I was asked today whether essential oils would help 'soften' a vocal nodule, and while I use Doterra Essential Oils daily, my answer would be unfortunately, no. At least not to the extent that would be necessary to totally get rid of the node. Sadly, there's no easy fix for nodules except complete vocal rest. When I had nodes very early in my career due to bad vocal coaching and singing too hard, I had to stop talking for A MONTH in order for the nodules to heal, diminish, and finally resolve. A healthy, stress free lifestyle with a good diet can speed the process, as with any health challenge, and essential oils have wonderful healing properties. But in order for the nodes to resolve the vocal cords have to stop vibrating, hitting and 'rubbing' together. I liken it to a callous or blister on your foot. If you keep wearing shoes that are too tight and continually rub on the callous, it will just get larger and tougher. You've got to stop using the voice and vocal cords before the nodules go away. Once the nodules are gone, you can then begin learning how to use the voice correctly so that you won't ever get nodes again. But by repeating the same bad vocal habits, chances are good that nodules will form again. So practice good health; learn to sing and speak so that you're not straining your voice, and you should be nodule free for life! If you would like to know more about Doterra Essential Oils for Singers, please contact me.
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If you've been told you have pitch problems, then I have a couple of quick and easy things that will help you get on, and stay on pitch! Surprisingly, positive affirmations about your singing ability can help to change how you're thinking and feeling about your voice. And feeling confident about your singing helps you to sing better1 Keep a youthful voice Vocal Rest Just as it's important to exercise, it's also important to rest. We use our voices constantly, and those who use their voices in a professional setting are even more prone to overuse and tire the voice. Be kind to your voice - don't scream, try to talk over background noise, or speak to large groups without a microphone. When you don't have to talk, don't. Once you become mindful of your voice, you'll begin to honor silence as a great way to care for your voice. Remember to treat your voice with respect and care, and you'll have a rich, strong, healthy and youthful sounding voice for your entire life! Learning to sing is easy with a few simple skills!
Vocal Exercise
Your vocal cords are muscles that need to be exercised throughout your life. Doing simple singing exercises to warm up the voice in the morning is a perfect way to start the day. Vocal exercises strengthen the voice; get rid of phlegm; and conscious breathing oxygenates the blood! My best advice for folks who are noticing an 'aging' of their voice is to sing everyday! A great time to vocalize is in your car going to work. You'll arrive with a voice that's ready to take on the challenges of the day. Just like your body, simple vocalizing will strengthen and tone the voice, maintaining a supple and youthful tone. Get vocal exercises with my Book on singing 'From Shower To Stage...7 Easy Steps for Singing Like A Pro!' Use Your Natural Voice Pitch Speaking and singing are natural and should reflect your authentic persona. What I mean by this is that you should be using your natural voice, not a voice that has been habitually altered through years of manipulation. So many times clients will come to me with very soft, airy voices, or voices that sound thin and squeaky. Many women have a hard time letting go of their 'little girl' voices and must be taught to release their naturally pitched voices. Your natural voice is always in a comfortable range, free of pinching and straining. Speaking with a relaxed throat and natural pitch gives the voice a warm, silky, youthful tone. Learning to sing is easy with a few simple skills! Conscious breathing leads to a youthful voice Conscious Breathing The basis for proper speaking and singing is conscious breathing. This means becoming aware of relaxing the belly, breathing low and slow, allowing the diaphragm to lower while the lungs fill with air. Think of filling up like a balloon: on the inhale the abdominal area 'fills' up; on the exhale the abdominal area 'deflates' or goes slightly flat. Most people breath very high in the chest and keep their bellies tight, which doesn't allow you to take in a full, deep breath. You can also imagine your ribs as a bellows expanding as you inhale and going back to the normal position as you exhale. Breathing is natural and is essential for supporting the voice so that the throat is not forcing the volume. A youthful voice is a well-supported voice! Learning to sing is easy to do with just a few simple skills. Keep a youthful voice Mindfulness In general, the first step to change is awareness. You've got to become mindful of how you're using, or abusing our voice. As you speak, start listening to yourself! Do you talk loudly in order to be heard over talking or over background noise? In your job, do you attempt to push your voice for maximum volume? Do you use your voice constantly without occasional rest? Begin now to monitor your volume, pitch, and breath control and be willing to learn new ways of using your voice to maintain vocal health. Learning to sing is easy to do with just a few simple skills. Boy with A Soft Belly! Most vocal challenges are directly related to an inability to correctly support the voice while singing or speaking. It's crucial that you are using 'active breathing' so that you can let go of 'holding' or tensions that are keeping you from releasing your voice with a relaxed, open sound. Here’s a good exercise from my book From Shower To Stage…7 Easy Steps for Singing Like A Pro! I call the ‘Resting Pose Exercise’: lay on the floor, placing a book in the diaphragm area (in the center, just above and between the bottom of the ribcage). As you breathe in, 'fill up' with air so that the book rises. As you exhale, the book will lower as the diaphragm area flattens. Keep doing this exercise until this type of breathing becomes natural and habitual, and you can breathe this way standing up. As you sing or speak, 'fill up' with air and try to keep 'filled up' even as you're using your voice, although, naturally, with the exhalation of air, your diaphragm area will flatten somewhat. Remember, your breath is your engine; never your throat. If you want power and volume, simply fill up with more air and use the 'cushion of air' as your vocal support mechanism. And P.S. - breathe with a soft belly! This is a wonderful article I came across that shows how effective 'singing therapy' can be for stroke, Parkinson's disease, and stuttering. What a brave and plucky young man! Good for him!
If you would like information on my Lawrence Vocal System Exercises that can help you, too, find the exercises here! DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Some of the most talented young voices in the area are filling the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas on Tuesday night at the Christmas Celebration concert. It is not only a popular tradition, but it is also a powerful platform for almost-13-year-old Jack VanGordon, who uses this opportunity to help overcome a major obstacle in his life. For as long as VanGordon can remember, he has loved to sing. The golden-voiced boy said that, of the four kids in his family, he is the only artistic one. “They’re all athletic and I’m the only one who is artistic,” he said. And he is also the only one of his siblings who does something else. “Ever since I was little, I stuttered,” VanGordon said. “It’s when I get really excited about stuff. But I don’t let it hold me back from what I want to do.” Identified as a stutterer before preschool, the Plano seventh-grader started speech therapy in elementary school, learning strategies to deal with the struggle. “It’s embarrassing,” VanGordon said. “I’m not going to deny that. But I am who I am, and nobody can change me.” Singing seems to have served as VanGordon’s greatest source of relief. “I love singing the most because I never stutter when I sing,” the boy said. “If one day I’m stuttering a lot, I can go up in my room and not have any disfluency.” According to speech therapist Tricia Krauss-Lehrman, that is common for stutterers. “Speech is handled on the left side of the brain; music is on the right hand. So, when an individual is singing, the actual pathways being used are different,” she said. But Krauss-Lehrman admits that there is little else common about VanGordon. “He’s just one of those kids. I feel like I’ll keep up with him forever,” she said. “Wanting to watch and follow his career, whatever it may be.” So, as VanGordon performs in his fourth year with the Dallas Symphony Children’s Chorus, and his second year as a soloist, his parents continue to marvel at their youngest child’s very grown-up decision. “He had a choice,” said mother Jill VanGordon. “He could not say anything, to recluse or not be social, certainly not sing a solo at the Meyerson. But, he’s made a different decision. This is who he is, part of who he is, and it makes me so proud!” Child in Wonderment! My latest Voicegram talks about getting back that childlike sense of wonderment. Read it here, and join my Voicegram monthly newsletter! |
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!" |