Sinus Medication Solution

Question by Steve: my vocal chords hurt and need advice for better singing?
i’ve been a smoker for two years and recently my voice started cracking so its been a month since i quit! about to turn 17 and dont plan on smoking in the future.. anyway, my vocal chords hurt when i sing.. and it just feels like my throat cant take it anymore, my voice becomes dull/scratchy within 15min of singing and sometimes it feels like my breath can take me to a really high note but my throat or whatever wont be able to withstand it,
plus i have that mucus problem u get from smoking and a chronic sinusitis problem(which is under treatment) but i can sing, i have given goose bumps to my audiences in the past(which should be enough) but idk all of a sudden my vocal range, my voice, breathing etc, no actually its been 3 or 4 months and some days its better and some days its not.. so what is it? is it coz of stress? coZ i got loads of that stuff
or is it the improper singing techniques or is it coz of my smoking or is it coz my stamina’s half of that it used to be???
help me please, i’ll pray for u… (the next time i go to church :p) im jk but please
also sometimes, when i sing loud i feel the pressure in my ears and all the way through my neck…
i never warm up before singing, coZ i never had to but now i have to or else my vocal chords feel like they’ll collapse.. and idek how to warm up..
ty

Best answer:

Answer by drachnid w
1) The classic, drink plenty of fluids
2) Get lots of vocal rest. Continue to practice singing, but only in short sessions until you’re able to go longer without your voice getting strained. Avoid situations where you need to talk loudly (eg. conversation in a car), or whisper. Your vocal cords need to heal. Don’t while your throat is hurting.
3) Warm up…. there are a lot of videos on YouTube with vocal warmups. Really the variations are endless. I’ve been told that a good warmup can help singing even hours after the warmup. So you can try dividing warmup and practice into short sessions throughout the day.
4) Exercise. I’ve heard of some singers who use exercise as part of a warmup, because it can get your breathing going, better posture, etc. And of course it’s good for a billion other things.
5) Review your technique with someone (vocal teacher?) if you can… also pay attention and try to tell if you’re doing anything different on the days where it’s worse (like, if you’re more tense, not breathing as deeply, etc). Obviously reduction in stress would be good, too.

Note that sinusitis can physiologically limit or change your range, which should go back after the infection is resolved. It can also make you sound different, feel different (like that pressure you feel — that doesn’t sound like it’s from bad technique), and make it easier to hurt your voice while singing. Work with it the best you can.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

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