...but I can no longer sing tenor since March 16, 2026. I strained my vocal cords, I think talking loudly to make myself heard with some great new (conservative Christian patriotic) friends at a Hillsdale conference in Roseville, CA. That night at choir rehearsal I couldn't make high notes come out.
Has not improved now in almost two months.
Went to an ENET surgeon who took video of my vocal cords. It's a muscular thing, which means I need vocal therapy--no surgery, no medication.

Guys, I like shooting, but I pretty much live to sing, especially choral music. After singing in the San Diego Master Chorale for several years--their oldest tenor!--I had to give that up when we moved back to northern Cal. I did find a small choir, they pair with the local community college choir. The first night I walked in I was the only tenor there, had to sight read all the pieces. They were surprised I came back the next rehearsal! After that I finessed the normally required audition. I loved the music, especially one glorious piece by Christopher Tin called "Sogno di Volare"--if you've ever played Civilization VI it's the theme music for that. I was so looking forward to that concert. Then boom--everything above B just above the bass clef is gone. At best a measly squawk.

The video shows that the vocal cords don't come together, which is necessary to make the high notes. Why speaking voice is fine. I can sing bass, as I said. But all the fun is in the tenor range, which it took me years of training to master.

I look forward to getting therapy; I hope I'll be able to rejoin the choir in the fall.

Thanks for listening (but not hearing me sing).

Hey there, Doc.

Sorry to hear about what I hope is a temporary setback. If the therapist will let you continue with baritone for now, explore it. You might pick up some things that will help you back on the path.

BTW, you're up in my neck of the woods now - we still need to meet up soon!

I hope your vocal impairment improves soon SJ! Not knowing anything about the matter, I’d’ve guessed that the only therapy would be a period of restricted vocalization.

Have you found the equivalent of Marshall’s Industrial Hardware near your new home?

Singing is wonderful therapy. I sing tenor in or local mixed 20 piece group and baritone in our barbershop quartet. I sing bass in our church choir. Lots of variety.

Good luck gotten your voice back, Doc.

Mike.

I’m a car singer. I can’t in good conscience subject others to my crooning. Hope you heal up doc.

You’ll get there, just heed the advice and be patient.

I sing bass in a barbershop group, but probably switching to lead, we have enough basses now and I prefer the higher notes lol. Enough tenors too, and baritones sing weird notes

“Daddy sang bass…Momma sang tenor…me and little brother would join right in there…”

I was thinking more along the lines of:

"He could sing like Caruso, both tenor and bass,
And play on the Spanish guitar.
In fact quite the cream
Of the Muscovite team
Was Ivan Skivistky Skivar!"

The voice is like an athletes muscles. You need to train it. When I was singing I sang for two hours a day. Five days a week for about 6 years. And, that was nowhere near professional chops. I to was a baritone. Lowest I could get with any volume was an A in the bass clef.

People keep wanting me to sing solo, solo enough for them not to hear me.

One time, at church, the choir director asked if I can sing tenor, tenor more yards away.