Every once in a while I come across something that I have to write about and find it weird that I’ll be writing about it. Sometimes it’s exciting and sometimes it just sends a cold shiver down my spine. Great, now the tone for the article is set we can finally begin.
You can sing in the cold. You must also first warm-up and be sure that the weather isn’t too cold for you to do so. Prevention is the way to go as it’ll keep your vocal cords and your body safe. Under no circumstances push yourself to do anything that will harm your voice and yourself.
There are some other things which I think will be important for you to know. So without further delay, let’s dive into it.
The Weather
For the sake of simplicity, I am going to make it clear that I am talking about the weather. I have written another article in which I talk about when singers should not sing and under ‘sickness’ you will find the answer for the sick kind of cold.
If you are however talking about the weather then yes, you’re at the right place and I would like to tell you that I have lived most of my life in a country where it doesn’t snow at all and I didn’t see snow until I was in Boston.
So, I understand, that even a mild temperature change used to give me chills and as a precaution, I used to grab a few more layers because I knew my body wouldn’t be able to take it.
Maybe you’re here asking the same question and want to know what the best way is to sing in the cold.
Warm-Ups
These are the most important things that you can do to help your voice come up to normal singing conditions. Sing a few scales, do some belting and get it all nice and ready to go,
Failing to warm up can result in not only just not singing high notes but also damaging your vocal cords. Vocal cords are muscles and if you strain them longer and harder when they are cold, you know what happens, nothing good. In cases like these, it’s almost always better to treat like a preventive medicine rather than something that ‘won’t happen to me’ kind of situation.
So, let’s just agree and promise each other that when you’re in the cold weather and you’re in the mood to sing then we will all first take a solid 10 minutes to warm up our voices.
Don’t Do it Deliberately
If you are someone like, sensitive to weather changes then be careful not to push yourself too close to the edge. If you know the weather is not in your favor, hell, even if you feel like you’re coming down with something then don’t do it.
If you know that your perfectly healthy voice will break under cold circumstances then don’t do it. I know I’m speaking the obvious but sometimes people need a little obvious for motivation.
Sometimes we just need to be shown the light is red and that we must simply wait it out.
Protect Your Voice
I had tears in my eyes when my cheap guitar strap failed me and caused my first bass to fall straight to the ground. Cracked. It was cracked!
The emotional pain was too huge. I don’t think I have ever gotten over that moment. There was no one to blame but me. I bought a cheap strap to support my instrument.
The same is true for our voices. We must protect it through things, diet, weather, or too much practice. It’s a muscle and the more we start to treat it that way, the more we will be able to control it and manipulate it within safe measures to be able to continue to perform well.
Performing in The Cold
Now if you’re someone who has to give a performance in the cold then you have to obviously warm up your voice but you must also make your clothing is adequate.
Keeping your body warm before you start singing is the best thing you can do yourself and there are more than enough new ways to keep ourselves warm these days.
There are these USB heating garments that you can buy from Amazon that will keep you warm. They are powered by a power bank and don’t need an external supply.
Performing Indoors
If you’re performing indoors then this is nothing to worry and you should be fine. Make sure you’re in a place where wind or something else is not going to get you off-guard.
You can always check the venue out and even talk with the owner to get a better place.
Performing Outdoors
If you’re performing outdoors do all that you must to protect yourself against the cold. If you think you can’t take it then it’s better to let the performance go. There’s no shame in that.
I Hope You Don’t Want to Learn This
Just so there is an understanding between you and me. I hope you’re not reading this to learn how to sing in the cold. Other than the basic guidelines that I have provided, they are just preventive medicine rather than obligations for you to follow. Learning to sing in the cold isn’t a skill you can master and have at your will. Techniques and music are something you master and you must do your best to do that. Singing in the cold isn’t a real skill. Just making sure we’re on the same page.
Get Better at Singing
If you want to know what the best way to warm up is and how to sing scales and learn different techniques including belting, singing from the chest, or the head voice.
Then head on over here and check the full list of The Vocalist Studio’s lessons they have to offer. I own a copy of ‘The Four Pillars of Singing‘ course myself before I started writing for this website. (Book included with purchase)
But, I have also made a dedicated page for you to understand and see all the courses that you can put your money into and have a blast learning to sing! You can read about it here.
All the best and don’t stay in the cold too long!