<<Before finding out about the reflux I would sing and not really feel anything terrible...but just not sound as wonderful as I wanted to...and not be able to control pitch as well as I wanted. >>
I am wondering if I should check this out for myself. I recently did the Kilpinen competition and wasn't able to talk about it right afterwards because I was so bummed by it. Despite my best efforts at preparation, and singing like a freaking goddess in my rehearsals, when I got to the competition, I was not able to control things as well as I wanted to. Can we say -- at all? It was quite frustrating for me. Now I'm wondering if reflux had anything to do with it.
I think it was one part nerves -- but usually when I open my mouth to sing, I feel that things are working okay and that dissipates. This time, the sound did not come out the way I'm used to hearing or feeling it (and I know the latter is more important than the former). I could not do anything in regards to nuance - dynamically, color, nothing.
One part of it was environment. I stayed in a monastery to save money on expenses -- nice place, very quiet. I think it was too quiet. I don't think I'm a person who needs to center and focus and find that soft still place inside before a performance. I think I need to make myself crazy and hyper, and then the performance will actually be more relaxing than the pre-performance! Because I was calm until I got up there. It was very odd.
It was also very drafty and I can't sleep if I'm cold, so I had the heat up. Normally, I would run the shower for awhile before bedtime and upon waking up to get moisture, but this place was very environmentally conscious, and again, very quiet, so I didn't want to disturb people with the sound of the shower/waste of resources. (I was only paying $33/night including breakfast - if I'd paid $100/night, I would have wasted resources.) I should have brought a humidifier, vaporizer. It was dry. My lip actually stuck to my front teeth when I went for my high note in my last song.
The other considerations were pharmocological - I took an Ambien to help me sleep because I don't sleep well. I've never had it affect me before but I've never sung a full program after taking it. Dryness is listed as a less common effect but again, it had never affected me that way before. Who knew? Also, I may have been pre-menstrual. Never affected me that way before, but who knows??
Now I'm wondering - should I see an ENT and make sure I'm not dealing with reflux issues?
Christine Thomas, Mezzo Soprano
"I love to sing-a, about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a!"
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