I recently got a question from a reader on my ASKBETHLAWRENCE.COM site who wrote:
"I am contacting you just with a concern. I am a musical theatre major, which requires me to sing on a regular basis. I am planning on seeing an ENT within the next week or so, but I was just wondering what all could cause fatigue in my upper registers. It is mainly when trying to sing soft that I experience this. Is this most likely only related to technique? Or could it be more serious than that?"
This was my response which I believe could be helpful to a lot of singers who have the same issue:
Sorry you're having challenges with your voice. Without hearing your voice, or seeing you in person, I can only give you an answer based on my experience in what you're describing. It could be any number of things, but it doesn't sound to me like you're having these symptoms based on anything more than poor technique, but it's good you're going to the ENT to check it out. I had lots of vocal problems early in my career until I found a Maestro who saved my voice. I hope you can do the same!
If you're planning on having a career as a singer, then you owe it to yourself to sing effortlessly and easily, as your voice IS your career!
By fatigue, a singer could mean just a 'feeling' in the throat (tightness?), or actual hoarseness which would indicate damage. Number one, are you supporting your tone? Your breath support is critical and you need to make sure that you are breathing fully; expanding the ribs and belly; softening the belly but not 'pushing out' or having any tension in your belly, diaphragm or throat.
Two, if your throat is feeling tight and tired when you sing, your tongue may be the culprit! If you're not supporting, then your body compensates by tensing the base of the tongue in an effort to 'hold' the tone, which is really uncomfortable. This also causes the larynx to jam up, which again, causes a tight throat.
If your throat is tight and the larynx raised you're causing constriction which not only feels bad, but forces you to push the voice to get more sound out.
All in all, a cascade of events is set in motion that feed upon each other creating a pinched sound, excessive force on the vocal mechanism, mental distraction, a tight, tired throat, and ultimately can result in vocal nodules.
If you haven't already done so, go to my website and read 'A Singer's Story' and some of my philosophy on voice.
Do you have any questions about voice? Let me know!
