Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 10/17/2007

Question
Hello. I am currently 14 years old and going through a voice change that I am very worried about. It seems like every day my voice gets worse and worse, and singing has always been what I am best at. I could sing very high, but my strongest point was singing powerfully in the Alto-ish range. Is there any way to maybe stop my voice from becoming so deep? I have heard choral teachers saying to "sing through it" but does this mean that there are any exercises to continue being able to sing like I used to? I was going to audition for a play at my school but have found that I can't even sing the part of the character I was going to try out for. I know that I would have been very good at it before. The only reason I have ever made it in plays was because of my very good singing, and being able to sing higher than the other boys could. I used to feel very comfortable singing, but now when I open my mouth, I don't know what's going to come out. When I go to sleep, I fear that when I wake up I'm going to lose another note. I am having a terrible time with my singing and I really hope I don't lose my voice, because I love to sing more than anything else. Thank you very much for your time.

Answer
Hi there, Grey.  Thanks for writing.  A changing voice is always a very difficult time in a young person's life.  It's even more difficult for people who love to sing like yourself.  So I am empathizing with you :).  

Although I have had many years experience with singing and I know how to care for a voice, I don't think I am qualified to help you very much with this.  But here are some things you CAN do (:  

1.  Accept that this may be a time in your life when singing is harder for you. It is a natural change that your body is going through and its better for you to not fight it if possible.

2.  Drink lots of fluids to keep your vocal cords moist.  

3.  Seek out a voice teacher that can give you some advice.

4.  Don't push your voice or you will lose it.  Take care of it instead by drinking lots of water and singing songs that are in your new range.

5.  Find songs that are in a lower range and try them out.

6.  Ask another expert in on this website about this.

7.  Think of the voice that you are moving to as a new adventure.  

I hope that something that I have mentioned helps you move through this.  

The most important thing to do is keep asking questions and don't force your voice to do anything it cannot do right now.  Because you only have 1 voice.  OK?

Wanda