ASK THE BVA
Page updated: 19th April 2010
Welcome to 'Ask the BVA'
'Ask the BVA' is here to help BVA members and the general public. You can contact us for information and advice about voice related matters and we will do our best to help you. We would sometimes like to post your letters or emails on the website when we feel your question and our response may help others in similar situations. No one will have their enquiry posted on the website without their permission. The letters will be anonymous to protect your identity.
Anyone wishing to 'Ask the BVA' can contact us at: administrator@britishvoiceassociation.org.uk
We must stress that the advice given does not necessarily represent the views of the BVA, nor can the BVA be held responsible for it.
The Lary Project:
Did you know that there is now an organization designed especially to support people with voice disorders? It is called the The Lary Project and it is run by Terry McDermott who knows first-hand what it is like to suffer from a voice problem. If you would like to know more click on the link (above) which will take you through to their website.
Latest enquiry
Our latest enquiry comes from the parents of a young singer who is experiencing some vocal problems. Their email appears below together with my reply. If others have helpful information they would like to offer please contact the BVA and we will see that their comments are passed on.
"Our 16 year old daughter is a singer and would like to make a career out of it. Her singing teacher has told us that as she goes through the lower ranges between E and F it sounds like her voice is getting 'caught'. She has been to see an ENT doctor and he has advised that she has a 'phonatory gap'. Apparently her vocal cords are not closing properly. We have been advised that vocal exercises called 'anchoring' and 'twang' would help alleviate this problem. Is this something you would advise? If so, would you be able to put us in contact with someone who could help with this problem?"
SARA HARRIS REPLIED: A phonatory gap is a common problem, especially for young female singers. It can usually be fixed with good voice coaching from an experienced singing teacher, but if this fails it may be a good idea to see a voice specialised Speech and Language Therapist. It is often the speaking voice rather than the singing voice that causes much of the problem. We will forward you the list of BVA members who are voice/singing coaches if you do not have one you already know and trust.
I think that perhaps before your daughter progresses to 'anchoring' and 'twang' it is a good idea just to do some straight forward exercises designed for vocal fold closure first. 'Twang' will certainly help close the vocal folds but does other things as well which can sometimes encourage tension unless extremely well taught. Finally, if, after good singing teaching the voice problem fails to resolve, it would be wise to get a further laryngeal evaluation from a voice clinic. Just occasionally a phonatory gap may occur with other benign vocal problems, such as vocal folds cysts. They can be tricky to see with a standard nasendoscope but are usually visible with good voice clinic equipment. Hopefully though, your daughter will respond to conservative training/therapy.
