10 tips for older singers to keep their voice in working order

May 31, 2019 at 3:23PM
Darlene Love
Darlene Love (Marci Schmitt — AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Singers need to take extra care of their voices as they get older. Here are 10 tips for vocalists older than 50, from Wendy Zaro-Mullins, Ph.D., an associate professor of voice at the University of Minnesota:

Get eight to nine hours of sleep nightly.

Drink at least 64 ounces of water daily, 80 to 90 ounces as you get older. Drink throughout the day, not just right before you perform.

Don't smoke or drink alcohol.

Eat whole foods. Fish, chicken, fruits and vegetables. Avoid red meat.

Avoid medications that give you dry mouth.

Suck a sugar candy before you sing to stimulate saliva.

Do 5 to 10 minutes of lip drills and vocal runs to stretch vocal folds.

Avoid antihistamines.

Try to eliminate emotional things in your life.

Don't over-sing.

about the writer

about the writer

Jon Bream

Critic / Reporter

Jon Bream has been a music critic at the Star Tribune since 1975, making him the longest tenured pop critic at a U.S. daily newspaper. He has attended more than 8,000 concerts and written four books (on Prince, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan). Thus far, he has ignored readers’ suggestions that he take a music-appreciation class.

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