Hi nice people

For the last two days I've had a bad sore throat connected to a cold. This afternoon I have a three hour rehearsal for my choral society concert this evening. I'm really concerned about potentially damaging my voice by all the singing that will be required today, particularly because my Grade 7 exam is coming up in a week's time. I don't want to let people down by not turning up today though.

Any tips or thoughts on what I should/shouldn't do would be gratefully welcomed. I've thought about just not "giving my all" today, but the risk in doing that is that I come off my support and inadvertently put more strain on my throat. But if I sing out as well as I can, will I just end up with no voice at the end of it? Help!



Ambs x

You have my sympathies Amber - especially as I'm in exactly the same situation as you regarding a sore throat/have to sing something today.

What I do in these situations is actually to mime quite a lot of it (having explained to the MD that that's what I'm going to do). That way I'm there, showing commitment, also proving to myself that I know all the right entries/timings etc.

For things I'm not sure of/need to sing solo/am needed to give a lead to others I sing properly with support - but I aim to sing as little as I can.

All the best with it - hope it clears up soon.

Isn't it horrible that all these extra concerts etc come up at a time of year when all the colds are going about?

So sorry to hear you're not well Amber.

Firstly, take lots of steam inhalations to hydrate the vocal folds directly (it's the only way possible). Do lots of liptrills for warm up and gentle sirens on NG sounds (think ING rather than UNG, though, to avoid tongue compression) - keep it really small and gentle.

To help reassure you, unless the pain you can feel is akin to scratching in the throat, it's almost impossible to harm your vocal folds. If it is like scratching - please don't sing...

Best of luck and get well soon.

Allan

Sorry to butt in as I'm not a singer. However, I've sung in lots of choirs and, frankly, if someone wasn't feeling well I wouldn't blame them at all for not attending a three-hour rehearsal (or perhaps attending, but not singing) - but I'd be jolly cheesed off if they coughed or spluttered over me for three hours and I woke up the next day or the day after with their cold... Someone else in the choir might be preparing for a singing exam in a week, too, don't forget.

You're not doing a solo (well at least you haven't said you are) so don't be a martyr. Only go if you feel up to it and don't give everyone else your germs! If you're in a big choral society, no matter how good you are, one person shouldn't make a huge amount of difference, especially one person not feeling 100%.

Get well soon!

There's some truth in what you say, Tiddles!

Several years ago a member of one of my choirs attended a concert when he was feeling poorly. It turned out he was going down with the 'flu - real 'flu that is, not "man 'flu". The virus subsequently knocked most of the choir out over the next few days, and I spent a couple of days in bed. At the next rehearsal - to which I dragged myself along (although I felt like death only slightly reheated) - the membership was utterly decimated!

Pray who is this 'Tiddles' to whom you refer?

Hmm.... Holz Gedeckt often calls you this, Czerny. I wondered how long it would be before you said something!
Just to say I agree with your previous post - I would NOT be happy if I caught a cold/flu from someone. I admire people for whom "the show must go on", but, as you say, other people may have impending singing commitments or other reasons why infection would be inadvisable.
Amber - I do hope you feel better soon, and good luck with your exam. I really feel that you should rest your voice now - grade 7 is demanding, and you need to be at your best.

Yes, I would have given him a slap some time ago I think...

Trying to rise above it...


But as you said, it's a long drive to ****** from Swanage just to deliver a slap...

So what did you do Amber?

Yes, how did you get on if you went? I hope you feel better soon. Good luck for your exam too.

Poor Ambs Hope you're on the mend now.

Good luck for the grade 7!

Hi,

Thank you all for your comments/replies.

It went OK in the end.

I went along to the reh in the afternoon and mimed as much as poss, like Thouston suggested. I came clean about my germs to the other Sops around me, but they said please, please turn up and do what you can because we're relying on you to get us through the long fugues(!) (I had no idea other people even listen to me, let alone use me as the musical equivalent of a Pace Car.)

So I dosed myself up to the eyeballs and went back in the evening and did my best. It was reassuring that Allan had said it was unlikely that I could do any serious damage, so thank you for that. And I did some steam inhalations before I went, which I think helped.

The MD was very pleased with us, and I'm glad I got through it. And my throat seems no worse for it today either, which is great.

Now tackling getting rid of the cold for the Grade 7. (See thread Foaming At The Knees for an update on this morning's antics!)



Ambs x

Aw, wow Amber! You should feel so appreciated!

I'm glad you managed to get through yesterday and had the support of the other people there. Sending healing vibes in your direction. *hugs*

Best wishes for a quick recovery Ambs.