Singing Tips for IF-SRGMP contestants - Page 2

Singers protect your voice!

If you are a singer, you are concerned about protecting your voice. It goes with the territory. Your vocal cords are your instrument and not only must you exercise them, you must take care of them. However, there will be times when you notice your voice becoming a bit "husky." Most of us notice our voice getting a little raspy after a night of cheering our favorite ball team or meeting a friend for dinner at a smoky restaurant or nightclub.

But no need to despair! You are not condemned to a life of never knowing when your voice will give out or give you less than perfect pitch. There will be times when circumstances are out of your control and your voice fails you, but you can also have many more times when you are able to sing beautifully because you put a few tips into practice. If you take the following list to heart, your voice will maintain its strength and reliability much more often.

1. Rest your voice. Now this seems obvious, but that doesn't make it any less true. If you are coming down with a cold or notice a bit of a raspy voice, rest your vocal cords. Don't feel embarrassed to communicate through notes and email. If you have a singing engagement, saving your voice is paramount.

2. Don't clear your throat. Throat clearing is a big no-no. When you clear your throat it causes your vocal cords to hit each other. All this does is cause irritation and damage. If you feel yourself wanting to clear your throat try taking a deep breath and yawn. The breath pushes air over the vocal cords and yawning can break up tension within the cords. If the need to clear does not completely disappear, it will at least lessen until you are able to take a drink of water.

3. Avoid oily foods and dairy products. If you have a speaking or singing engagement after a meal, avoid any type of mayonnaise at that meal. These foods are known to increase the tendency to clear your throat, which, as we just discussed, causes vocal cord damage.

4. Treat acid reflux. If you suspect that you have acid reflux disease, by all means treat it. You will relieve yourself of constant discomfort and prevent potential larynx damage. The esophagus is near the larynx and the excess acid in the esophagus due to acid reflux, is bound to damage your larynx. Take the time to visit your physician, mention all your concerns and that you are a singer and then follow their advice. You will be much better off than if you let the acid reflux go untreated.

5. Avoid smoky and dusty places. Breathing in toxins of any kind are damaging to a singer's vocal cords. Sometimes it is unavoidable and you find yourself in the middle of a smoky bar or dusty construction site. If you are worried about your voice after a temporary visit to one of these places, use a steam inhaler once you get home. These devices are relatively inexpensive and may just save your voice!

6. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! I'm sure you've heard of this tip, but a reminder never hurt anyone. Include "wet foods" in your daily diet. Wet foods include soup, fruit and, of course, decaffeinated beverages. Keep a bottle of water nearby at all times. The one time you don't have a drink handy, you will go into a coughing fit - it's Murphy's Law. If your profession involves speaking all day, make sure that you drink water continually throughout the day. It will keep your vocal cords hydrated along with the rest of your body!

7. Don't eat 3-4 hours before bed time. Avoid the potential for heartburn by not eating before bed. During digestion and due to the position of the body in sleep, acid can creep up into the esophagus and damage the larynx. If you have been ill or feel a cold coming on, sleep is wonderful medicine. This allows the vocal cords the time they need to heal.

It really doesn't take much extra work to protect your vocal cords. Drinking more water and avoiding smoky places are somewhat common sense, but when combined with a few other pointers, they help to protect your singing instrument. Tired and sore vocal cords are more easily damaged and once they are damaged, the only remedy is rest. By taking a proactive approach and protecting your voice, you will feel more confident in your instrument and your abilities.

Celeb Food Talk: Sharing Sore Throat Secrets With Stars



For some people, their voice is their livelihood. Singers, actors and even some politicians have been professionally trained how to use their voice without straining it spoke with a few celebrities and learnt of the different ways with the help of which they take care of their throats :
Ameen Sayani :
Veteran Broadcaster with an experience of more than sixty years, Ameen Sayani gargles with warm soft water and follows the homeopathic stream of medicine when he gets a sore throat. Says he that whenever he gets a sore throat he tries to speak softly, breathe deeply and talk less. Gargling with hot water or just tap temperature water, having hot milk with haldi powder are the time tested home remedies that he uses when suffering from a sore throat.

Sayani also advises fellow voice professionals not to smoke. In case sore throat persists he advises not to have cold foodstuffs like iced water or ice cream. An important recommendation that he gives is to keep the whole body exercised including doing breathing exercises like Pranayam. He also advises to avoid very hot food (unless it doesn't worry the throat or stomach).

Yelling according to him is an absolute no-no even if one is angry. He recommends to try speaking from the diaphragm using the entire lungs as a sound box. His advise to readers is "Don't Smoke -Not Even Passively".

Shaan :
Popular singer and anchor of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Shaan sticks to ayurvedic medicines when he gets a sore throat. He confesses that sore throat are perennial problem with him. He advises voice professionals like him to space their work and not to party much, thereby making best of both the worlds. To the readers he advises them to sleep and rest providing a much-needed relief to their throats.

Archana Puran Singh :
This noted anchor and comedienne is an ayurveda loyalist when it comes to treating sore throats. Having two grown up sons of her own, Archana what she's talking about when she recommends the use of ginger juice and honey for small children. Archana recollects the time she could not speak a word after she did a play at Nagpur where the microphones failed and she had to literally shout so that even the last row in the audience could hear her. That's when her mother came to her rescue and advised her to take Mulhathi, an ayurvedic bark like cinnamon sticks and to Archana's surprise her throat was back to normal in a few minutes. Archana's home remedies include Mulhathi, Ginger Juice and Honey. She advises fellow voice professionals to avoid cold drinks and ice especially in the winter season. Mulhathi is the one specific thing that Archana recommends to the readers for taking care of the throat.

Purab :
This lovable VJ turned actor sticks to homeopathic medicine from Dr. Farokh J. Master to take care of his throat and also the trusted home remedy of rock salt in warm water. Purab like most celebrities resorts to homeopathy when he gets a sore throat. He recalled his tryst with sore throat when he was part of the Bus Yun Hi shoot, and good 'ole rock salt in warm water it was that came to his rescue. Purab also recommends haldi and warm milk as yet another perfect home remedies for sore throat. Prevention is better than cure is the motto of Purab who suggests that all voice professionals as well as readers should gargle with rock salt and warm water before sleeping. That's one thing he ensures will take care of all kinds of throats.

Hema Sardesai :
The Awara Bhanwren girl takes advise of her doctor father whenever she has any problem. For sore throat she takes causticum, a homeopathic medicine.

Hema also carries Arnica in her bag to take care of any emergencies. She remembers the time she had to audition with Laxmikant Pyarelal for a song, which would have probably been her first song, but on that very day she got laryngitis and could not sing the song. From that day onwards Hema is extremely careful with her throat. She only has warm water when she gets a sore throat. Hema recommends voice professionals like her to immediately take Arnica after a performance and advises readers to be cheerful, have a positive outlook and stay healthy.

Mahalaxmi Iyer :
This upcoming singing sensation does not accept any assignments when she gets a sore throat; she prefers giving her throat a break from all singing. She also gargles with warm water and salt and avoids talking as the vocal chords could do without that stress. Every time she gets a sore throat Mahalaxmi takes allopathic medicine first, and if there's no sign of relief then she goes for some ayurvedic medicine like Kanthil to soothe the throat. She carries Kanthil and some honey based soothers in her bag for emergencies, since honey is known to have medicinal properties. Mahalaxmi recalls the day of a show her voice packed up. She just prayed and had lots of hot water. The home remedies she recommends are gargling with warm water, honey-water, sleeping it out.

According to Mahalaxmi sometimes just stress causes more harm to the throat than anything else. Her advise to voice professionals is to take lots of rest, talk less (the idea is that the vocal chords do not rub each other which might make it hoarse). She also suggests taking warm milk with a little turmeric at bed time as turmeric is known to be a great healer. Her last word to the readers is "Don't Stress".

Courtesy : The Strepsils Throat Care Advisory

Thanks Sahana ji, very informative indeed. Drinking lots of water is definitely effective to maintain good voice..I know that one for sure.

btw, how is Pawan now..hope better.

Find your voice


By a Emma Robertson, MSN Health columinst
Last updated August 18 2006


Karaoke, choir practice or just wailing along at the top of your lungs to Tina Turner might be one of the best self-medications to tune into.

Research has found that singing to your heart's content can deliver a number of health benefits, including lifting your mood and even combating snoring and Alzheimer's disease.

How do you like it? On your own and in the bath or on the stage, as part of a group? On the grand scale of things, your preferred singing style doesn't really matter – as long as you make the most of your voice. More and more studies are waxing lyrical about the special effects a good old sing-a-long can have on the health of the mind and body.

Professor Graham Welch, chair of music education at the University of London, explains: "The body has an integrated system of three brain functions which work in parallel. When singing, the body is in a positive state and the endocrine system then releases endorphins – our happy hormones - as a response to a pleasurable activity. The release of these hormones works in tandem to benefit our immune and nervous system as well."

Many studies mirror this theory and have found singing can boost our immunity and wellbeing. The University of Frankfurt discovered increased levels of immunoglobulin A and cortisol after participants broke into Mozart's Requiem. Meanwhile, Canterbury Christ Church University found members of a choral society reported feelings of improved lung function, breathing, better mood and posture and stress reduction as a result of their involvement in a choir.

Singing could also be an essential weapon in our anti-ageing arsenal, says Professor Welch, who has studied musical medicine for 30 years. "The ability of our muscles to uptake oxygen decreases unless we exercise as we get old. Singing uses most of the major muscle groups in the upper body and is a physical activity that requires us to take in a lot more air. This intake of oxygen in turn promotes the longevity of tissues in the body. Singing is a wonderful form of aerobic activity that you can do on your own or as part of a group and can increase our self-esteem and release tension as a result."

Sing yourself to sleep
It sounds hard to believe, but strategic singing is even believed to reduce snoring. A study by the University of Exeter found 20 minutes of singing exercises over three months reduced the noisy symptoms in snorers. This breakthrough research is a non-invasive treatment option which works to increase muscle tone in the soft palate and upper throat – the problem areas behind this condition. At the moment, this technique is on trial-run at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital as an alternative solution to snorers and patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Of sound mind
Singing for the Brain is a weekly session formed by Chreanne Montgomery-Smith, a support and development officer for the Alzheimer's Society in West Berkshire. She has experienced the profound effect singing can have as a key to unlock the brain and bring hope back in to the lives of Alzheimer's sufferers.

"Singing and music is preserved in different pathways from speech in the brain," she says. "It is so deeply embedded that one participant, who couldn't even remember her name, was still able to sing along to dozens of tunes, although she hadn't heard them for years."

Alzheimer's sufferers not only battle with the devastating blow of memory loss but the side-effects this condition also brings, such as depression. Because our memory for melody is so strong, Singing for the Brain is a technique people with Alzheimer's can do easily and well. As a result, successful singing can bring confidence and self-esteem back on track. "Having the pleasant surprise of doing something positive when life is full of negatives is wonderful," says Montgomery-Smith.

"We have a singing teacher who takes the class through a series of vocal exercises. This ensures every muscle in the face and diaphragm is warmed-up properly and connects the brain to the muscles," she explains. "We try to limit the use of song sheets so participants have to use their memory. I've seen people with dementia learn words and compositions to songs they have never heard before because they are doing it through repetition and in a relaxed, happy atmosphere."


A sweet sound for children
Singing can bring magic to any age, as patients in Birmingham Children's Hospital know. Last year, the hospital's popular Singing Medicine project won a Children's Care Award for its pioneering use of singing to boost the mental wellbeing of sick children and as a method to develop their personal and social skills.

"Our main aim is to make the children aware that there are more things in life to focus on than their treatment," says the hospital's arts manager, Janet Hetherington. "Singing Medicine is a chance to do something positive and tap in to areas which are often neglected. Singing simply allows the kids a chance to express their happiness and progress through non-medical terms."

While the success of the project hasn't yet been evaluated under medical conditions, staff and families have noticed that the children appear increasingly relaxed during singing lessons. Physiotherapists have also noted increased movement in the youngsters and more compliance to treatment if it is combined with singing and music. Physiotherapists have also noted increased movement and more compliance to treatment if it is combined with singing and music.


Get a mouthful of singing
Singing is a straightforward activity for everyone. But Helen Furness, choral director for the weekly over-fifties singing group called Serendipity has a few tips to speed-dial singing's healthy side. Her class, based in Midlothian, was set-up five years ago and includes paticipants whose ages range from 50 to 86 years old.

"Singing is a fabulous workout and a complete body experience if you use the right technique," she says. "Your whole body is connected whilst singing and depends on 'plumb line' posture. It's also important to be aware of your entire body. For example, we use our chest and intercostal muscles as we breathe in and our stomach muscles as we breathe out.

"Most people don't know how to breathe properly and only use a portion of their lungs," explains Furness. "I teach deep-breathing exercises which allows the class to make full use of their lungs and shows them how to control their breath.

"Singing also brings a great amount of happiness. It is impossible to sing well with a long face because it affects your pitch. Keeping the positive momentum up is essential. If we smile as we sing then people soon feel the benefit in more ways than one."

Dear Contestants, do you notice an improvement in your health? It could be due to singing!

Singing Leads To Better Health


A study conducted by the University of Frankfurt has revealed that singing protects the upper respiratory system from getting infected, and stimulates the production of antibodies. Singing also serves to demonstrate the health and well being of the person. As many as 31 amateur singers were studied before these conclusions were drawn.

'Singing is similar to meditation and walking in terms of its positive effects on health', said Gunter Kreutz, the leader of the study.

'People who sing regularly can improve their breathing, increase their supply of oxygen, stimulate their circulation and get their bodies energized', said Professor Wolfram Seidner of the University Clinic Charite in Berlin.

The mental benefits of singing are just as important, Seidner said. In a society in which power, money and work are valued above almost anything else, many people's musical talents could waste away. Seidner said studies showed that men and women who were formerly involved in music were better team leaders in their careers.

Seidner said trained soloists used different nuances of their voice to relate certain emotional messages while speaking. Singers could employ this skill to their benefit in their 'day to day' lives.

The Munich-based speech therapist and author Eva Loschky considers the voice the most important means of expression.

'Anyone who doesn't have the full power of his voice at his command experiences a reduction in his personal expression and limitations in the quality of his life,' Loschky said.

Singing also keeps the voice young, which can be a benefit to women when they enter menopause, a time when a woman's voice loses some of its smoothness.

hmmm interesting article Sahana. actually i had started to believe that musicians end up with more health problems than others. look at Md Rafi and others dying young. isn't it a rather sedentary life-style/ career, unless you're a jumping-jack-flash Mick Jagger Rolling Stones kind of rock artist? also, i'd have thought that musicians somehow deal with more emotions, what with having to put feelings into their songs. am no doc, but wont that create some stress somewhere on their body/ heart/ mind?

Originally posted by: chatbuster

hmmm interesting article Sahana. actually i had started to believe that musicians end up with more health problems than others. look at Md Rafi and others dying young. isn't it a rather sedentary life-style/ career, unless you're a jumping-jack-flash Mick Jagger Rolling Stones kind of rock artist? also, i'd have thought that musicians somehow deal with more emotions, what with having to put feelings into their songs. am no doc, but wont that create some stress somewhere on their body/ heart/ mind?

The other day I saw an interview of an opera singer and he was saying that opera singers live long because they use their utmost lung capacity which is so good for health.

I guess, it's because singing is a form of meditation. At least Indian classical music definitely is a form of meditation. Annapoorna Devi likens her daily riyaaz to a bath, which cleanses out impurities. When practised in the true spirit and not for commercial gains, classical music must surely rank as one of the finest forms of meditation.

Of course, I don't expect singers to just sing and do nothing else the whole day. They should be exercising, resting and eating well too! We don't know if Mohd Rafi was doing this. Singers shouldn't be taking on more work than their body can handle.

We should not forget that those who are singing commercially will face the same professional stresses that others do - they need to get a steady stream of assignments. There will be other singers competing to snatch away the assignments. There will be professional rivalries and groupism and one needs to be very tough to handle all this. Family tensions add another angle.

I think public shows are more stressful for singers than studio recordings. Today, a singer's lifestyle must definitely be far more stressful than it was before. Most of the Saregamapa winners seem to be perpetually travelling to remote corners of the world and performing at shows. This can't be sustainable.

So, I would conclude by surmising that singing just for one's own pleasure and not to win prizes/accolades ought to be beneficial for one's health. Singing the right way is important, so that vocal cords are not strained or damaged.

Very interesting article sahana. 😊 My own POV is all this is finally connected to mental "wellness". i feel there is a direct relationship between the amount of time spent with music and mental "wellness". If a person commits to "active" listening, singing combined with learning about the composer and his creation, he will experience a gradual recognition of "wellness" that is new to his experience. i would hypothesize that maybe there exist receptors in the central nervous system that are activated by classical music that lead to well-being.

But yes listening to music is certainly no cure-all for what ails you psychologically. But i believe that it does have a beneficial effect in dealing with mental health. certainly the field of music therapy is a very strong one and has been around for a long time. And i know that in my OWN life my involvement in music both as a participant and as a listener and collector of CDs has brought much satisfaction. AND "satisfaction" is a very prized affect in the mental health world.

I find that my love for music so fills my life that i don't have time to be dissatisfied, bored, frustrated and i am sure that this contributes to my state of mental health. i have many friends who feel the same way. i have three things in my life that mean the most to me: my religion, my family, and my music. to have any of these missing would take a lot of the meaning of my life away. i think that certainly would have an effect on the state of my mental health. And maybe this is the same for others too.

Very interesting anlysis going on here. I had read this article before on the health problems of musicians -the singers, the string players, the harpists and also the horn players and the reasons for that.

Here I am going to share it with you the health issues of the singers :

Health Problems of singers

"Physician interest and involvement in the voice dates back at least to the time of Hippocrates in the fifth century B.C. His Corpus Hippocraticum provides some of the earliest medical speculation on the workings of the voice, recognizing the importance of the lungs, trachea, lips, and tone in phonation. Aristotle noted the role of the voice in emotional expression. Claudius Galen, who practiced from 131 to 201 A.D., is hailed as the founder of laryngology and voice science…Major advancement...[came with] the Renaissance with the writings of Leonardo da Vinci…Advances [also] occurred in the East, particularly in the ninth century, when Rhazes the Experienced in Baghdad described disorders of the voice and recommended respiratory and voice training." From "The Evolution as Seen Through Literature". Harman, Susan E. IN Textbook of Performing Arts Medicine. New York, Raven Press, 1991.

In modern times, Manuel Garcia, an opera singer born in 1805, became a teacher because he developed problems through poor technique and excess singing. He used a dental mirror as a way to indirectly view the larynx and vocal cords, a method still used today. High-tech examination methods are now available to otolaryngologists, including strobovideolaryngoscopy and electromyography.

Sound quality of the voice comes from the larynx, tongue, lips, palate, pharynx, nasal cavity, and the locations and positioning of these vis--vis one another. Minor changes in any of these organs or their positions can affect quality of the singing voice. Consider the hypernasal speech from a cleft palate or hyponasal speech with greatly enlarged adenoids (Julia Child).

Singers' voices, being a part of the body rather than a separate instrument, are vulnerable to almost all possible changes in the body. Of course, throat, mouth, nasal, neck, and lung problems have the greatest effect.

Singing teachers are a mixed bag, some great, and some who can ruin a career, with most fair to middlin'. Changing teachers, even if from a mediocre to a much superior teacher, can temporarily cause problems as the singer learns new ways. Young and beginning singers can be tempted to sing roles beyond their training and vocal maturity; most Wagner operas and some Verdi roles require sustained breath control and maximal volume production, and the somewhat looser vocal mechanism that comes with maturity and training.

Singers vary in the amount of muscle tension in the larynx, jaw, and other structures. Too little tension results in lack of control of the tone, but paradoxically, too much tension can also interfere with control. The ideal is to have good breath support using the abdominal and intercostal muscles, with the jaw loose, and throat and larynx only as tense as is required to produce a given pitch. In addition, as the pitch rises, the vocal cords must shorten to produce the pitch, and the opening in the surrounding tissues becomes smaller. Amateur singers will correspondingly tighten their throat muscles and general and a number of years of training are often necessary to overcome this tendency.

The type of singing also affects muscle tension. Classical singers have lower muscle tension scores than is true of other types of singers. Within classical music this also varies with the type of singing. Choral singers are the most relaxed, followed by art songs and operas, the last requiring singing over an orchestra and other factors mentioned in the next two paragraphs. Singing jazz or pop results in more muscular tension, musical theater more yet, then bluegrass/country/western, and the highest muscular tension is recorded in rock and gospel singers.

Stage singing presents various challenges. Concert and operatic singers preparing for performance often are learning new music and rehearsing extra hours. Operatic costumes can be heavy, and stage blocking can require the singer to sing from awkward body positions. Leg and back injuries can interfere with mobility, as well as throwing off a singer's preferred stance when singing, which results in throat tension and breath control problems.

There is also the "Lombard effect", in which a singer accustomed to singing a cappella or with piano accompaniment, upon singing with an orchestra, ratchets up the volume to achieve the same vocal feedback to his/her ears. Pop singers are especially vulnerable to this problem. Monitor speakers which direct the sound back to the stage can help. " Las Vegas voice" is a term coined to mean singing in dry conditions, with overamped bands, and sidestream cigarette smoke.

Needless to say, smoking is extremely damaging to oral, lung, and throat mucosa, and is entirely contraindicated for singers. To the extent possible, sidestream smoke should be also avoided. Smoking marijuana, which is unfiltered, is particularly toxic to the larynx and vocal folds. However, Dr. Robert Thayer, author of the chapter "Care of the Professional Voice", in Medical Problems of Performing Artists, referenced above, advises that if singers refuse to give up marijuana smoking, they at least use a water pipe!

Singers who conduct can strain their voices by singing along with different parts and demonstrating the correct note sequences or correct technique, often in varied registers according to the part they are demonstrating. Teaching from a keyboard with constant turning of the head and neck to see students, can be wearing. Singers also need to remember to carry good singing techniques over to speaking. Many Americans speak at a lower pitch than is optimum for their voice, and with a tight jaw. Especially when preparing for performances, or in less than optimal health, "Don't say a single word for which you are not being paid" is advisable, as well as avoiding phone use. Cheerleading and/or yelling at games are absolutely verboten!

Singers have been prescribed various drugs to ease performance anxiety. Propranolol and other beta-adrenergic blockers have been used but they dry the throat. Tranquilizers can produce confusion and memory difficulties, and antidepressants can also produce dry mouths and throats. Diuretics are also problematic for this reason. Singers should avoid aspirin products if possible as they can cause submucal hemorrhages in the vocal folds.

Alcohol in small amounts, say one glass of wine on a performance day, may actually be helpful, but alcohol addiction will ruin a career due to well-known adverse effects. Cocaine is particularly problematic for singers with its drying effects. Any substance which impairs clarity of thought will adversely affect performance.

Singers are subject to the inevitable changes with aging such as weakening of the vocal folds and surrounding musculature, or arthritis in surrounding supporting structures. Neurological problems which cause tremor will also affect vocal control. Hearing loss makes matching of pitches difficult. Hormone changes affect both sexes, as does hypo- or hyperthyroidism. and in women the phenomenon known as "laryngopathia premenstrualis". Birth control pills may affect vocal tone. Estrogen-alone pills are contraindicated and estrogen-progesterone combinations are best. They should not be used to postpone periods before performances. Androgen should never be prescribed for singers. During the later stages of pregnancy breath control is problematic, and vocal quality may be affected. (This writer's mezzo-soprano mother, who had four children, reported that she actually gained a high note per child!)

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) problems can cause headaches, and affect production of a free, relaxed tone, and singers are prone to this because they will hyperextend their jaws either downward or forward. Jaws can actually lock in place. A rock star was capable of opening his jaw to 77 mm; his jaw would lock open in performances, at which point he would turn his back on the audience and the percussionist would place his jaw back in the correct position.

Singers need to be careful about diet and exercise. Being fit is necessary for the best breath control. Eating a heavy meal immediately pre-performance will make good breath support difficult. Weight control is important as obesity interferes with breathing, and the diabetes which can accompany obesity will often produce dry mouth and reduce the energy needed for stage performance. If weight loss is needed it should be gradual as sudden losses affect vocal quality. Milk products make the throat temporarily phlegmy, and spicy foods and coffee can contribute to gastroesophageal reflux which irritates the vocal folds and surrounding tissues. Singers should avoid eating for several hours before retiring to bed. Singers with asthma and other allergies need to be treated as uncontrolled allergies really affect breathing, and are easily exacerbated by dusty stages and dressing rooms. Mold can be present on inadequately cleaned costumes and in areas with damp climates.

Upper respiratory tract infections are problematic for all musicians but particularly so for singers. Infections concentrated in the nasal and sinus areas will affect tone somewhat but otherwise do not interfere with singing per se, but chest infections make good breath control difficult, and throat infections and laryngitis directly affect the singer's instrument. Heavy singing at such times can result in lesions to the cords or even paralysis. Ability to sing loudly, hoarseness, changes in timbre, and breaking into different registers are all likely. (The writer has had personal experience when during a severe bout of laryngitis, she attempted to sing a note, the result being two separate pitches, neither euphonious, and neither the pitch she intended to produce.)

Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics or penicillin and its relatives, does not normally cause problems, unless the singer is allergic. Corticosteroids can be used for severe health problems when performances are imminent, but should be prescribed sparingly and carefully. Singing with severe infections, or singing too loudly over prolonged periods, or with poor technique such as excessive throat tension, can result in the singer's most dreaded malady: "nodes" or nodules on the vocal folds. Throat or vocal fold hemorrhage is possible in singing with infections or massive oversinging. Rest is the only remedy for hemorrhages, and the best remedy for infections and nodules, but the latter may require surgery. Surgery can be successful but must be very carefully done, and singers need topflight instruction in good vocal technique both before and after the surgery. Also, other surgeries such as tonsillectomy and thyroidectomy need extreme care. Intubation causes trauma to the soft tissues in the throat and will adversely performance for some weeks afterward.

Great article Adi. I wish we could find an article written by an Indian singer about the vocal challenges faced by a singer and how they overcome them.