The external part of the nose is very important to the singing voice. So we are going to think about the area of the nose and the part that it plays in good quality singing. The warm and balanced tone will have resonance through the nasal cavity and there are some things that will alter the tones.
The nose warms and moistens the air as you breath and this is essentual to your singing. The interior of the nose is comprised of two chambers and separeted by a straight wall or septum. The sides of the internal nose have turbinates which hang into the nasal cavity. These turbinates are able to expand and contract and have many mucous glands. When the air is dry the glands produce more mucous. For a singer, mucous can be a difficult problem to control. Having to much mucous can obstruct the nose enough that it will alter the resonance, like when you have a cold. The air you breath and certain particles that enter the nose can cause the nose to produce vast amounts of mucous. You cannot control the moisture in every room you enter nor can you control the different particles that float in the air. But a singer should avoid extreme temperature changes when performing. You should always avoid singing where there is a lot of dust that you could inhale, smoke, or other air pollutants. Sleeping with a cool mist vaporizer can help at night. Nervousness can also play a part in the nose over producing to much mucous.
There are medications that can drain the sinuses or dry out the sinuses. You have to be careful in using these because of the side effects. They will also dry out the mouth and throat and will make it difficult for the vocal folds to work correctly. Keep the amount to a minimum if you feel you have to take one of these medications. Also, just the vibration from singing can also cause the mucous in the sinus cavities to start draining. So be smart when it comes to finding ways of controling the drainage
There are some other diseases that can cause obstruction of the nose. Amoung these are allergies, polyps, deviated septum, and sinusitis. Any obstruction in the nose will change the resonance of the singing voice.
Having cosmetic surgery on the nose can change the sound of the resonating voice. If you are a singer, think long and hard before having plastic surgery on the nose for cosmetic reasons only.
I am working with some wonderful people trying to create a way that we can help part-time ministries. It is very exciting and I can hardly wait to share with you all the great things to come in the near future but I have to wait until it evolves a little more.Keep watching for the information to come out soon. Please place this on your prayer list that God will continue to bless our efforts to move forward with our plans.
Until next month, keep singing His Prasies!
Marti Ledford
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Written: 01/31/2005
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Category: Monthly ArticlesThe Vocal Coach
Comments: 3
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thanks for the insights...clear nasal passages do enhance tonal qualities...my wife (a physician) and i (a therapist) have developed some very simple self-help exercises that help to clear clogged sinuses within 30 seconds...we teach them to patients in our practice suffering from colds, congestion, sinusitis...it works! and we keep kleenex handy...mac
Thanks for reminding me to reach over and turn on my vaporizer. I have been practicing a yoga hygeine technique for years that has done wonders for my nose, sinuses, and singing voice. It is called Jala Neti and it involves washing the nasal passages with warm, slightly salty water. A quick google search will reveal more. It's very unusual but I swear by it. I look at it as being as important as brushing my teeth.
Mac, I am very interested in the techique you teach. I am always looking for new information to help my students. If you don't mind sharing it you can call me or email me the info. Thanks, Marti
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