We all know about the benefits of doing a good vocal warmup to prep your voice for singing, but how much do you know about doing vocal cooldowns?
I hadn't even heard of this idea until a couple of years ago. I'm very familiar with warming up and cooling down for cardio, but I never thought about the need to cool down with vocal exercises.
Cooldowns for your vocals help to reset your body and voice back to neutral. You don't want to be stuck in vocal performance mode once the performance time has passed.
Relaxing and stretching your voice box can help release unnecessary tension in your body and allow you to avoid stress on your speaking voice. It also helps you prevent vocal fatigue and rasp after an intense performance (or several).
I recently noticed that if I have sung a gig that lasts a while, especially if I performed aggressively, my throat feels tight and swollen that night or the following day.
Doing light vocalizations for a few minutes on the drive home significantly reduces that feeling of soreness. The keyword here is light!
Related Post: Why Does My Throat Hurt After Singing?
A vocal cooldown does not need to take long at all. You will need 15 minutes at most to get back to a good vocal state, but 5-10 minutes will do really well.
It's a small thing to add to your schedule, so there are no excuses on why you shouldn't start cooling down if you're a serious singer!
When you warm your voice up and perform, a lot is going on behind the scenes that you probably aren't aware of as a singer. These include the following:
1. Your core is working way harder than normal while singing.
2. You have increased blood flow to your vocal cords when singing.
3. You have heightened airflow and air pressure while singing for your breathing.
4. Your heart rate and blood pressure is raised while singing.
5. You have wider vertical movement of the larynx when you are in performance mode.
6. Your vocal fold stretches much further when you are singing.
To get back to a normal state that won't overwork you once you're done singing, try the following:
In conclusion, vocal cooldowns are just as important as warmups when it comes to taking care of your singing voice.
Cooling down your vocal cords after a performance or practice session can help release tension, prevent vocal fatigue, and reduce the risk of injury or strain to your voice box.
By doing light vocal exercises like lip trills, upper body stretches, siren wails, and small slides, you can reset your body and voice back to a neutral state. These exercises are quick and easy to do, and can take as little as 5-10 minutes to complete.
Remember that your body goes through a lot when you sing, so it's important to take care of it properly.
Adding a vocal cooldown to your routine can help you avoid soreness and strain, and keep your voice in top shape for the next time you need to perform. So don't forget to cool down after singing, and your voice will thank you!
As a session singer, writer, and producer that has worked with over 300 clients to provide high-quality jingles, singles, and features, Yona spends her time creating and marketing new music and helpful resources for creators. Check out Yona’s latest releases on her Spotify, her Youtube and share if you like it!
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