Getting it back - 2008/01/25 11:26After Christmas, I got really, really sick. I could tell I was going to get sick because my voice started to get really rough. Then the sickness hit me and I lost my voice completely for like a week. So needless to say, I wasn't able to sing for about two weeks and then when I returned to voice lessons the following week, I told my teacher what happened and we decided to see hear what was going on. I sang about three notes when she told me to go home. Now, I returned to lessons and I am trying to strengthen my voice up again, but I found that since losing my voice everything seems really mess up. My placement is totally off, my support is gone. Nothing seems connected anymore. I am getting frustrated because I feel like a year of hard work has just completely disappeared. Has this happened to anyone? And if so, how did you get yourself back to your pre-sickness state? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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brucecriesxout
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Re:Getting it back - 2008/01/25 15:11Oh honey I'm sorry vocal malfunctions are the worst. I call it being in a "vocal funk" definition being "the way you sound AFTER sickness or during." Stuff like this happens only I've been fortunate enough to only lose my voice for about a week but believe me I was quite scared for even that short while.
Storytime!: My old voice teacher her names Janel, was Kate/Lilli her senior year of college and because of her screaming with the combination of being sick she had lost her voice for the ENTIRE month, and this was when she was just getting ready to graduate with her degree BFA and give her senior recital and all that. End of Storytime
The point of all that was, you can't get better vocally unless you give yourself time to heal. & the reason for your placement being off or your support being gone could be because your not completlly better yet!
Your voice is your money maker that you can't afford to ruin. It may seem miserable now but resting is ALWAYS the best
Personally, when i'm in a "vocal funk" or just plain sick. I don't talk AT ALL. Unless it's very brief I don't talk on the phone and I don't even talk to my parents. Haha and thats the sucky part for me because I LOVE the telephone.
* Unless its absolutely necessary for you to speak or scream or something don't do it, even at a rehearsal I would tell the director first thing how your feeling vocally their not wondering why your not singing that rehearsal or not projecting as much. *
& I keep my body hydrated at all times, Lipton Green Tea is wonderful because of the antioxidants and eases alot of the dry roughness in your throat, I drink about 2 mugs of it a day, and I drink freezing cold water ALL DAY.
If your throat is extra dry too, cold water is best because it lowers your body temperature, so your vocal chords will soak in all that moisture. So try to drink as much freezing cold water as possible.
Get well soon honey! I hope I helped you! Remember if your not speaking we always have the internet!
P.S: I know you've already had to endure waiting with a sore voice but you'll have to wait it out! Everything will be fine!
Post edited by: brucecriesxout, at: 2008/01/25 15:12Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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Melissa
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Re:Getting it back - 2008/01/25 15:20I've been told from my voice teacher that when you are sick/recovering/sore throat, you automatically (most people) sink into their chest voice, making your voice gravelly. Try not to talk as much as possible, but if you have to, only talk in your head voice. I know it sounds funny, but it helps, because not as much strain is being put on your vocal cords.
as for getting your voice back, slow and steady wins the race. make sure to warm up SLOWLY and for a LONG TIME. If you normally take 10 min. to warm up, take 20min. DONT try to automatically hit notes at the very top and very bottom of your range. take it SLOW. only warm up what is comfortable, and if it hurts AT ALL-STOP. A good one I have found is doing lip trills. they seem to help a ton. Vocal frys are also pretty helpful, despite the name.
hope it helps! Melissa
Post edited by: Melissa, at: 2008/01/25 15:21Lissa
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clingtowords
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Re:Getting it back - 2008/01/25 15:24You're the best Bruce! Thanks. This vocal funk is very frustrating because 1) I am in rehearsal for Birdie right now and 2) I was looking at auditioning in the near future for some other shows I will really like to get casted in. I am trying to do my best to not over do myself, but sometimes I get myself in this mind set that I totally blew everthing and stink. But, alas, I will have to let time take its course, and then hopefully, the funk will be over.
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clingtowords
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Re:Getting it back - 2008/01/25 15:25Melissa, thanks! May I ask what vocal frys are?
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Melissa
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Re:Getting it back - 2008/01/25 15:30I forgot to mention- make sure to do TONNES of breathing excersizes. A really good way to reconnect with your breathing is to lay down and close your eyes, then start to slowly breathe in and breathe out. do this until you are really calm.
then, without moving, focus your breath on your feet as you breathe in. as you exhale, release all tension from your feet. work your way up your body, taking as long as you need to release all the tension from each area of your body.
When you are totally loose and relaxed, without any tension, slowly roll over onto your side, and continue to breathe for a couple of minutes. then get up slowly.
you might want to put music on while you are doing this.
I do this excersize every day before rehearsal or before theatre class, and before my voice lessons. I find it helps me to connect with my breathing.
The first couple times you do this, you may want to leave a lot of time before you have to do anything, I know people who can get so relaxed that they fall asleep! The first couple times may take a while to release all of the tension from your body, but the more you do it, the faster it will go!Lissa
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brucecriesxout
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Re:Getting it back - 2008/01/25 15:35clingtowords wrote: You're the best Bruce! Thanks. This vocal funk is very frustrating because 1) I am in rehearsal for Birdie right now and 2) I was looking at auditioning in the near future for some other shows I will really like to get casted in. I am trying to do my best to not over do myself, but sometimes I get myself in this mind set that I totally blew everthing and stink. But, alas, I will have to let time take its course, and then hopefully, the funk will be over.
& it will honey I believe in you just take extra care of yourself! Make sure you talk to your director like I said! So he or she isn't all "whats going on?!?"Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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Melissa
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Re:Getting it back - 2008/01/25 15:40Okay, they may make you feel stupid, but they are "like a massage for your vocal cords" -steven hatfield
You know when you were little and you used to do sound effects for ghosts, or dead people, or zombies or something like that? That is pretty much a vocal fry. It is a very slow vibration of the vocal cords. It kinda sounds like a creaking door.
I'll try to explain it, im just not quite sure HOW exactly....
Take a deep breath and open your mouth. slowly let the air out. Take another deep breath, but this time, close your vocal cords, to the point where no air comes out, then slowly open them. You should hear a lower sound that kind of goes in and out, almost like popping popcorn. you may also hear some air being released at the same time. It shouldnt be loud at all, or pressured in any way.
Okay, so reading that over, its not a very good description. but if you hear it you'd know. which doesnt really help you but....
sorry about that!
On second thought.... maybe you should ignore them.... they are good for getting back your low range, but unless you REALLY KNOW what you are doing, I would stay away. using too much pressure, or changing the note yours naturally lands on could damage your vocal cords. when used properly they are a good tool, but improperly or too much, not so good....
Post edited by: Melissa, at: 2008/01/25 15:45Lissa
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triplethreat
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Re:Getting it back - 2008/01/25 17:15I was taught NEVER to use vocal frys. Personally, I don't like the way they feel anyway so I've always avoided them._____________ Kris MTA Admin
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jmslp
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Re:Getting it back - 2008/01/25 17:50glottal fry (vocal fry) is produced in a very relaxed manner w/ very little air flow and very little subglottic (below the cord) pressure. glottal fry is valuable for people w/ vocal nodules or other hyperfunctional problems like polyps, cord thickening, functional and spasmodic dysphonia and ventricular phonation. it can be used to vocal fold relaxation. however, it must be produced in a relaxed manner or it can be abusive to the folds.
melissa, you didn't explain it poorly at all. and your disclaimer is very important-- do not do glottal fry if you do not know/are not sure what you are doing. you could hurt yourself b/c if you add any kind of pressure or straining to get those ghost/popping sounds, you are stressing your vocal cords. glottal fry is almost a compensatory strategy for people's whose cords do not adduct properly.They call me Jessica (like: They call me lady luck... lol)
Favorite roles:
Eva Peron, Evita; Jack's Mother, Into the Woods; Sonia, Godspell; Anything Goes, Reno Sweeney; Audrey, Little Shop of Horrors; Catherine, Pippin
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