Piano Guidance
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Is Peanut butter good for your voice?

Peanut Butter — Pair it up with bread and you'll have the energy and protein to survive a long night of singing (and dancing!) the protein keeps you full and carbs present in bread give you the energy to keep performing. Nuts — Known to provide instant energy, they're every singer's go-to snack.

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Singing utlilizes contractions and muscle movements in the mouth, voice box, and diaphragm in a highly controlled way. The movements are on a smaller scale than if you were doing push-ups or running, but you still have to take care of your mind and body in order to sing properly. We all know that our body requires fuel — that is, food — to function. But which foods and beverages can harm your vocal cords and which ones can help you sing? Here’s some quick tips on food and beverages you should and should not eat before singing.

What you SHOULD eat and drink

Consuming these foods a few hours before your show will help you relax and give your best. A balanced meal with little extra carbs will help you boost your energy levels. Other than that, here are a few more things you should eat: Water — Staying hydrated is crucial for singers to keep their voice lubricated. Even though it might be tempting to consume ice cold water but it constricts your vocal cords. Opt for water that’s on room temperature instead. Decaf teas with liquorice root — It’s proven that it helps improve your voice and gives you more flexibility. Liquorice root is known to form a protective layer over your tissues in the throat preventing irritation in your mucus membranes. Honey — Mixing a small teaspoon of honey in your tea or water will soothe your throat in a jiffy due to its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Peanut Butter — Pair it up with bread and you’ll have the energy and protein to survive a long night of singing (and dancing!) the protein keeps you full and carbs present in bread give you the energy to keep performing. Nuts — Known to provide instant energy, they’re every singer’s go-to snack. They’re a nutrition powerhouse. For instance, let’s talk about almonds — they’re full of healthy nutrients, healthy fats, carbs and protein. Vitamin A — Foods rich in Vitamin A help your mucus membrane remain healthy. Increasing your intake of meat, eggs and leafy greens is a good idea. Fish and Chicken — They save your vocal cords from being overwhelmed with oils and fats. Consuming a moderate amount of oils and fats helps fight vocal strain and keeps the dry throated at bay. Fresh fruits — Opt for whole fruits rather than juices as they contain more nutritional value. your voice will stay lubricated and your body will stay hydrated.

What you SHOUDLN’T eat or drink

Consuming these foods can hinder your performance. Avoid these foods at least four hours before your session: Alcohol/Soda — While it feels good to calm your jittery nerves, consuming soda and alcohol will dry out your throat. Consuming soda makes you gassy and consuming alcohol will give you the high you don’t need before the show. Avoid soda and alcohol before the show to avoid throwing up on stage. Dairy products — Consuming butter, cheese, yogurt or milk before your performance isn’t a great idea. An acid reflux caused by it might burn your oesophagus and worse, your vocal cords. Caffeine — It leaves you dehydrated and makes you want to urinate more often.

The Takeaway

It’s important to take care of your health as a singer. Ensure that you include healthy foods that’ll improve your voice.

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What are the best musical instruments for children with autism? Ukulele. Strumming strings on this instrument helps develop motor control, and it has four strings compared to a full-sized guitar with six strings. ... Recorder. ... Xylophone/glockenspiel. ... Trumpet. ... Bongos.

Whether it’s to provide relaxation or to develop coordination or motor skills, playing musical instruments is a great activity for children.

Kids who have autism might find the skill beneficial, as well.

Here are five instruments that might be good to consider, according to an article on musical-mind.com.

1. Ukulele

Strumming strings on this instrument helps develop motor control, and it has four strings compared to a full-sized guitar with six strings. The ukulele is also easier to hold than a guitar, and doesn’t produce horrible sounds if a wrong note is hit. Ukuleles also aren’t that expensive, with prices ranging from $50 to $100.

2. Recorder

Not only is this instrument easy to hold, but it’s cheap (some models are less than $10) and helps develop motor skills. It’s also a good way for children with autism to learn breathing control. High-pitched notes can be a potential problem, but if that can be harnessed, this is a strong and inexpensive instrument.

3. Xylophone/glockenspiel

Another small and inexpensive instrument (ranging from $50 to $100), this helps kids with autism develop impulse control and hand-eye coordination.

4. Trumpet

With only three keys, there's an advantage here. The trumpet also helps develop breathing control and has a unique sound that appeals to kids, particularly older ones who want to get into the band at school.

5. Bongos

Simply hitting bongos can be a good way to enjoy the sound and work off some energy. But if there’s a desire to get more in-depth, learning to play them along to music develops hand-eye coordination and motor skills. A sense of movement and rhythm can especially be developed with bongos, which can be played sitting down or standing up.

This story was first published in 2019. It has since been updated.

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