Vocal Music Advice

Singing with a high larynx is associated with a retracted tongue, jutting chin (bad head and neck posture), raised chin, shallow breathing,(1)  excessive singing in falsetto, puberphonia,(2) inhibition of vocal expressive qualities and unnecessary tension.  All of these symptoms work against maintaining muscle tonus,(3)  the production of clear, vibrant warm tone, ease of production and vocal health.  The movement of the larynx to a high position is most usually associated, as has been stated, with the act of swallowing.  In this movement the larynx travels upward, tightening the musculature and restricting the space for resonance, the pharynx constricts allowing limited sound and vastly restricted resonance, and the body of the tongue is pulled up virtually closing the oral space. The classic sound of the high larynx is the voice of the famous Muppet character Kermit the Frog.  This sound is less distinctive in the female voice but is still discernable by the trained ear.  A baritone will sound like a tenor when singing his high notes and may be mistaken for a tenor.   Country-and-western singers will be seen grimacing with lifted chin to achieve the pitch, (no he is not emoting the text) because “spreading of the lips and raising the larynx—tend to shorten the vocal tract and hence to raise the frequencies of the formants.”(4)   Typically, singers who unconsciously do this do not produce all tones of the range with a high larynx.  Observation suggests that tones that are produced at about the normal speech level are not usually altered.  The larynx of the young college man especially is often seen to move upward like an elevator, according to pitch.  Almost all the attending audible characteristics—a thin sound lacking in robust overtones, and visible characteristics of strain—are observable also.  Typically one sees the raised or jutting chin, neck muscle tension and bulging veins.  In a woman, the sound becomes shrill and piercing and loses the warmth of a broader band of overtones that is present with the “open throat.”

Why has this syndrome become so common?  What has caused a vocal abnormality that used to be rare to become the majority practice among college freshmen?  Observation over time suggests the saturation influence of the culture on young singers.
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(1)  Jenny Iwarsson, “Effects of Inhalatory Abdominal Wall Movement on Vertical Laryngeal Position During Phonation,” Journal of Voice (15:3, September 2001): 386.
(2)  Kristin Samuelson, “The Impact of Puberphonia on the Female Speaking and Singing Voice,” Journal of Singing (55:4, March-April 1999), 25.  Puberphonia is a vocal condition which involves an elevated use (high larynx together with high pitch) of the voice and is sometimes described as ‘failure of the male voice to break at puberty.’
(3)  Muscle tonus is the balanced tension that allows muscles to work efficiently over a long period without tiring.
(4)  Kenneth N. Stevens, Acoustic Phonetics (Cambridge, Mass. MIT Press, 1998), 152.

From L:
Hi…As said above, I am 25 and sing more for pleasure rather than profession. I have always had a knack for singing in the car, etc. and was part of a performance choir in high school and senior year of college. I’m sure before I entered college I was not using my voice properly (breathing technique, etc.) but that was remedied through a wonderful vocal teacher I had in college. However, over the last few months I have noticed progressive hoarseness as well as slight discomfort when singing. I did have two traumatic episodes in the past few months–one: I woke up screaming ‘bloody murder’ after a nightmare–my throat was soar for a few days after that. And then I had a bout with food poisoning that caused me to throw up–which really burned my throat (sorry for the gross details!). Since then, as I said above, I am becoming more hoarse–even when speaking–along with mild discomfort and shortened ability to sing in long duration. I have tried to rest my voice, but apparently am not doing a very good job? Could this be from prolonged improper use and therefore resulting in permanent damage? Or is there possibly hope? Any advice? Thank you!

From A:
Thanks for taking the time to look at my question! I’m 21 and I enjoy to sing but I have never had vocal training. Lately I’ve been singing more than I ever have in my life and I’ve noticed some problems. After I sing I have a sore throat. It is subtle but my talking voice is slightly hoarse. Now I feel as though there is a giant lump in my throat. This is my second week of soreness and I am terrified! I’ve read about nodules and prenodules and other scary things all over the internet and I’m so scared I’m going to lose my voice! I also have allergies which are especially bad in the winter. I probably have poor singing technique. Do you recommend I stop singing until I learn proper techniques? What I’m most worried about is doing permanent damage to my voice! *deep breath* Haha, I have been very anxious about this. Thank you! I really appreciate any answer you can give me!

Answer: Forgive me “L” and “A” for answering your questions together. Your questions are significantly similar, so, I’m going to take the part of a “teacher” and answer without the normal brevity of 200 words or less. I feel for you both and appreciate that you’ve been unafraid to ask your questions.

Hoarseness is one of the first, most easily discerned audible symptoms presented to a voice teacher that indicates the presence of a “vocal fault” in an otherwise physically healthy singer. The most common cause for vocal hoarseness is “hyper-functional phonation;” demanding too much from the voice, producing a sound that can be described by any one, or  combination of the following adjectives: tight, tense, hard, edgy, strident, rasping, grating, rough, constricted or even strangulated. Hoarseness is a danger signal to you, the singer. If huskiness or soreness is a common result of your singing, then you should

1) stop singing, and if it persists,
2) see an otolaryngologist.

Observations and recommendations:

1. Screaming hard even once can do temporary damage to the voice. The voice has to recover in silence and with more than usual sleep. Give it more time than you think it needs.
2. Vomiting and the burning from stomach acids also require extended time to heal. Give your voice time. You should pay attention to resulting soreness as there are relatively few pain nerve endings in the throat! Give healing more time than you think it needs, and limit your voice use.  Begin establishing the habit (if you don’t already have it) of gargling whenever you brush your teeth and after meals – rinsing out your throat with water.
3. Regularly speaking too high, or too low will often result in hoarseness. Please read my entry on “speaking” to help you find where you should speak without unnecessary tension.
4. Long-term misuse of the voice can permanently damage the voice. So, your concern is legitimate. A voice therapist or qualified voice teacher may be what you need to correct the problem.
5. The feeling of “a giant lump” in your throat is a definite indication of misuse. Stop singing. Give your voice more time than you think it needs to heal and recover. (Go see an E.N.T. soon!)
6. Allergies do tend to exacerbate (aggravate) upper-respiratory and throat edema (swelling). So, allergies compounded with possible misuse of the voice would tend to make things feel worse, faster.
7. While my blog will give you sound advice and may help you to start thinking correctly about singing, you will more likely make the progress you should make toward using your voice healthfully by studying with a reliable voice teacher. If you live in the Northwest Georgia area (NE Alabama or Chattanooga, TN), you can contact me, otherwise, you should do some sleuthing, asking around and find a trustworthy teacher and explain to that person what you’ve shared with me.

IN THE MEANTIME, you can be …

a. Getting more than 8 hours of sleep a night, REGULARLY.
b. Drinking lots of clear (non-caffeinated) liquids.
c. Taking supplements (vitamins, minerals and herbs) to help boost your own immune system … and I would actually recommend the use of a drinkable form of Aloe Vera to have every day until your throat has healed. This can be purchased at most health-food stores.
d. Eating carefully. If you are in the habit of having ice cream or any kind of dairy products (pizza) in the evening before going to bed, change the menu to fresh fruit (e.g., grapefruit), and don’t go to bed on a full stomach, wait a couple of hours after you’ve eaten before lying down to sleep.
e. Sighing lightly on a downward vocal slide just after inhaling as if you’re about to “yawn,” (not ‘singing’).

I would be interested in hearing of your progress toward dealing with your situation(s) and the healing process.  I hope this has been helpful to you.

Best wishes.

I’m an older soprano who has decided to attempt to sing again after taking about 30 years off (due to vocal ulcerations I developed in my 20s.) I received my B.M. in Voice Performance, started graduate school, but then had to stop because of chronic vocal discomfort (A laryngologist told me to rest the voice for a few months, but the soreness continued). So I’ve attempted a comeback every few years since then, but still encountered hoarseness and soreness, and have always stopped… fearful that I was doing serious damage.

Now at 59, I’d like to give it one more try, so a few months ago started singing in an excellent, professional-level church choir. This week, while practicing for an upcoming Christmas concert to be performed with a symphony orchestra (I’m one of five assigned first sopranos), I’ve again encountered terrible hoarseness and soreness. We have been rehearsing steadily, and the high soprano parts are sustained in the high treble clef (F5 – C6), a range in which I used to shine (once had a strong E6). But today I am so hoarse and sore (the concert is in two weeks, with more rehearsals upcoming) that I’m fearful I may have to drop out or “lip-sync” to avoid blowing out the cords all together.

This is very discouraging, but I’m resisting the idea that I have to finally give up my dream of singing again. My questions:

I’m not in a financial situation to afford private lessons at the moment, but wondered if you could recommend some gentle exercises I might do to relax the voice and stop damaging it (especially in the high range)? There is obviously some kind of tension that I can’t figure out.. or could it be that I’m just trying to do too much too soon (after 30 years off)?

I guess the real question is — is it even possible for a 59 year old to rebuild a voice to a professional (or good-amateur!) level after taking three decades off? Or maybe I should just get a grip on reality and stop trying for a come-back…?

ANSWER: Let me caution you that my answer will give you what is PROBABLE, not necessarily what is CERTAIN, because I have not heard you sing and have only what you’ve told me as a basis for giving you an answer.

1)  The fact that each time you have recommenced singing there has also been a recurrence of the problem of “hoarseness and soreness” suggests that there may well be some poor usage of the vocal apparatus.  ”Ulcerations” could be caused by bad vocal use … but would be surprising since you were a voice major in college. If this were the case, what specifically it is that you are doing I do not know since I have never heard you sing.

2) There is also the possibility that you suffer from acid reflux – a condition by which stomach acids come up to the esophagus and quite literally “burn” your throat.  What makes me think of this possibility is that “the soreness continued” even after several months of vocal rest.  The fact that there were “ulcerations” may also be an indication of acid reflux.  This would likely happen when you are having to breathe deeply and exhale thoroughly as happens when singing.  It is also possible to have had this condition for a long time without knowing it, and the hoarseness and soreness simply manifests the symptom when you sing.  I think there is a high probability of this second scenario being the cause of the problem.  A medical doctor can help you with this … it may require some alteration in diet, and learning to sleep with your upper-body slightly raised above your waste … at an angle rather than parallel to the floor.  Once this is taken care of … or dealt with in an ongoing way, your ability to sing without hoarseness and soreness is likely to be more probable.

3) At 59 it is also probable that your stamina to stay in the uppermost regions of your range will be less than it was even ten years ago, and definitely less than it was 30 years ago. Assuming that

a) there is no vocal-technical reason for developing a sore throat each time you sing, and

b) any acid reflux is not an issue,

you should be able to regain considerable stamina and enjoy singing in a fine choral setting.

4) One more thing, you should not be surprised if, at 59, your overall range has lowered, and you are more physically comfortable singing second soprano (though initially it may accost your psychological preference for singing soprano 1).  When you sing your highest notes in a choir, at no point should you feel as though you are “pushing” or “muscling” the sound … it should be comfortable just “floating” the notes.  If this is not the case, then beware … you are working too hard vocally, and probably inappropriately.

Regarding the possibility of singing inappropriately, certainly finding a good teacher would be helpful.  Regarding the possibility of acid reflux, a caring medical doctor (E.N.T.) will be able to tell you whether you have that problem … and if you have how to deal with it.

I hope this has been helpful and instructive.

I have a question?  My voice is very low.  I can’t talk loud.  It is the big problem for me.  I don’t know what to do.  It is getting 5 years that I am like this.  Please answer for me what to do.

Answer: Dear Haseeb,

I’m going to ask that you respond to my posting in the comment box below to clarify any points that need clarification.  The reason that I ask this of you is that I’m not sure that I have enough information from you to be of appropriate help.

I will interpret what I think you mean by your first statement: “my voice is very low.”  Rather than assuming that you have a low voice in pitch (like a bass singer), I think you mean that it is difficult for you to make yourself heard easily.  Your voice is too soft.  I assume this because of what you say next, “I can’t talk loud.”  Not only that, you have had this “condition” since you were about 16 years of age.

From my perspective two things are needful:

1.    You need to see an expert voice teacher, and SPEAK with him/her, so the s/he can discern the cause of your “softness of speech” and thereby see if there seems to be a medical problem with your voice, or, whether it is simply a matter of training your voice to operate efficiently.  I would guess that unless you have had some kind of “accident” or sustained an injury to your neck and throat, that you simply need to learn how to use your voice, strengthening it in the process.

2.    Once you are assured that there is no medical problem with your voice, you would do well to begin a regimen of vocal exercises, perhaps guided by a reputable voice teacher, by which you can learn to strengthen your voice, and begin to produce a clear resonant sound.

Haseeb, I know that I have not answered your question as you probably had hoped.  However, to do what you want I would have to be able to hear you myself.  Then I could tell you precisely what exercises might be appropriate for you, to learn how to produce a consistently clear sound when you speak.  You are right to think that by age 21 you should be able to do that.  If you live in Northwest Georgia, look me up and give me a call.  I’d be glad to help you.  I understand your frustration.

Best wishes.

Back in September 2008, I lost my voice. As it started to come back, I got into a very long conversation, and felt my voice going away again. The next day I performed with my band at a show.

It feels like my voice has never recovered from that time. I always have a coughing sensation and I feel my voice is much weaker. I have not been to an ENT, yet. I did receive OTC medication from a doctor, but it didn’t work. I also did all of the home remedies (letting vocals relax, warm liquids, salt water, and cough drops).

I can still sing, but not nearly as much as I used to. I require a week of vocal rest from performance to performance. (i used to play shows everyday)

Is it too late to fix this problem? Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you for your time.

Answer: Dear Daisy, (It’s now August 1, 2009)
I’d say the same to you if you were my student whom I had not seen in over a year and were not in proximity, and I had only what you’ve told me to go on (unable to hear or see you); I would tell you:
1.  See an Ear, Nose, Throat specialist as soon as possible.  It’s been the better part of 11 months!
2.  Stop taking over-the-counter drugs – if you’re still taking some.
3.  See a qualified voice teacher or vocal therapist and take a series of lessons and learn how to use your voice effectively without unnecessary strain.
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I’m a 41 year-old soprano.  I have been a soprano all my life. Recently, I joined the alto section of the church choir because the Alto section is very weak. After a few weeks, I have started to feel throat pain when I sing.  I also get hoarse after singing low for a while.  Is there such as thing as singing too low?   Can you strain your voice singing below your range?

Answer: Very simply the answer is YES – there is such a thing as singing too low and Yes, you can strain your voice by singing in a range that is uncomfortable to sustain for long periods.  Don’t do it.  Strain from singing too high is the more common occurence.  But all the same the answer is yes – you can – and are straining your voice if you have throat pain after singing “alto” in choir.  Requiring your voice to continue to sing too low will ultimately damage the voice.

Every voice (singer) not only has the range within which notes can be reached – but there is also an area where stamina, beauty, comfort occurs with ease.  As a soprano you need to sing in the soprano tessitura to preserve your voice.  Regardless of the needs of the choir – you should be singing soprano – and only join the altos–if absolutely necessary–in passages that are “high” for them.  You’d still be helping the alto section – but in a manageable part of your range.

Thank you for asking this question – I’m sure many others will benefit from this information too.

A word to the wise.  Best wishes.

Ok, so I did something really stupid.  I was practicing/experimenting with belting high notes…really really high notes. I don’t remember it hurting, I remember coughing after I did it.  The next morning, I woke up with a little tightness in my throat, thought it was just morning vocal stuff, did a little warm up before I went to sing at my job.  But the sounds were weaker, and I realized something might have been wrong.  People tell me I don’t sound hoarse, but I know that I do sound weaker when I talk.  When I swallow, I feel like I’m swallowing lumps, but it doesn’t hurt to talk or swallow.  I am so scared I may have done permanent vocal damage, since I depend on my voice for my job.  It’s been about 5 days and things haven’t seemed to get better.  Have I done any permanent damage? I am so scared.  My teacher said to go on vocal rest.

Answer: Pay attention to your teacher who said, “Go on total vocal rest.”

Drink lots of warm liquids, stay away from cold drafts if you can and wear a scarf.  If it doesn’t clear up in a few days you should go to a Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor just to be safe.

Sounds like you probably just strained yourself, and your cords are swollen.  Definitely don’t sing (especially belting) if you can help it over the next few days.

I very much appreciate your honesty and humility in confessing what you did.  You are undoubtedly learning that belting for a prolonged period of time under the best of circumstances is not good for the voice also.

The throat area has comparatively few — in fact very few pain-registering nerve endings, unlike the hands and fingers.  So it is possible to do damage to the throat (voice) and not be aware of it.  The tightness in your throat, the weaker sound and the “lump” that you feel when you swallow are the body’s signs [like waving red flags!] that you need to pay attention and give your voice complete vocal rest for several days.  Rather than continuing to vocalize and resume a ‘normal’ singing routine, I’d advise taking a complete vocal rest until — in another week or so — phonation (making sound) is easy and clear.  Continuing to try to force your voice to produce the sound you’re used to hearing under these circumstances could indeed result in long-term damage.  The short time of complete silence will allow you a dependable long-term future, versus the opposite.
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I am incredibly into musical theatre and intent to pursue it as a profession.  I also cox for my school rowing club – this involves a large amount of shouting (about 4 hours spread over 3 alternate days).  Will this damage my singing in the long term?

Thank you,

Answer: Hello Sam,

I think you hit upon the key when you used the term “excessive.”

Shouting can take on one of two aspects: 1) very loud speech, in which your jaw and throat are loose and open and your sound is clear, resonant and unforced, and, 2) production of distorted sound, yelling, screaming, in which there is abandonment to feelings of excitement, fury or whatever (e.g., at a basketball game or swimming race) which quickly results in pain in the throat and temporary hoarseness or even loss of voice.

The second is damaging, and the pain and hoarseness are your body’s red flags that this is not good for you.  Any continued or repeated use of the voice in this way will indeed produce lasting damage to the voice – at a fairly rapid rate.
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I’ve been singing for years.  I have a very very low voice, so I mostly sing jazz.  But I find it hard to reach very easy high notes!  Are there ANY tricks or tips to make me sing higher and better?!

Answer: Sing every day.  You will lose what you have if you don’t use it regularly.

Allow yourself time to warm up vocally before you get into song literature. These warm ups should begin small and comfortably low and gradually work upwards and expand in range.  Also, implement the principle that the higher the note, the more space (in the mouth and throat), the more energy (in the body and support system) and the more feeling of depth (vowels have) should take place.  If you are not incrementally adding space and energy as pitch rises then start making that a regular part of your singing – watching yourself in the mirror.
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