Page 35 - CJNov_Dec24

UNIVERSITY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
of
THORNTON SCHOOL MUSIC
of

On the Voice
On the V oice

&
choral
sacred music

DEGREES OFFERED

Choral Music BM, MM, DMA
Sacred Music MM, DMA
Matthew Hoch, editor <mrh0032@auburn.edu>
APPLICATION DEADLINE
DECEMBER 1, 2024

Singing through the “Sick Season”: Advice for Choral Directors
by Philip A. Doucette

Few performers have their art-making as significant- individual can remain contagious for up to two weeks,
ly disrupted by respiratory illness as a vocalist. In these and contagiousness can begin a day or two before
situations, the choral director often becomes the “first symptoms emerge. Most coldlike illnesses impact the
responder” to address their singers’ concerns. High- sinuses and upper throat. Lower-respiratory infections
demand voice users like singers and choral directors are more serious and longer lasting. The symptoms ex-
are eager for remedies and approaches to minimize the perienced during these illnesses can present a variety of
3
misery of respiratory illness; however, finding reliable obstacles to normal voice use.
guidance and recommendations for care can often be
challenging. This article will provide information and
strategies for choral directors to personally use when What to Do When Your
their voice is impacted by illness, as well as guidance Singers Get Sick
on optimal steps to take when guiding a singer through When singers get sick, stress builds and questions
the “sick season.” begin to fly. Clear education, appropriate referrals and
Be it from a cold, flu, or other respiratory disease, recommendations, positive encouragement, and steady
the challenges a sick singer or choral director faces are support from a trusted musical mentor throughout an
daunting. According to the Centers for Disease Con- illness can be as helpful as any medication available.
trol and Prevention, the cold and flu season typically While the details of these strategies are often specific
runs from October through March and peaks between to the nature of the illness and traits of the individual
1
December and February. In addition to the common singer, the following general points can benefit all sing-
cold, several other respiratory viruses (flu, COVID-19, ers.
and RSV) become widespread during this time and can
cause symptoms like the common cold. 2 Be patient. All illnesses run their course. Colds and flu
music.usc.edu/choral-sacred-music Colds spread easily from person to person, either di- usually resolve in two to three weeks unless a chest in-
rectly through the air during close contact with infected fection develops. In these cases, a lingering cough and
people or indirectly through contact with objects in the fatigue can persist for a few months. Consistent encour-
@USCTHORNTON environment and transfer to the mouth or nose. A sick agement and reassurance from a trusted source can be

CHORAL JOURNAL November/December 2024 Volume 65 Number 4 33