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Leah Steinman dreamed of a career in musical theater ever since her first acting role as the mother duck in her elementary school’s play adaptation of “The Ugly Duckling.” But after being diagnosed with vocal nodules three months ago, she questioned whether a future in music would still be possible.

Steinman, a Syracuse University sophomore in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, started noticing problems with her vocal cords around the beginning of this semester. After two weeks of difficulty singing, she went home to Massachusetts to see a doctor.

“(Singing) is my entire life,” Steinman said. “So I was like, ‘Well, sh*t. How am I going to do anything in this major? How am I going to make this a career?’”

Vocal nodules, commonly known as nodes, are lesions that can form on one or both vocal cords, often due to improper use or strain. Nodes are a common concern for professional singers because they heavily rely on their voice, but Steinman isn’t letting them dim her musical aspirations. She’s pursuing treatment including voice therapy and intermittent vocal rest so she can sing like herself again.

Sophomore Cate Gould, Steinman’s close friend, described them as “really bad blisters” on an instrument that’s used everyday.

Before her doctor’s appointment, Steinman discussed the possibility of nodes with her voice instructor Richard Koons, an adjunct professor of voice in VPA’s Department of Drama. During Steinman’s first week back, Koons said he could tell something was wrong.

“The problem with a voice, compared to if you were playing a violin or something like that, is because we carry our instruments with us at all times,” Koons said. “It’s pretty easy to do things to (harm) it,” Koons said.

As anticipated, Steinman’s doctor found two calluses on either side of her vocal folds. For Steinman, it was the “worst day ever.”

Steinman said she took her recovery seriously even before she was diagnosed by limiting vocal use and removing herself from class or social activities.

Koons said nodes are a common concern for students in the music industry because they are constantly using their voice in auditions, class, rehearsals and everyday life. Going to a party or cheering at a football game can put further stress on the vocal cords, Koons said.

After Steinman was diagnosed, Koons said he expected her to be put on complete vocal rest and sit out for the rest of the semester, potentially longer.

Determined to continue singing, Steinman immediately searched for vocal therapists. Part of overcoming nodes is learning to speak and sing “correctly” by avoiding harmful, stress-inducing vocal tendencies, Steinman said.

Much to her and her professor’s surprise, Steinman’s vocal therapist suggested only intermittent vocal rest while encouraging her to keep singing with some restrictions. She worked closely with Koons to pick songs, generally in lower keys, that wouldn’t further strain her vocal cords.

Steinman worked with her therapist on various exercises like controlled breathing and practicing sounds like “brr” and “shh” to strengthen her vocal muscles. She also implements frequent breaks she likes to call “20 minutes talking, five minutes rest.”

Gould said she has continued to support Steinman through the recovery process. The two had a three-hour evening class together, which Steinman still went to right after receiving the diagnosis. Steinman had to drive back to Syracuse from her hometown for class that night. She’s proven she has the “grit” to overcome this, Gould said.

“We know that (nodules) is something that has ended a lot of careers, and it’s very scary for us, especially when we put all of our eggs in one basket,” Gould said.

While nodes are a big concern for many professional artists, Gould said Steinman never let herself think about giving up singing or switching majors – that “wasn’t an option.”

“Music has been my rock,” Steinman said. “I can’t let myself think about what my life would be like without it, because this is just my favorite thing to do. I was like, ‘I’m getting better. That’s it.’”

Koons told Steinman she has “magic vocal cords” because of how fast she began recovering. After Steinman’s first follow-up appointment, Koons said the difference in her scans showed so much progress, they looked like they were from different people. Steinman hopes to see even more improvement in her upcoming appointments.

Along with her vocal therapy and singing regimen, Steinman is also taking on another challenge — a speech pathology minor. Steinman said she wants to learn more about vocal therapy so that she can help others with nodules.

“My love for singing is still there. That hasn’t changed at all,” Steinman said. “It’s just learning how to move forward with the obstacle, and loving and being graceful to my body when it gave up on the one thing that I loved most.”

Published on December 3, 2024 at 12:06 am

Contact Kate: kjacks19@syr.edu