By Joanne Nesbit, U-M News and Information Services
Michigan vs University of Utah Official Game Program
September 21, 2002

The Michigan Marching Band works at getting in shape months before an appearance at the season's first football game - a lot of hard work in hot weather to avoid the risk of injury to feet and ankles.

Members of the Wolverine football team work all year to keep in top physical shape and concentrate on grueling workouts for 22 days before the season opener.

But how about the fans? Can they work out and avoid injury, especially to their vocal cords as they cheer on the Wolverines? Yes they can, say the experts at U-M's Vocal Health Center who recommend some healthy vocal habits for U-M football fans.

The center offers comprehensive care for the voice and voice disorders experienced by both the professional and non-professional voice user. Clients include internationally renowned performers, athletic coaches, teachers, clergy, corporate executives, salespeople, attorneys, politicians, radio and television professionals, actors, telephone operators, and public speakers.

The first step toward being able to produce a strong voice at a football game is to be well-hydrated. That means drinking plenty of water before, during, and after the game. And it doesn't mean alcoholic beverages or those that contain caffeine.

While heading to Michigan Stadium, let out some lip or tongue trills, and do some slow glides up and down the scale. To get in the true Wolverine spirit, run the scale with: Goooooooooooo Blue!

U-M Experts suggest that you take in a good breath and use plenty of airflow. Let just a slight sensation of breath escape with the voice when you give out those cheers.

Once you've led the team to victory, don't forget a cool-down for your voice. Treat it gently by doing some soft humming on the way home. "The Victors" will work well for this, but keep the volume on medium. Once home, rest your voice for the next 24 hours. Don't yell at the kids, the dog, your spouse, or a rival team on TV.

If you lost control of this vocal health program while at the game and are experiencing some vocal distress, U-M experts recommend lozenges, but warn to avoid those with eucalyptus, menthol, or peppermint. One Wolverine fan who suffered professionally by abusing his voice while cheering on the team is Rev. Tom Firestone, pastor at St. Mary's Student Parish in Ann Arbor.

"I yell plenty," he says. "I used to lose myself at games."

That yelling at Saturday football games led to trouble when he went to work at Sunday mass. The strain on his voice led him to Leslie Guinn at the Vocal Health Center . Now he does vocal exercises to strengthen his voice even while driving.

So the former high school and Xavier University defensive back didn't have to relinquish cheering the Wolverines at home and away games to keep his job. He is successful at both because he uses the plan for maintaining a healthy voice.

U-M's Vocal Health Center is headed by Dr. Norman D. Hogikyan, surgeon and associate professor of otolaryngology at U-M. Working with Hogikyan is Marc Haxer, a senior speech and language pathologist, and Leslie Guinn, professor emeritus of music, a professional bass baritone and prize-winning recording artist who has collaborated with otolaryngologists in the rehabilitation of the injured voice for the past 25 years.

For more information about vocal health and the center, call (734) 432-7666 or visit www.med.umich.edu/oto/vocalhealthcenter/.