How many of you have felt instances over the last few months where your voice just doesn’t feel “right” or “the same” but you weren’t sick or having allergies and your teacher is telling you that your technique is fine?
The culprit could likely be air quality.
This has been a rough year for many of us when it comes to air quality because of the massive fires that have affected large parts of the western United States. Even if you don’t live in the immediate area where the fire is burning, wind patterns can cause smoke and particulate matter into your area and you may have been affected.
Even as we speak, Southern California is facing another massive fire and I’m hearing significantly more complaints from singers noticing things like loss of vocal range, increased phlegm and hoarseness.
If you’re thinking that you might be affected and wondering how smoke from fires and air pollution affects your voice, I wanted to pass along a great article from Dr. Rena Gupta at the Center For Vocal Health.
Dr. Gupta shares some really cool videos and images that show you what happens to cords and how their functioning can be impeded due to smoke and air pollution from the fires. She also shares some tips to help mitigate the effects of the bad air quality on your voice.
Check it out HERE.