Am I in the right category?I love to sing but know I need to quit smoking foremost...........?

Question

I started smoking more thru the years but everyone that heard me sing, said I had a great voice. Now I dont sing infront of anyone cause I know I got worse thru the years.Dont tell me to quit smoking,I know that.But how can I make my voice stronger?I notice the strain is coming more from my throat than my lungs.The only way I would quit smoking is if someone told me they would give me a singing contract.I'm not singing for anyone but myself. I feel a sense of happiness when I sing.I believe honey is suppose to lay the hairs down in your throat.If I'm not in the right category for such a question, point me in the right direction.Thanks for any advice.

Answer 1

Although you should quit smoking, smoking does not make you a bad singer. I know several singers who smoke. Even one of my former voice teachers smokes, and she's got a great voice.

As far as the strain in your throat, you are probably singing incorrectly. You should get some voice lessons.

Don't get me wrong, smoking will damage vocal tissues, but smoking doesn't affect your ability to hear whether or not you are singing on key. Smoking could change the quality of your voice. It could make your voice sound breathier or huskier, and I don't know if that's what you want.

I'm not sure how serious you are about singing, but to say you'll quit if you get a singing contract doesn't make any sense. If you get a contract, it's due in part to a the way your voice sounds at the time the contract is signed. Maybe the company who gives you a contract wants to have that husky quality to your voice, so why would you take it away? The company won't care about your health more than the money they can make.