The Sick Singer’s Toolkit - VocaLab

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VocaLab ® operates on the land of the Kaurna /ˈɡɑːnə/ People. We acknowledge the People who are the traditional custodians of this land. We pay respect to the Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations’ Peoples. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ wisdom, heritage, beliefs and continued connection to Country.

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Georgalas, Kalantzi, Harpur & Kenny have given us

Georgalas, Kalantzi, Harpur & Kenny have given us the all-clear.

They found NO significant adverse effects on the voice with the consumption of caffeine.

So, enjoy your caffeinated drinks in peace!

And if you are a singing teacher or SLP that still tells clients ‘no coffee’, please read this Systematic Review. It is the highest level of evidence in the world of research. It’s super important that we are up to date with the most recent information, so we can relay it onto our students.

Ps. Yes, there are a few other things to consider when it comes to caffeine and the body, not all of them will be relevant to everyone, but I’ve included them in the slides, so we can all be informed!

Stay hydrated.

#VocaLabAU #Caffeine #VoiceCare #Singer #VocalHealth

Sometimes we have sticky phlegm in our throat, and

Sometimes we have sticky phlegm in our throat, and sometimes we don’t.
Sometimes we feel tenser than normal when we speak or sing, and sometimes we don’t.

Both increased phlegm and tension can be affected by SO MANY factors:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Worry
- Being sick
- Excessive coughing/throat clearing
- Lack of sleep
- Chronic pain
- Food allergies
- Sleep apnoea/snoring
- Acid reflux
- Medications
- Muscular strains/injuries
- Heat
- Cold
- Dryness

If you occasionally feel tense when you sing or speak, or occasionally notice extra phlegm in your throat, have a look at this list and see if any of these things are relevant to you.

Oftentimes it can be as simple as an environmental change, getting a good night’s sleep, allowing yourself the time and space to recover from a cold or stretching out your head and neck muscles that helps you to reduce throat tension or extra phlegmyness.

However, as a general rule of thumb, if you notice excess tension/pain when you sing or speak or increased sticky phlegm lasting longer than 2 weeks – book in with your primary care doctor to discuss your symptoms.

#VocaLab #VocalTension #SoreThroat #VocalCare #Singer

Book 👏 Your 👏 Lessons 👏 Earlier Not leaving yours

Book 👏 Your 👏 Lessons 👏 Earlier

Not leaving yourself enough time to learn vocal skills is one of the biggest issues I see with singers.

🛑 It makes everything feel rushed
🛑 Which makes retaining information harder
🛑 Your body is more tense so it's harder to sing with freedom
🛑 You don't have the time to practice
🛑 You end up at an audition feeling like you're 10 steps behind.

Regular singing lessons help keep you accountable to practice and give you more of a reason to stay on top of your voice. This means, when auditions and performances DO come around:

✅ You're ready
✅ You're present
✅ You can thrive in an audition instead of survive it.

A general guide when trying to master a new vocal skill is:
❤️ Minimum 3 months of singing lessons
❤️ Minimum of 5 days a week practicing what you learned in class

Ready to feel more confident come audition and performance time?

Comment 'SING' to find out how you can start building your voice with one of VocaLab's Singing Teachers.

#DCC #Thunderstruck #SingingLessons #VocaLabSingingLesson #VocaLabCoach #VocalTrainer #OnlineSingingLessons

🌟 Have you ever been told, or have taught that: •

🌟 Have you ever been told, or have taught that:

• “standing is best for singing”
• “you must be seated upright when singing”
• “shoulders back, neck long”
• “push your feet into the floor”

If you have taught, or remember being taught these things, let us know in the comments below and then have a read of this stack. 👀

#VocaLab #EveryBodyIsDifferent #Singing #SingingPosture #Voice #DisabilityAwareness #SingingTeacher #SingingLessons

✨ Meet Paras — our newest Speech Pathologist at Vo

✨ Meet Paras — our newest Speech Pathologist at VocaLab ✨

Paras pairs her fresh, evidence-based knowledge as a new-graduate Speech Pathologist with her extensive lived experience as a singer and singing teacher. Practising under the clinical mentorship of Elle Holiday, Paras provides highly specialised care in vocal rehabilitation, muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), and gender-affirming voice training. Fluent in both English and Greek, she intimately understands the pressures of the stage and is dedicated to helping clients—from aspiring young performers to those navigating voice loss—safely reconnect with a voice that is strong, authentic, and their own.

We are absolutely thrilled she is a part of the VocaLab team, bringing her warm, down-to-earth energy and deep understanding of the performing arts to every client she works with. 💜 👏

To book voice therapy with Paras or learn more about her comment ‘PARAS’ below or call the VocaLab Voice Clinic on (08) 8361 8182.

#vocalhealth #singing #vocalcoach #voicecare #voicetherapy #speechpathologist #slp #singbetter #vocalwellness #vocaltechnique #singingrehab #voiceinjury #genderaffirmingvoice #vocalcoaching #adelaidearts

Do Drinks, Lozenges, or Sprays Touch Your Vocal Fo

Do Drinks, Lozenges, or Sprays Touch Your Vocal Folds?

No – and if they did, you’d know about it, because you’d cough!

Why?
🔹 Your vocal folds sit on the top of your airway, not your food pipe.
🔹 Our body has a protective mechanism called the COUGH REFLEX that prevents anything solid or liquid from entering our airways.
🔹 Any drink, tea, juice, or lozenge you consume stays in the back of your THROAT and slides down into the food pipe (oesophagus) and never touches your vocal folds (which are in your airways).

What Can Reach the Vocal Folds?
✅ Gases like steam – inhaling steam allows tiny water particles to reach the vocal folds without triggering a cough.
✅ Nebulised 0.9% sterile saline – introduces moisture to the vocal folds without irritation.

Anything else would trigger a cough as your body works to keep the airway clear.

#VocalHealth #VoiceFacts #SingingTips #VocalAnatomy #VoiceCare

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