Anza’s Story

Anza (Age: 25-34)

Singing is my favorite form of self expression.

SINGING PRACTICE

Anza sings for fun, but she is also a professional rock vocalist. Singing allows her to explore her passion for music and is handy during her composition process as well. 

ANZA’S STORY

Anza’s symptoms first started during puberty, but she was not diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome until 10 years later. She still is seeking a diagnosis of POTS. 

Has your singing practice or pursuit of singing shifted in any way since your diagnosis/onset of symptoms? 

When my symptoms were really bad, taking lessons simply wasn’t worth it. I couldn’t make progress. There was so much tension in my body. My vocal cords were always tight, my jaw too … I got fatigued both vocally and physically so quickly.

Anza explained that her diagnosis helped her make sense of why she was having so much difficulty in her singing practice. Now that she has received treatment for her conditions, she says it is a lot easier to sing again!

ACCOMMODATIONS THAT HELP

Preparing before starting to sing, taking more vocal rest than you think

ANZA’S ADVICE

For singers: 

Don’t push yourself. If your voice is tired, take that into consideration and treat it well. 

Warm up your body, not only your voice. 

For professionals working with singers with these conditions: 

Find the source of tension, and relax it. Don’t force us into fatigue.