Question:
I’m a 16yr-old male whose voice changed at age 12 so I think it won’t get any deeper. However I have an ultimate passion for ‘death metal’ music and consequently sing along to quite low and vocally demanding (in terms of loudness) songs. I’ve been doing this for about about a year and I just feel that by forcing my voice to produce a louder sound whilst singing (but its more like growling loudly) I’m damaging it. I think this because it tends to get rapsy very quickly when compared to a few months ago. Does taking testosterone supplements work in deepening an already fairly deep voice? What can I do to manage my air better for prolonged notes?
Answer:
Whatever you do to your voice at this age could determine how it functions for the rest of your life — you need to be very careful and think deeply about whether it is worth it to you to risk permanent damage. I would never recommend hormones to lower the voice and one should never take such supplements without strict guidance and contact with a doctor. You probably are damaging your voice and you need to stop singing this music until you find a voice teacher who can help you learn how to do it without hurting yourself. If you want to develop your breath I recommend you download the Vocal Tune-Up CD and practise the breathing exercises on it. Above all, I implore you to safeguard your voice and make smart choices — the voice cannot be replaced and the way it functions (or fails to function) will affect your entire body and everything else in your personality for as long as you live.