by Ms.Edinbourough
(Apopka, Florida)
Hi, I’m Ms. Edinbourough, and I have a beautiful singer who is promising, and a star, but who isn’t taking care of her voice. She is not even able to sing upper soprano anymore, because of the strain those notes bring to her… but she is starring in a school production, The Little Mermaid Jr, as Ariel, and I am afraid she won’t be able to sing or belt with her poorly taken care of voice. How do I encourage her, and how can she take care of her voice?
Thank you.
Hi, Ms. Edinbourough, you have not given me enough information here.
How is she not taking care of her voice? Is she smoking? Screaming her lungs out at school basketball games? Not drinking enough water?
Perhaps she is not ready for high parts, and especially belting. Young singers can easily strain their voices if they have not been trained HOW to belt. How much actual training has she had, and does she understand diaphragmatic support, so she is not putting too much pressure on her throat?
Is she warming up carefully before singing sessions, stretching her voice? It sounds like S-L-O-W humming that starts in the lower part of her range would be a good way for her to start her warmups, placing one hand on her tummy to remind her not to pull her tummy in, and the other hand touching her throat to remind her that she doesn't want pressure or tightness there.
Please write me back using the "Contact Me" page, not the "Comment" form. That way we can keep this young girl's situation private.
Dana