Expert: Walter Hintz - 6/8/2006

Question
Hi Walter:

I am trying to become a good singer and I just have tons of questions about the science behind healthy singing. I took physics before in junior and high school but I forgot the part about sound and it is production, pitches, resonance, etc...

I started to practice my scales two weeks ago and my throat sometimes just hurt so badly and my music teach,like most of singers, who don't have any science background told me that I wasn't relaxing my throat enough and I didn't have enough breath support. Also, he said if I could use some resonance from my head, I could relieve some pressures on my larynx.

So what's really going on when I sing? Doesn't resonance make sound bigger? what's the requirement to have a good resonance? and can you really relax your larynx and still sing well. And what's going on with your cords when you go up in scale, which they say could be really harmful if you don't have the right technique of singing... I am just confused and need a little guide from a scientist.

I just wanna sing healthily. If I had to damage my vocal cords, then what'd be the point of singing.

Thanks a lot!

Answer
Hi heng:  I really do not know much about singing or the techniques involved but the human vocal cords are not really designed for the extreme stress that singing puts upon them.  Great singers however seem to overcome this.  I do not know what is meant by increasing resonance in the head.  I suggest that if you continue having throat pain that you should consult a doctor to rule out something pathological.  Sorry I could not help you more.