Expert: Pamela Thomas - 10/26/2008

Question
Hi. Professional lyric soprano here and I'm having difficulty finding answers to these questions.

1.Can you think of any reason why having a cold and cough should make it easier to sing in the higher register? I have noticed this phenomenon in myself. And that the female falsett seems much easier to find when I'm in this condition.

2.Why, after singing extensively, esp. in the high register, does my lower passaggio give out on me? This is really problematic if I've just  sung a coloratura aria and have to sing ensembles with notes f. I can somehow produce the tones, but I don't think it's very healthy (either chest voice or very, very breathy head voice).

Would appreciate any response greatly! Thank you.

Answer
Hi Elizabeth,

Hmmm.  Whenever I have a cold and cough I mostly lose the top notes as well as the middle.  I have a great low chest voice, however!

But, actually, now that you mention it I was sick recently with a bad cold, congestion and a cough that went on for days.  I actually was able to sing the top notes but the middle voice almost didn't phonate.  My guess is that the inflation caused the vocal folds to swell in the middle but even though that swelling prevented you (me) from phonating in the middle the upper part of the cord was not swollen and thus were able to phonate.

I did find, however, that singing while I was sick was not a good idea - even if the top was still working... afterward the top didn't work either.

It might feel easier to sing the top when you're sick because you can't sing in the middle.  It's possible that you load up a bit too much in the middle (or sing with a bit too much chest vs. head in the middle) and since you can't do that when you're sick - you are probably just using the thin edges of the cords at the top.

I assume you are working with a teacher - and that's who you should work with about the middle being breathy after singing extensively in your high voice.  One of the things you need to be careful about is singing a lot in chest.. if you sing too much in chest (from F above middle C down) that can sometimes weaken the head voice with those same notes.  Then when you try to coordinate between the chest and head on those notes - it doesn't work.  I think you should find a teacher who can work with you on this since I can't hear what you are talking about.

Also - have you gone to a good ENT doctor and had him/her look at your cords and make sure they are okay?  Also - it could very well be reflux.  That can cause constant redness and inflation as well.  If the doctor says your cords look good and healthy (no swelling, nodules, etc.)  then you need to work on the middle... just sounds like your cords might be just a little swollen when you are tired and that means you will have air escape because they can't phonate properly.

I'm not sure I've helped you a lot - but I know this can be fixed as I've done it myself.  Perhaps going to a new teacher and discussing this will help.

All the best,

Pamela