Keep a healthy voice, avoid singing when you're sick

During the winter months, there seems to be many people suffering from a cold or flu. If you are a professional singer, or often sing for others in some other capacity, you are likely concerned that you may contract such an illness, and it may adversely affect your voice. It is healthy to rest and recover from any illness before you expend your energy. This is a solid enough reason to not perform while you are ill, yet, there are other reasons as well.

If you sing while sick, and you are hoarse from and illness, there is a strong chance that your vocal cords are impaired. The illness will cause you to be hoarse (laryngitis) because your vocal cords are inflamed.

Inflamed and swollen vocal cords will affect your singing voice because they will now be rigid. Your vocal cords must be flexible to allow singing with a range and producing a quality tone. They must be able to freely vibrate. If you absolutely must sing while ill, here are some things that will at least help you do your best to entertain your audience.

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   Improper vocal techniques

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   Illness may not be the reason for losing your voice - If you are ill, it does not mean that your laryngitis is caused by the illness. It may be triggered by one several other causes. For example, it could be caused by vocal strain if you aren't using the proper singing technique. If so, then one thing that will help is to warm up before you sing. By doing this, your vocal cords to will return to their former condition once again. You may need a voice coach to look at your techniques, and alter them if you become hoarse every time you sing.

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2. 2
   Illness may affect your singing performance

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   If you have a respiratory infection, even a common cold, it may well have caused your singing voice to be impaired. If it is only a cold, doctors advise that you give it up to two weeks to run its course. If you have a singing engagement during that time, you may have to get medical help from your doctor. This isn't every time you have a cold because it can cause your body's immune system to be less efficient. Antibiotics also lose effectiveness if you resort to them for minor ailments often.

    

   1. While the cold is in your lungs or larynx, it is recommended you don't sing at all. Not only will your performance suffer, but you can damage your vocal cords. To regain the elasticity of your vocal cords more quickly after the infection is gone, do warm-up vocal exercises daily.
   2. If your cold is concentrated in your upper throat and sinuses, you can sing with your usual tone and pitch, but it will be painful as you sing. Swallowing may also be painful. Because of your illness, your voice may sound more nasally than usual. Although your vocal cords may function well in this situation, naturally it will be difficult to perform with your usual stage presence. It is a challenge to entertain others while you are in pain.

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3. 3
   You should visit your doctor if your voice is rough and squeaky

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   This can be a serious problem, and you should not even attempt to sing. You will discover that your upper range will be gone when singing, and you could create a long-term problem by attempting to perform.

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4. 4
   If you have no respiratory illness, and you haven't been singing or talking for an extended time, yet suddenly you are hoarse, there may be polyps or nodes that have developed in your throat

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   Visit an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor, also known as an otolaryngologist. If this throat condition lasts a couple weeks during which you are hoarse and squeaky, you should consult a specialized physician.

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5. 5
   If you have the option to not sing, such as an audition, pass it up while ill

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   If it is a "must do", then before you sing at the audition, politely inform those in charge that you are ill. Tell them only once. It makes you look desperate to continue telling everyone how ill you are, but you must sing...  

   1. If you must sing while ill, make sure it's a song you have mastered, and are totally confident singing.
   2. Choose one that is not challenging due to higher notes while your vocal cords are stiff.
   3. Choose one from your repertoire that is "upbeat", and short in length.
   4. Have another song as a back-up, in case you are asked to sing another song.
   5. To prepare for the audition, make sure you do sufficient vocal warm-ups.

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My range is at stake. How do I make sure my voice is as healthy as possible as soon as possible?

I'm am the first chair soprano in a choir. I came down with the flu and am just now getting over it after 2 weeks. My singing voice is an octave lower than usual (I can usually sing comfortably to a G6, now I'm struggling to hold G5 for more than two beats.) How can I bring my voice back to its usual state? I know you can't rush some things, but we have auditions for solos next week for choir, and there is a soprano solo that I really want to audition for. I've been doing everything to get over being sick, as well as taking three different medicines a day. How can I develop a healthy and comfortable voice again? It's being sick, but also how to repair vocal strength to its usual state. I have tried: Tea, water, medication, rest, vocal rest, work to recover. I think it was caused by: I have friends that sing and got sick, so it's not surprising I caught the flu from someone.

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I know it sounds crazy, but I've been kind of ill for more than two years and it really has affected my voice. Will I ever recover from it and what will you recommend I do?

My nose, my throat and sometimes my ears are affected by this. I don't actually know, this just popped up so I decided to write without reading the article first. I'm going to do that just now.

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