Mimi Patricia Snider

A jazz vocalist who cares about creative and innovative communication through voice, rhythm, and movement.

I'm back to vocal performance, after taking a bit of a hiatus to focus on percussion and to focus on other studies to explore the science of the voice and research methods. Why the change in focus from vocal performance the last little while?

In 2010 everything changed. After laryngeal spasms started occurring after a minor operation around fifteen years ago now, and my singing voice felt as though it had changed, where the flow and ease of singing disappeared, I was both heart-broken and fearful. I can only just start talking about it now because it appears as though the worst is behind me. As well, I'd like to share this in the event anyone has experienced changes in their voice. I was referred to an ENT and respirologist by my family doctor in the two different cities I had lived in to ease the symptoms.

The laryngeal spasms closed the airways to my lungs and I couldn't breath.  In fact, the ENT was able to record a laryngeal spasm occurring live-in-action.  It was fascinating to watch the film afterwards. According to the ENT, the worst that could happen is I may faint and that I shouldn't worry because if I fainted this would then cause the muscles to relax and I would get air to my lungs. But when the spasms occurred, it was still a frightening experience because I couldn't breath. I trusted the ENT with all my might during these moments while hoping I wouldn't choke and die even though it felt like I might! I followed his advice and kept my jaw and tongue relaxed when it occurred.

I was just as determined to get my singing voice back as I was determined to heal the spasms ("if healing them was possible?" I wondered). I think it may have turned out that in working at getting my singing voice back, I may have healed the laryngeal spasms. Its challenging to know for certain.

After that minor operation around fifteen years go, it was as though my muscle memory for singing had disappeared too. What came so naturally was gone. After approximately ten years of almost having to retrain and relearn supported diaphragmatic breathing, relearn and focus on using my resonators and sing with a raised palette and open throat and a return to voice training in classical and musical theatre styles, the laryngeal spasms seemed to have stopped.  Until that time they would appear when I had a cold or ate a spicy meal, drank wine or had a couple of espressos. It was all a learning process in what I could and couldn't eat or drink. It was all a relearning process too.

I lived in constant fear of getting ill with a flu, especially during Covid thinking that a cold or cough would trigger the spasms again. However, the spasms did not return after having Covid nor after having a flu nor after having several different colds over the past four years. Therefore, I am convinced the laryngeal spasms are now behind me after living without any re-occurrences for four years.  But my singing voice just isn't quite the same, but I know what to do now to help it along.

A number of years ago, thinking I would never get my singing voice back to where I would feel good in the process, I started studying within the field of voice sciences. I was thinking of helping others as well as trying to figure out a way to help my singing voice. Eventually, I studied to become a speech pathology assistant. I am keen on delving more deeply into voice sciences without becoming a physics major or a neuroscientist in helping others. And, although my singing voice has never felt the same since that operation, I am now feeling pleasure in singing again. Therefore, I am eager to get back to making music and performing with others again.

Mimi (derived from Miriam) Snider

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land and I recognize my presence on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations. I acknowledge the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.  For thousands of years the area known as Tkaronto has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit and has been care taken by the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat.  This territory is subject of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant - an agreement to peaceably share and care for the Great Lakes region.