Anyone who wants good voice quality should drink eight to 10 glasses of water each day. Water lubricates and moistens vocal cords. It also clears away mucus, which causes friction and results in trauma. The more trauma to the vocal cords the weaker they will be. While water can be consumed by drinking other liquids and from solid foods, pure water is best.
Strengthen the voice by warming it up. This involves performing breathing exercises, practicing descending scales and doing volume control exercises. Singers should use an ear monitor or floor monitor to hear what they sound like without straining to hear themselves over the band. They should sing within their vocal range rather than straining their voice to hit a high note. Those who need work on their singing technique can hire a voice trainer who can also help them work on their speaking voice.
Performers or entertainers who use their voice a lot often cause temporary damage to their vocal cords. When this occurs, they should allow their voice to rest so that their vocal cords have time to heal. They can choose a certain length of time in which to avoid speaking, using sign language and pen and paper to communicate. If speaking is necessary, it should be done in a soft voice.
People who smoke have weaker vocal cords than those who do not. Smoke dries the throat and makes vocal cords swell. Intake of alcohol and beverages that contain caffeine should be limited. They cause dryness because they reduce bodily fluids. Lozenges with menthol should also be avoided. All of these weaken the voice, especially before an engagement or performance. Herbal decaffeinated tea or nonmentholated lozenges can be used to soothe the throat.
A person trying to strengthen his voice should avoid screaming or yelling. Speakers and singers in front of a huge audience should avoid raising their voice unnecessarily. Instead, they should always use a microphone to help carry their voice to the back of the room. Those who have a cold should avoid rough coughing to clear their throat, if possible. They should also avoid using the voice to make special sound effects.