Blog
When Singing Hurts
Featured article: The Vagus Nerve and the Larynx
My old Maestro, Cornelius Reid often said, “destroy the voice; destroy the psyche. Restore the voice; restore the Psyche.” While my intuition and previous vocal conditions told me this was a remarkable fact rather than fiction, I could not come to a complete understanding as to why that statement might be so.
Qualities of Voice.
I realize that there are certain elements of voice we can never explain in certain rationalities, voices that break the rules and stimulate the ear to wonder.
The Vagus Nerve and the Larynx
My old Maestro, Cornelius Reid often said, “destroy the voice; destroy the psyche. Restore the voice; restore the Psyche.”
While my intuition and previous vocal conditions told me this was a remarkable fact rather than fiction, I could not come to a complete understanding as to why that statement might be so.
Ms. Baggott-Forte invites you to contribute your experience. Write to information@liberatedvoice.com.
About this space
Since 1976, Carol Forte has taught many of Canada’s prominent singers of opera, classical music, music theatre and popular recording artists, offering special attention to vocal health and in-depth psychology of the artist. WHEN SINGING HURTS is a blog for teachers and singers who may offer comments and post questions with Ms. Baggott-Forte. This project will discuss a variety of vocal difficulties and their remedies. It will also explore the emotional temperament of the artist, how it affects performance and what a big role “politics” play in the profession.
It is a blog intended to help artists see themselves, help themselves and redeem difficult experiences with others encountered over the course of a singing career.
If you are a singer working in or towards a professional career in the above-mentioned vocal disciplines, you may help with this project by bringing forward your own particular vocal or personal problems within the business of singing.
Here are some examples of information that Ms. Baggott-Forte will address on the blog:
- TECHNICAL VOCAL PROBLEMS: loss of range, power, flexibility or inability to sing fully or quietly, vocal changes due to age or hormonal shifts.
- MEDICAL PROBLEMS: nodules, polyps, edema, allergies, acid-reflux.
- EDUCATIONAL: teachers and coaches who misguide singers, staying with a teacher out of loyalty when one should have moved on.
- POLITICAL: not being able to be honest with teachers, managers, directors, recording engineers, when they make false demands on the voice for fear of losing a job or being black-balled; do sexual politics interfere with your engagements?
- PSYCHOLOGICAL: how singers handle the results of any of the above criteria; when singing is not a positive experience; insomnia, poor memory, neurosis, stage fright, etc…
Singers may of course request to post anonymously (no credit) or partial anonymity. Since this blog is also intended as a guide for young aspiring artists, it would be helpful if some of those making biographical statements were of high profile and willing to be quoted.
Thank you for reading! Please pass this information on to other professional singers or students you may know.
Liberated
Voice
Advanced Singing Technique Master
Contact: information@liberatedvoice.com
Blog | Articles
Qualities of Voice.
As I finish up my first week of 50 out of 100 lessons in Bremen, Germany, I realize that there are certain elements of voice we can never explain in certain rationalities, voices that break the rules and stimulate the ear to wonder. Some qualities of sound merely...
The Vagus Nerve and the Larynx
My old Maestro, Cornelius Reid often said, “destroy the voice; destroy the psyche. Restore the voice; restore the Psyche.”While my intuition and previous vocal conditions told me this was a remarkable fact rather than fiction, I could not come to a complete...