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Going without coffee for a month
February 1, 2015
10:40 am
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Col1993
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So it's February 1st now. I told myself I'd go an entire month without just to see the result. If I had a cup of coffee before, then I'd only had about one each three to five days, but still I'm interested in how I'll experience this.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel like it influences your singing personally?

February 1, 2015
10:58 am
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TommyTheHat
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I think this is one of those "it depends" type of issue. For me personally coffee doesn't affect my singing. But then again, I only have coffee when I wake up in the morning and maybe another cup around noon. The rest of the day I'm drinking water so any effects from the coffee being a diuretic may be countered by the water intake. I don't drink coffee when I sing or right before. But then again, I do drink alcohol at times when I sing. Again, it depends on where I am and what I'm singing. But I supplement with water.

Now, if you're drinking coffee all day and during performances that may be a different story. I should mention that my "cups" of coffee are 8 oz cups. Not the new standard of 16!
I also think that some of these so called issues may depend on what type of music one is singing. Someone singing classical or opera may want a more clear sound and everything counts. Someone singing more bluesy songs may actually benefit from a bit of alcohol or anything adding a certain amount of character to the voice Laugh
(without causing damage of course). It may all be situational and personal.

Consuming anything that may dry out the cords just prior to or during a performance may not be a good idea but imo as long as you are countering with hydration after, then I see no problems a few hours before actual singing. At least not for me. How many songs and what type you will sing makes a difference also.

"It's not how many notes you know. It's what you do with them."

February 1, 2015
11:58 am
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OwenKorzec
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I quit coffee well before I started singing so I don't know about the effects on that but I know the effects of health (for ME at least).

The whole thing I discovered when I used to drink coffee and tea a lot is that you build up a tolerance for caffeine so if you are drinking it regularly the effect eventually becomes roughly the same as not drinking it at all. And then you are just wasting coffee and becoming reliant on it for no reason and whenever you can't get it you'll get a crash and just feel tired and depressed as hell. If you simply don't drink it regularly you feel exactly the same and not have to worry about grabbing your cup of coffee in order to keep yourself awake. I know there's a little more to this and it's also individual but basically for me I felt getting good sleep is a more reliable energy source and exercise and time management helps give me that caffeine-like alertness when I need it but much better than caffeine could alone because it's focused. I've ultimately found caffeine extremely distracting, it gives me plenty of energy but it simultaneously ungrounds me making it harder to stay focused on the things I need to do.

February 1, 2015
8:08 pm
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Phil Moufarrege
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I think going without stimulants for a good while is a great idea in order to TRULY get in touch with your natural fatigue levels. Then you can add it back in and use it for taste rather than relying on it to mask fatigue.

I recommend good quality organic coffee and I am really against instant coffee or coffee beans that smell like ashtrays, they are coated in chemicals and instant coffee is like a laxative that leads to constipation in my opinion.

@PhilMoufarrege
Online Vocal Coach, Singer/Songwriter
Grow-The-Voice.com | PHILMOUFARREGE.com

March 2, 2015
3:48 am
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Col1993
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So one month has passed and I got to say it feels good resisting the use of caffeine. Got to admit I was pretty tempted to consume it anyway during the first week or so but eventually that need for it got less by time.

I'll just consume it during an occasional weekend now or so and I'm definitely interested in trying some organic coffee.

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