Vocal help!

[Tsarina]

I have a questions for you chanters/singers out there.

What can i do in order to bring my voice back? I have a cold and sound like a man at this point when i speak.

Our Mission is having it's first Pre-Sanctified service this Friday and I'm the one of the two members in the Choir. The other girl who sings with me can't make it for the service that day. So I'm left do to all the singing myself.

Any tips to clear up my voice? I'll be fasting from 1pm-6pm that day as well for Communion, i don't think that will help either. Ah!

Nervous!

 

[minasoliman]

Take these things called "Emergen-C" or "Airborne." They're basically powdered and flavored Vit. C. You put them in water (Emergen-C is my favorite) or any drink if you like to see how it tastes like in other drinks (I tried mine on green tea, interesting taste). You usually can get them from your nearest pharmacy store, like CVS or Walmart.

Anyways, this should give a boost to your immune system. Usually Emergen-C packets are taken three to four times a day.

Take plenty of rest, practice singing a little, but not too much if your throat is bad. If your throat hurts and you breathe a lot through your mouth, I also suggest antibiotics.

Rest well, and don't be too hard on yourself for fasting if you're not taking the right nutrients during times of illness.

Hopefully you feel better by Friday

God bless.

 

[moses916]

hey tsarina,

sara just told me to tell u that drinking warm liquids help... warm lemonade... also honey will help temporarily... and don't talk so much, whisper kinda thing !!! anyhoo ill talk to u soon since i'm on the phone rite now!!! and i won't be making pre-sanctifieds at St. Nicholas, already explained myself to marcio...

(hello everyone else) God speed
mo

 

[Khaleas]

Whispering actually stresses your vocal cords more than speaking normally, but just try to be quiet.

 

[choirfiend]

Vocal rest. It's like a strained muscle--you just have to stay off it for a while so it can recover.

 

[Anhelyna]

try drinking hot lemon , honey and water with a wee drop of glycerine in it.

Tastes good and will lubricate a dry throat

 

[Tsarina]

Thanks guys for all your advice. I'll make sure I'll drink all that stuff and rest my voice for Friday. I'll keep this all in mind for Pascha as well. Somehow I'll get through singing for three hours!

hey tsarina,

sara just told me to tell u that drinking warm liquids help... warm lemonade... also honey will help temporarily... and don't talk so much, whisper kinda thing !!! anyhoo ill talk to u soon since i'm on the phone rite now!!! and i won't be making pre-sanctifieds at St. Nicholas, already explained myself to marcio...

(hello everyone else) God speed
mo

Hey Moses!

Tell Sara thank you! I still want her autograph for being the coolest Abouna's Angel!

(Those who don't know who Sara is, she is one of 7 daughters of a Priest in my city. These girls sing beautiful Byzantine hymns and have a CD called, "Abouna's Angels". You can catch them singing on Ancient Faith Radio.)

God Bless!

 

[minasoliman]

One other thing. Recent research shows that anti-histamine medications restrict the bronchiole which induces more coughing. You might want to avoid anti-allergic medications for the sake of your throat. (so long as this is not a serious case of allergies)

God bless.

 

[Mytheodos]

Here's a product used by pro singers..when the show must go on..http://www.hbees.com/sisagr.html

And here's a link to a singers forum....

http://p205.ezboard.com/Vocal-Technique/fthesingersworkshopfrm3

 

[MrJim]

Here's something to try:

A Mennonite preacher and excellent singer I knew said that when his voice was suffering but he "had" to sing would gargle with hydrogen peroxide. I'd always hoped he could sing at my funeral someday but have long since lost touch...

...just don't swallow please

 

[cassc]

OK so I am not at all a singer but in a former life I was a cheerleader (please don't laugh I was never one of those horrible TV bleached blond types) anyway I lost my voice many types before learning how to protect my vocal chords (and even a few times after that )

try drinking hot lemon , honey and water with a wee drop of glycerine in it

I've tied this w/o the glycerine (that one's new to me!) and I find it to be a good home remedy, another quick fix is gargling with very warm/hot salt water. You can also wrap a warm moist towel around your neck, remember the throat is a mussel. Good luck and stay quiet (carry a notepad if you have to) you will do GREAT!!!

 

[Tsarina]

All this wonderful advice. Thanks so much, guys!

I don't have any allergies, so i don't have to worry about medication for that.
I'm trying to stay quiet as possible, i'll only practice a little tomorrow and then rest some more.

The warm towel draped over the neck sounds like a wonderful idea, i think it will help.

Thanks again!

 

[Shubunkin]

Be sure to get a lot of sleep in addition to all of this good advice. My mother-in-law always gave the advice (if it was a cold or something) hot tea with lemon, honey, and some brandy or whiskey in it, and go to bed. You'll sweat off fever, and wake up well the next day. I never tried it, but it worked for her neighbor.

 

[eoe]

Saline nasal bath with a neti-pot + herbal tea. Just make sure you do it several hours before you need to use your voice.

 

[Theophorus]

Here's something to try:

A Mennonite preacher and excellent singer I knew said that when his voice was suffering but he "had" to sing would gargle with hydrogen peroxide. I'd always hoped he could sing at my funeral someday but have long since lost touch...

...just don't swallow please

Any thing acidic will help you. H202, lemon juice or something similar would be my choice. I would avoid hot liquids. They may soothe but they will cause swelling. If it was me, an ice cold drink of water followed by a shot of lemon juice.

 

[Tsarina]

Be sure to get a lot of sleep in addition to all of this good advice. My mother-in-law always gave the advice (if it was a cold or something) hot tea with lemon, honey, and some brandy or whiskey in it, and go to bed. You'll sweat off fever, and wake up well the next day. I never tried it, but it worked for her neighbor.

Thanks!
Of course, i will make sure i sleep. My voice tends to get more tired when i haven't gotten enough sleep.

My Mother in law told gave me the same advice! - i haven't tried it yet.

Saline nasal bath with a neti-pot + herbal tea. Just make sure you do it several hours before you need to use your voice.

I'll make sure i do that too. I hate those nasal sprays, annoying.. but it works.

Thank you.

 

[Tsarina]

Any thing acidic will help you. H202, lemon juice or something similar would be my choice. I would avoid hot liquids. They may soothe but they will cause swelling. If it was me, an ice cold drink of water followed by a shot of lemon juice.

But i thought hot drinks were suppose to help? Cold drinks hurt a painful throat.

I shall do the lemon, it helps me all the time.

 

[Philothei]

But i thought hot drinks were suppose to help? Cold drinks hurt a painful throat.

I shall do the lemon, it helps me all the time.

Hi Tsarina, Hope you feel better. have not got that one yet, thank God. But can relate from last year. Rest and plenty of liquids helped mine. Anything fromwater to juice to hot teal. If theworse comes to worse another person can undertake to sing. Do not worry too much God provides...

Hope you feel better,
Philothei

 

[Akathist]

Our choir director suggests that we drink hot lemon with honey as well. But also hot herbal tea with honey she says is good as well... it is the hot and the honey that she says helps the best. I have done some theatre work and have lost my voice right after dress rehearsal more then once! (grrrrrr). I drank the hot lemon tea (herbal) with honey but I also put warm compresses on my throat and didn't talk. I don't know if the hot compresses are the best.. it was my own idea and not someone trained in vocal stuff... but my throat felt better.

I also agree about the wispering. That really can strain your voice more. Better to carry around a writing pad (or dry erase board) and not talk at all.

My last suggestion isn't the very best at all, but an option you could do is not receive the Presanctified and to continue to drink and lubricate your throat right up until your warm up. (you do warm up your voice, right?)

 

[Tsarina]

Hi Tsarina, Hope you feel better. have not got that one yet, thank God. But can relate from last year. Rest and plenty of liquids helped mine. Anything fromwater to juice to hot teal. If theworse comes to worse another person can undertake to sing. Do not worry too much God provides...

Hope you feel better,
Philothei

Thank you Philothei, I'm feeling a little bit better today.

Our choir director suggests that we drink hot lemon with honey as well. But also hot herbal tea with honey she says is good as well... it is the hot and the honey that she says helps the best. I have done some theatre work and have lost my voice right after dress rehearsal more then once! (grrrrrr). I drank the hot lemon tea (herbal) with honey but I also put warm compresses on my throat and didn't talk. I don't know if the hot compresses are the best.. it was my own idea and not someone trained in vocal stuff... but my throat felt better.

I also agree about the wispering. That really can strain your voice more. Better to carry around a writing pad (or dry erase board) and not talk at all.

My last suggestion isn't the very best at all, but an option you could do is not receive the Presanctified and to continue to drink and lubricate your throat right up until your warm up. (you do warm up your voice, right?)

I see that almost everyone is advising the hot lemon and honey and herbal tea's.

Thanks for the advice!

I'm feeling much better today, my throat isn't hurting so much but my sinus' are still plugged, making my voice sound nasaley. I tried the nasal spray, the hot herbal tea with honey and lemon. I even draped a warm towel over my throat.. helped a lot!

I haven't been talking too much either, which is helping. I don't think i should start practicing yet. Perhaps i'll practice a wee bit Thursday.

Thanks for everything!