SAVE YOUR VOICE

Here are tips for keeping your voice in good shape, according to the National Center for Voice and Speech (www.ncvs.org):

• Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to maintain hydration.

• Support the voice from abdominal muscles when speaking or singing.

• Avoid "vocally abusive" activities such as yelling, screaming, coughing and throat-clearing.

• Warm up the voice before using it.

• Don't talk or sing at unnatural pitches.

• Stay away from over-the-counter medications such as aspirin that thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding of the vocal folds.

• Drink an equal-sized glass of water to counteract drinks that have caffeine and alcohol, which remove moisture from your system.

NEWS & OBSERVER