Possible vocal strain? Recent Blog

Hello,

Yesterday (a still some today) I started to feel some soreness and discomfort in the throat or maybe more the Larynx/windpipe area because it seems fine when I swallow (doesint seem like the type of sore throat we get from eating spicy food).

I also got some neck pain but singing seems fine and no hoarness.

The day before this: 

I practiced some yawns to lower my larynx I practiced like this throughout the day for a couple of days.

Went outside with a mask on for a walk. 

At late at night on that day (1am or 2am) I decided to do some practice because I didnt want to miss daily practice. I started off lying down to do some side rib breathing and then got up and did the lip trills on a NG and then on a MM, Woo's .. up to the point where the tone cuts off + airy but I try to briefly push over that and go back down while doing the rib cage breathing. For all of this probably took around 10 minutes-15 minutes. 

Is this possibly strain?

Would it be more likely from lowering the larynx, trills or the breathing exercise I did?

Hi, Mai!

Although it's possible, it wouldn't be common for breathing or lip trills to cause a sore throat. But lowering your larynx for an extended time could cause some tension and resulting soreness - especially if you're not used to singing that way. May I ask why you're trying to lower your larynx?

Hello Camille, 

Oh okay, thats a relief :) does the lip trills include the NG sirens/trills etc?

Sure, I have previously heard that lowering the larynx would prepare us to sing higher by doing something like a yawn right before we sing those notes? I have been doing it by lowering the jaw, tongue tip placed behind bottom front teeth and simultaneously inhaling air through the mouth, this was probably done wrong. 

Thank you

Mai

Lip trills are different from the NG, but neither of those should hurt you!

Gotcha. A low larynx is often used in the classical style (and sometimes to achieve a darker tone in pop singing) - but the pre-yawn position doesn't necessarily mean a low larynx. We want that pre-yawn position to lift our soft palate, not to depress the larynx. 

It sounds like you're doing a good job! But see if you can keep your larynx neutral with the pre-yawn breathing and lifted soft palate. Sometimes thinking "up" and lifting the eyebrows and cheeks is a better way to lift the palate gently. 

Hi Camille,

ohh I see, I'll try to focus on that. Is there a way to test a lifted and non lifted soft pallet? 

Thank you

Mai

You can actually see your palate lift or drop in a mirror, but you'd have to tilt your chin up and maybe shine a flashlight into your mouth! And you can also feel it: when it's lifted, you can feel some space open up above your throat, at the back of your mouth (similar to how it does when you yawn, but not nearly that much). 

A lifted palate will result in a more spacious sound, whereas a dropped palate sounds "smaller" and "sharper", if that makes sense. If your palate is very low, you'll also get a nasal tone. 

Thank you Camille, this is helpful :) 

You're welcome, Mai! Glad to be of help!

alway be light and if you rpulling and forcing stop immediantly. vol will come