We give singers advice on various questions around the singing voice – whether the patient sings professionally or practices singing as a hobby. All patients with singing voice problems are examined by the phoniatrist Dr Salome Zwicky. In most cases, this is followed by a functional check of the singing voice by vocal coach and concert singer Barbara Böhi.
Voice problems that the SingStimmZentrum Zürich is specialized in
- My voice gets tired quickly when I sing or speak
- I have a big part to sing soon and I am worried about vocal overload
- I have to speak or sing a lot and it’s exhausting.
- My voice sounds hoarser, breathier than usual
- I can’t rely on my voice
- After each rehearsal with my rock band I can hardly speak
- My throat doesn’t feel good when I speak or sing.
- I sing in various styles of music – what do I have to pay attention to?
- My singing voice only works with pressure.
- I can only sing loudly.
- My throat starts to hurt when I sing.
- Am I a soprano or maybe a mezzo soprano?
- I would like to earn my living by singing.
- Am I suitable for studying singing?
- Am I too old for singing?
- Can I still sing despite menopause
- My voice is too low/too high (I am wrongly mistaken for a man or a woman on the phone).
- My family doctor advices me not to sing but it means a lot to me.
Voice training
If asked for by the patient, singing lessons can be arranged at the SSZZ or close to the patient’s home. In this vocal training we proceed in a purposeful manner: Those areas that have been assessed as critical on the basis of the voice analysis are targeted. No one should have to start from scratch again. The aim of the voice training in the SSZZ is to ensure that no more voice problems occur.
If someone already takes singing lessons, a voice analysis and check if the singing voice at the SingStimmZentrum Zürich can help to make further lessons more efficient and purposeful. If desired, the voice teacher can be present during the functional check of the voice, which is also in our interest. The test results can be communicated to the teacher by telephone or in writing with the patient’s consent. This is welcome on our side so that so that in the further process and development of the voice, everyone included is heading in the same direction.
Pregnancy and singing
During pregnancy, the singing voice is influenced by the hormonal changes mostly favorubly. The mucous membrane stores a little more fluid than usual and the vocal folds close better, making singing more effortless. Only in the last months of pregnancy, there can be some problems with slightly restricted respiratory function due to the child pushing the diaphragm upwards and therefore the lungs reduced capacity to fill.
After birth, which means an immediate and massive physical change, not only hormonal but also due to the significant change of volume, especially in the in the abdominal cavity, the voice does not function as usual for a couple of weeks. The streched abdominal muscles have to find their shape again, the movement processes in the respiratory system have to adjust again.
Mothers with newborns are often tired and weak because the healing process, the regression, the breastfeeding and the often irregular sleep rhythm are a great physical strain. It is absolutely normal that professional singing in most cases is not possible in the first weeks and months.
Menopause and singing
Many singers are afraid of the hormonal changes caused by the menopause. The decline in female hormones indeed causes physical change that can affect the larynx and the vocal tract. The mucous membranes become drier and the smoothness of the fine movements may decrease somewhat. However, there are only a few women who experience significant voice problems for organic reasons. Experience shows that the fear of the possible change has the greater negative effect on the voice than the change itself. It often happens, too, that hormonal changes reveal technical issues that have not been detected up to this point. However, these technical imperfections can still be corrected at this time.
Singing voice and age
As with the rest of the body, there are age-related changes in the larynx and in the vocal tract. Cartilage ossifies and therefore loses mobility, muscle cells shrink and are replaced by connective tissue, mucous membrane becomes thinner and drier. Additionally, the control of the voice can be altered somewhat. However, with good vocal technique and regular use of the voice, the ability to sing can sometimes be preserved up to an old age. Even at this stage of life, functional disorders are more common than organic ones, which means that the ability to sing very often can be restored even in older people.
Anti aging for the voice
The trademarked term ‘anti aging for the voice’ comes from the singing teacher Prof. Elisabeth Bengtson-Opitz. ‘Anti aging for the voice’ is a pedagogical concept with the aim of keeping the voice strong and fit throughout life. The book ‘anti aging for the voice’ contains singing and breathing exercises. It encourages older people to take care of their voice at any age: ‘Use it or lose it!’ Voice training can compensate for age-related vocal deficiencies.
Cosmetic surgery on the vocal folds?
In media, there have been reports of cosmetic surgery on the vocal folds. This involves injections into the vocal fold muscle. In certain cases, this ‘cosmetic surgery’ on the vocal folds helps to improve an ageing speaking voice (and sometimes even singing voice). However, this procedure cannot really be called cosmetic surgery, as improving the voice is not a luxury but the restoration of a socially and psychologically extremely important function. This injection technique has long been used for paralysis of the vocal fold with the aim of restoring full vocal folds closure. In these cases, such an intervention often results in surprising improvement in the speaking voice.