When you're not feeling so chipper, and we all have down days, check out what Johnny Cash had to say about feeling BETTER.
0 Comments
Dry, Summer Throat?
Are you suffering from a dry, summer throat? Do you run, bike or play tennis outdoors in the hot, dry air? If so, you may be suffering from a scratchy voice due to drying out your vocal chords. Allergies can also dry out the vocal chords and irritate the throat. If you're having any 'dry throat' symptoms, why not try my 'Viva La Voice Tonic' recipe? It's fantastic for soothing and hydrating the voice, cleansing the system, and cutting phlegm. And best of all, you can now get this fantastic recipe online for free! I'll send you the recipe and an article about how I developed the Tonic due to years of professional singing in sometimes hostile conditions! And as an extra bonus you’ll get both my monthly Voicegram and the Blissential Buzz newsletter – natural remedies for voice, mind and body!! You'll love what this Tonic will do for your voice, whether you're a singer, speaker, salesperson or outdoor athlete. Enjoy! Get your Viva La Voice Tonic Recipe and have a wonderful Summer. I’m a Holistic Voice Practitioner, and I have one question for you: Are you using your voice correctly? It's not only singers who develop vocal problems. More and more service personnel who use their voices all day long are suffering from a new syndrome called REPETITIVE VOICE INJURY. Folks in call centers are particularly at risk, especially when they are straining their voices by speaking incorrectly. If you're a teacher, clergy or salesperson who's on the phone, or using your voice extensively during your work day, you could be at risk for developing this syndrome. Here are a few tips to protect and preserve your voice from my Book From Shower To Stage…7 Easy Steps for Singing Like A Pro!: - Keep hydrated! Working in an air conditioned building can dry out your vocal chords. - Breathe fully! Make sure that you are consciously breathing and actively supporting your voice - Sit up straight! If you sit while you're speaking or on the phone, make sure that you 'pull up' and maintain your posture. - Don't push! Trying to speak loudly or 'project' your voice will only lead to strain. Instead, use your breath support for vocal power. - Use your body voice! Visualize your voice resonating in your body, not your head. - Relax your jaw! Unclench your jaw and let it drop naturally as you speak. - Open your mouth! You'll be surprised at how much more volume you'll get from this one simple trick. - Take breaks! Give your voice a rest. Stop talking when you're not 'on the clock'. - Get coaching from a Holistic Voice Practitioner! Most importantly, learn the basic skills that will help you to speak correctly so that you won't suffer from a strained or fatigued voice. With just a bit of conscious effort and some basic voice coaching you'll be able to avoid Repetitive Voice Injury. For more information on Voice Coaching and avoiding vocal injury, see my website articles at vivalavoice.com The next time you sing a song, or give a presentation, become con-scious of 'opening up your words'. So many times I'll hear a singer or speaker, and can't understand most of the words they're saying or singing! What you've got to realize is that people may not have heard your song before, so all your words, your entire story, is new to them. If you're presenting, everything you'll be saying to your audience is brand new! Do your audience a favor and let them CLEARLY UNDERSTAND YOU. No one will be focusing on your message if they're straining to hear your words. The way to make yourself clearly understood is to open up your words. I don't mean to open your mouth in a phony, exaggerated movement. All you have to do is simply make more space INSIDE your mouth. By imagining an orange (or some other small fruit!) inside your mouth, you'll lift up the soft palette and open up the words. Elongating your vowels will also make it easier to hear every word. It's also important to slow down your speech, or slightly overemphasize your pronunciation. What is clear to you may still be hard to understand for someone who's unfamiliar with your words and topic. Singers, especially, need to open up vowels and make space for their words so that lyrics are clear and understandable. If you're telling an important story with your song, you want it to be understood; otherwise your audience won't be able to relate to your music and you will have lost a very important emotional connection. There’s a whole chapter in my book From Shower To Stage….7 Easy Steps for Singing Like A Pro! on this important concept. I call it the ‘Legato Line’. Remember that what sounds clear to you in normal speech or singing may not be clear to an audience who has never heard your presentation or music. Open up your words to clearly communicate your message and the emotion that is the key to your success as an effective performer! Cheers, Beth |
From Beth LawrenceIf you're serious about singing then you've got to take care of your voice. Here are some healthy ways to do that! AuthorBeth Lawrence, Award-winning singer, songwriter and author of "From Shower To Stage...7 Easy Steps for Singing Like A Pro!" |