Why Is My Singing Voice Hoarse? – Private Voice Therapy and Vocal Coaching for Singers
Targeted voice therapy for the spoken voice to stabilize and protect it, then we gradually progress into singing exercises. This structured approach helps singers recover, strengthen, and safely expand their voice while reducing the risk of further damage.
Why Is My Singing Voice Hoarse? – Private Voice Therapy and Vocal Coaching for Singers
If you’re a singer, nothing is more frustrating than your voice not working the way it should. Maybe your high notes feel unreachable, your voice sounds hoarse, or singing is physically uncomfortable. Even small changes can be stressful, affect your performances, and have a real impact on your singing—whether it’s your career or your hobby.
Many singers experience vocal strain, vocal nodules, or muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), and often struggle because they’ve never been taught the techniques to sing safely, maintain vocal health, and prevent damage to their voice.
Our private voice therapy and vocal coaching for singers helps you recover your voice, improve technique, and sing with confidence—with no waiting list.
Why is my singing voice hoarse?
Hoarseness can develop from vocal nodules, muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), or other voice-related conditions. Many singers experience challenges with both their speaking and singing voices, often due to overuse, demanding schedules, or insufficient vocal technique. Seeking help early is essential to prevent long-term damage. We recommend asking your GP for a referral to an ENT specialist for assessment. In the meantime, we are able to support singers while they await their appointment, helping them care for and protect their voices. The waiting lists for NHS voice therapy can be months so its best to start voice therapy as soon as possible to get you on the road to recovery.
Why have I lost my high notes?
When the voice is affected by Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) or Vocal Nodules, the fine adjustments needed for higher pitches become much harder.
With Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD), excessive muscle tension around the larynx makes the vocal folds stiff and less flexible. High notes require the folds to stretch, thin, and vibrate quickly, but tension prevents this movement, so the upper range often feels strained, tight, or unreachable.
With vocal nodules, small swellings develop on the vocal folds from repeated strain or overuse. These prevent the folds from closing and vibrating cleanly, especially on delicate high notes, which may come out breathy, weak, or disappear entirely.
Because high notes rely on precise and efficient vocal fold movement, they are often the first part of the range to be affected when there’s a problem. The good news is that with the right voice therapy and targeted singing exercises, it’s possible to reduce strain, protect your voice, and gradually regain your full upper range.
Why does singing feel painful or tight?
Singing can feel painful or tight when the voice is affected by muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) or vocal nodules. cause excess tension around the larynx makes the vocal folds stiff and less flexible, so producing notes — especially higher ones — requires more effort and can feel uncomfortable. Nodules, small swellings on the vocal folds, interfere with smooth vibration and closure, often causing strain, fatigue, or a tight sensation in the voice.
Straining the voice without professional guidance can make these issues worse, which is why expert therapy is so important.
Through therapy, underlying tension is released, breath support and technique are improved, and vocal stamina is gradually rebuilt. This approach helps singers restore comfort, ease, and confidence in both speaking and singing. With consistent practice and skilled guidance, most singers are able to sing without pain and regain control over their full vocal range.
Can overuse or demanding schedules damage my voice?
Yes. Long rehearsals, consecutive performances, and teaching or recording can strain your voice. Repeated strain makes it harder to sing high notes, maintain stamina, or speak comfortably.
Our private voice therapy and vocal coaching addresses overuse with:
Safe vocal techniques
Vocal stamina training
Recovery strategies between performances
This helps you maintain a strong, resilient voice, even under demanding schedules.
Can a vocal coach help with a damaged voice?
Absolutely. Our private voice therapy and vocal coaching for singing combines clinical expertise with practical singing guidance to address:
Technique – ensuring healthy, efficient vocal production
Muscle tension – releasing strain that can limit range or cause discomfort
Stamina – building endurance for both speaking and singing
Performance demands – preparing the voice for real-world singing and speaking situations
We begin with targeted voice therapy for the spoken voice to stabilize and protect it, then gradually progress into singing exercises. This structured approach helps singers recover, strengthen, and safely expand their voice while reducing the risk of further damage.
What does voice therapy involve?
Voice therapy depends on your diagnosis and individual needs. Our UK-based specialist speech and language therapists offer personalised techniques to improve voice quality, stamina, and overall vocal health.
This may include:
Improving voice projection and resonance
Vocal hygiene and reducing harmful vocal behaviours
Releasing muscle tension through relaxation and semi-occluded vocal tract exercises
Increasing vocal stamina to prevent fatigue
Managing reflux (LPR) affecting vocal health
Structured exercises to strengthen and balance your voice
Our private voice therapists are highly qualified and accredited in a range of specialist techniques, including:
Myofascial Release manual therapy
Advanced Laryngeal Manipulation
Therapy is tailored to help you sing and speak with confidence, comfort, and endurance.
Can I have voice therapy with the NHS?
Yes. An ENT consultant may refer you to a NHS Voice Therapist, but waiting lists can be long. Many singers choose private therapy to start sooner due to work, performance, or income pressures.
Do you have a waiting list?
No. We have no waiting list and can usually book you in within one week of your consultation, so you can start without delay.
Why should I choose The Speech Network for voice therapy and vocal coaching?
Expert Voice therapist with stage experience: Our voice therapist is a trained singer who performed for 10 years in the West End, providing insight that bridges therapy and performance.
Vocal coaching expertise: Our coach has 17 years of experience with professional and amateur singers, including teaching at prestigious acting schools.
Stepwise, performance-focused approach: We begin with speaking voice rehabilitation, then carefully progress into singing exercises to build stamina, range, and control.
Immediate access: No waiting list—therapy can start quickly.
This combination ensures singers recover, maintain, and enhance their speaking and singing voice safely and effectively.
Our UK based Private Voice Therapists are Clinical Specialists in Voice with a minimum of 15 years experience Specialising in Voice Therapy.
Book a free 15 minute consultation or email us at thespeechnetwork@hotmail.com to enquire about our reasonable fees for Private Voice Therapy.
Why Do I Lose My Voice So Often as a Teacher?
Up to 70% of teachers can experience voice disorders. This tends to occur due to overuse or misuse of your voice. You may be experiencing throat discomfort, vocal fatigue and hoarseness. In some cases teachers experience vocal nodules. Prolonged voice loss should be investigated and you can request a referral to ENT via your GP. Voice loss can affect your job performance and may cause you to be sick or absent from work as you are unable to teach.
You're in the middle of a lesson. Your voice feels tight, raspy, and unreliable. By the end of the day, you're hoarse, exhausted, or even in pain.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and it may be more than just “overuse.” Many teachers experiencing these symptoms are unknowingly dealing with a voice condition called Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD). Voice rest is not enough - and you keep losing your voice frequently and its affecting your work.
Why do teachers lose their voice?
Teachers use their voices a lot. Voice loss tends to occur due to overuse or misuse of your voice. But it’s not just the hours of speaking—it’s how, where, and under what pressure. Classrooms are often noisy, acoustically challenging spaces. Add in stress, lack of voice training, and few breaks, and it’s no wonder that around 50–70% of teachers experience voice problems at some point.
Our UK Voice therapists will help you identify the causal factors and put together a bespoke plan to support you in improving your voice, and prevent voice loss.
When should I worry about losing my voice?
Prolonged voice loss and Voice changes should be investigated and you can request a referral to ENT via your GP. Voice loss can affect your job performance and may cause you to be sick or absent from work as you are unable to teach. Teachers may resign due to voice issues. Your voice is your an important tool and you may need to either have voice therapy to restore your voice or improve your vocal techniques.
How can voice therapy help?
The recommended treatment for frequent and ongoing voice loss is voice therapy. Typically in 4-6 sessions we can improve your voice. We can support you with preventative techniques so that you do not lose your voice, feel strain or discomfort - so you can confidently teach without worrying about your voice.
How can I stop losing my voice as a teacher?
Speak less - take regular breaks.
Use non-verbal techniques to gain attention rather than shouting
Use audio-visual aids where possible
Use amplification where possible
Vocal hygiene to look after your voice.
Can voice coaching help me stop losing my voice as a teacher?
Our therapists are both voice therapists and voice coaches - the perfect combination to improve your voice and provide you with preventative techniques for using your voice in the classroom.
We can also support you with finding your voice as a teacher - to free your voice and speech of habits that impact on your self confidence such as speaking too fast, mumbling, speaking too quietly or unclear pronunciation. Habits are hard to break but Voice & Speech Coaching UK can provide you with strategies to change the way you communicate to be your true self.
Can I have voice therapy with the NHS?
The referral from GP to ENT can be a quick process. Unfortunatly, the wait for NHS voice therapy may take months, which could impact on your work. Our voice therapists are able to see you while you wait for NHS therapy. Voice coaching is not available in the NHS - our Voice Coaches are unique as they are also Clinical Voice Specialists.
Do you have a waiting list?
No - you can be seeing within one week of your consultation.
Why Choose The Speech Network?
Our UK-based private voice therapists are all Clinical Specialists in Voice, each with a minimum of 12 years’ experience. They currently work, or have previously worked, as Senior Voice Therapists within the NHS.
All our therapists are fully registered and accredited, including:
Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP)
Members of the British Voice Association
Our private voice therapy team is highly rated, with outstanding 5-star Google reviews and recognition as a 2024 Quality Business Award winner.
Specialist Training & Accreditation
Our private voice therapists are accredited in:
Myofascial Release manual therapy
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD®)
Advanced Laryngeal Manipulation
Our UK based Private Voice Therapists are Clinical Specialists in Voice with a minimum of 15 years experience Specialising in Voice Therapy. Book a free 15 minute consultation or email us at thespeechnetwork@hotmail.com to enquire about our reasonable fees for Voice Therapy.