Voice Question: How can I get my singing range back to normal after getting over a cold?
Thursday, July 24th, 2008Answer: Your question implies that you lost some part of your range while having a cold. This would actually indicate that the post-nasal drainage and/or throat infection also affected your vocal cords. It sounds like you’ve had a touch of laryngitis. Swelling and infection of the cords is what causes loss of range in the voice – not a head cold by itself.
This being the case, it is important that you recover completely and without prematurely using your voice. When all “huskiness” or “heaviness” is gone, begin a daily regimen of vocalizing in which you begin comfortably low with small-range exercises and move upward and downward to your upper and lower “limits.” As your voice gets stronger increase the range of the exercises, starting comfortably low and ascending by half-steps until you reach your comfort limits. You’ll find that in time your full range will come back.
How quickly your full range will return will depend in part on the degree of recovery you have experienced. It is important that you are completely well before asking your voice to exercise vigorously. Be sure to keep up your health and keep your immune system at its peak.
Most of us don’t like to wait … I know. Best wishes to you.