Vocal Advice

I’m a 46 year-old woman.

ANSWER: You ask a good and important question - and one that causes me sadness to answer.

There is a lot of research available that documents the damage to the voice resulting from smoking, and it is not encouraging. The thing is, smoking damages so much more than the larynx - that we really need to include “the whole instrument” - the body that has been affected, perhaps especially the respiratory system.

But, in answer to your question, to the extent that you have experienced “damage” to the voice from smoking [whether it be: a) the lowering of the range, b) the slight grating feeling and grating sound in the tone, c) dry cords etc.] the voice will have been altered permanently.  Even if smoking has stopped entirely, while the use of the voice can be regained, it will have lost its original range, flexibility, beauty and power.  The range especially will have been lowered and flexibility curtailed.  This is something with which every singer-smoker has to reckon.  You will likely need to find song literature that is pitched lower than you sang prior to smoking.  I know this is not a very encouraging message.  I’m sorry.  I’m sure this will be sobering to all who read it.

Thanks for being brave enough to ask!

Best wishes.