I don't know whether or not I've ventured into this forum before. I do know that I'm always in awe of how much some of you seem to know though, so thought I'd ask for some opinions.

I've always been very self-conscious about singing, but have had lessons, and used voice as my second instrument for Higher and Advanced Higher Music, getting what I've been told were pretty good marks. (Sorry, I'm not one for boasting, honestly. Just trying to make a point.)

I've lost my voice a couple of times in the past, but only for a few hours, and my singing voice has never really been affected, just my breathing. Last month, I lost my voice again and was coughing and croaky for 2 weeks afterwards. Now I'm not coughing very much at all, but as soon as I try to sing, there's nothing there. Sometimes I can get the first note, but when I try to change to another note, I feel as if I've got no control over my voice at all.

Is this...normal? I'd really like to be able to sing in choirs and things this winter but am a bit put off by the fact that nothing seems to be improving. I know it's not been particularly long, but I've really heard/felt no improvement at all. I can't hum in tune any more, either.

Sorry to complain!

Poor you

I'm sorry you're having difficulties just now. I do want to reassure you, though, that the chances are very much that this is a temporary thing, and it will pass, frustrating as it is at the moment.


Quite often voices go wrong for psychological reasons as well as physical ones. And given the levels of stress you've had recently, I wouldn't be at all surprised if that isn't a major contributory factor to your singing not working now.


The main thing I'd suggest is to give yourself a bit more time off. I know it's frustrating when you want to sing and can't, but the rest is necessary. As Petrat and Jod have said on the other thread about vocal problems at the moment, make sure you are eating and sleeping properly, wrap up warm when it's cold and generally take it easy.

And then maybe in a week or so, give it another gentle try. But don't beat yourself up if your voice is still not ready to work at that stage.


Hope you are feeling better soon.

Hi Flossie, nice to see you here.

Voices need to be used in order to keep them in good shape. That is why we singers spend time each day doing warming up exercises and then some technical ones just as other instrumentalists do. If you have been unwell you voice will have been too and although your speaking voice may be back to normal it will take a little more regular work to get your voice back into shape. Begin with some easy warm ups, the sort of thing that you will have done in your lessons, and then have some fun with scale runs and things. Don't worry about the sound that comes out; just let your vocal cords have some exercise and see how it goes after a few of days.

PS You may well need some more time off as Katyjay suggests. See how things go.

I agree with Petrat and Katyjay - take it easy if you haven't sung for a while.

When you sing, you use your vocal apparatus very differently from when you speak so even if your speaking voice is back to normal, you may have difficulty in singing for a bit.

Have you got a teacher? They would be able to help you get things working again nicely.

If you don't have a teacher and want a quick online skype lesson, I'm more than happy to give you half an hour or so to show you a few gentle voice 'prods' to get your vocal folds working correctly again.

Good luck.

Allan

I've been trying a few excercises each day, nothing taxing and hadn't noticed any improvement at all...until today. I sort of lose it again after about 30 seconds but it doesn't feel as strained now.

Allan - No, I don't have a teacher. I dont have skype but thank you so much for the offer, I really appreciate it.

There's a gaelic choir here which is looking for new members just now, and I'd really like to give it a go, but I doubt they'd take me on at the moment, especially not if they wanted to hear me sing, which is a bit frustrating.

Glad to hear the first signs of improvement are there, Miss Ross.

Just keep on taking it gently and looking after both your voice and the rest of you too.

I'm back...

I don't know how long it's been now, but my voice still seems to have no power to it. Since my last post, I've joined the aforementioned Gaelic choir and they understood that I couldn't sing particularly loudly at the last rehearsal but I suspect they'll only be as forgiving for so long.

I tried to sing at church on Monday night and was ok for the first half of the first hymn. I thought things had gone back to normal, but then it disappeared again.

Sorry for the rant, it's just so frustrating!

Oh I'm sorry things aren't getting any better Miss Ross.

Can you post a recording? If so we could probably give you some pointers and exercises to help get your strength back (although there's only really two reasons for significant loss of vocal power - vocal fold adduction issues, or inflamation in the vocal folds - as you say you're better, I'd put money on the adduction thing - but it's impossible to say without hearing you).

Allan