I am a young soprano, and I have just started my first year in college as a vocal performance major. So far, I have been doing very well, and my teachers have been quite pleased with my progress. Last Wed., I was doing a vocal exercise and was feeling daring, perhaps too daring, and ended up hitting an F#6 with no apparent problems. Well, the next day when I tried singing, although my tone and range where the same, my voice became fatigued very quickly, and I had to stop. It also feels like there is a lump right at my Adam’s apple, and I can feel it shifting when I swallow. Sometimes there is also slight pain when I sing, and I become fatigued very easily just talking. My voice teacher told me that I probably pulled a muscle, since my larynx was not used to lifting quite that high, and that I need to sing only lightly in the mid-range for about two weeks, and even then only if there is no pain and only for short amounts of time. It’s been nearly a week since I pulled the muscle, and I feel no difference in my voice. Is this normal? How long will it be before my voice will be back to normal and I can sing without any worries? Is this a major problem? Any advice you could give me would be very much appreciated! Thank you!
Answer: Laini,
As a first-year student - music/vocal major in college, you’re 18 … and it’s true, your larynx is still quite malleable, at least comparing it to its mature state about 10 years from now. I always tell my freshmen voice majors, that the requirement for two-hours preparation a day does not mean two hours of straight singing. In fact, I warn freshmen to start with 20 to 30 minute segments, and use a good portion of the time memorizing, reading the background of the song and composer and listening to great singers sing the same or similar songs. But know this, you aren’t the first one to overdo. Your youth speaks for itself … and “slowing down to make faster progress” is something youths have to learn by experience from time to time. Join the crowd.
What you CAN physically do, and what your voice is READY to do are two different things at this age. Since you pushed your voice beyond what it is ready to do – up into the whistle register area – your teacher has it right … you over-exerted the muscles and need to give it REAL REST for a couple of weeks. I agree completely with your voice teacher. S/he is a wise person, and you need to listen and take the weight off for a while. If you take the advice, you will heal, and you need to wait until you heal before getting back into a regular regime of vocal practice. Remember, when you “feel a lump” or “pain” or “something odd and uncomfortable” your body is sending you messages to which you should pay attention. Back off, give it a rest, and resume vocalizing slowly in a comfortable range without attempting to force anything. (You’ll heal faster if you sleep longer at night!) By the way, my guess is that what you’ve pulled is one of the extrinsic muscles of the larynx (not the vocal cords themselves), but regardless, it works as a unit coordinately, so give it a rest.
Keep in mind this principle as you continue your vocal studies and development: Vocal strength, vocal flexibility and expanded vocal range all grow incrementally – SLOWLY over a period of years. The best way to make that happen is by establishing good habits NOW in a range where it is currently comfortable to sing. When you have established those habits, the “slow and steady” development can take place healthfully.
Sounds to me like you have a wise voice teacher. Best wishes.