Table of Contents

Preface 1. Don't warm up before you use your voice 2. Don't exercise 3. Don't study singing 4. Don't recognize technical problems in your singing voice 5. Speak as you would never dare to sing 6. Wear yourself out 7. Sing the wrong music 8. Sing in noise 9. Speak in noise 10. Conduct 11. Teach voice 12. Smoke 13. Drink alcohol 14. Take "recreational" drugs 15. Eat, drink and be merry 16. Prescribe your own medicines 17. Don't recognize the risks of taking complementary and alternative remedies 18. Only see your doctor when you're desperate 19. Choose the wrong doctor 20. Choose the wrong voice teacher 21. Choose the wrong schedule 22. Choose the wrong career 23. Choose the wrong "day job" 24. Choose the wrong singing voice specialist 25. Choose the wrong speech-language pathologist 26. Don't recognize that gastrointestinal (GI) disorders commonly cause voice complaints 27. Neglect treating your allergies 28. Neglect treating your asthma 29. Sing when you're sick 30. Don't drink enough water 31. Don't eat well 32. Don't tell your doctors (allergists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, gynecologists and others) that you're a singer 33. Assume non-laryngeal surgery won't affect your voice 34. Assume laryngeal surgery will improve your voice 35. Assume your age (young and old) does not affect your voice 36. Don't follow your doctor's advice 37. Don't treat underlying health issues 38. Don't take care of your mental health 39. Ignore your eating disorder 40. Deny that you have a voice problem 41. Clear your throat 42. Don't treat dental/oral cavity disease 43. Don't protect your larynx from injury 44. Don't realize that bodily injuries outside the vocal tract may affect the voice 45. Expose yourself to environmental irritants 46. Don't realize that hearing loss can affect the voice 47. Sing or play in the wrong environment or with the wrong equipment 48. Play a wind instrument (especially, badly) 49. Don't get second opinions 50. Don't follow the suggestions in this book Suggested Readings

About the Author

Robert T. Sataloff, M.D., D.M.A., F.A.C.S. is Professor and Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Academic Specialties, Drexel University College of Medicine. He is also Adjunct Professor in the departments of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as Temple University; and on the faculty of the Academy of Vocal Arts. Dr. Sataloff is also a professional singer and singing teacher, and he served as Conductor of the Thomas Jefferson University Choir over a period of nearly four decades. He holds an undergraduate degree from Haverford College in Music Theory and Composition, graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance from Combs College of Music; and he completed his Residency in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and a Fellowship in Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sataloff is Chairman of the Boards of Directors of the Voice Foundation and of the American Institute for Voice and Ear Research. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Graduate Hospital; President of the American Laryngological Association, the International Association of Phonosurgery, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery; and in numerous other leadership positions. Dr. Sataloff is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Voice, Editor-in-Chief of Ear, Nose and Throat Journal, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Case Reports in Medicine, Associate Editor of the Journal of Singing, and on the editorial boards of numerous otolaryngology journals. He has written over 1,000 publications, including 48 books. His medical practice is limited to care of the professional voice and to otology/neurotology/skull base surgery. Mary J. Hawkshaw, B.S.N., R.N., CORLN is Research Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine. She has been associated with Dr. Robert Sataloff, Philadelphia Ear, Nose & Throat Associates and the American Institute for Voice & Ear Research (AIVER) since 1986. Ms. Hawkshaw graduated from Shadyside Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. In addition to her specialized clinical activities, she has been involved extensively in research and teaching. She mentors medical students, residents, and laryngology fellows, and has been involved in teaching research, writing and editing for nearly three decades. In collaboration with Dr. Sataloff, she has co-authored more than 170 articles, 70 book chapters, and 10 textbooks. A member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Voice and Ear, Nose and Throat Journal, she has served as Secretary/Treasurer of AIVER since 1988 and was named Executive Director January 2000. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Voice Foundation since 1990. Ms. Hawkshaw has been an active member of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses since 1998. She is recognized nationally and internationally for her extensive contributions to care of the professional voice. Jaime Eaglin Moore, M.D. is an otolaryngologist and laryngologist. Dr. Moore is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. Dr. Moore received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School, and she completed a residency in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. She was a fellow in laryngology and care of the professional voice at the American Institute for Voice and Ear Research. Author of numerous publications and a Fellow Editor for the Journal of Voice, Dr. Moore is an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. Amy L. Rutt, D.O. is an Instructor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr Rutt attended King's College, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Physician's Assistant degree. She received her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania. Dr Rutt completed her Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Residency at the Detroit Medical Center in affiliation with Michigan State University. She then completed an internationally renowned fellowship in laryngology and care of the professional voice at the prestigious American Institute for Voice and Ear Research in Philadelphia, in affiliation with Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr Rutt will be practicing Laryngology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.