Room temperature water is the recommended drink before, during and after singing or speaking. A bit of lime or lemon can be added to increase saliva for lubrication of the mouth and throat, and honey may be used as an additional lubricant. Avoid diuretics such as caffeinated beverages and alcohol because these can make the throat dry. Hot or cold beverages may feel soothing but can affect muscle reaction, and carbonated beverages will create excess gas in the stomach.
Eating hard foods such as nuts and chips before singing is not a good idea because small particles can become stuck in the throat. If you do eat, a light meal is best. A large meal can inhibit action of the diaphragm muscle because of stomach fullness. Dairy foods should be avoided to prevent excess mucus.
Singing and speaking involve complex muscle groups in the neck, throat, face and abdomen, but other muscles in the body must also be relaxed. Yoga or meditation is helpful, but simple relaxation techniques will also work. Sit or lie down in a quiet space and allow your mind and body to relax for a few minutes. Focus on relaxing your jaw, tongue, facial muscles, shoulders and arms, and try to maintain the relaxed state before your performance.
Breathing is the key to vocal strength, stamina and tone. Practice breathing exercises regularly, and use proper breathing throughout the performance. Proper breathing involves the use of the diaphragm muscle just below the rib cage. A helpful starter exercise is to raise your rib cage slightly and keep it in a fixed position as you breathe. Inhale slowly through your nose while gently expanding your diaphragm outward. Exhale slowly through your mouth by pushing your diaphragm inward. You may place a hand below your rib cage to feel the proper diaphragm action. Your abdomen will expand as you inhale and contract as you exhale, while your rib cage stays stationary throughout the exercise.
Vocalizing is a technique for relaxing, stretching and warming up vocal cords and other muscles. Although many vocal exercises may sound silly, they do help vocal preparation. A few common exercises are as follows: Make a "motor boat" sound with your lips. Speak or say repeated "duh," "tuh" and "mum" sounds. Sing the major scale "do-ray-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do" backward and forward in a comfortable vocal range while concentrating on relaxing your jaw. The starting pitch can and should be raised or lowered as you progress through each completion of the scale, but don't go so high or low as to promote straining.
Vocal preparation is different for everyone, but it is important to develop a routine that works for you. Write down favorite techniques, exercises and tips to refer to until they are committed to memory. Most important, make the time for vocal preparation before every performance, and practice the techniques every day. Vocal preparation doesn't have to take a lot time, and even five or 10 minutes is better than not committing any time at all.