Injury (vocal and otherwise)
I hurt myself three weeks ago while executing an exercise on gymnastic rings. The whole of my right arm seized up.
No popping or ripping. Just a sharp feeling that extended from my shoulder to my arm. It lasted for only a few seconds.
I’ve been to my GP and have lined up a physical therapist, and it will be weeks and weeks before I can resume exercise (ligaments take at least twelve weeks to heal).
Another story.
Years and years ago, I was in an argument and screamed for five seconds.
Guess what?
A hole appeared in my voice in the middle range. No matter what I did vocally, I heard my five seconds of stupidity. It took two weeks for it to smooth out and disappear.
Still another story.
A friend with a cold forced his way vocally through a performance of Carmen and woke up and couldn’t talk. He went to the doctor, found out he had a nodule and had surgery. It took him a long time to get back to work.
The morals of the stories?
Forcing is just plain stupid, as is contrary movement (contracting while simultaneously lengthening), which got me into trouble on the rings.
Injuries happen, and healing takes place on its timetable—always longer than anyone wants.
If you are going to scream, do it like an opera singer: Scream from the head rather than the throat. Placement is protection. If you don’t know what I mean, then find someone who can teach it to you.
And now I want to wish you a splendid weekend. We have to make our own fun, right? I’ll be teaching a bit, resting my right arm, and celebrating my husband’s birthday.
