I'm currently playing Pennywise in Urinetown, and I have a whole song to myself at the beginning of Act I. My song is a very vocally demanding belting number, and I have to belt up to a High Soprano G. I naturally have a big musical theatre belt and I usually know how to support it well.......
However, I had a really bad stomach flu all last week. It's gone now, but believe it or not, this was very traumatic to my abdominal muscles. My diaphragm muscles are so tense that I can barely breathe properly, let alone sing. Whenever I breathe, I have to breathe so my chest and shoulders rise, even when I'm sleeping.
We had the full Act I run-through today and they made me sing for the sake of the whole cast. I had no choice other than to belt with tension since my breath support was gone, and I hurt my voice so much that I couldn't sing for the next few hours. I know this is unhealthy and can severely damage my voice, but when the show must go on, I had no other choice.
Anyhow, the performance is in three weeks and I really need to get my breath support back in time for the show. Does any experienced singers here know any ways to relieve tension in abdominal muscles? I have a doctor's appointment next week, but not before the full show run-through.Most recent role: Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown Upcoming audition: Into the Woods
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Shannon
User Supporting Player
Posts: 117
Karma: 2
Re:Belting with Breath support---NEED HELP NOW!!!! - 2007/07/18 00:50I'm not experienced, so don't take my advice as the final word, but I would say let it rest. When I have colds and such the same kind of thing happens to me, and allowing everything to rest for a few days and then gradually getting myself back to where I should be (instead of all at once) really helped. I don't think continuing to belt that high G will help you right now.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Mangos
User Chorus Member
Posts: 32
Karma: -1
Re:Belting with Breath support---NEED HELP NOW!!!! - 2007/07/18 15:32I agree, let it rest, do a little work as you can, but dont belt that G with tension, itll make it worse, if you really need to, use your head voice and dont belt it for the runthrough, itd be better to not belt it then and be able to belt it at the show might than to belt it at rehearsal, lose your voice, and not be able to do it for the show.name:Alex age: 16 current role: auditioning for Guys and Dolls past roles: Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz Dish in Goodnight Moon Seth/Shem in Children of Eden Emsemble in Urinetown Troll in Little Women Student in Les Miserables Mysterious man in Into the Woods Teen angel in Grease
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
As for belting improperly because you were "forced" to - If you know something isn't good for your voice, DON'T DO IT. Any musical director who knows anything would never make you belt when it is not safe to do so. In my opinion, you did have another choice, and that would be to sing the song in head voice or not sing at all. I would never risk damaging my voice in a rehearsal. (I admit that I might push it for an actual performance) But your show is 3 weeks away!
My response to anyone who expected me to do anything unsafe for my voice during a rehearsal would be, "Would you like me to be able to sing during the actual show, or now?"_____________ Kris MTA Admin
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Phanato
User Chorus Member
Posts: 20
Karma: 0
Re:Belting with Breath support---NEED HELP NOW!!!! - 2007/07/20 23:44I told my director that, but he said "during dress rehearsals and big run-throughs, you MUST sing for the sake of others. Because other people are relying on your singing to get their notes right. No exceptions." (in my song, there's a little chorus who echoes me the whole time.)Most recent role: Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown Upcoming audition: Into the Woods
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Melissa
User Chorus Member
Posts: 35
Karma: 0
Re:Belting with Breath support---NEED HELP NOW!!!! - 2007/07/21 02:21You can still sing, but just don't belt. They shouldn't have trouble finding their notes because the tone of your voice is different, unless they have never sung before, and even then...
to reitterate, ANY directior that tells you that you MUST sing out doesn't know how to handle strained voices, or doesn't have your best interests in mind, is NOT worth dealing with. You know your own body, and if it hurts, DON'T DO IT!!! Lissa
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
