Rehanna’s Story

Rehanna (Age: 25-34)

Some of my EDS symptoms are positive like having a good high register and having a large range.

SINGING PRACTICE

Rehanna is a semi-professional singer, professional violinist, and teacher

To me singing means expressing your artistry, thoughts, and emotions through your voice. Singing with others brings strong connections with others.

REHANNA’S STORY

I was fairly lucky in that it only took about five years to get a diagnosis once I started seeking. The average is about 10 years currently. I was diagnosed 3 years ago with POTS and then a year later that diagnosis helped me get diagnosed with hEDS by a specialist.

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

For the first couple of years of diagnosis I was convinced that EDS did not affect my voice at all. The effects were far more pronounced in my violin career and symptoms are more subtle for my voice but they are there. I try to do more singing than playing violin as singing is not as hard on my body, however I have to take more breaks and be much more careful not to over-extend myself in rehearsals.

Some of my EDS symptoms are positive like having a good high register and having a large range. I experience a lot of vocal fatigue which makes 3-hour rehearsals feel daunting at times. My POTS can make focusing quite difficult and I have a lot of difficulty standing still for a full performance with no breaks.

ACCOMMODATIONS THAT HELP

I sometimes choose to sit in rehearsals and my chorus manager is aware that I might have to be moved for a performance if I have to sit in order to be able to see the conductor. I also do lessons seated and practice seated (or sometimes even lying down!). I teach from a conductors chair on my podium and I do lots of gentle stretching before a rehearsal, especially an orchestra rehearsal. I also move when I sing in order to regulate my blood flow if I have to sing standing up.

REHANNA’S ADVICE

For singers: 

Don’t give up! Singing can be such a good way to regulate and manage symptoms, so play around with things to find a good balance for yourself without pushing yourself too hard. Don’t feel bad asking for help! Asking for accommodations can feel scary but if you’re risking your health without them, it’s worth seeking the help.

For professionals working with singers with these conditions: 

Be flexible. Dynamic conditions such as POTS and EDS can be extremely unpredictable. Some of my symptoms related to performance have been better this season, others have been worse. Your singer is never going to be able to fully predict how things will affect them all of the time.