What happened to my voice?

[imani.keys]

**LONG POST**

I'm not a good singer and I am untrained.

Two weeks ago I was asked to do the song, "Friend of God" by Israel and New Breed in it's original key, the key of E. I have a low speaking voice so I did not think it would be a big deal. I tried singing it, with no vocal warmup, at practice. I did not have a microphone, so I had to sing above the instruments so that I could be heard. I couldn't move closer to the choir because I was playing one of the instruments. I noticed a small strain in my voice so I asked the choir director to ask the altos to sing the melody during the chorus so I wouldn't have to sing at that point and to give my voice a short break. She never taught them the part so I was stuck singing the entire song. By end of the second time singing the song my voice started to flip and I started to sing off key involuntarily. It only hurt a little bit and I went on vocal rest.

Last Saturday we had rehearsal and I said I couldn’t sing the song because the last time I did I had vocal issues. The choir director asked me to just try it anyway. I decided that maybe I could sing it differently and it would help. I did not want to change the key because all the musicians were not there and I did not want to change the key and have them up late trying to relearn the song for the next day. So I could not find a different way to sing it and my voice started to flip again. I sent the choir director a text message later that day telling her I could not sing the solo.  She wasn't too thrilled nor did she believe me, but she got someone to do it in my place.

I’m trying to figure out what exactly happened to my voice. Both times I did not warm up. If I did would I had had the same issue? Since, I lack proper vocal technique would warm ups have had any bearing on how I sung? Then again I was thinking, you know how when you exercise and you use muscles you do not usually use it hurts for a while, but after exercising them for a while it gets better? Maybe that is what happened. If I do warms up and practice singing in E, will it get better? Was I, simply, singing outside of my range?

Thank you for your time.

[Fenix]

I am not a vocal expert at all and choir dynamics mystify me but i have to seriously advise against attempting an Israel song (especially Israel's parts) without proper warming up. The dude is a high tenor and his parts are not that easy if you speak in a naturally low voice.

This happened to our keyboard player last week Thursday. he was supposed to sing "Let It Rain" by Anthony Evans and he had not practiced. He sang the song but you could tell that he was seriously straining as he had not practiced.

Singing i suppose, is just like playing an instrument. If you have not warmed up your fingers enough, you should not even attempt any difficult song or you will hurt yourself.

[phatstrings]

First mistake: Singing over amplified instruments and a choir without a mic! We are not configured to sing that loudly.
Like Fenix, i'm no vocal expert too but one thing that works for me is humming.I sing Israel's song pretty conveniently most times but when i start noticing too much of strains and pain, i've learned to resort to humming the song at a lower pitch,drink lots of water,do more convenient humming, and 8 times out of 10,my vocals get back into shape in a few days.
One thing though,respect your voice and dont push it beyond limits.Those pains are your voices ways of saying "Hey man,i need a break" or "Dude,you are not Israel houghton!" 

[Fenix]

First mistake: Singing over amplified instruments and a choir without a mic! We are not configured to sing that loudly.

Ah yes i totally forgot about this one. Do not EVER try and sing above the instruments. Go close to them or tell them to lower their volume, or better yet...get a mic!

[imani.keys]

Thanks for your advice. I'll try your suggestions.  I just don't know if I ruined my voice indefiniately or not.  I did some warm-ups a couple days ago and tried to sing "Friend of God" at a decent volume two days ago and it started to hurt again.  The next day I did warm-ups and tried singing songs in comfortable keys and it still hurt. 

[docjohn]

Sounds like you strained some vocal cords,your body is telling you "relax dummy,and don't try that again".I'm not an EENT,but you might want to consider NOT singing for whatever time your throat needs to heall.Our MOM just took a MONTh plus off,so try not rushing it.If it doesn't improve,get an EENT to check it out.Besides mics,etc-DON't sing a song in a key that you cannot sing in!!!!! that's why "MUSICIANS play IN every key"!!!!!!! when you practice BEFORE rehersal;if it aint' happening-let you r MD know ahead of time-so it can be recharted.A good skill for you to learn is how to transpose at least a chord chart;copy it and take it to the band memebers