BackStage: Performing Sick

By Michael Goodrich

It has probably already happened to you. You have a performance, recording date, or big audition and find yourself with a cold or some other ailment affecting your voice. Your mind begins to race with concerns: Oh God, they’re going to think I really sound like this. Will I hurt my voice if I sing? Is there anything I can do? Yes, there are things you can do — and sometimes they work.

If the annoyance in question is just a simple cold, you can often sing through it without too much trouble, particularly if it isn’t affecting your throat. The normal symptoms of a cold shouldn’t affect the voice enough to render singing impossible or dangerous. The vocal cords may be a bit swollen due to a slight cough or postnasal drip, but unless those symptoms are severe, they shouldn’t be a problem. If your throat is sore and the soreness is up behind the soft palette, you should still be able to sing pretty well. It’s very important in these instances to know your voice well enough that you have a baseline for what’s normal for you. If your voice feels fairly normal, then it’s fairly safe to assume you’ll be fine.

If, however, your voice feels sluggish or hoarse, if it hurts when you sing or speak, or if you suddenly find that your range is limited, you should proceed with caution. This is often the case when the soreness is low in the throat — around the Adam’s apple of a man’s throat. This is where the vocal cords are located, and soreness in this area can indicate the cords are swollen and irritated more than just a little.

Some Things to Do for a Cold

The following suggestions will often provide enough temporary relief to assist you in a performance, allowing you to go on without showing signs of being off your game.

1. Stay hydrated. This will help flush your system of toxins. Drink plenty of water, fresh juice, and Emergen-C, which provides vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes.

2. Inhale steam. It can be soothing and loosen phlegm. Be careful not to burn yourself.

3. Take herbs. Echinacea and/or Source Naturals’ Wellness Formula can be used at the beginning stages of a cold. The Wellness Herbal Throat Spray produces great results. Goldenseal reduces mucous membrane inflammation. Osha root loosens mucus. Slippery elm soothes sore throats. Wild cherry bark is a good expectorant. Collinsonia reduces irritation in the upper throat. Licorice root is also good for sore throats and has mild antihistamine properties. Astragalus root helps prevent colds. Thayers (www.thayers.com) makes a wide variety of excellent products for singers, including slippery elm throat lozenges and sprays. The Tea Garden & Herbal Emporium in West Hollywood, Calif. (www.teagarden.com), makes a wonderful ancient herbal blend called Silver Voice. It comes in capsules and helps to heal irritated and damaged vocal cords. Many of my students have had very positive results with it.

4. Warm up slowly and easily. Vocalizing is very important. Take it slowly and allow extra time due to your condition. Work with your vocal coach to get a good warm-up CD designed specifically for warming up with a cold.

If your voice doesn’t respond to the above ministrations, then not singing is probably a good idea.

More-Serious Problems

If you’re unsure what to do, consult an ear, nose, and throat doctor whose practice is devoted in large part to singers. Get referrals from other singers and get a feel for the doctor’s experience before making an appointment. There can be a huge difference between an ENT who deals primarily with singers and one who sees a singer only once in a while. You want the best. Unfortunately, sometimes the best is very expensive and may not take your insurance, but it’s worth the investment. You only have one voice.

If your voice is acting as if you have a cold — sluggish, hoarse, raspy — yet you have no other cold symptoms, you may have a mild case of acid reflux. This is when stomach acid comes up the esophagus and irritates the vocal cords. Potential causes are going to bed soon after eating, stress, and certain substances (spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine). Usually the condition is temporary and can be remedied with slight lifestyle changes. An ENT can identify the problem.

Allergies are also a problem for some singers. The typical allergy medicine can dry out your vocal cords, which is not conducive to good singing. If possible, find the cause of your allergy and eliminate it. Avoid relying on over-the-counter medications; research other solutions instead.

In extreme cases a doctor may prescribe cortisone, either in pill form or by injection. Cortisone doesn’t heal your affliction; it only covers it up by reducing the swelling in your vocal cords. When the swelling is gone, the cords will function more normally. This can be dangerous, however, because you’re singing with irritated vocal cords without any awareness of how impaired they are — like a football player who gets a shot of cortisone to reduce the swelling in his knee so he can remain in the game. The body is tricked into thinking all is well because there is no pain.

If you find yourself with laryngitis, cancel. There’s always another show, and often you can reschedule an audition. Nothing is worth damaging your voice. Besides, you’ll sound abysmal anyway, so let it go. If you’re in rehearsal for a show, let the powers that be know you’re under the weather and mark the rehearsal.

For Women Only

Women should be aware of some things regarding their monthly cycle and their voice. Though some women aren’t negatively affected, a number are, and the vocal changes during that time can go from barely noticeable to very obvious. Most notable is a sluggish, slightly hoarse and raspy voice. Hormonal fluctuations swell the vocal cords, which makes singing more challenging. Some very famous singers arrange their performance and recording dates as much as possible around their monthly cycle. This is a physical thing and not in a woman’s mind, which is very important for men to understand and respect.

Another thing that can affect your voice is pregnancy. Hormonal changes and additional abdominal weight can throw off your balance. The symptoms can be much like those of menstruation, and, as always, some will notice them more than others.

No Magic Formula

I wish I had a magic formula to help you through these vocal challenges, but I don’t. Nor do I have the space here to explain in detail how to navigate through them. But your vocal coach should have some good ideas. I’ll just repeat that warming up slowly, easily, and methodically is very important, helping to loosen things up so you can assess where you are vocally. Then try some of the ideas above.

Finally, I must say that I am a vocal instructor, not a healthcare professional. Nothing in this column is meant to replace the advice of your doctor. Always check with him or her if you’re unsure or concerned.