EU and UK legislation is coming into force at the end of April 2011 which will effectively ban the sale of herbal remedies such as our range of vocal health sprays. Whilst licenses will be available for particular herbs, the cost will be tens of thousands, so it is likely that you will no longer be able to purchase any of the usual singers sprays within the European Union.
We will continue to sell until the end of April so click through to the webstore to stock up while you can.
We know from customer feedback that many singers find throat sprays an essential item in their toolkit, so if you want to be sure of a supply of your favourite remedy, then we recommend you purchase in bulk now. Below is an article outlining what each of the sprays and lozenges do for you.
Which is the best throat spray for you?
Some vocal coaches would tell you that if you are singing properly “you don’t need that stuff at all.” We agree, if their student is completely healthy, fully warmed up, fully hydrated, has no bad singing habits and does not have to sing in an air conditioned environment or one with a dry ice machine. When professional performers such as Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty), Joss Stone and Sting use vocal sprays, you can see that getting a little extra help makes a lot of sense.
These guidelines explain the timing and primary characteristic of the products we carry. They are designed to help you work out which product is best suited for your needs as well as help present how they work together. We’ve put this together from the experience of students in studios, live events, countless testimonials from customers and personal testing/experience with each product. Of course, everyone is unique and results may vary. A singer, performer, teacher or speaker can use all or part of this regimen depending on the incidental symptoms.
BEFORE - Prior to your engagement (about an hour before) dissolve a sugar free Slippery Elm Lozenge in your mouth. This coats and helps protect your throat from performance abuse. FDA approved as an over-the-counter, Thayers Slippery Elm Lozenges are great for indigestion and acid reflux sufferers and help maintain a healthy instrument and throat.
We would also recommend that you warm your voice up thoroughly using a series of warm-up and vocalisation exercises. You can find plenty at www.sweetersinging.com.
About 10 minutes before singing, 2-3 squirts of ClearVoice or Singer’s Saving Grace® Throat Spray will help clear your throat of excess mucus that could adversely affect tonality. You want to give enough time to get the loosened mucus clear. These sprays have ingredients that encourage the opening if the air passageway and have others such as aloe that help protect your instrument during performance by providing pliability. We have found great tasting Thayer’s Peppermint Spray to have a similar yet milder vapour effect.
DURING and immediately before – A great all around throat spray before and during the performance, Entertainer’s Secret or Vocal Eze provide optimum hydration to your throat as well as help prevent “vocal blowout” due to dryness. While the others work for specific symptoms, these are good overall hydration sprays. They should be used about 3-4 times more than the others since hydration is so important. If you stay hydrated many problems may be alleviated.
Thayers Dry Mouth Spray is another great citrus or peppermint-flavored spray when used before singing. It supplements hydration by encouraging salivation during dry mouth incidences caused by stage fright or from the side effects of medications. Excellent for keeping your mouth lubricated if you suffer from stage fright dry mouth. Sufferers of sjogren’s syndrome (extreme dry mouth) also find this an excellent spray.
AFTER - Slippery Elm lozenges also aid in the reduction of swelling and rawness in your throat and work well combating postnasal drip effects and acid reflux. We found one secret is to dissolve one in your mouth before bed. The ingredients, including Echinacea, in Vocaleze, Singers Saving Grace and ClearVoice can also help encourage healing the damage the performance may have done. Make sure you read label and follow manufacturer directions.
Dryness, improper technique and abuse are commonly the cause of most vocal damage symptoms. Drink water. Avoid using products with alcohol or menthol; there are many products out there advertising the cure-all for the voice. Study the ingredients in all products or remedy you use and know their effects. Feel free to ask them or us questions. A few sprays, especially the licorice root based sprays, are very similar and preference is personal, try for yourself.
And of course, don’t forget to do a proper warm-up. The Musicademy Vocals Warm-Up CD includes 26 vocals warm-up exercises. If you are looking to work your voice a little harder, try the Musicademy Advanced Vocals Work-out CD. These are also available as online downloads.
Thanks to Scott Rabb of JustGottaSing for his help in putting these guidelines together.
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