question about vocal tension

Okay, so first of all.. I have always had a low and slightly raspy speaking voice. My voice teacher has often commented on my odd placement of it, saying that it sounded as if I were "gripping" my vocal chords a bit too much. He has encouraged me to speak higher and lighter, but it's very hard to remember to do that, as I have been speaking this way my whole life. Not to mention that directors have praised my voice, because it is unique. But despite the raspy sound, it has never felt raspy in my throat, and I’ve never had any difficulty speaking.

Until about five days ago. Presently I have tons of tension in my throat, it feels extremely tight and I have to push to get the sound out. I’m not sick, I haven’t made any lifestyle changes, and I’m not even doing a show where I get a vocal work out. I can’t figure out what is going on.

I’m worried that what ever I am doing wrong is going to screw up my singing voice. I called my voice teacher, who is out of town for three weeks, and he told me to go on a vocal rest. I can’t do that completely because I am in a production of A Christmas Carol, and I have some dialogue in it.

I know that you can’t diagnose a vocal problem over the internet, so my question is: how long should I wait before I see a throat doctor?

I could wait out the three weeks and have my voice teacher make that choice, but if something is seriously wrong, couldn’t mess things up pretty badly?

Any advice you have would be much appreciated.

---

I wouldn't wait. See a doc right away.

---

Ouch Ebonic...how do these things start up? Too much singing or just because?

My voice teacher had the same problem recently. She went to see a specialist and he gave her thses things to try which she passed on for me... apparently they are good even if you are not in vocal distress...

Brew:
24-32 oz of hot water
1/3 cup of Honey
1tbl. liquid vegetable glycerine (coemetic use mainly found at heatlth food stores)
^sip thoughout the day

Aqua Drops (looove them, they hydrate your throat unlike cough drops which remove phlegm that actually helps your chords, you can get them at CVS or K-Mart and most other drug stores)

Slippery Elm Throat Losenges (taste awful but work, health food stores)

also try

www.entertainers-secret.com

hope that helps

DamnYankees--it's genetic I think. My mother has it and takes medication. It really helps to go to an Ear Nose and Throat doctor!

It could be tonsilitis, it could be a nodule, it could be nothing. But go see an ENT doctor, and get some rest!

Check your personal messages.

my reflux is genetic...my dad has it, my sister has it and my grandfather had it...though he never took medicine for it. none of them are singers. i don't think it has to be genetic, but i think it can be.

i never took Nexium, but had taken Protonix for a while--loved it...but is is UBER expensive... so a friend recommended trying Prilosec OTC, and taking it in the same way i did the Protonix. it has worked beautifully.

my problem is i don't like avoiding the foods that i should avoid...

---

Thanks for this thread, everyone. I suffer from vocal tension as well, and while the ENT doctor diagnosed me as nodule free, I had to undergo speech therapy as well, the effects of which are currently waning due to my current state (three auditions coming up for arts colleges, two exams, etc) The regular GP could only disgnose me as having acute anxiety and prescribed me some muscle relaxants, which I am yet to take. Does ayone think this is a good idea?

Hahaha. My thoughts exactly. I think what I'm actually lacking is GOOD, solid tech training. I find it kind of creepy ingesting something that alters my motor skills.
This is why I hate doctors. Except the fake ones on Scrubs. And House.