Singers: is it possible to "rejuvenate" a out-of-shape (middle-aged) voice?

[choie]

Sorry, this is kind of whiney and bloggy, but there is a technical question in the end, honest! I’m looking for experienced vocalists who can give me some guidance, possibly encouragement, to return to singing at what feels like the ancient age of 45.

Spoiling the rest so people who don’t care about personal crap don’t need to see it:

[spoiler]I studied musical theater/opera from the ages of 13 - 22. I had a pretty voice, nothing spectacular, just a solid legit soprano with some coloratura capabilities. Singing was the highlight of my life and it made me very, very happy for those moments I was rehearsing and performing on stage. I fully intended to pursue it as a career of some kind.

But life had other ideas, and I stopped. Things happened during school (family loss and increasingly serious depression) and the musical part of me died… or perhaps I should say, atrophied. Even so, I always kinda assumed that once my depression was “cured” I’d start singing again. It didn’t happen. (Either the curing or the singing.)

Anyway, all this boring background is twenty years old. I’m now about to turn 45 and I desperately miss singing. I’m still depressed but I think if I had music in my life, it would greatly help. The only times I’ve sung in public in the past 20 years were for a couple of weddings and funerals. I mean, I sing along with my Beatles and Billy Joel and Sondheim CDs but I sound like a 45rpm record played at 33 1/3. My vibrato is shot to hell and I have little range. I’m not in great physical shape either, so my breath support sucks too. (Frankly, it was never very good in the first place!) I’m embarrassed to go for singing lessons because of how awful I sound, and besides, I don’t know if there’s any point. [/spoiler]

So my long, drawn-out question is: is there any way to get back a rusted, cobwebbed old voice after almost no use in 20 years? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not expecting a professional career. That ship has sailed and sunk by now, obviously. I just want a semblence of what I used to have… a pretty, bright, warm voice that let me express so many emotions through music. (Here’s an example of me at 18 in a local teen theater production. I know it’s nothing earth-shatteringly special, it’s not like I was destined for stardom or anything, but I think it was a pleasant sounding voice that could have improved if I’d kept at it.)

Does anyone know of any success stories of old singers who were able to get back into vocal shape? Any tips or suggestions? Or should I just accept that this part of my life is past?

[Eureka]

I’m no expert–but if you think having music in your life would bring you pleasure and fulfillment, I think you ought to at least give it a try.

I’m a singer but only in the kind of church choir where the sopranos are those who prefer singing melody, and the altos are those who can read music. It’s a joke, but there’s truth in it.

Still, singing regularly ought to help with your range and breath support, even if you never (re)develop the kind of voice worth making a career out of.

[aceplace57]

Range diminishes some with age.

Lessons should bring back much of your voice. There’s only one way to find out.

Music teachers often get older students that always wanted to learn… piano, guitar, singing etc. At least you have prior training to work with.

[Lobelia_Overhill]

I’ve a friend who was a classically trained singer in her youth, she recently joined a band and is singing away despite a gap of several years (possibly a decade?)

[WordMan]

@choie

Does anyone know of any success stories of old singers who were able to get back into vocal shape? Any tips or suggestions? Or should I just accept that this part of my life is past?

You have a great-sounding instrument; it would clearly respond to training. IANASinger but I am in a band and work with singers - okay, I do a bit of the vocal work, too, but trust me, IANAS ;).

Anyway - why not sign up for lessons? If you got training previously, just begin working through the warm-up exercises you can remember? Go online - I bet youtube has dozens of vocal-training video clips - they have gazillions of clips for guitar lessons. Finally - if you have any breathing exercises you recall from your previous training, work on those - I may not be a singer, but the breath work I do in yoga has had a measurable effect on the quality of my singing…

[choie]

Thanks very much, guys/gals (whichever suits).

@Eureka

I’m no expert–but if you think having music in your life would bring you pleasure and fulfillment, I think you ought to at least give it a try.

I’m a singer but only in the kind of church choir where the sopranos are those who prefer singing melody, and the altos are those who can read music. It’s a joke, but there’s truth in it.

HA! Ain’t it the truth.

Still, singing regularly ought to help with your range and breath support, even if you never (re)develop the kind of voice worth making a career out of.

You’re right. I’ve been warming up after just three days and I notice a bit of a difference. It’s just shocking how tiring it is – and I’m not singing for more than twenty minutes to start with. Singing correctly (or as correctly as I can, for someone whose technique is rudimentary at best) is waaay harder than just singing along with the radio.

@aceplace57

Range diminishes some with age.

Also very true. I was watching Sondheim at 80, the celebration at Avery Fisher Hall last year, and many excellent singers from the composer’s original casts (even the glorious Bernadette Pierce who I know has an aging painting hidden away in an attic somewhere!!) couldn’t quite hit the same notes they used to. And these are mega-talents who’ve been singing regularly since their careers started!

Lessons should bring back much of your voice. There’s only one way to find out.

Music teachers often get older students that always wanted to learn… piano, guitar, singing etc. At least you have prior training to work with.

It’s rough here in NYC. The lesson thing interests me but the cost… oy.

@Lobelia_Overhill

I’ve a friend who was a classically trained singer in her youth, she recently joined a band and is singing away despite a gap of several years (possibly a decade?)

Ooh now that’s encouraging. Thanks! May I ask how old she is? Do you know why she stopped singing classically?

@WordMan

You have a great-sounding instrument; it would clearly respond to training. IANASinger but I am in a band and work with singers - okay, I do a bit of the vocal work, too, but trust me, IANAS ;).

Wow, thank you very much, WordMan… that’s exceedingly kind of you to say. Over the years I’ve sort of convinced myself that I’d been deluding myself regarding my voice, and whether I had any talent. I don’t know why it matters really, considering I’ve wasted it and I’m not using it at all. But still, I’d rather know that I did have a voice and wasted it, than to think I’d never had any shot at all.

That probably doesn’t make any sense, psychologically, but there ya go.

Anyway - why not sign up for lessons? If you got training previously, just begin working through the warm-up exercises you can remember? Go online - I bet youtube has dozens of vocal-training video clips - they have gazillions of clips for guitar lessons. Finally - if you have any breathing exercises you recall from your previous training, work on those - I may not be a singer, but the breath work I do in yoga has had a measurable effect on the quality of my singing…

Excllent suggestions, all. The lesson thing as I mentioned is rough for me, because here in Manhattan the cost is exhorbitant, but I completely forgot about Youtube as a resource. I’d been using YT for learning guitar, but hadn’t considered looking for vocal excercises. And yoga/breathing is a fabulous idea.

Actually I have some old cassettes of my college lessons. I don’t have a piano but I could listen to those and use the warm-ups there to start with too.

Really rather than make this all about myself – if I’d wanted that I could’ve put this in IMHO or MPSIMS – I am hoping to hear some stories about singers (hopefully pros but amateurs too) who started late, or had long absences, and managed to regain some of their talent. There’s gotta be some examples out there!

Thanks again everyone for your responses.

[BigT]

The problem with losing your voice as you age is mostly do to wearing it out, rather than just age itself. If a singer loses more than a couple notes, it’s either wearing out or some other physical problem. Singer who sing properly often hit their vocal strides in their 50s.

What I’m saying is that age (especially as young as you are) is really not the big deal you make it out to be. Your voice is almost certainly not worse than where you started before, and, as long as you approach it in a non-damaging way, you should be able to get it back–or even surpass where you were. (Even without formal training, my voice has gotten better than where it was at 19. In fact, I think taking a break helped.)

[si_blakely]

Why don’t you look for a local choir - nothing fancy, just one that sings for fun.

I joined our local community choir 2 years ago. I have sung for years, not well, but ok enough to lead singing at church. Joining a choir has been so good for my voice, confidence and skill. I am better harmonically, and have a much greater range and control. And I meet new people and have fun.

Try it.

Si

[Lobelia_Overhill]

@choie

Ooh now that’s encouraging. Thanks! May I ask how old she is? Do you know why she stopped singing classically?

She’s 40, or 41, joined the band two years ago (they’re a heavy metal tribute band BTW )

She gave up the classical singing due to the cost of lessons IIRC

[choie]

@BigT

The problem with losing your voice as you age is mostly do to wearing it out, rather than just age itself. If a singer loses more than a couple notes, it’s either wearing out or some other physical problem. Singer who sing properly often hit their vocal strides in their 50s.

That’s true (about losing one’s voice due to misuse). One good example of vocal stride-hitting in one’s later years is Barbara Cook. She’s always had an achingly lovely voice, but once she hit her 40s and 50s she was just astonishing. (Still is,) and I believe she’s now in her 70s!)

@BigT

What I’m saying is that age (especially as young as you are)

Aw, bless your heart for that parenthetical!!!

is really not the big deal you make it out to be. Your voice is almost certainly not worse than where you started before, and, as long as you approach it in a non-damaging way, you should be able to get it back–or even surpass where you were. (Even without formal training, my voice has gotten better than where it was at 19. In fact, I think taking a break helped.)

Thank you, BigT. I think the likely biggest problem is simply atrophied (or to be more precise, slackened) muscles. If a dancer or runner stopped dancing or running – heck, not even doing more than occasional walking – his or her legs would barely be able to stand. They’d be wobbly and weak as water. I don’t think the muscles involved in singing are much different.

In short, it’ll take a long time and lots of effort to get back to being able to jog, much less run.

BTW, what style of music do you sing?

@si_blakely

Why don’t you look for a local choir - nothing fancy, just one that sings for fun.

I joined our local community choir 2 years ago. I have sung for years, not well, but ok enough to lead singing at church. Joining a choir has been so good for my voice, confidence and skill. I am better harmonically, and have a much greater range and control. And I meet new people and have fun.

Try it.

Si

Thanks, Si. For a little while back in the late '90s I sang with the St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir here in Manhattan, but I found it difficult to gauge what my own voice was doing. It’s sometimes hard to sing correctly in a large choir, for that reason.

Right now my voice isn’t in any shape to sing with anyone – it’s really pretty bad, I think, and I doubt I’d have a successful audition at this point. But if I can get into some shape, a smaller “for fun” choir might well be a good choice.

@Lobelia_Overhill

She’s 40, or 41, joined the band two years ago (they’re a heavy metal tribute band BTW )

She gave up the classical singing due to the cost of lessons IIRC

That’s a real shame, but I can sympathize. I love the transition from classical to heavy metal. Seems like several rock singers have trained in opera. I think Pat Benetar did, didn’t she? Or maybe it was Nancy Wilson. Someone like that.

Thanks again, all. More examples of late-in-life returns would still be very much appreciated!

[Lobelia_Overhill]

@choie

That’s a real shame, but I can sympathize. I love the transition from classical to heavy metal. Seems like several rock singers have trained in opera. I think Pat Benetar did, didn’t she? Or maybe it was Nancy Wilson. Someone like that.

My friend has somewhat eclectic music tastes She loves the classics, and heavy metal, but you mention ABBA and she goes into meltdown LOL

[Tess_Trueheart]

Sorry if this is too late to bump, but… choie, did you get back into singing in any way? I found this thread in a completely unrelated search, but I wanted to suggest maybe taking lessons from a current college music education student/recent grad. They’re immersed in learning right now, they will be cheaper and know enough to get you started, they want to teach, and most would be grateful for the chance to teach someone who isn’t, say 14, and will listen and practice and care! I hope you joined a choir or something, good luck.

[choie]

How sweet of you to bother to add to the thread! Thank you so much for the suggestions and the luck wishes.

Actually yes, over the past month I’ve been warming up every weekday (not during the week 'cause my neighbors would ask for my head on a pike). I’ve used this set of warm-up videos from YouTube together with this piano application, along with my old collection of vocal exercises (e.g. those by Nicola Vaccai). And though the first couple of weeks were rough to get through – my instrument is so rusty and wobbly! – this past week I started to hear sounds I actually liked.

The trick has been to not overdo it. I can warm up / sing for about an hour before my voice starts getting hoarse or strained, and when that happens I stop. I guess like muscles that haven’t been used for a long time, my vocal cords don’t have much stamina yet. (Also I’m taking some prescription medicine that unfortunately has “dry mouth” as a side effect, so I need to drink a lot of water during warm-up. Gotta keep lubricated!)

I’m not nearly where I used to be – and I may not ever get there – but the fact that I’m hearing some improvement is keeping me inspired to maintain the exercise regimen.

Thanks again for all the support.

[digs]

@choie

But if I can get into some shape, a smaller “for fun” choir might well be a good choice.

So glad to hear you’re getting back to singing! But ANY kind of singing will help. I’m getting my voice back in shape by just singing oldies around the house, mixing it up by singing a hard rock song as a smoky ballad, or a shallow country song as light opera.

And I’m trying hard to not judge myself-- I’m just treating it like I’m exercising a muscle. A very out-of-shape muscle, so of course it’s going to be flabby for a while.

And speaking of which, get in shape!

I’m getting out on my bike (it’s so low-impact that even when I could barely walk, I could go miles on a recumbent bike). And that has given me so much more support and stamina… the difference is amazing. I’ve lost some weight as a result, too, but I don’t know if that helps my voice (Pavarotti ain’t no beanpole…). I keep thinking yoga or Pilates, with its “Strengthen Your Core” emphasis, would be best.

Best of luck! Keep us posted!