muscle relaxers

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:11 am

Does anyone know of a pill that helps loosen up the muscles a little bit? I've been thinking this might help to warm up the cords. Just a thought.

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 5:49 am

I'm still looking for one that will make me thin, grow my hair back, and help pick-up women easily (Perhaps Enzyte, we've all seen how happy Bob is). Seriously, do you really think that "a pill" is the answer?

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 6:46 am

Many professional singers (esp in opera) use Guifaneisen (found in over-the-counter brands, including Muscinex and Robitussen products) to keep the vocal chords clean and smoothly coated. It's sold and touted as an expectorant for colds and flu sufferers, but the way it actually works is to induce a thin coating of clean, fresh, um....MUCUS on the vocal chords and throat lining, that helps to make for clean, fresh seals in the airways and openings of the whole singing apparatus. (In other words, it's not just for thick colds and congestion, if you know how it works! Wink

Aside from that, I wouldn't mess with muscle relaxers; you want to set the pitch properly in the throat with plenty of support from the diaphragm; NOT mess with muscle tone.

And be careful what you wish for; I would think the muscles in the vocal chords are very similar to the ones in other parts of the body that involve shpincters and even erectile tissue.

The side effects could be, um.....a bit unpredicable. Twisted Evil

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 1:06 pm

As a professional singer I too use Guiafeneisen but only in emergency situations. I only use it when congested and have breathing issues -it is one med that doesn't dry out the vocal mechanism.

Regarding muscle relaxers, If I'm in a dire situation - voice not responding, raspy, hoarse, etc... and HAVE to sing that night. Then (and only then) the med of choice for many of us is 3 or 4 (depending on height/weight) ibuprofen 3 to 4 hours before a gig.

I would strongly advise against using this regularly but it helps in a pinch.

Phil

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:37 am

The best warm up I've found is to physicaly warm up... I run a mile before my vocal warm ups and it works like a charm! Think about it, what better way to get blood and oxygen to the vocal cords?

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 11:15 pm

interesting, jogging and robitussin. I actually mix the cough syrup with liquid calcium 1 to 4. This was another thing I picked from other singers.
I would agree that exercise is a great way to wakeup those stiff muscles. Just don't overwork the breathing area too much if your out of shape. Seems to irritate things I find for me but maybe I'm out of shape after not exercising for a while, lol.

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