Ok, so I got cast in this fairly small musical (it’s by Missoula Children’s Theatre, if anyone cares). They didn’t have enough boys to fill the parts so I got cast as the King. Well the King has a fair bit of lines, and I was going to speak them and sing my songs in a lower voice than I usually use, but I’ve heard that that can cause severe damage to your vocal chords and singing. I have rehearsals six hours a day for app. six days and two app. 1-1 1/2 hr long performances at the end of the week. My question is, could I use a much lower voice to do these lines and not cause damage to my voice? And if I do cause damage, how much and what would you suggest instead of the lower voice? I am obviously a girl when you hear me speak and sing. I am fully committed to this musical and cannot drop out. Any advice is welcomed!
Related posts:
- Are your kids musical? Do they like singing or play any instruments?
- Getting better vocal projection?
- Getting better vocal projection?
- Getting better vocal projection?
- Getting better vocal projection?
- Getting better vocal projection?
- Internet Marketing…The Magic of Voice Broadcasting
- The Middle Voice Method: The Secret To Great Singing.
- How Can I imrpove my vocal range?
- Getting better vocal projection?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
If singing that low hurts your vocal cords, that’s a fair indicator that it’s not good for your voice. Make sure to do lots of warm up before trying those depths.
It all depends on your range if hurts to get those notes out, I wouldn’t try it. See how low you can go without sounding cheesy and without being in pain. Hope it works! BREAK A LEG!!
You could just play an extremely effeminate King.
no it will not damage your vocal chords or maybe will after you drink a cold water !!!!!!!!!!after rehearsing!
Warm up, don’t use your head voice for it. It should be fine. You need a balance of chest and high to sing low. Don’t sing so low it hurts.
Piano Baby,
Be careful. I’ve had seventeen years of vocal training, and I can tell you from experience, there’s a right way and a wrong way to sing. It is possible for a woman to put her voice in a lower register, but the best way to do that for your voice is to use the chest as a resonator: it will give the tone a deeper, fuller quality. Let me explain.
Most singers, especially those who don’t have formal training, sing from their throat, squeezing the muscles to produce sounds (which is damaging to your vocal chords as it is). They use the “easiest” resonators: the nose and the sinus cavities, and the sound is high and nasal, and usually strained. A voice produced by squeezing the throat will strain the vocal chords greatly if you try to drop it low; you will be grinding the chords in the effort to stretch them and produce the sounds you want.
A much better (and safer) way to sing is by using the diaphragm, the muscle that sits below your lungs and helps them expand and contract, to support the sounds. Your tone will be fuller and stronger, and you will find dropping your voice much easier than with throat singing.
Try this: lay down on the ground, no pillow under your head, on your back. Put your hands over your stomach. Now, pant and try to push your hands up with each breath. Your breasts shouldn’t rise when you puff the air out, but your hands should: this is diaphragm breathing!
Once you’ve got that, place one hand on your chest, around the sternum, and try adding a sound , a low deep sound, as you breathe out. Remember to try not to tense your throat, just let the sound come out! It doesn’t have to be pretty! When you start to feel the hand over your sternum vibrate, you know you’re using the chest as a resonator, instead of your nose. The sound will be fuller and darker, and will feel pretty cool. Stay that way and experiment for awhile, just feeling the tone through your chest and using your diaphragm. If you do this exercise and get used to the way the body feels producing this kind of sound, you will be able to start carrying this over to your singing. The best part? No sore, scratchy throat afterwards, and no hurting your vocal chords! Drink warm liquids too before your performances, but never milk or soda, and never cold water. Cold drinks constrict your chords, and milk coats your throat!
I hope this helps, and good luck!