Improper Technique Remedies - 2007/01/07 18:31I'm not sure if I'll be able to properly articulate what I'm trying to say, but I'm going to try to say it anyway.
First, before asking the actual question, I have to provide a bit of info: For at least 2.5 years, I've been singing from my throat. I have, however, determined the causes of this, and have begun successfully remedying this myself. I'm not experiencing pain when I sing anymore for the most part (I used to be in a great deal of pain when I sang).
My question is this: should I continue to assume that I am successfully remdying this problem on my own, or would a better option be to discuss this with my choral director (who is also my show choir director)? I don't have a private vocal instructor, so would that be better still (than either of the above), in order to make sure I don't have a bad-technique relapse?Caitlin
Credits:
Opera: Rusalka (Dancing Chorus)
Non-Musical: Pygmalion (Mrs. Pearce) Three Tales from Japan (Kimi-chan, Fish, Ogre) Keeper of the Tales (Parrot, Seema)
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chouettissimamaureen
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Re:Improper Technique Remedies - 2007/01/07 18:34Additional note: should I assume that I haven't incurred any vocal damage, or should I have that checked out?Caitlin
Credits:
Opera: Rusalka (Dancing Chorus)
Non-Musical: Pygmalion (Mrs. Pearce) Three Tales from Japan (Kimi-chan, Fish, Ogre) Keeper of the Tales (Parrot, Seema)
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jmslp
User Leading Player
Posts: 406
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Re:Improper Technique Remedies - 2007/01/07 18:37i think it's a good idea to ask your choral teacher provided you have faith in him/her as a good vocal instructor. even when we know what we are doing it's good to have a "teacher" of sorts. does that make sense? i have found that there is always something to learn from others-- good and bad technique. you might not be singing from your throat and you might not feel pain but you might have compensated in another way. or maybe you are doing everything completely correctly. get confirmation from someone who can look and listen "objectively". 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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Instruction from a qualified person is ALWAYS preferable to "self-training". Is it really worth the longevity of your voice to assume you've fixed the problem?_____________ Kris MTA Admin
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i guess we always say never to assume.... but MOST of the time, if there is some kind of vocal damage you will know. i can't say all of the time b/c sometimes our bodies don't exhibit signs and symptoms of damage, but w/ the voice, you will USUALLY have some overt s/s. for example, if you have strained your voice from singing from the throat and you caused damage, you would have trouble speaking and singing. you might have a hoarse or scratchy vocal quality. or it might be breathy (marilyn monroe-like). you might have decreased range. or you might have intermittent voice. if you don't have these symptoms and you are now practicing good vocal hygiene, you are probably in the clear. if you want to make sure, you can always see what it takes to get an appointment w/ an ENT, but if you don't have any signs or symptoms, they probably won't check.
make sense?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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chouettissimamaureen
User Supporting Player
Posts: 77
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Re:Improper Technique Remedies - 2007/01/07 18:45Gracias! I will admit, I'm not always the most vocally responsible person. Recently, despite having little voice to work with due to illness, I've still been trying to work with it as usual--definitely not a good idea.Caitlin
Credits:
Opera: Rusalka (Dancing Chorus)
Non-Musical: Pygmalion (Mrs. Pearce) Three Tales from Japan (Kimi-chan, Fish, Ogre) Keeper of the Tales (Parrot, Seema)
i guess we always say never to assume.... but MOST of the time, if there is some kind of vocal damage you will know. i can't say all of the time b/c sometimes our bodies don't exhibit signs and symptoms of damage, but w/ the voice, you will USUALLY have some overt s/s. for example, if you have strained your voice from singing from the throat and you caused damage, you would have trouble speaking and singing. you might have a hoarse or scratchy vocal quality. or it might be breathy (marilyn monroe-like). you might have decreased range. or you might have intermittent voice. if you don't have these symptoms and you are now practicing good vocal hygiene, you are probably in the clear. if you want to make sure, you can always see what it takes to get an appointment w/ an ENT, but if you don't have any signs or symptoms, they probably won't check.
make sense?
I just saw this after I made my "gracias" comment. Yes, it does make a lot of sense, and thank you.Caitlin
Credits:
Opera: Rusalka (Dancing Chorus)
Non-Musical: Pygmalion (Mrs. Pearce) Three Tales from Japan (Kimi-chan, Fish, Ogre) Keeper of the Tales (Parrot, Seema)
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ASHS_theatre
User Leading Player
Posts: 437
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Re:Improper Technique Remedies - 2007/01/08 01:36Hey guys, quick question. Without help from a vocal instructor, how can someone tell if they're singing from their throat? Now that y'all are talking about it, I'm terrified that I'm guilty of it. Shelby Jr. Moderator
Currently: Fritzi Bonwit in M*A*S*H
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Singing in your throat pretty much means you are getting stuck between head & chest voices. If you are in your middle range and are having difficulty with volume and feel tension in your throat, that's usually a sign you are singing in your throat. But checking where your vibration is happening also helps. (You'll always have SOME vibration obviously, but you should feel an obvious difference when you switch to head voice._____________ Kris MTA Admin
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DuchessCherryFlower
User Chorus Member
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Re:Improper Technique Remedies - 2007/01/08 01:43I'm with you on that one, and I think I may be in the same situation as you are only because I tend to use all chest voice and flip into head like a yodle O.O
Do you know any voice students that might be able to direct you to a teacher they use, or know a vocal music teacher? That might help a lot.
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