and avoiding strain to ensure the vocal folds vibrate effectively and remain injury-free.

Next, let’s address the psychological and mental health aspects of vocal care: 

Vocal care from a mental health perspective emphasizes the connection between emotional well-being and vocal health, as stress and anxiety can lead to vocal strain and other issues. Techniques such as mindfulness, breath control, vocal technique, and voice therapy can help manage stress and improve both mental and vocal health.

Finally, the spiritual side of singing which is the essence of you: 

Vocal care from a spiritual perspective involves recognizing the connection between your voice and your emotional and spiritual well-being. Practices such as sound healing, chanting, group singing, or vocal activation can help release emotional blocks and enhance self-expression, allowing for a deeper connection to your inner self and a more fulfilling spiritual journey.

 

2. What are Cooldowns?

In the early 1990’s I coined the term “cooldowns” for singers. Yes, I was one of the first vocal coaches online and have been teaching voice for 30+ years now. I was lucky enough to stumble across a technique that contained cooldowns within them as a way to monitor and maintain vocal health. 

Vocal cooldowns are important for singers to help “cooldown” their vocal muscles, reduce the inflammation that occurs with performance, and prevent overall strain after singing. 

The most effective exercises include we have ever found are a series within the Cole Vocal Method called “Cooldowns”. 

These exercises help ease tension, reduce strain and hoarseness as well as maintain vocal health between performances.

To learn more about the Cooldowns inside the Cole Vocal Method:

Click here to visit the Cooldowns inside the Vocal Rescue Kit 

Click here to learn more about the Cooldowns taught inside the Cole Vocal Method, Vocal Freedom Circle.

 

3.How and when to use Cooldowns

There are two ways to practice cooldowns from our method that are specifically designed to reduce inflammation that occurs with singing: 

1. Post show

Practice cool-down exercises after singing sessions, performances, or rehearsals to “cooldown” the vocal muscles, reduce inflammation, and promote recovery. This helps prevent fatigue, hoarseness and maintains vocal health.

2. Pre-show

Practice cooldown exercises prior to your warmup to reduce mucous and reduce inflammation at the vocal folds as a warmup to your vocal practice. 

Click here to get your cooldown series inside the Vocal Rescue Kit 

4.What are Conditioning exercises?

I have developed a series of vocal exercises that I am coining as “conditioning” exercises called The CVM™ Core Conditioning Series. There are a series of vocal technique exercises that “condition” the voice to build clarity of tone, slough off any residual mucous, and are anti-inflammatory as well. The first set builds clarity, the second set helps recover the voice after over-singing and the third set is an advanced warmup series for touring singers. See #5 below for more information.

Conditioning exercises are from the same family as the cooldowns, but are slightly different in functionality and benefits. The onditioning exercises takes vocal tone and conditioning to a whole new level. 

Inside the Cole Vocal Method Level II, taught inside the Vocal Mastery Program. To learn more about VMP – click here. 

5.How and when to use Conditioning exercises 

Conditioning exercises are a part of a regular vocal practice technique regimen. I recommend adding conditioning exercises 1-2x a week to feel the benefits. 

Inside the Cole Vocal Method™, I have 3 sequences in the CVM Conditioning Series.

The CVM™ Core Conditioning Series:

• • CVM™ Core Conditioning: CLARITY
  • CVM™ Core Conditioning: RECOVERY
  • CVM™ Core Conditioning: ADVANCED WARMUPS

The CVM™ Core Conditioning Series are taught inside the Cole Vocal Method Level II, taught inside the Vocal Mastery Program. To learn more about VMP – click here. 

The Cole Vocal Method: Levels I, II, III 

1.Level I: 

a.Level I of the Cole Vocal Method™ (Parts I-IV) are taught inside the Vocal Freedom Circle (VFC). To learn more about VFC – click here.

2.Level II: 

b.Level I & II of the Cole Vocal Method™ is taught inside the Vocal Mastery + Vocal Coach Certification Program (VMP). This program is for singers interested in deeper learning for Level I and learning Level II of the method. There is an additional adjunct to the VMP program for vocal coaches who want to get certified to teach the method. To learn more about VMP – click here. 

3.Level III: 

Level III of the Cole Vocal Method™ is taught inside the Vocal Mastery + Vocal Coach Certification Program (VMP) Year 2. This is the advanced level for singers who have completed VMP Level II and are ready to learn the advanced level of the method. This program is also for CVM vocal coaches who want to get Master Certification to teach the method. Level III registration opens in September of 2026. Level I, and II are prerequisites for Level III. Registration opens September 2027. 

 

To learn more about the Cole Vocal Method click here. 

 

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