Thread: Canceling or not? Thoughts

Hello everyone,

I have a class that is due to begin next week. However, I am considering cancelling it.

I was stuck on the Continent so I had to miss the first day of class. In a week or so is my vocal cord surgery. I have been told by the woman doing the surgery that I should be more concerned about my voice, which I will have for my whole life, than eight weeks of a dance class.

However, it is my only income currently. I also don't want to disappoint my students, so I was considering rescheduling the surgery until later - but the problem would still remain. I intend to go home for the summer, at least, so I would have to put that off for another month.

WWBD?

I agree with your consultant- your voice is important for the rest of your life. You shouldn't ignore her advice for the sake of a dance class.

Yeah I agree this is your voice you are talking about. How can you teach without a voice? Like the consultant said you have your voice for the rest of your life. You need to take care of yourself so that you CAN teach classes & make your living. Good thought & lots of healing thoughts your way.

Yes. Getting your voice well again after the surgery should be top priority. I understand about this being your primary income. But, if your voice doesn't get the time to heal, you could have many more serious issues down the road and be out of work for a much longer time.

cancel the class, heal body first

If you don't let your voice heal properly, you'll never be able to teach again.

Hi everyone,

Yes, I thought that I should probably cancel. It's good to hear other insights, though. I don't want to be in a position where I can never teach again.

BreaMorgiane

Please cancel the classes.

PMing you

It might be interesting to see if your students would agree to being taught without words. It would be a challenge to teach without any talking but it would force them to become better mimics, and you to become good at gestures and demonstrations. But only if you are sure you wouldn't succumb to the temptation to talk too much.

dunyah - It is an interesting thought, but my concern is that I've tried to not speak all day when I was in Venice, and it's surprising how often we need speech to communicate certain concepts. I was really not aware how often we use our voices until I tried this - and I will be doing it for three weeks following surgery.

Pm'd you back, gothique.

Last year I lost my voice for about a week and I had to teach class at a whisper. It was nice to experience it for one class, but also very frustrating since your voice is very important for quickly explaining things.

i lose my voice about once a year often just after a nasty cold. just something that happens can be one day up to a week & it's a pain in the behind not being able to talk. i'm not even supposed to whisper as it still puts a strain on the vocal cords. you don't want to be teaching like that.

Hello Brea,

After you have the surgery, you will want to carry a clipboard and a good pen so you can write what you need to say while you are resting your voice.

You will also want to make two signs (or buttons), one for your body and one for your clipboard. These signs should say something like "Speak! I can HEAR you!". Because when you start writing things down, people will try to take your pen and notepad from you and WRITE BACK!!!..l;, Even really smart people. It's funny, but it's also infuriating.,m::

Mekyria and GypsyStacey - yes, I can imagine! Trying to negotiate for the day I tried to be entirely silent (I am supposed to rest my voice up until the surgery) was very difficult. I had someone with me but even then it seemed that people in shops and things thought I was very rude because I couldn't say anything, until my companion explained.

DaSage: That is a good idea. Though it would be rather surreal seeing someone walk down the street wearing a button that said 'Speak! I can HEAR you!' I can see how it would quickly get frustrating. Have you had a similar operation? I was thinking about getting a whiteboard, like they used in that silent episode of Buffy. :)

oh wow, unless you have someone that can come to class with you and demonstrate AND explain.....cancel the class. You will not regret waiting the 6 weeks to recouperate.

Hi David! It's good to see you around again. :)

Yes, unfortunately my closest dance friend is in Dundee, so that's not possible. So I will be canceling the class.

Originally Posted by BreaMorgiane

Though it would be rather surreal seeing someone walk down the street wearing a button that said 'Speak! I can HEAR you!' I can see how it would quickly get frustrating. Have you had a similar operation? I was thinking about getting a whiteboard, like they used in that silent episode of Buffy. :)

I haven't had a similar operation, but I did lose my voice for about five days when I was in college. Many, many people tried to write notes back and forth with me...people who know me very well, and knew that I could still hear them. The compulsion in friends to respond "in kind" is both amusing and annoying.

Don't forget your sign language. If you put your hand up to your throat, and either wave or hold up the writing pad with the other hand, strangers will realize that you can't speak...g.:

It should be a very interesting time...I've considered writing a blog about it. It would give me something to do.

Here´s wishing you´ll get well soon:)

hugs Emma