Comments for http://www.thevoiceclub.com Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:27:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Stop! You’re Killing Your Voice. by Clare http://www.thevoiceclub.com/vocal-damage#comment-161 Clare Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:27:04 +0000 http://www.thevoiceclub.com/?p=1252#comment-161 Thanks very much for taking the time to reply. I will email you if I cannot find a teacher when I get back to school. Thanks very much for taking the time to reply.
I will email you if I cannot find a teacher when I get back to school.

]]> Comment on Stop! You’re Killing Your Voice. by voiceclubcoach http://www.thevoiceclub.com/vocal-damage#comment-159 voiceclubcoach Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:41:02 +0000 http://www.thevoiceclub.com/?p=1252#comment-159 Singing anything improperly (scales or songs) can compromise your voice. If you're feeling any pain or strain when you do them, then stop. Pain is a signal that something is off. Wait until you can get with a good technique coach, or if you can't, <a href="mailto:kim@thevoiceclub.com?Free online voice lesson" rel="nofollow">email me</a> for a free 30 minute online lesson. I can give you some exercises that will put your voice back in balance and get you on the right track again. Singing anything improperly (scales or songs) can compromise your voice. If you’re feeling any pain or strain when you do them, then stop. Pain is a signal that something is off. Wait until you can get with a good technique coach, or if you can’t, email me for a free 30 minute online lesson. I can give you some exercises that will put your voice back in balance and get you on the right track again.

]]> Comment on How to Audition for Musical Theater by voiceclubcoach http://www.thevoiceclub.com/musical-theater-auditions#comment-158 voiceclubcoach Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:38:03 +0000 http://www.thevoiceclub.com/?p=2145#comment-158 There is no reason you can't sing. If you can find organizations that will work with you to create blocking that will lead you to your points on stage, it is doable. Don't waste time worrying about the things you cannot change. Develop your voice and deepen your acting skills and audition every chance you can. There are many visually impaired people who have gone on to do incredible things in the entertainment industry. Just work hard to be the best singer/actor you can and keep getting out there. If you are good and you get out there opportunities will come. There is no reason you can’t sing. If you can find organizations that will work with you to create blocking that will lead you to your points on stage, it is doable. Don’t waste time worrying about the things you cannot change. Develop your voice and deepen your acting skills and audition every chance you can. There are many visually impaired people who have gone on to do incredible things in the entertainment industry. Just work hard to be the best singer/actor you can and keep getting out there. If you are good and you get out there opportunities will come.

]]> Comment on Stop! You’re Killing Your Voice. by Clare http://www.thevoiceclub.com/vocal-damage#comment-157 Clare Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:51:36 +0000 http://www.thevoiceclub.com/?p=1252#comment-157 Thank you for writing this, it was very informative :) I have been having singing lessons at school for a few years (I'm 16 now) but as it's the summer holidays, I haven't had one in about 3 months. I have a feeling I still have poor technique and may have been damaging my voice by practicing my scales (as a kind of warm up?) improperly. My teacher has also said she won't be able to teach at my school anymore so it could be another month before I have a lesson. Is it better not to practice my scales before singing/should I even be doing this anyway? Could I be doing more damage by continuing to do this? Thanks. Thank you for writing this, it was very informative :)
I have been having singing lessons at school for a few years (I’m 16 now) but as it’s the summer holidays, I haven’t had one in about 3 months. I have a feeling I still have poor technique and may have been damaging my voice by practicing my scales (as a kind of warm up?) improperly.
My teacher has also said she won’t be able to teach at my school anymore so it could be another month before I have a lesson. Is it better not to practice my scales before singing/should I even be doing this anyway? Could I be doing more damage by continuing to do this?
Thanks.

]]> Comment on How to Audition for Musical Theater by Dejsha http://www.thevoiceclub.com/musical-theater-auditions#comment-153 Dejsha Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:37:35 +0000 http://www.thevoiceclub.com/?p=2145#comment-153 Hi, I am blind/visually impaired and I live in Australia. I was wondering (I'm saprano - had over 5 years training with singing and a year of drama) if I can be part of the musical theatre industry. I am 20 years old and am thinking of singing "As long as he needs me" for my audition. Hi, I am blind/visually impaired and I live in Australia. I was wondering (I’m saprano – had over 5 years training with singing and a year of drama) if I can be part of the musical theatre industry. I am 20 years old and am thinking of singing “As long as he needs me” for my audition.

]]> Comment on Working on My Broken Voice by voiceclubcoach http://www.thevoiceclub.com/working-on-my-broken-voice#comment-152 voiceclubcoach Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:16:57 +0000 http://www.thevoiceclub.com/blog/?p=517#comment-152 I feel your pain. It's so frustrating when the doctors we go to for help seem to hand out a quick diagnosis and move on. I've so been there. If your environment is the problem, you can combat the dry air by avoiding caffeine (dries you out) and drinking tons of water. You you like, or can at least stand, the faint taste of black licorice Throat Coat Tea is definitely worth a try. It naturally hydrates the delicate tissues of the throat. Nothing you eat or drink gets near your vocal cords. The goal is to hydrate the body enough that your cords will also be hydrated. Throat Coat should help to lessen the discomfort in your throat if it's from dry air. Another thing you might try at home is steaming. You can use the shower or even drape a towel over your head and keep it above steaming water (keeping a safe distance with the burner turned off). There are pretty cheap commercial face steamers in many stores that are used for facials but are very useful for this purpose, and safer than using the old stove technique. Try one of all of these things for a couple of weeks and see what works best for you. A strong healthy voice tires less often and less quickly. You might also want to take some voice lessons from myself online or another Speech Level Singing instructor. SLS instructors are trained to balance and build a strong healthy voice for endurance. That's why it's the technique that thousands of major touring artists learn. They can't afford not to have their voices work either! Let me know how your voice is doing. If you'd like a free 30 online assessment, <a href="mailto:kim@thevoiceclub.com" rel="nofollow">drop me a line</a>. I might be able to help you with some more specific tips after hearing you. All my best, Kim I feel your pain. It’s so frustrating when the doctors we go to for help seem to hand out a quick diagnosis and move on. I’ve so been there. If your environment is the problem, you can combat the dry air by avoiding caffeine (dries you out) and drinking tons of water. You you like, or can at least stand, the faint taste of black licorice Throat Coat Tea is definitely worth a try. It naturally hydrates the delicate tissues of the throat. Nothing you eat or drink gets near your vocal cords. The goal is to hydrate the body enough that your cords will also be hydrated. Throat Coat should help to lessen the discomfort in your throat if it’s from dry air. Another thing you might try at home is steaming. You can use the shower or even drape a towel over your head and keep it above steaming water (keeping a safe distance with the burner turned off). There are pretty cheap commercial face steamers in many stores that are used for facials but are very useful for this purpose, and safer than using the old stove technique. Try one of all of these things for a couple of weeks and see what works best for you.

A strong healthy voice tires less often and less quickly. You might also want to take some voice lessons from myself online or another Speech Level Singing instructor. SLS instructors are trained to balance and build a strong healthy voice for endurance. That’s why it’s the technique that thousands of major touring artists learn. They can’t afford not to have their voices work either!

Let me know how your voice is doing. If you’d like a free 30 online assessment, drop me a line. I might be able to help you with some more specific tips after hearing you.

All my best,
Kim

]]> Comment on Stop! You’re Killing Your Voice. by voiceclubcoach http://www.thevoiceclub.com/vocal-damage#comment-151 voiceclubcoach Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:02:56 +0000 http://www.thevoiceclub.com/?p=1252#comment-151 I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with your voice. Whenever there is pain with or after singing there is a problem. Hoarseness and cracking are also symptoms you shouldn't ignore. The first thing you should do is to have your technique looked at by someone who can tell you if how you sing is damaging your voice. I can give you a free 30 minute online assessment or if you'd rather meet with someone in person I highly recommend another Speech Level Singing instructor. Google the term with your nearest metropolitan area and you should find someone. There's definitely something going on. Without hearing you I can't be sure, but my guess is that the way you're getting power in your voice is causing the problem. There is a way to sing with great power without damaging the voice. Myself, or another SLS instructor can show you how. If you continue to sing in a way that causes damage, no amount of hydration or vocal rest will solve your problem. An experienced instructor can show you exactly what to do to keep your voice in top shape without sacrificing your style. I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble with your voice. Whenever there is pain with or after singing there is a problem. Hoarseness and cracking are also symptoms you shouldn’t ignore. The first thing you should do is to have your technique looked at by someone who can tell you if how you sing is damaging your voice. I can give you a free 30 minute online assessment or if you’d rather meet with someone in person I highly recommend another Speech Level Singing instructor. Google the term with your nearest metropolitan area and you should find someone. There’s definitely something going on. Without hearing you I can’t be sure, but my guess is that the way you’re getting power in your voice is causing the problem. There is a way to sing with great power without damaging the voice. Myself, or another SLS instructor can show you how. If you continue to sing in a way that causes damage, no amount of hydration or vocal rest will solve your problem. An experienced instructor can show you exactly what to do to keep your voice in top shape without sacrificing your style.

]]> Comment on Stop! You’re Killing Your Voice. by Christina http://www.thevoiceclub.com/vocal-damage#comment-137 Christina Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:48:06 +0000 http://www.thevoiceclub.com/?p=1252#comment-137 I am 17 and I have been singing for a while now and have seen so much progress and can see how I have become a progressively stronger singer. I always warm up before singing and make sure my throat does not get too dry, but today I started experiencing a hard time even hitting the lower notes. My voice cracks and sounds really hoarse, and it hurts during and after singing quite a bit. What should I do!?!! I am 17 and I have been singing for a while now and have seen so much progress and can see how I have become a progressively stronger singer. I always warm up before singing and make sure my throat does not get too dry, but today I started experiencing a hard time even hitting the lower notes. My voice cracks and sounds really hoarse, and it hurts during and after singing quite a bit. What should I do!?!!

]]> Comment on Working on My Broken Voice by Ken http://www.thevoiceclub.com/working-on-my-broken-voice#comment-129 Ken Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:09:18 +0000 http://www.thevoiceclub.com/blog/?p=517#comment-129 4 months ago I worked as an interviewer in the new stressful office, but the air was too dry - around 15% I guess. After only one hour and only two interviews, I was completely dried out in my throat and the tongue was almost unmovable, I didn't only got a dreadfully weak voice, but it was also hoarse. When I got home I discovered I got a fever and saw the Med Doctor the same week. He diagnosed it as Acute Laryngitis and gave me antibiotics, neither without looking at my vocal cords nor taking any blood or saliva tests. Tried to work one day again after two weeks, at the same new office. But even if I didn't have to do any interviews at all that day, the same symptoms appeared again! I went to my Med Doctor two more times, but no blood tests to check what infection I got (normal procedure?), and no vocal cords exam. However, after two months I got an appointment to a ENT specialist who did a fiberoptical exam of my vocal cords. He looked for about 10 seconds and said they looked rather normal, apart from being a little bit swollen. Not red at all and they adducted and abducted very good he said. Unfortunately, no video of the vocal cords were made - I guess that would have required a stroboscopic exam. But I was given medicine for acid reflux, even though no examination was made to see if I got it or not and the exam of the vocal cords didn't indicate that. But I discovered the very first day this voice problem began in March that I was almost throwing up when I bent over to get something under my bed before going to work that particular day. But before that, during my first 45 years of living I've never had any single heart burn or reflux of anything whatsoever. Then I was waiting for the ENT to give me a paper for the sick insurance, but he didn't. The ENT said I could go back to work, but that's not a chance in a million years! I can't even talk without having a pain in my throat. He only said I should talk less at work, but it's difficult to interview without interviewing. So now I expect I can't pay my bills soon, just as if that is going to help my thraot and stomach situation. To sing is my greatest pleasure in life and this really got on my nerves. The ENT wrote me a letter saying I could see a voice specialist there (on the same hospital), but the waiting list is like 1 year. I don't know what to do. I no longer have acid reflux so it seems, so I got no use for the medicine he prescribed. Strangely enough I find it easier to sing rather quietly (and in absolutely every range there is), then to talk. Ideas? 4 months ago I worked as an interviewer in the new stressful office, but the air was too dry – around 15% I guess. After only one hour and only two interviews, I was completely dried out in my throat and the tongue was almost unmovable, I didn’t only got a dreadfully weak voice, but it was also hoarse. When I got home I discovered I got a fever and saw the Med Doctor the same week. He diagnosed it as Acute Laryngitis and gave me antibiotics, neither without looking at my vocal cords nor taking any blood or saliva tests. Tried to work one day again after two weeks, at the same new office. But even if I didn’t have to do any interviews at all that day, the same symptoms appeared again! I went to my Med Doctor two more times, but no blood tests to check what infection I got (normal procedure?), and no vocal cords exam. However, after two months I got an appointment to a ENT specialist who did a fiberoptical exam of my vocal cords. He looked for about 10 seconds and said they looked rather normal, apart from being a little bit swollen. Not red at all and they adducted and abducted very good he said. Unfortunately, no video of the vocal cords were made – I guess that would have required a stroboscopic exam. But I was given medicine for acid reflux, even though no examination was made to see if I got it or not and the exam of the vocal cords didn’t indicate that. But I discovered the very first day this voice problem began in March that I was almost throwing up when I bent over to get something under my bed before going to work that particular day. But before that, during my first 45 years of living I’ve never had any single heart burn or reflux of anything whatsoever. Then I was waiting for the ENT to give me a paper for the sick insurance, but he didn’t. The ENT said I could go back to work, but that’s not a chance in a million years! I can’t even talk without having a pain in my throat. He only said I should talk less at work, but it’s difficult to interview without interviewing. So now I expect I can’t pay my bills soon, just as if that is going to help my thraot and stomach situation. To sing is my greatest pleasure in life and this really got on my nerves. The ENT wrote me a letter saying I could see a voice specialist there (on the same hospital), but the waiting list is like 1 year. I don’t know what to do. I no longer have acid reflux so it seems, so I got no use for the medicine he prescribed. Strangely enough I find it easier to sing rather quietly (and in absolutely every range there is), then to talk. Ideas?

]]> Comment on Stop! You’re Killing Your Voice. by voiceclubcoach http://www.thevoiceclub.com/vocal-damage#comment-127 voiceclubcoach Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:15:47 +0000 http://www.thevoiceclub.com/?p=1252#comment-127 If I could hear you I could narrow this down with much more certainty but your symptoms point to a possible technique problem that could be damaging your voice. If you're developing nodes or other damage all the tea in the world won't help. You're definitely on the right track with the ENT. Do that yesterday. Your ENT can tell you if you have nodes, swelling, bleeding vessels, etc. Pain is always a warning sign and pain that reoccurrs when you start singing again points to a technique problem that won't fix itself with any amount of rest. If the pain does go away with rest and doesn't return when you start singing again working on strengthening your mix with a balanced, healthy voice will enable you to sing longer and stronger without fatiguing the voice. There's still time before your audition for a free Skype lesson. <a href="mailto:kim@thevoiceclub.com" rel="nofollow">Shoot me an email </a>and I'll give you some specific tips that will help you through it. All my best - let me know how it goes! If I could hear you I could narrow this down with much more certainty but your symptoms point to a possible technique problem that could be damaging your voice. If you’re developing nodes or other damage all the tea in the world won’t help. You’re definitely on the right track with the ENT. Do that yesterday. Your ENT can tell you if you have nodes, swelling, bleeding vessels, etc. Pain is always a warning sign and pain that reoccurrs when you start singing again points to a technique problem that won’t fix itself with any amount of rest. If the pain does go away with rest and doesn’t return when you start singing again working on strengthening your mix with a balanced, healthy voice will enable you to sing longer and stronger without fatiguing the voice. There’s still time before your audition for a free Skype lesson. Shoot me an email and I’ll give you some specific tips that will help you through it. All my best – let me know how it goes!

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