{"id":678492,"date":"2025-11-14T14:38:30","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T19:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=678492"},"modified":"2025-11-19T07:58:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T12:58:13","slug":"how-to-keep-voice-vocal-cords-healthy-singing-678492","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-to-keep-voice-vocal-cords-healthy-singing-678492\/","title":{"rendered":"What happens when an opera singer gets a cold?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-embed\">\n<div class=\"wp-embed-wrap\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ever Wonder: What Happens When a Professional Singer Gets a Cold?\" width=\"1062\" height=\"597\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1JzwUUYp6wg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When illness threatens a performance, singers rely on science, technique, and tough judgment calls.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":942,"featured_media":679162,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42472,13092],"tags":[42,3286,41792,37112,42412],"class_list":["post-678492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-medicine","category-the-arts","tag-alumni","tag-eastman-school-of-music","tag-ever-wonder","tag-faculty","tag-kathryn-cowdrick"],"acf":{"external":"","hide_featured_image":true,"related":"show_related","style":[612322,667692,670572],"content_modules":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"pt-15","title":"<h2><strong>Illness can threaten a performance, so singers rely on science, technique, and tough judgment calls.<\/strong><\/h2>","content":"When an instrument breaks, a musician can take it to a shop for a tune-up. But when your instrument is your body, there\u2019s no quick repair\u2014especially when a simple cold can throw your entire livelihood off-key.\r\n\r\n\u201cThere\u2019s a little panic and a prayer,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esm.rochester.edu\/directory\/cowdrick-kathryn\/\">Kathryn Cowdrick<\/a>, a professor of voice with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esm.rochester.edu\">Eastman School of Music<\/a> at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\">糖心传媒<\/a> and a veteran (mezzo soprano) opera singer who has performed at opera houses and with international companies across North America and Europe. Cowdrick, who began her career as a speech pathologist, knows the stakes are high when a cold strikes.\r\n<h3><strong>How do vocal cords work?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nThe mechanism itself is intricate: breath, vocal folds\u2014also called vocal cords\u2014and articulators are working together to create a voice uniquely our own. When a cold hits, the larynx becomes inflamed and the vocal folds swell.\r\n\r\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of mucus drainage that doesn\u2019t allow our vocal folds to really be as efficient as they can be,\u201d Cowdrick explains. With coughing, our breath\u2014the power supply of the voice\u2014is compromised, and, as a result, the vocal folds can\u2019t come together gently and \u201cbecome very vulnerable.\u201d\r\n<h3><strong>How does the voice react to a cold?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_679132\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"wp-image-679132\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/inline-how-to-keep-voice-vocal-cords-healthy-singing.jpg\" alt=\"Kathryn Cowdrick singing opera in full costume.\" width=\"500\" height=\"743\" \/> <span data-teams=\"true\"><strong>POWER (VOCAL) CORDS:<\/strong> Cowdrick as the stepmother in <i>Cendrillon <\/i>(Cinderella) at the Kentucky Opera. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Pfister, Kentucky Opera)<\/span>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAn inflammation tends to lower the pitch range temporarily as the swollen vocal folds become thicker and vibrate more slowly. Swollen cords make it harder to access and sustain high notes without cracking or sounding strained.\r\n\r\nFor example, coloratura sopranos\u2014who sing rapid, agile passages at the top of the vocal range\u2014may have a particularly hard time because of decreased vocal flexibility.\r\n\r\nBut no matter the voice type\u2014bass, tenor, alto, soprano\u2014all react similarly to colds. Singers often lose pitch accuracy and brightness; they may sound breathy, weak, or less resonant. Low notes often lose depth or sound gravelly, while upper notes become harder to reach.\r\n\r\nTo adapt, singers might transpose pieces to a slightly lower key or choose to sing less-demanding arias if possible. But, Cowdrick notes, that\u2019s simply not an option when performing with an orchestra: \u201cYou really need to sing what\u2019s on the page.\u201d That\u2019s when it\u2019s time for the cover\u2014the understudy\u2014to step in.\r\n\r\nAs long as singers are not too sick to perform, technique and vocal strategies come into play now. Focusing on breathing, if possible, and the support of the body\u2019s lower core muscles can help.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe find our position, we sing with that resonance, we know where to send our voice\u2014but that sends us on a different path,\u201d says Cowdrick. \u201cThat can be very disorienting for a singer.\u201d With years of experience though, she says, one learns to balance the attempt at simply pushing through a performance\u2014against protecting one\u2019s own vocal longevity and health.\r\n\r\nSomewhat oversimplified, she says, it\u2019s the idea of \u201cdon\u2019t push, sing carefully, and rest.\u201d\r\n\r\nOf course, other professional heavy voice users, such as teachers, sports coaches, clergy, and those in customer service also face vocal challenges and might benefit from speech therapy or voice study, she notes.\r\n<h3><strong>Must the show (really) go on?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nCowdrick doesn\u2019t advocate for quick fixes or miracle cures. While there are plenty of helpful products, she cautions that if taken too long or incorrectly they can end up backfiring.\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s crucial, she says, to seek medical guidance, regardless of whether it\u2019s to help with allergies, coughs, colds, or the flu.\r\n\r\nAt the Eastman School of Music, all performers enjoy quick access\u2014Cowdrick calls it \u201cgolden\u201d\u2014to dedicated medical care that specifically supports the needs of its artists through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/eastman-performance-medicine\">Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center<\/a> (EPAM).\r\n\r\nYet, is it even worth performing while sick?\r\n\r\nAccording to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/people\/112361130-glenn-t-schneider\">Glenn Schneider<\/a>, an otolaryngologist at EPAM (whose specialty is treating larynx disorders, including voice disorders in singers and other professional voice users), there are clear risks. When vocal cords are swollen from a virus, the blood vessels under the surface of the vocal cords become dilated and prominent. With coughing, throat clearing, or voice overuse, he says, the blood vessels can rupture and cause vocal hemorrhage, which essentially means bleeding into the vocal cord. With voice rest and steroids most hemorrhages can resolve if caught early, Schneider says, but without proper treatment a hemorrhage can cause long-term scarring or vocal cord stiffening, which can be very difficult to treat.","background_color":"#ffffff","width":"width-medium"},{"acf_fc_layout":"media_text_new","anchor":"","class":"","overline":"","title":"<h3><strong>Finding your voice at Eastman<\/strong><\/h3>","content":"What is it like to be a student at the world-renowned Eastman School of Music? From personal connections with professors to the chance to explore broader interests, discovery why Eastman is a top choice for so many students pursuing a career in music.","cta":{"title":"A better world through music","url":"https:\/\/www.esm.rochester.edu","target":""},"bg":"#252525","type":"embed","image":"","embed":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qkJPow6cv8M","video":"","layout":"left","animation":"animation-false"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"pt-15","title":"","content":"<h3><strong>Maintaining your vocal cords<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nAs both a teacher and seasoned performer, Cowdrick instills in her students the importance of prevention from the get-go. Healthy singing and singing with longevity involve cardiovascular health, sufficient hydration, vocal rest, warming up, and avoiding unnecessary talking on performance days.\r\n\r\n\u201cPeople who are in Broadway productions often sing a matinee and also an evening performance and spend the two or three hours in between in absolute silence,\u201d Cowdrick notes. \u201cThis is how the body rejuvenates\u2014with the silence, the hydration, and the rest.\u201d\r\n\r\nHer own pre-performance rituals, she says, include long walks, quiet afternoons, and vocal rest. \u201cSometimes I sit quietly in a library reading a book so that I\u2019m not tempted to test my voice out all day long,\u201d she says.\r\n\r\nOf course, the best thing to do is to avoid catching a cold in the first place, advises Schneider, which may be easier said than done. How? He divides cold-fighting strategies into two buckets: prevention and preparation.\r\n<h4>Prevention<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Drink 60\u201380 ounces of water daily to stay hydrated and to lubricate the vocal folds to allow them to vibrate easily.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Sleep 7\u20139 hours every night.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Exercise regularly.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Eat a healthy diet and avoid eating late, or eating foods that can cause reflux symptoms such as acidic foods, fatty foods, or alcohol.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Practice good hand-washing habits and wear a mask when around sick people.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4>Preparation<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Work with a vocal instructor to develop good vocal technique to help prevent injury, increase stamina for performances, and recover faster from illness.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Don\u2019t skip the warm-up and practice regularly to maintain your vocal instrument.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Establish a relationship with either an otolaryngologist (or ideally a laryngologist) who has specialized training in voice disorders\u2014so you have easier access to a medical resource when you get sick.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","background_color":"#f4f4f4","width":"width-medium"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":"","content":"<h3>Bouncing back vocally from a cold<\/h3>\r\nStart with a realistic assessment of your upcoming voice commitments, both speaking and singing, over the next 7 to 10 days\u2014the average length of a cold, says Schneider.\r\n\r\n\u201cWhatever can be deferred or rescheduled should be considered,\u201d he says, \u201cto be able to perform your best and prevent vocal injury.\u201d\r\n\r\nIf a commitment really cannot be changed, it\u2019s worth checking in with your doctor. Schneider also suggests:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>No cutting corners on sleep and hydration.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\">Over-the-counter pain medications are OK for aches and pains.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\">For nasal congestion and cough, guaifenesin and dextromethorphan can be helpful to minimize symptoms. Avoid medications with pseudoephedrine and diphenhydramine as they can dry the vocal tract. Avoid Afrin (oxymetazoline) unless physician directed as it can lead to rebound nasal congestion.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\">A longer lasting cough can be suppressed with dextromethorphan cough syrups or prescription Tessalon Perles.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Nasal saline sprays or nasal irrigations (such as Navage or Neilmed sinus rinse) can help with nasal congestion and post-nasal drip.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\">Personal or room humidifiers can be helpful.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\">If the show must go on, reach out to your otolaryngologist or laryngologist to check if a laryngoscopy (a medical procedure to diagnose throat and voice-related issues) might be needed.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\">In the most severe cases, a course of steroids like Prednisone or Medrol can be prescribed to reduce swelling.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><strong>Not the time for \u2018bravado\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_679182\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"738\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-679182\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/inline-how-to-keep-voice-vocal-cords-healthy-singing-renee-fleming-GettyImages-466664565.jpg\" alt=\"Renee Fleming singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl.\" width=\"738\" height=\"1024\" \/> <strong>A SOPRANO AT SUPER BOWL XLVIII: R<\/strong>en\u00e9e Fleming \u201983E (MM), \u201911 (Honorary) is considered by many critics to be one of the greatest sopranos alive today. (Getty Images)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nWhile germs can strike anyone, keeping your immune system strong and your body fit is paramount. That\u2019s exactly what one of Eastman\u2019s alumni does.\r\n\r\nStar opera singer <a href=\"https:\/\/reneefleming.com\">Ren\u00e9e Fleming<\/a> engages regularly in Pilates exercises that focus on core strength, \u201cwhich we singers need almost as much as dancers,\u201d she told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicfm.com\/artists\/renee-fleming\/guides\/renee-fleming-and-secrets-soprano\/\">Classic FM<\/a>.\r\n\r\nModeration is key.\r\n\r\n\u201cI try to live moderately, get enough sleep, eat and drink reasonably, and watch caffeine intake,\u201d Fleming wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/IAmA\/comments\/1r2d5g\/im_ren\u00e9e_fleming_soprano_and_host_of_the_upcoming\/\">2013 Reddit forum<\/a> in response to fan questions about protecting her voice throughout her long career. \u201cThe most important thing is choosing repertoire wisely\u2014not too heavy, and the appropriate tessitura\u2014not too high or low in terms of mean pitch, [and to] keep singing and stay[ing] in vocal shape. Keep the voice moving\u2014it's not easy.\u201d\r\n\r\nFor singers, of course, the instrument isn\u2019t a violin or a piano\u2014but their body.\r\n\r\nAnd when that body catches a cold, the right response really \u201cisn\u2019t bravado,\u201d says Cowdrick.\r\n\r\nInstead, experts agree, it\u2019s time to focus on rest and recovery, and to respect the human voice with its innate fragility.","background_color":"#ffffff","width":"width-medium"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"pt-0","title":"<h3><b>Tips and tricks from Eastman School of Music experts<\/b><\/h3>","content":"<img class=\"alignright wp-image-679252\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/inline-cutout-joshua-conyers_2000w.jpg\" alt=\"Circle cutout of Joshua Conyers looking off camera.\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.esm.rochester.edu\/directory\/conyers-joshua\/\"><strong>Joshua Conyers<\/strong><\/a>, a Grammy-nominated baritone and Eastman assistant professor of voice, has performed with the most prestigious opera companies, symphonies, and concert halls in the world, including the Metropolitan Opera (New York), Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Washington National Opera, English National Opera, and Carnegie Hall (New York).\r\n<blockquote>\u201cMy first priority is rest\u2014both vocal and physical. I hydrate constantly with room temperature water, herbal teas, broths, use steam inhalation to soothe my throat, and do nasal rinses to clear out congestion. I avoid speaking unless absolutely necessary and communicate through writing or text. If singing is unavoidable, I warm up very gently, sing only as much as needed, and adjust phrasing or dynamics to protect my voice while still delivering musically. If my symptoms worsen, I\u2019ll seek out my ENT for a consultation.\u201d<span style=\"color: #252525; font-size: 1.125rem; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/blockquote>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-679292 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/inline-cutout-kiera-duffy_2000w_IMG8686-copy-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esm.rochester.edu\/directory\/duffy-kiera\/\"><strong>Kiera Duffy<\/strong><\/a>, a soprano and associate professor of voice, has performed as a soloist with many of the world\u2019s preeminent classical music organizations, among them the Metropolitan Opera, Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, London Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Ungaku-juku (Japan).\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<blockquote>\u201cI do something perhaps a bit counterintuitive\u2014I exercise. Of course, if I\u2019m experiencing chesty cough symptoms or am feeling \u2018flu-y,\u2019 I skip the gym and take the usual rest and hydration route. But, if I\u2019m feeling the dreaded little tickle in the throat or the extra sniffle, I try to nip things in the bud with moderate exercise. Vigorous walking for 30 minutes and lighter weight training, for example, are a great way to boost immunity and calm the body\u2019s inflammatory response. I also double down on good nutrition, such as leafy greens and protein, avoiding sugars and processed foods. I also prioritize 8 hours of nightly sleep, good hydration, and stress reduction, which is admittedly hard when doing your job depends on your not getting sick. At the end of the day, I am only human and if I am too ill to sing, it\u2019s okay sometimes to surrender.\u201d<\/blockquote>\r\n<img class=\"alignright wp-image-679302\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/inline-cutout-Griffey_Harry-Heleotis_001-e1527307479908_2000w.jpg\" alt=\"Circle cutout of Harry Griffey headshot.\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esm.rochester.edu\/directory\/griffey-anthony-dean\/\"><strong>Anthony Griffey<\/strong><\/a>, a professor of voice and four-time Grammy Award\u2013winning tenor, has performed leading roles among others at the Metropolitan Opera, Op\u00e9ra National de Paris, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Australia, and the Glyndebourne Festival in England.\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<blockquote>\u201cDon\u2019t panic! Your mental health is probably the most important thing to consider during this time. Rest. Don\u2019t keep \u2018checking\u2019 to see if your voice is there. Hydrate, steam, and eat something. Remind yourself that you have a technique and the ability to control what your voice needs to do. Use this as an opportunity to familiarize yourself with different physical sensations. There will be times in your career, not only due to illness, where singing might feel different because of environmental factors, or jet lag and it's paramount for a professional singer to be adaptable.\u201d<\/blockquote>\r\n<img class=\"alignright wp-image-679322\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/inline-cutout_2000w_NicoleCabell_12.12.21_by_ElliotMandel-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"Circle cutout of Nicole Cabell headshot.\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esm.rochester.edu\/directory\/cabell-nicole\/\"><strong>Nicole Cabell<\/strong><\/a>, a soprano and associate professor of voice, was named 2005 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. She has performed at the most prestigious operas and concert halls in the world, among them the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden, London), Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Col\u00f2n de Buenos Aires, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.\r\n<blockquote>\u201cThe first thing I do is rest. I try to get an abundance of sleep. Then I\u2019ll take an anti-inflammatory supplement like Bromelain or Quercetin to bring down the swelling. Most importantly I will lean on the technique I\u2019ve learned over these decades to sing as slim and efficient as possible, warming up with humming or semi-occluded vocal exercises that access the thin edges of the vocal cords.\u201d<\/blockquote>","background_color":"#ffffff","width":"width-medium"}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What happens when an opera singer gets a cold?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When illness threatens a performance, singers rely on science, technique, and tough judgment calls.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-to-keep-voice-vocal-cords-healthy-singing-678492\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" 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