Re: Voice

[Roslyn Schwartz <rs4...>]

I have taken voice lessons here & there (actually I share these with my
children, we take turns attending).  At one lesson I commented that the
harder I tried, th worse the sound came out, especially in the upper
ranges ... the more I relaxed, the better the result.  My teacher
replied that the best sound comes from the free flow of air, unimpeded
by the vocal structures;  and that this is the whole point:  to get the
most full & rich sound with the least effort.

It almost seems obvious, when put that way ... and isn't this true of
almost every endeavour in life?  Once you know enough to relax & let the
flow carry you, everything follows spontaneously & naturally.  But the
paradox is ... that it takes a lot of work & learning to get to that
point!

In any case, by way of advice, even one or two lessons with a good
teacher can make a tremendous difference in your understanding of how
your own voice works, & how to take care of it.

And by the way, hoarseness or loss of volume can indicate irritation &
swelling of the vocal cords, which have no nerve endings to signal pain
when they are inflamed.  Forcing a voice when it doesn't want to come
out, can actually damage these delicate structures.  Even whispering
stresses the tissues.  So take the problem seriously!

FWIW,

- R.S.