[saxtalia]

Hi to all:

Im new here and Im a singer and a sax player.
Im a classical singer, doing baroque, renaissance, and Medieval songs.
In my last album I invited a friend of mine, Nelson Rangell, who Im sure many of you may already know.
I love playing sax too. And I've been doing it for at leas 18 years.

But I've been told by a doctor that I should stop playing if I want to keep singing, because the air pressure inside of the throat will make all the tissue to expand beyond its limits and it does not come back to its place... and therefore my voice would be screwed for ever... Is that even possible?

I'll appreciate your answers on this, because playing Sax is a part of my soul and I don't think i can just give that up.

Thx.

Fernando Lima

 

[buddy lee]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Never heard of such a thing, and if you've been playing for 18 years already and haven't noticed anything I really wouldn't worry about it...

 

[jicaino]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

I played clarinet and saxophone since I was 6. I can't sing shít. I'd buy into that. I mean I can't control the intonation when singin. I suppose that maybe with proper training and not trying to produce the sound using the same muscles could help but I certainly see those 2 things being sort of mutually exclusive.

 

[bandmommy]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

I'd get a second opinion.
If it were true your speaking voice would be messed up.
Is your speaking voice messed up?
I have a feeling it's not.

 

[andrewfrankhouse]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

It wasn't Dr. Spaceman, was it?

 

[Enviroguy]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Ask the doctor to site his sources on this. I've never heard this before. Several of my orchestra members also sings in the church choir. There's never been an issue.

The only thing I've noticed is that my lungs are disproportionately more powerful than my fairly weak voice. So I sometimes "over-blow" and strain my voice when I try to sing too loudly.

 

[MyMartinTenor]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

I'd get a second opinion.
If it were true your speaking voice would be messed up.
Is your speaking voice messed up?
I have a feeling it's not.

If it were true, MY speaking voice would be messed up. Its not.

I know many people who sing and play sax. Many. Unless they are all damaged (possible, but unlikely), this seems farfetched to me.

But, I'm not a doctor, and don't even play one on tv. Gotta trust the professionals -- at least if they all agree on this (which I doubt).

 

[rleitch]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Maybe if you accidentally swallowed your mouthpiece?

 

[bandmommy]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

I sing and play a few different woodwinds.
The only thing I've noticed is that my breath control and ability to match pitch is better than some of the other community choir members who do not play an instrument.

If you feel your 'windpipe' it's pretty stiff. I don't think it stretches.
I would be more worried about damaging my vocal cords from over use.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Did the doctor actually observe you while playing? If so ask him/her what exactly it is that could cause this. I find it unlikely but if they can articulate what exactly could cause this then I would listen to them rather than non-medical opinion. But only if they can base it on actual medical case history or confirmable specialist knowledge.

 

[Pure Magic]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Wow most of you can sing? That is awesome!

I can't..... So I play Sax.... But seriously. That doesn't sound right to me. I've seen several bands that have horn players that can sing too.

 

[jazzbluescat]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Hi to all:

Im new here and Im a singer and a sax player.
Im a classical singer, doing baroque, renaissance, and Medieval songs.
.........I've been told by a doctor that I should stop playing if I want to keep singing, because the air pressure inside of the throat will make all the tissue to expand beyond its limits and it does not come back to its place... and therefore my voice would be screwed for ever... Is that even possible?

I'll appreciate your answers on this, because playing Sax is a part of my soul and I don't think i can just give that up.

Thx.

Fernando Lima

Seems like the problem would be, if there's a problem, a contradiction with the mouth forming into its own "instrument" in order to get "classical" sounds and its formation for playing the sax.

Wow most of you can sing? That is awesome!

I can't..... So I play Sax.... But seriously. That doesn't sound right to me. I've seen several bands that have horn players that can sing too.

I know!! I can't carry a tune in a bucket nor play sax worth a toot either.

 

[JohnGalt]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Did he mention that you have some unusual medical affliction that sax playing exascerbates, and therefore effects your singing?

 

[cvsimson]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Fernando,
unless you are playing in a (wrong) way that causes you to use a lot more air pressure than normal, I don't see how this could happen.
With a normal embouchure and air pressure, there shouldn't be much expansion to tissues. Maybe if you played the Tuba...

I would get a second opinion and, as Pete suggested, make sure that the doctor observes you while you play.

 

[harmonizerNJ]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

.....I love playing sax too. And I've been doing it for at leas 18 years.

But I've been told by a doctor that I should stop playing if I want to keep singing, because the air pressure inside of the throat will make all the tissue to expand beyond its limits and it does not come back to its place... and therefore my voice would be screwed for ever... Is that even possible?.....

I have been playing the sax for 40 years. And I have been playing the sax actively and continuously since 2003 as part of playing in a covers band, where I am the primary backup singer, which means I sing alot, and I have also been singing at least twice a week for church choir since 2004. I am not a professional or gifted singer, but my singing has been the best it ever has been during the last 7 years.

However good that doctor might be about other things, he has no idea what he is talking about with regard to this question. The way you sing might hurt your voice, but unless you are doing something very strange like growling while playing the sax, sax playing will not.

 

[bluenotes]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

If anything, I'd think being an actual singer would help your tone on sax (as it would assist your ability to voice notes)

 

[hgiles]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

 

[AhCheung]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Pls get a 2nd and 3rd opinion on it.... including that of an Alexander Technician!
It sounds so strange that vocal chords could be damaged by blowing only... unless you growl continuously when you play sax. Although.... can Sanborn and Barbieri still sing?
I would say only improper singing technique/overstraining can impair further singing. (cf Charlotte Church, Mariah Carey etc)

If ever I'd say your singing and playing the sax would be mutually enhanced by practicing both (without strain).
Now if you are teaching (eg band) and yelling a lot, that's another story....

 

[jrvinson45]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Band-leader, sax-player, boy-vocalist Dick Halleman had the biggest tenor sound on saxophone and singing until Alzheimer's caught up with him in his eighties. I don't believe a word of it for saxophonists. For trumpet players for every Chet Baker there's a Louis Armstrong and for every Chris Botti there's a Louis Prima so, unless your name is Louis I would think you're safe.

 

[Rockplayer]

Re: Playing saxophone could be bad for my singing so I should stop playing for life if I want to sin

Yes, if I were you I would defintely stop singing.