Rumors?

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.

Look, I’m hardly some world-class vocal coach—I’ve only messed around with singing a little bit myself...

You really shouldn't be pushing for alto territory, especially if you're naturally more of a mezzo-soprano. But hey, I'm probably not dropping any massive revelations here...

So, did someone actually sit down and map out your vocal range, or are you just winging it? How are you even warming up?

Honestly, just try to hunt down a solid recommendation for a legit solo vocal coach.

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 wild to me that you’re only just feeling this after three years...

Usually, people—specifically women, in my experience—hit those roadblocks right at the start... you know, before they actually figure out how to breathe from the diaphragm instead of just straining their throat through sheer willpower.

Do you actually feel your back muscles engaging when you sing?

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.

Brenda Lopez said:they’re trying to teach me how to sing using my diaphragm

😁

I get it... honestly, all you can really do is try not to wreck your throat. Whatever, maybe she'll just find a legit alto part instead

and it's such a bummer she isn't singing mezzo

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?

Since you're heading to Washington, D.C. anyway, you should swing by the Mayo Clinic in Manhattan

They have a specialized phoniatrics clinic there led by Professor Večerina, who deals specifically with these kinds of issues (I know she's worked with plenty of opera singers)... first, they can assess the condition of your vocal cords (given how you described your voice getting "darker," it's possible they've thickened from overexertion)... after that, they can provide specific vocal rehabilitation exercises

I think you could walk away with some genuinely useful advice there

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. 🙂

I’m going to go completely off-topic here😁, but you really need to consider the possibility of allergies. I didn't deal with a single allergy issue in my entire life until about a year or two ago. For me, it shows up as constant laryngitis, a dry throat, and my voice constantly shifting... and look, I don't even make a living singing, but even then, it’s noticeable. It might be worth checking out. Maybe that's "🙂all it comes down to
."

A few years back, I tried my hand at teaching in a local school.
By the second day, I had already come down with laryngitis.
I can only imagine what you're going through...

From what I know, the ENT specialists over at the Mayo Clinic in Manhattan are truly the best. You should check with them.

Brenda Lopez said:So... you maybe know any other kind of "cure" besides just honey and lemon?

calcium deficiency

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? 🙂

If you’re an amateur singer looking to actually make this a lifelong thing—I mean, not just singing until your vocal cords naturally give up the ghost—you absolutely HAVE to learn from a professional vocal coach. Most choir directors or group leaders don't have a clue about actual technique beyond some vague, surface-level advice about breathing from your diaphragm and whatnot. Honestly, you can tell your director is a total amateur the second they try to force you into a vocal range that clearly doesn't suit your natural timbre.
If you want, I can shoot you a private message with the name and number of a fantastic professor in NYC who really knows how to work with both hobbyists and seasoned ensemble singers.

Now, sure, a doctor can diagnose what's going on with your vocal folds—like checking if you've already developed nodules, which, let's be real, you probably have by now—and they can prescribe some medication, but they aren't going to teach you how to actually sing.

Brenda Lopez said:😬 whispering? really?
So what's the move... do I wait for it to die down or just chug it right now 🙂

just hang tight until the "shhhhh" sound stops...

and maybe actually listen to Christian Lee13 for once

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. 🙂

I guess I’ll jump in here too, if that’s okay...

So, basically, I used to have this much deeper, way more powerful voice—kind of like Johnny Cash—but now? It's just gone. It's higher, weaker, and honestly, it sucks.😢

Is there even a chance I can get my old voice back?

Brenda Lopez says:
My voice hasn't actually gotten deeper... it’s always been on the lower side 🙂 it’s just getting really dry lately—probably because my throat is just worn out from all the use... and I definitely don't want that to happen.
Thanks for the tip, I'll go check them out 🙂

Hey there!

I'm dying to know what happened next... has your voice finally recovered since you moved to NYC?
I used to sing quite a bit and ended up having surgery for vocal cord polyps caused by allergies. I truly understand what you're going through if you're still dealing with it... or have things improved?

Brenda Lopez, if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't let some convention host try to coach my voice—seriously, that’s a recipe for disaster for anyone young and talented. You should really look into enrolling in a prep music program for solo vocalists. Trust me, it'll be worth every penny because you won't end up wrecking your vocal cords, and since mezzos are so rare, you'd be a total powerhouse in any competition! I've been at Berklee College of Music for three years now and my range—both high and low—has improved so much. Good luck!

Hello, everyone.
I am looking for information regarding everything that impacts vocal cord health—both the good and the bad...
What should I drink, how should I carry myself, avoiding smoking... the usual list. How can one preserve their voice?
All advice is welcome. Thank you.🙂