How to Sing in Hot Weather

When the temperature gets above a certain point on the barometer, singing might be the last thing you want to do. It is a physical activity that can make you feel hotter and sweatier, which is usually what we want to avoid in the summer.

Sometimes, however, if you have a performance booked or a singing lesson planned, you have to sing anyway. But don’t get yourself all worked up about it (that will only raise your blood temperature). There are things you can do to make your singing in the sunshine experience a little easier.

Change Your Clothing

This might be an obvious tip, but if you have a choir uniform or a performance outfit that you have to wear, see if you can adapt it to suit the warmer weather.

Maybe you can switch your black polyester t-shirt for a lighter linen one. Or perhaps you can go sleeveless? Talk to your group leader and see if there are any summer singing options.

Change Your Environment

If you are singing indoors, you might appreciate the addition of air conditioning, but you should be aware that this could dry out your throat and affect acoustics.

If your singing space has no air con or singing with it is not an option, deck the area out in fans and put bowls of ice in front of them to boost their effectiveness.

Open all possible doors and windows to create a cross breeze. If you are outside, try and pick a shady spot out of direct sunlight (and don’t forget to slap on that sunscreen!)

Take Breaks

If you have a longer performance or practice session, keep a chair nearby so you can take regular rests.

This will make your stand-up singing sections more bearable and help to prevent overheating.

And, if you are singing indoors, take every opportunity to step outside away from the extra heat of a choir-full of bodies, as this will help you cool down.

Keep Hydrated

As a singer, you should be drinking water regularly anyway to keep your voice in tip-top condition.

But if it’s hot, you’ll need to be even more devoted to your hydration. Keep a bottle of water with you on stage or in practice sessions so you can sip between songs.

Keep Singing Spaces Dust-Free

There’s not much you can do about dusty areas outdoors, but if you are singing inside, make sure the room has been properly dusted before you start singing.

Dust builds up quicker when it’s sunny, and if you have lots of fans on, it will soon start to fly around the room, getting into your throat and making it more difficult to sing.

Ease Into the Practise

Make sure to warm up your voice slowly before you start belting out those high notes. This will help to stop you from overheating as your vocal cords get used to the temperature.

And it will ensure a better sound when you really get into your practice. And while you warm up your voice, keep your body still – there’s no need for any other muscles to be moving, as that will only make singing more difficult.

Have a Secret Cooling Weapon

Wherever you are practising, be prepared by putting a wet flannel in your freezer. Right before you head off to your singing session, take that flannel out of the freezer and place it on the back of your neck.

This is a fabulously effective way to cool down without bothering anyone else. When it stops keeping you cool, simply run it under a cold tap and put it back on your neck.

While you’re there, you can also run your wrists under the cool water. This pulse point offers an effective route to your body’s cooling system.

Conclusion

Singing in the sun can be a wonderful experience for some and miserable for others.

The important thing to remember here in the UK is that any hot weather is always short-lived.

If you really don’t feel up to singing and the performance isn’t too important, take a break instead. Looking after your health now will ensure you are better able to sing again later when the temperature drops back down to normal levels.

If you need any more advice, or you’re looking for a group to sing in the sun with, get in touch with us here at the London Singing Institute.

We love to help all levels of singers find their ultimate voice, no matter what the weather.