DolceVoce Academy

DolceVoce Academy professional vocal training.

06/12/2025



Here are foods and drinks that are harmful to a vocalist, especially before singing. I’ll group them so it’s easy to remember and apply.

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🎤 Foods & Drinks Harmful to Vocalists

1. Dairy Products

Milk, cheese, yoghurt, ice cream
Why harmful:
Creates excess mucus, coats the throat, makes the voice feel heavy or congested.

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2. Caffeinated Drinks

Coffee, energy drinks, strong tea, cola
Why harmful:
Dehydrates the vocal cords, reducing flexibility and causing vocal fatigue.

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3. Alcohol

Beer, wine, spirits
Why harmful:
Major dehydrator. Also numbs sensations—leading you to push too hard without noticing.

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4. Spicy Foods

Hot sauces, chillies, spicy stews, peri-peri
Why harmful:
Can cause acid reflux and throat irritation, which inflames the vocal cords.

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5. Fried & Greasy Foods

Fried chicken, chips, doughnuts, samoosas
Why harmful:
Increase phlegm, slow digestion, and often cause burping or reflux during singing.

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6. Cold Foods & Ice

Ice-cold drinks, ice cream, frozen smoothies
Why harmful:
Cold temperatures tighten throat muscles and reduce vocal flexibility.

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7. Acidic Foods

Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), tomatoes, vinegar-heavy foods
Why harmful:
Cause or worsen acid reflux that burns and inflames the vocal cords.

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8. Chocolate

Why harmful:
Combination of dairy, caffeine, and sugar → mucus, dehydration, and irritation.

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9. Sugary Foods

Sweets, cakes, sugary drinks
Why harmful:
Cause mucus build-up and energy crashes that affect breath control.

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10. Carbonated Drinks

Soda, sparkling water, ginger beer
Why harmful:
Gas causes burping, interrupts airflow, and dries the throat.

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11. Processed Snacks

Crisps, salty nuts, popcorn
Why harmful:
Salt dries the throat; small particles irritate the vocal folds.

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12. Mint

Strong mint gum, toothpaste, herbal mints
Why harmful:
Dries the throat and numbs sensation, which can cause over-singing.

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✔️ Quick Rule for Vocalists

Avoid foods that cause:

Dehydration

Mucus

Acid reflux

Throat dryness

Tightening of muscles

04/12/2025



Most people blame themselves for lacking discipline, but the real issue is usually that their environment, habits, and workflow are not designed to support the behaviour they want.

You don’t rise to the level of your discipline —
you fall to the level of your systems.

03/12/2025

Here are clear, structured notes on Stage Fright and How Musicians Can Overcome It —

Stage Fright (Performance Anxiety) — Notes for Musicians

1. What Is Stage Fright?

Stage fright is a physical and emotional anxiety response that occurs before or during a performance.
It’s extremely common among musicians — even professionals experience it.

Symptoms include:

Increased heart rate

Shaky hands or voice

Sweating

Dry mouth

Difficulty focusing

Feeling of fear or “panic”

Why it happens:
The brain’s fight-or-flight system sees the audience as a threat → adrenaline rush → physical symptoms.

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🎶 2. Why Musicians Experience Stage Fright

Perfectionism – fear of mistakes

Fear of judgement

Lack of confidence or preparation

High stakes (competitions, big shows)

Comparisons with others

Past negative performance

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🌱 3. Psychological Roots of Stage Fright

Self-image vs. artistic identity: Wanting to impress rather than express

Impostor syndrome: “I’m not good enough”

Overthinking: “What if I forget the lyrics?”

Focus on yourself instead of the music

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✔️ 4. How to Overcome Stage Fright (As a Musician)

A. Preparation Techniques

1. Over-prepare

Know your material until it feels second nature

Practice in different environments

Perform in front of friends/family first

2. Simulated performances

Record yourself

Practice with the mic, stage setup, or instrument

Visualize the performance from start to finish

3. Warm-ups

Vocal warmups

Breathing exercises

Light physical movement to release tension

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B. Mental Techniques

1. Shift Your Focus

Instead of: “Are they judging me?”
Think: “I’m here to share a moment.”

2. Reframe Anxiety as Energy

Tell yourself:

“This excitement will make me perform better.”

“Nerves mean I care.”

3. Positive Self-talk

Examples:

“I am prepared.”

“I trust my voice.”

“I am allowed to be human.”

4. Visualization

Imagine:

walking on stage confidently

singing/playing smoothly

audience enjoying the performance

This conditions your brain to feel familiar with the moment.

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C. Breathing & Physical Techniques

1. 4-7-8 Breathing

Inhale for 4 seconds

Hold for 7 seconds

Exhale for 8 seconds
Calms the nervous system instantly.

2. Grounding Exercises

Feel your feet on the floor

Release shoulder tension

Slow, controlled movements

3. Reduce Adrenaline Naturally

Light stretching

Shake out arms or hands

Sip room-temperature water

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D. Performance Mindset

1. Accept Imperfection

Even stars forget lyrics — it’s normal.

2. Perform as if it’s practice

Tell your mind: “This is another rehearsal.”

3. Connect with the audience

Eye contact, smiling, or closing your eyes during emotional parts.

4. Use the “first 10 seconds rule”

Start strong.
Once you begin, adrenaline stabilizes within seconds.

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🌟 5. Long-Term Solutions

1. Frequent performance

The more often you perform, the easier it becomes.

2. Confidence building

Work on technique

Get coaching/lessons

Celebrate small wins

3. Understand your triggers

Do nerves hit before singing? Before walking on stage?
Knowing your pattern helps you plan.

4. Healthy lifestyle

Sleep well

Hydrate

Avoid too much caffeine before performing

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🎧 6. How Professional Musicians Deal With Stage Fright

They breathe deeply before going on stage

Some pray or meditate

Others rehearse backstage

Many embrace the nerves and use them as fuel

Some create rituals (stretching, sipping tea, talking less, short walk)

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💬 Short Phrases You Can Use

“I am prepared.”

“My voice is an instrument; I know how to use it.”

“I’m here to share, not to prove.”

“Nerves are temporary; music is forever.”

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