Need help please...

[jlewmdob]

Hello all. I had posted in the health forum a few weeks ago about a recent visit to the voice specialist. I was told that I had a granuloma on the arytenoid cartilage. I've done a bit of research in the past week and everything I've read is that this is related to technique and partially to reflux. As far as reflux goes, I've begun to take a PPI to help and also cutting back on my biggest vice(Coca Cola) I'm an avid water drinker and don't smoke or drink alcohol. My question pertains to the technique part of the problem. From what I've read, this can be caused by a "hard glottal attack" which I'm not sure the meaning. I've only had a few lessons, (just recently began taking a weekly lesson) and have always sang from feeling. I haven't lost any range but what I've noticed is that my stamina has lessened and eventually can lead to hoarseness amongst other things. As a cover band singer, that can provide a challenge when you're doing 40+ songs. I do warm up my voice before practice and gigs. I have a higher range up to A5 when I'm feeling good and don't want to lose it. Can someone please enlighten me as to what this "hard glottal attack" term means. I'm familiar with support and thought that I had a pretty decent grasp on it. I've posted a link to an original band that I was in and am working on getting some more samples up. Thanks for your help.

[gno]

jlewmdob - I'm not an expert, but the hard glottal attack is slamming the chords together at the beginning of a vowel. If you pronounce the word "at" for example, and try to really accetuate the beginning of the "a" vowel by letting a little pressure build up under your vocal folds, that would be a hard attack. Basically you want to stay away from this, and coordinate the initial phonation without this attack. if you pronounce "la", instinctively you will start phonating the "l" gently. Or try "mmm". You'll notice that you generally won't accentuate the "m".

Are you able to stop singing for a couple of weeks? if you are losing control and stamina that is serious stuff. You may be still able to sing, but it could be a bit of a downward spiral....This happened to me last fall and I was out for 10 weeks. Then I got Ken Tamplins DVD and was back in perfect health after just a few weeks and singing healthy with a lot more stamina. Be careful.

[jlewmdob]

Hey guitartek, thanks for the response. I appreciate your feedback. I went back to my ENT last week for a follow up and he said that my vocal folds looked great and didn't see any signs of the granuloma. As far as the technique, I've had a few lessons recently and have another one this week and my teacher has me working on some things. I think that I've been "oversinging" and trying to copy some of the singer's I'm covering a bit too much instead of singing these songs in my own tone/voice. Does that make sense. I sang 30 or so songs last week at practice and felt fine, no hoarseness or anything the next day. I just eased up on some of the songs instead of going all out on every tune. We have a show in a couple of days, I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks, Josh.

[gno]

Sounds like you are doing fine. It's good you discovered the "oversinging" and dialed it back a little and incorporated your own thing. If you are bouncing back the next day thats perfect. Good luck at the show.

[VideoHere]

Then I got Ken Tamplins DVD and was back in perfect health after just a few weeks and singing healthy with a lot more stamina. Be careful.

guitartrek, which dvd of ken's did you get #2 or #3?