Adding voice cool downs to your daily singing practice routine is a great way to help release any tension that might have built up in your voice during singing and help to relax your voice
As mentioned before on the post "5 Best Vocal Warm-Ups To Sing With Ease", singers are athletes and as such, we have to incorporate a healthy routine to practice this sport with safety from beginning to end.
When we sing we engage our muscles, I like to call it the "Singer's engagement" where your body is solely working towards the act of singing and performing, using all your energy to produce sound and deliver the message.
Before continuing, I want to remind you to make sure you're well hydrated. It is very important to drink water before, during and after singing. If you did so, then let's continue!
Here Are Three Voice Cool Downs You Can Do After Singing:
#1 - Sirens & Body Stretches
Start by singing the sound "hooo" on a comfortable note. This is also called "glissando."
As you continue to sing, gradually slide down to a lower note, while bending your body forward. Try to touch the floor with your fingers or the tips of your toes and keep your body relaxed while you fold forward.
Once you've touched the floor or your toes, slowly begin to roll your body back up, feeling each vertebra stacking one by one. You can bend your knees if you need to, the most important thing is to stay relaxed throughout the exercise. This exercise can help to loosen up any muscular tension.
#2 - Vocal fry
Vocal fry is a type of sound your voice can make that sounds low, creaky, and kind of rattling. It happens when your vocal folds vibrate very slowly because there's not enough air passing through them.
It should sound like this:
I don't know about you but to me, It can sound a little annoying if heard for a while but leaving that aside, this actually helps your voice a lot and works not only as a cool down but also as a warm up.
Doing vocal fry exercises can help reduce tension in your voice by encouraging relaxation of the vocal folds. As always, be sure to do the exercise gently and without overexerting your voice.
To do a vocal fry, try to make a low, creaky sound on the "ah" vowel with your mouth open without pushing too hard or straining your voice. Hold the sound for at least fifteen seconds, and then repeat the exercise five more times.
#3 - Slide on "Ma"
This exercise is similar to the first one, but instead of singing on "hoo", you will sing on "ma" while sliding down from a high to a lower note. This time, you don't need to bend forward. Just focus on keeping your body relaxed and letting the sound flow smoothly and effortlessly. Just let the sound come out naturally and easily, while focusing on the feeling of the sound vibrations in your body.
Your Voice Is Back To Normal!
Now your singing routine is done! Great job!
A healthy routine for singers includes a combination of warm-ups and cool-downs, vocal exercises, proper hydration, rest, and a healthy diet. It's also important to be aware of your vocal limits and avoid pushing your voice too hard, which can lead to vocal strain and injury.
By incorporating a healthy routine into your singing practice, you can improve your vocal performance, increase your vocal range and control, and reduce the risk of injury.
That being said, take care of your body, rest when needed, and practice regularly to improve your skills and achieve your singing goals!
If you want to have a complete singing routine, try the vocal warm ups suggested in this blog post.
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