Strained Voice?

Hello,  I've never had any formal lessons...I bought Brett Manning's singing success but haven't had much time to devote to it as I have a three year old and a wife in nursing school.  My main workout is my once a week practice and singing around the house.  I always warm up with some easier songs before I dive into the harder stuff...I just recently bought Jaime V's new book, so hopefully that will  help.  Singing is something that runs in the family as my dad has sang in bands or toured for 25 years or better and my uncle's band Animal played at Sweden Rock Fest last year.  It's always come "natural" for me, or so I thought until my throat began to hurt.  I've spent a lot of time online "freaking" out over what could possibly be wrong with me.  You can get audio on my band's myspace site of a demo original song @ www.myspace.com/1350rocks if you can't access it there, do a music search for 1350.  There are some videos of my last band on youtube, either search for jlewmdob or experttease  I'm considering lessons but I don't want to get the wrong coach.  Again, thanks for your time and interest, I sincerely appreciate it.  Josh

Hi Hilary here see below

Please help...Been to the ENT twice in the last six weeks with minor pain in my throat.  Both times dr says everything looks good except for "very slight swelling of TVC" second time I went.  So I continue to sing at practice once a week hoping it's just me being worked up over nothing.  Last week I rehearsed three times for an upcoming show this past weekend, I've shown no signs of loss of range or power, and we are writing an album and cover hard rock...ranging from Highway to Hell, Man in Box, 18 & Life, Shinedown...all songs that showcase power and range.  Like I mentioned before, once I get going, I'm fine but the next day I'm sore.  It's not like a sore throat associated with a cold, it's more like the muscles around the larynx are sore.  I can't continue to fork over $50 a visit to the ENT and get nothing in return...I drink at least 8 bottles of water a day...use Thayer's Lozenges, licorice pills, and Vocal Eze (all recommended by Jaime Vendera) I'm a non smoker, hardly drink more than a few beers at a time.  Please help!  Should I try a different ENT?  If I can't sing, I'd be lost.  It keeps me sane.  I plan on taking the next few weeks off and trying to rest.  I'm worried that I've trashed my voice and have shows coming up next month.   Thanks in advance for reading my post and I'd appreciate any and all feedback.

Worried in Cincinnati,  Josh.

Josh it sounds like you have some inflammation that could be allergy related. I cant comment on your voice as I havent heard it but you may do well to go to a good nutritionist/allergy specialist for advice. Contact me if you need any more info
love Hilary

Thanks for the advice/concerns...Mr. Lunte, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "throaty bottom barker" but I'm guessing you mean I'm using too much chest voice.  I don't have a throaty sound to my speaking or singing voice, it's naturally clean, but I do use more grit and power when I'm doing certain songs.  This is something that has just started recently...I sang in my last band for 2 years without any issues...but we were doing more pop/rock..not the harder stuff...I don't feel like I'm straining to reach the notes...but like I said I have no formal training..I'm terrified of getting the wrong teacher...but I obviously can't continue down the road I'm on...

Anybody know any good teachers around Cincinnati?

Again, thanks for your help.  Josh

Josh,

I agree with Robert.  What you are experiencing is just as you described it...muscle strain.  This kind of problem arises from singing too hard without benefit of proper technique.  Fatigued muscles cannot handle the stress placed upon them.  The stress has no where to go but to your vocal cords which will lead to damage that will either be irreversible, irreparable, or, best case, will require some serious vocal rehabilitation. 

Unfortunately, there is an epidemic of this problem stemming from the blind leading the blind.  In other words, the 'hope to bes' imitating and emulating the 'made its' who don't know what they're doing either, but have gained tacit credibility merely by virtue of the fact that they're signed and getting air time.  So many of the popular techniques have taken root in this manner, e.g., a growly blues singer sitting on his front porch strumming his Sears acoustic with gut strings sings how he sings because it's the only way he's able to vocalize due to having damaged his voice over time becomes popular and, thus, emulatable.  The same holds true for screaming, et al.  But, there's always a price to pay even when you do it 'right', vis a vis, Robert Plant circa 1969 vs. Robert Plant circa 2008.  You'd be surprised at how many of them get to a point where they finally do what they should have done in the first place...found a great teacher!

Remember the old saying, "If it hurts, don't do it." Lay off singing until you've found an outstanding voice teacher who also understands voice pathology.  Fortunately for you, you live in a city where there are some fine people.  You're also close enough to some of the finest universities that have specialists in this field.  I'll see if I can come up with some referrals for you.

Last edited by Michael "Rock" Rocchio (2008-06-11 08:18:45)

Josh,

Dr. Ronald Scherer, http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/cdis/page36449.html, a speech/voice scientist, a graduate of Indiana University, former head research scientist at the Denver Center for Performing Arts, has taught at U of Cincinnati and is currently at Bowling Green State U, is a singer, writes for the NATS Journal.  He is well known and respected in the singing world and lectures everywhere.  Might as well go to the top.  All the best.

Josh,

Jaime's book is definitely a good start.  Have you rested your voice?  I mean rested!  By the way, whispering can be worse for your voice than speaking when you've sustained damage.  Have you sought medical help?  If so, what did they say? When your voice is feeling better, and a light, middle of your range hum is clear and pain-free, I want you to contact Jaime Vendera directly.  I will have apprised him of your situation.  He's a master at helping to rehab singers with problems like yours.  Then, let's look at giving you some solid technique to prevent this from ever happening again.  Sound good?

Josh,

The fact that the pain you were experiencing has subsided as a result of 'sorta' vocal rest should tell you that if you were to exhibit an artist's discipline and give your instrument a total break you would be doing yourself a long-term favor.  It all depends on how serious you are about saving your voice and singing in the future.  It's up to you, brother.

I've listened to your band's song a couple of times now.  I would prefer to hear your voice without all the window dressing and effects.  It was hard to tell if it was the effect, or you not centered on the pitch.  But, I can hear enough to tell you some good news.  You're so close.  Once your voice is given a clean bill of health, I will talk with you about the nuance changes you can make to get your voice to float vs. muscling it up and holding it there with tension.  I'm not going to tell you now because I'm concerned that you'd be so curious that you'd forstall, or foresake true vocal rest in order to experience the breakthrough.  Show me that you've got the discipline a singer must have to excel. 

Now, a word about pressure from without.  There was a period of my life when I took some time off to re-invent myself and moved up into the Sierra Nevada mountains and lived as a ski bum in Mammoth Lakes, CA.  At the top of the mountain there's a cornice off of which only an expert skier should venture lest they risk serious injury, or even death.  There's a sign there that says, "When your friends say 'GO!, don't be afraid to say, 'NO!.  I saw the scene played out many times. A person would freeze up in fear and his/her friends would try to goad them into taking the plunge.  I never saw it turn out well when the person would succumb to the peer pressure.  Once, I saw it end up in death.  Bottom line: If your friends try to talk you into singing before you're genuinely well, and before you've replaced bad with good technique...they aren't your friends.

Michael,  I really appreciate your concern and insight into my story...I'm not sure I can give my voice a  total break from daily work and home use, but I will give it my best.  I work in customer service/sales so using my voice is a prerequisite.  I can limit my conversation with customers as most of them are familiar with my singing and they would understand my situation.  How much rest is total vocal rest?  I could possibly try for a day or two if I plan properly.  I'm serious about my music and am willing to try just about anything to salvage my singing voice.  I spoke to my bandmates yesterday and gave them the "bad" news.  They were 100% behind my decision to shut it down until I'm ready and given a clean bill of health.  This didn't surprise me as they are all not only great musicians, but great friends as well.  So I guess my next step is to get back to the doc and see what I need to do.  My plan is still to get in touch with Jaime V and get some lessons.  I am also waiting to hear back from you with these changes you are suggesting but understand your concern of me diving back into singing.  Again, I sincerely appreciate your help and concern, Josh.

One more thing, the recording on our site was done in 10 minutes.  I just basically tried to duplicate two separate tracks of the same thing and was off in a few places.  I'm not sure what effects were placed on my voice, but we always practice with my vocals "dry" and it sounds fairly similar to the recording.  Thanks again, Josh.

Rock,

I made it back to the ENT about 10 days ago.  I went to see a different doc this time, as I wasn't entirely comfortable with the first guy I had seen twice.  This doc used a camera that went thru my nose, ouch, but I guess you can get a better look that way.  Good news is that he didn't see any damage or swelling to the cords.  He did say that there were signs of reflux and that I could make some diet changes and that they could be controlled with an otc such as Prilosec.  His advice for me was to seek out a good vocal coach to make sure that I'm using proper technique and to keep him informed.  I haven't been to band practice for about six weeks now as I've done my best to rest my voice.  I've picked up quite a bit of good info from Jaime's book.  I'm looking forward to putting it to use.  I think the problems I have been experiencing stem from not properly supporting my breath and "throat" singing.  I also think, as a few people mentioned earlier in this post, that I'm not developing a proper resonant track.  I'm still not sure how to establish this, but I'm working on it and any advice would be much appreciated.  One more thing,  I'm trying my best to make it out to your seminar with Jaime in a few weeks.  What's the latest one can register?  Again, I really appreciate your help.  Thanks, Josh.

I just recently found out that i have reflux also...Prilosec OTC has worked wonders.  I think I've added at least 4 more notes to my range, that I had lost over the last couple of years.  My reflux just started this last year. Between getting my allergies under control thanks to RUSH immunology and the reflux under control with the Prilosec, I'm singing stuff that I haven't been able to sing in years.

If the acid reflux affects primarily your voice, chances are it can be corrected without drugs, or at minimum, you can reduce the amount of drugs used.   Start with lifting the head end of your bed 6 inches.  If this doesn't work, try 7, then 8.  I'm fairly researched in gastroenterology and acid reflux, as WebAndNet does marketing for numerous gastroenterologists and considering launching an acid-reflux website.   There are many things that can be done before drugs.  However, after doing all these things, omeprazele (sp?  generic Prilosec), will probably still slightly better improve your voice.  But, not necessary to take these; as otherwise, you may have to take these for the rest of your life.

Acid reflux risks increases as one gets older.   It's partly the reason a singer sounds older.   If the sound you're trying to achieve is a more mature sound, very minor acid reflux (which is likely part of your natural aging), will do the job.  Acid reflux may not be the correct term here; minor acid travelling up is actually fairly common.  The problem is insufficient basic saliva coming down to neutralize the acid.

Many drugs have the side-effect of producing less saliva.   So, you may also want to review your other drugs taken.

Last edited by WebAndNet (2008-07-25 08:47:08)

Changing your diet on acid reflux.

No spicy foods,
No carbonated drink or alcohol,
And here's the toughy-- no fatty foods (anything fried) or even fats (beef, pork, many seafoods), cake, ice cream, chocolate, mints, etc.
There are a few others.

Nothing, except water, 3 hours before bedtime.

This is about the only thing I can think of on technique.   Don't eat 3 hours before singing.  Maybe someone know of other technique issues.   Regardless of how you sing, the technique, in my opinion, will matter minorly.  How much food you have in your stomach will matter a great deal.  Alternatively, take Gaviscon immediately before singing.

I'm building a website on this topic, so hang on.

Last edited by WebAndNet (2008-07-25 09:52:15)