Voice quality?

[Icypopcorn]

I'm not quite sure if this goes here, and if it doesn't, please move it :3

Does anyone know ways to improve your voice quality? A history of throat cancer runs in my family (through the males) but as a result, we don't have the best throats. And after even a little bit of straining, my voice gets bad quality. And when I strain it alot (Like after acting or going to a party,) my range permenently gets smaller and smaller. At one point it was just singing, but now it's my talking range too /: And it's really annoying me.

If I can't do anything about my now terrible range, I'd like to atleast do something about my voice quality when it's strained. I have good voice quality but it's a shame is just gets ruined after aobut 30 minutes of acting, and I have a feeling that's gonna permenantely screw with my throat.

Any other alternatives to constantly drinking tea? T_T; (Like I do?)

(Oh hi, everyone, by the way :B I haven't been here in a while. Anyone miss me? <33)

[ClymAngus]

Mmmm tricky with a medical history it might be best to seek some help from someone with the right kind of background your family doctor perhaps? Your right to keep the vocal cords lubracated, so I take it that any kind of talking is bad then? This sounds like something to ask the professionals about, as you have something of a special set of circumstances here.

Yep! I remember you! Hello!

[Icypopcorn]

Ah, you're right. It probably is a good idea to ask my doctor. I just thought you guys at the VAA could help me out since... well, you've dealt with bad throats at least once in your lives, ne? Yes. >_<; At first it only affected my singing but now it's affecting my talking too, and I'm not just going to sit around and let my throat get worse /: Alright. I think I'll ask my doctor (I'm gonna go see him the day after tomorrow anyways for allergies) :B I'd still like to know what everyone else does though, because it never hurts to try new things~

<33

[ClymAngus]

Let us all know how it goes

[Tali]

I remember you! The question is...Do you remember me? lol

Anyway if you can do 30mins of acting without staring your voice than isn't that quite a bit? How long do you usually act for?
If possible take even a couple of minutes rest every 10 minutes or so.
When I have a sore throat I take drum roll....cough syrup! I know that sounds dumb as you're not actually sick but I have asthma(so I'm prone to sore throats) and there are a lot of syrups that are very soothing withut having parecetamol or whatver in them.

[Yoda117]

Quick answers:

Talk with your doctor

Seek the aid of a qualified speech therapist (it does actually fall under what they do)

Using information gained from the previous two, find a good instructor and practice, practice, practice

[VeeVee]

Keep a bottle of water with you when you're acting/singing.

Do vocal and breathing warmups prior to acting/singing.

It's kind of similar to ballet dancing or gymnastics or something: If you don't stretch out your muscles prior to practicing, then you're setting yourself up for growing tired quickly and possibly harming yourself. So, I think it's important that you "stretch out" (warm up) your vocal cords prior to acting/singing. :3

[Margo]

Icypopcorn! ^_^ (Haven't talked in a while =D) I'm sorry to hear that ;__; All I can say is, when you're acting, once it even starts hurting or feeling strained in the slightest, stop! Let your voice rest for a while, drink lots of water, and maybe after 20 or so minutes (I think?), go back to acting =3

[Lone Peanut]

There's lots of help on the 'proper voice care' thread http://voiceactingalliance.com/board...ead.php?t=8715
but as people say already I recommend medical advice first and foremost. However warm/hot water with a little lemon juice and honey in it. Honey is antiseptic so should help with the throat, lemon helps prevent the throat getting too coated with honey and water helps keep lubrication. Also drinking lots of water instead of, or at least as well as, tea will help keep the body's water level up and better lubricated. Maybe try green tea instead of normal tea, lower caffiene, higher in antioxidants.

[Icypopcorn]

Oh wow, thank you guys helped alot ^^;
(Yes, I remember you Tali <33)
I've tried alot of these and haven't tried alot (which I will now) My voice has been like this for days on end >_<; It's starting to scare me. But I talked to my doctor and she said I had a 'cynus (synus? dunno the spelling) drainage'. I have no clue WHAT that is, but it might have something to do with these crazy pains I get in my jaw and constant headaches. (I couldn't get ahold of my other doctor, and I don't really like this doctor because she doesn't really explain anything >___>) She gave me some medicine though and she said it should help my voice a little bit.
I'll see how everything works out ^^;
Oh yes-- Lone Peanut, I don't drink normal tea when my throat bad. I drink green tea with lemon juice and honey like you mentioned It's so freaking disgusting, but I can drink it like it IS regular tea because I'm used to it <33 I drink it and while it normally helps, it isn't doing that much right now so that's why I procceeded to ask you guys
Thank you though, you guys really help alot <33 (I'll tell if this medicine works or not too ;o