The voice cracks when under stress, either from the rapid growth of the larynx as a result of puberty or from straining the voice to higher or lower registers. Learning how to calm a tired voice with home remedies and how to use your voice correctly are things that will help you avoid the discomfort produced when it cracks.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Drink lots of water
Good hydration will allow you to speak more comfortably, sing more fluently, and promote good health throughout your throat that will strengthen your voice and help you continue to feel good. Drink up to eight cups of room temperature water per day.
If you are a loudmouth, a singer, or strain your voice on a regular basis, watch out for ice water. Instead, drink water at room temperature. Imagine soaking yourself in ice water after training. You will involuntarily tense up, no matter how good it feels
Step 2. Drink warm, soothing drinks
If your voice tends to crackle, it is common to soothe your throat with warm water-based drinks. While milk and other cloying liquids can coat the throat, making it more difficult to speak clearly, hot teas, coffees, and other beverages are recommended.
- One of the most common home remedies is hot herbal tea mixed with a teaspoon of lemon juice and honey. Chamomile, spearmint, citronella, and licorice root teas have soothing properties for the throat.
- Don't drink boiling tea, as it can burn your throat, making it harder for you to speak. Instead, drink it warm.
Step 3. Avoid drinks and foods that cover the throat
Some foods tighten the throat and increase the chances of it cracking, while others cover the mouth and throat. To reduce the risk of this happening, avoid the following foods:
- spicy foods like chili peppers, curries, and sauces
- fatty foods like shortbread, cookies, and other desserts
- fried foods like fried potatoes, chicken, and fish
Step 4. Use soothing pills
There are herbal calming lozenges used by professional singers to keep your voice from cracking before giving a show. They allow to calm, numb and clear the throat without the effect of numbness. They can be much more effective than common cold pills.
The taste of the pills can be a bit unpleasant and medicinal, but the results are positive compared to a little discomfort
Method 2 of 2: Practice Speaking and Singing Techniques
Step 1. Understand why the voice cracks
Generally, this problem is associated with the time when boys enter puberty, which can occur anywhere between 10 and 16 years. Some boys go through puberty without experiencing this problem, while others have it for longer periods of time. Depending on your age and circumstances, your voice could crack for a number of reasons, some of which are manageable and some of which disappear over time.
- When boys go through puberty, testosterone production increases significantly to promote rapid growth of the body, including the larynx (or "organ for phonation"). When the larynx is enlarged, the voice becomes deeper and more resonant, but the body may take some time to get used to the rapid changes. Eventually, your voice will take on a new and generally deeper range.
- In the case of girls, the voice commonly cracks when it is stressed when singing or from heavy use. Risky behaviors like smoking and heavy drinking can also strain your voice, leading to its occasional cracking. The best way to prevent this problem is to strengthen the vocal cords through singing exercises and eliminating risky behaviors.
Step 2. Breathe with your abdomen
When you lie on your back, you will breathe a little differently than when you are standing up, inhaling from the center, which will help you to strengthen your projection and voice. Belly breathing is a technique often taught to public speakers and singers, and you can learn it too.
Practice lying on the floor with a book or two on your abdomen and watch them rise and fall as you breathe. Now, stand in front of a mirror and watch your abdomen expand and shrink as you speak or sing. This means that you breathe properly, reducing pressure on the vocal cords and larynx
Step 3. Speak slowly and deliberately
Pubertal children and singers tend to break their voices when speaking emotionally or in a hurry. To speak clearly and reduce the chances of this happening, calm down, take a deep breath, and speak deliberately. Do not rush.
- Don't hesitate when speaking and try to keep your tone as even as possible. Commit to the thought and words you want to say and move on. Think of it as if you wanted to advance in the mud; just keep going.
- Make sure you don't lengthen your vowels when singing. Words like "trump" are diphthongs, which means they have two vowel sounds in one of their letters. To prevent the voice from cracking, exaggerate the sound of the initial vowel, rather than emphasizing the second. Pronounce the second vowel at the end of the word quickly. As you do so, don't forget to pronounce the word for the entire value of your note.
Step 4. Speak and sing in your normal voice
Don't try to speak in a higher or lower voice if you feel your voice changing. During puberty, this can be difficult to achieve. Speaking within your range is the best way to keep your voice from cracking.
- It is common for singers to want to expand their range. Do it in rehearsals and in practice, not during presentations. If you don't feel confident that you can hit a note, practice expanding your range. Don't try to hit the note for the first time in front of the rest of the chorus.
- Don't be frustrated if your voice cracks occasionally. This is a normal part of growing up for many people, and a sign that only indicates that your body changes and that you are becoming an adult.
Step 5. Relax
The voice naturally becomes higher in times of tension. If you are speaking in front of a crowd, try to relax and take a deep breath. Try not to be nervous, as this will cause the air to move unevenly through the larynx, causing the tone to fluctuate. Take it easy.
If you have to give a speech or presentation in front of a large audience, allow your voice to rest before the event. Don't speak too loud or raise your voice
Step 6. Warm up before speaking
If your voice tends to crack a lot during performances, make sure it warms up by doing lip exercises before reaching the scale of your vocal range.
Try doing lip exercises, slowly going down and up the scale, reaching the highest possible tone while vibrating your lips. Doing this exercise every day will allow you to expand your vocal range and make your voice louder and bolder in places where it would usually crack
Advice
- If your voice cracks, ignore it or laugh. Remember that it is an involuntary reaction that cannot be controlled.
- It is normal for girls to experience this problem during puberty as well.
- The more you know about vocal production and singing, the better your chances of preventing your voice from cracking. Reading a good vocal techniques book and even asking a singing teacher are techniques that could help you learn to use your new instrument correctly. However, in some cases you will have to be patient and allow your voice to correct itself first.
- Drink liquids slowly, as drinking quickly can strain your throat and cause your voice to crack more than usual.