14 posts shown.
Olivia Kim47 said:I was just looking over the ingredient list on this Dove product, and apparently, it contains aluminum chlorohydrate. Am I really supposed to start worrying about stuff like that now?? 😢 😲
Wait, which one specifically?
I’ve been using the Dove fresh scent for ages and never noticed anything about that on the label...
Glad I caught that before it became an issue.
Christian Lee13 said:If you’re an amateur singer looking for longevity—meaning you actually want to keep singing before your vocal cords naturally give up on you—you MUST seek out training from a professional vocal pedagogue. Most choir directors or group leaders don't have a clue about actual technique beyond some vague advice about breathing from the diaphragm or whatever. You can tell your director is a total amateur the second they force you to sing in a register that clearly doesn't suit your voice.
If you're interested, I can PM you the name and number of an excellent professor in NYC who has plenty of experience working with both amateur singers and choral groups.
A doctor can diagnose what's happening with your vocal cords—like whether you've already developed nodules (which, let's be honest, you probably have)—and they can prescribe treatment, but they aren't going to teach you how to sing.
That would actually be great...
Our current director is decent enough; she’s a music theory teacher, so she knows her stuff regarding solfeggio and harmony, and she’s always attending those various vocal workshops and seminars. I’ve actually been studying under her since I was just a little kid in music school. 🙂I'm honestly at a loss for what to make of all this.
Go ahead and send it over... though I doubt I'll end up having the passion for it... but it's good to know. 🙂
rustymoose54 said:Low calcium levels.
😬 Rustling? Yeah, right.
So, what’s the move here... do I just sit around and wait for the whole thing to lose its edge, or should I dive in right now? 🙂
granitebadger25 said:>
since you’re heading to Washington, D.C. anyway, you might want to swing by the Mayo Clinic over in Manhattan
They have a phoniatrics clinic there run by Professor Večerina, who specializes in exactly these kinds of issues—I know she’s worked with plenty of opera singers before. It would be worth having them assess the condition of your vocal cords; based on your description of your voice getting "darker," it’s possible they’ve thickened from the strain. After that, they can walk you through some vocal rehabilitation exercises.
I honestly think you could get some pretty useful advice there.
It isn't that my voice has gotten darker... it's always been dark. 🙂It’s just starting to feel dry, likely because I've worn my throat out, and that's something I really want to avoid.
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll make sure to check them out. 🙂
rustymoose54 said:😁
Look, I get it, but honestly, the only thing you can really do is just stop pushing your voice so hard. At this point, you might as well just let it rest and hope you stumble upon a decent alto part eventually.
It’s also a damn shame you aren't singing mezzo.
Well, it doesn't matter much since I'm heading out in a month anyway to start my studies in NYC... I suppose I'll use the time to let my throat finally heal up.🙂
Man... it's going to be a struggle not singing... I don't know how I'll manage.😬
Do you happen to know any actual "cures" besides the usual honey and lemon routine?
rustymoose54 said:It strikes me as odd that you're only feeling this after three years.
Usually, people—specifically women—run into trouble right at the start, before they finally figure out how to breathe from the diaphragm instead of just straining through their throat.
Are you feeling any tension in your back muscles when you sing?
Well, they’ve been drilling diaphragm breathing into me since I was eight years old... honestly... my range is decent enough... but I'm looking for something brighter... and to get that brightness, I feel like I have to push more through my throat.😢
I suppose that's where it all started to manifest.
rustymoose54 said:I’m nowhere near being an expert; I just have a little bit of singing experience.
You probably shouldn't be singing alto, especially second alto if you're naturally a mezzo-soprano. But then again, I'm not exactly telling you anything you haven't heard before.
So, did someone actually train your voice, or are you just going by instinct? How do you usually warm up?
Maybe try looking for a recommendation for a solid solo vocal coach.
Well, look, the choir director... she needs an alto... and I can hit those notes. I'm way too deep in my range to be chasing two sopranos. It’s just what fits me best,🙂 which happens to be the easiest route for me. 🙂
It’s kind of like this... I was singing before I could even talk properly, and now... well, here I am, singing in an a cappella group. Naturally, I'm a mezzo-soprano, though my range is wide enough that I can hit some pretty deep notes too. I've been part of this ensemble for about three years now, holding down the alto two part, and after all this time, I honestly feel like I've worn my throat out. It's constantly aching, and my tone feels ruined—at least to my own ears, even if I sound the same as I did when I was younger.
Singing is such a massive part of who I am, so naturally, I'm worried.
I know deep down that I've been pushing myself into registers that don't come naturally to me, and it's clearly taking a toll on my throat. It needs rest, but that's just not happening right now, at least not nearly as much as it probably should.
So, I'm turning to you fellow singers, professionals or otherwise—I'll take advice from anyone. What should I be doing? Are there specific things I should drink or avoid altogether? Are there any particular exercises for clearing up my tone or ways to prepare before I actually start singing, beyond the standard warm-ups?
Any advice at all would be truly appreciated. 🙂
Thanks.
Betty Rivera14 said:Honestly, you should probably run it by your primary care doctor first, mostly because you’re going to need a formal referral to see a dermatologist anyway. If this is what I think it is, doctors end up seeing dozens of these cases every single summer. 🙂
And yeah, if it actually is a fungal thing, an antifungal cream will definitely stop it from spreading further.
Thanks...that’s a relief to hear, at least...my biggest concern right now is just making sure it doesn't spread, and I can deal with whatever else comes my way.🙂
Betty Rivera14 said:It’s probably just some kind of superficial fungal infection on the skin surface.🙂
Try picking up some Lamisil cream at a CVS or Walgreens for now, but you really ought to see a dermatologist.
Otherwise, those fungi are just going to keep spreading.
Do you think that cream could at least stop it from spreading before I can actually get an appointment with a specialist?
I'm desperate to keep it contained because this patch of skin discoloration is incredibly noticeable... there aren't any sores or itching, it just feels strangely dry.
Does anyone have any recommendations for something to apply? I’ve noticed these spots on my left shoulder that seem to be spreading, and since I have a pretty deep skin tone, they’re becoming impossible to ignore.
I’m honestly at a loss for what to do right now, because even if I start treating this immediately, it might be an entire month before I can actually get an appointment with a dermatologist😢. I really just need something for some immediate first aid if anyone happens to know anything useful... please, if you have any ideas, let me know.
Thanks in advance.🙂
p.s. I don't have any sun allergies.
Nancy Kim2 said:You’re absolutely right, and honestly, I find myself venting about this constantly over coffee with friends—this whole manufactured culture of opposing Cosmopolitan ideals against Clicker mindsets is just exhausting. Pop culture seems hell-bent on pushing this antagonistic gender war, peddling tired generalizations, shallow stereotypes, and these little "playbooks" on how to win someone over or screw them over by guessing what the other side thinks. It’s all complete nonsense. 👎
I couldn't agree more...
I can't help but feel we aren't actually that different from one another, and if we were, those differences are being blown way out of proportion. Perhaps we should spend less time trying to decode everyone's psyche or listening to those self-proclaimed "experts" writing columns about it, and just try talking to each other instead. 👎
I suppose I finally stumbled upon what I was looking for... right here, by complete accident...🙂
Honestly, if he sends you anything at all, just delete it immediately... I mean, wipe those texts right off your phone. If he tries calling, just hang up on him. Seriously, just cut him loose and walk away because the guy is a complete moron. If I were in your shoes, I’d probably be losing my mind over him. He's such an idiot...👎