Page 89 - Music

Activity 6.3

With the aid of the internet, search for and study videos that demonstrate how
vocal cords produce sound.

Foods and drinks for a singer
Singing always involves use of energy and, therefore, it is important for a singer
to eat well to provide energy to the body for better performance. However, it is
also important to avoid singing on a completely full stomach because, when the
stomach is too full, it becomes difficult for a singer to control their breathe during
singing. The following are foods and drinks recommended for a singer before a
performance:

(a) Enough amount of water: A singer needs to stay hydrated all the time, taking
enough amount of water to avoid the throat to dry out. This is very important
because the vocal cords need to be wet all the time to avoid friction that
may get them injured when they are vibrating to produce sound.

(b) Food containing vitamin A: Vitamin A adds moisture and hydration to
different parts of the body, including the throat. It can be found in vegetables
such as sweet potato leaves, spinach, Chinese cabbage, amaranth and
others. Also, vitamin A is available in fruits like grapes, avocado, cucumber,
watermelon, and others.

(c) Food containing protein: Protein is an important nutrient for singers since
it is a good source of energy which is required to help a singer sing for a
long time. Foods like fish, chicken and others are recommended because
they are not only high in protein but also low in fat and oil. Therefore, they
can help a singer to conserve the required energy for performance at the
same time to protect the vocal cords from being affected with oils and fat.

(d) Honey: When honey is taken, it can smoothly coat and lubricate the throat;
thus, enabling the vocal cords to perform better. Also, it has antibacterial
qualities as well as nutrients such as iron, calcium, and magnesium that
keep the body strong enough to fight bacterial infections in the throat.

(e) Herbal tea: This is the best tea for singers since it does not contain caffeine
which causes dehydration in the vocal cords. Herbal tea is not made from

the commonly known tea plant. It is a mixture of leaves, fruits, tree barks,

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