<p>Thank you so much for your advise! I'll be getting "Throat Coat" in the morning for my d and she is using menthol cough drops so I will get some of the other ones that were suggested instead. My d just walked in from rehersal and said "almost paradise" was not paradise in the least....I have showed her your advise and that on the bumped up thread. She was just amazed that people responded so quickly. Thanks again!</p>
<p>If your d is doing FOOTLOOSE, tell her if she must mark vocally (rather than completely resting) NOT to belt until she has to (like, for her shows)!!! Belting can certainly be done healthily but it is always more taxing the vocal folds than singing legit or mixing (because of the physiological and acoustic principles behind belting - long explanatin, maybe for later :) ). Anyway, the role of Ariel is KILLER for a sick or fatigued singer because it's so vocally taxing - so she REALLY must take it easy!</p>
<p>Kaysmom, you're not alone. We have an opening for Footloose Friday night also here in San Diego!! And, as a high school choir teacher, I agree with the advice. Complete vocal rest...period. Even Celine Dion only spoke every other day during heavy performance season...just as a precaution. No cell phones, no chatting with friends, and a small notebook and pencil in her pocket at all times. Plus....lots of traditional rest, i.e. zzzzzzzzz during the whole run of the show. Break a leg!!</p>
<p>Ya gotta love the internet!! I just googled UCLA Voice center and immediately got the UCLA Voice Center for Medicine and the Arts. There appears to be a similar one at UCSD, just not as arts focused. Thanks so much Coach C for all the info....I learned so much!! It's incredibly valuable and sounds like solid science. I will definitely refer students to this thread if they have any problems. Now if our newbie MT majors can just find the right voice teachers. It's such a gamble, and you never know who they will be assigned at their college, or if they even get to choose. Of course, as a mother, anything I recommend to my ds will be immediately overruled. Oh well.......</p>
<p>Keyboardmom makes a great point - cell phone or any phone talking is THE WORST for tired voices, because we all tend to speak more emphatically on the phone in order to make up for body language that can't be seen during phone convos.</p>
<p>our teacher recommended gummi candies because they contain glycerine. also i have had our doctor give her a cortizone shot. that does seem to help. not all doctors will give those to a young person, but many will if you don't ask often and explain that it's urgent.</p>
<p>Thanks again everyone for your advise...she is definitely resting...still asleep and will be just resting after she wakes for the day until first dress rehersal tonight at 7! I got some gummys too...couldn't find those grether's pastilles anywhere ..just online...will order some for the future.</p>
<p>Ok, you got me. Where do you inject a cortisone shot for laryngitis? It sounds painful (I've had them in my foot) and certainly doesn't go into the vocal cords themselves?</p>
<p>it's just in the butt or leg. it's not injected to the affected area. it's just to promote quick healing having something to do with healing that inflammation of the vocal chords. we've done it a couple of times when d was sick with a cold or something similar that caused hoarseness. it did seem to help. at least, she improved, hard to say exactly what caused it as we were doing everything possible. sounds like everyone is listing all the good ideas. we certainly sympathize. my d had the lead in "once upon a mattress" for her senior musical and got sick. she just "marked" her songs during all her final rehearsals and did ok during the production. she wasn't 100 percent, but was fine and got better each night. but, i sure share your frustration and wish you well.</p>
<p>I worry about cortisone, for the same reason I worry about chlorosceptic (spelling?) and other analgesics. The voice is sore for a reason - it is telling the body, "Something is WRONG here!" If not due to virus, then likely to over-use, misuse or abuse. By use of cortisone (reduces swelling) or analgesics (blocks pain signals), you are over-riding your body's own defense mechanism in warning you of potential trouble.</p>
<p>Sure, you'll get through this show...maybe. But what about the potential impact on the CAREER, and the future health and welfare of your instrument?</p>
<p>How weird - my husband is in and producing "Footloose" in CT right now, too. My d was Lady Larken in her hs production this past March and was quite hoarse with a sore throat. She took Advil and her throat was no longer sore and no one detected that she was sick. Also, gargle with warm salt water (this is all per her doctor). Good luck, and let us know how she does! Ariel is a GREAT part!!!</p>
<p>d is doing better...director clld today told her not to sing tonight...just say her lines and see how it goes. We got some "Singers saving grace" which is a spray from a health food store...her voice teacher recommended it. D say works pretty well. I did get two types of lozenges there which she sd are working great...both some type of slippery elm tree thing which were recommended by the girl in the store and some ginger tea. </p>
<p>Thanks rossji...my mom also told us about salt water...she has been gargling with it. I hope your husband's production goes great! I'm hoping this one will be...my husband and 14 year old son are working tech doing the fly lines. My younger daughter and I get to watch and enjoy! Is your husband Rev Shaw Moore? How big of a cast is it? The Comm Theater my d is performing this with is a huge one....there are 42 people in the cast. I guess the more people in the cast, the easier it is to fill the 2500 seats each night for the 2 weeks! </p>
<p>This is such a great forum to give such helpful and knowledgeable info to people who need it...thanks again everyone!</p>
<p>No, my husband does NOT sing. Ha. He's the 3 adult male parts (Uncle Wes, the Principal, and I forget the 3rd!) There are 32 people in the production.
Glad your d is feeling better!</p>
<p>My d uses slippery elm, Entertainers secret but her favorite is the Throat Coat tea (with lots of honey) and the pastilles. She also uses a humidifier in her bedroom at night - helps her to stay hydrated. Best of luck to her on opening night!</p>
<p>OK, I 've been reading all these throat health/vocal cord health discussions (here and elsewhere) and some people swear by honey and others say DON"T USE HONEY. What's the real story? CoachC?</p>
<p>It would be nice to get this all figured out by next winter, so my D doesn't do a repeat of last year (first choice school audition in Feb, bad cold, panic, etc).</p>
<p>D woke up this morning worse than before even with all the helpful advise...after a trip to a doctor he said it was laryngitis and gave her a shot of cortizone. His recommendation. Said she would be much better for opening night tomorrow if she kept pretty quiet at her last dress rehersal tonight. I have to say I am not a fan of any temp fix that doesn't help her heal, but the doctor said it would help her in terms of the soreness of her throat as well. She has this one part in the show where she screams and I think she has truly over done it instead of being careful. Keep your fingers crossed...we're praying for a great opening night tomorrow.</p>