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  • TMV World Team
    HOW TO KEEP YOUR VOICE HEALTHY DURING COLD AND FLU SEASON!
    I am often asked by my students "How can I keep from getting sick, or if I do catch a cold, how can I get my voice back to normal as soon as possible?"
    During the winter months, good hand washing and sanitizing are even more important.  Germs are transmitted from the hands to the mucous membranes any time you touch your eyes or your nose.  Carry a portable hand sanitizer with you at all times and use it frequently throughout the day.  Sneeze and cough into the crook of your arm, rather than your hands, and encourage others to do likewise, to prevent the spread of germs.   
    Anything that can affect your health, body, skin or mood can affect your singing. The most important element (other than good technique) is WATER. The vocal cords need to remain hydrated (wet) in order to function optimally. Most people do not drink enough plain water, and singers need to drink more water than the average person in order to maintain vocal health. The motto is "pee pale". That's right, the more clearly you tinkle, the happier your vocal cords are! 
    Air conditioning and heating units take moisture out of the air, affecting the hydration of the cords. Inhaling steam or cool mist will help replace the lost water. 
    You should also be aware that, because of the functioning of the epiglottis, nothing you drink actually touches the vocal cords, so the old "tea and honey" remedy, while it might feel nice, does not affect the vocal cords (although it may provide a soothing effect to the tissues of the throat).  The only way to affect the vocal cords is to inhale steam or mist onto them.
    Steam or mist, if inhaled, will hydrate the cords and help minimize swelling. I encourage singers to invest in a portable facial steamer (found at any drug store) and inhale steam several times a day if you are dealing with swollen vocal cords. (Make sure you sanitize the unit daily).
    I also recommend using a "NETI POT" to clear out sinus cavities.  The use of a neti pot requires mixing up a saline solution that will be poured through the nasal passages.  The neti pot used with a saline solution has been shown to be an effective treatment for hay fever,  sinusitis, and other nasal conditions.  Nasal irrigation is used by many professional singers to remedy sinus dripping.
    Humidity, steam, mist, drinking water, and warmth are good for the vocal cords; smoke, pollen, dry air, air conditioning and heating, caffeine, alcohol and drugs are dehydrating and therefore BAD for them!
     Some singers find that dairy products like milk or cheese cause thick mucus, so these products should be avoided on performance days. Allergies are also mucus producing, but you should avoid most antihistamines because they are too drying. If you must take them, counter the dehydrating effects with plenty of water and steam. Breathing through a warm wet towel will do in an emergency, as will inhaling steam from boiling water, or the local gym's steam room. 
    Acid reflux is a problem many people do not even know they have. It occurs when stomach acid regurgitates up onto your esophagus, touching your vocal cords and damaging the cords and surrounding tissue. You can address this common problem by avoiding late night eating and by sleeping with your head elevated. Check with your physician- there are new medications that may alleviate this issue for you.
    If you are sick or vocally tired, you need rest.  Avoid talking or even whispering.  Whispering is not a healthful solution when your vocal cords are swollen.  Never talk loudly or sing when your vocal cords are swollen- you may be encouraging vocal nodules.  Instead, silence, rest, and steam will get you on the road to recovery.  Lip and tongue trills can be helpful once you are on the road to recovery.  Generally, instead of singing during this time, just listen to your old voice lessons.  In that way, you are training "aurally" instead of "orally".
    HERE'S TO A HAPPY AND HEALTHY FALL AND WINTER!

  • TMV World Team
    Singing is one of the most important means of communication that we are blessed to experience. It is the means by which we express our innermost thoughts and feelings in a language shared by the whole world. We sing songs as worship...as symbols of patriotism...as words to inspire change...to amuse...to romance....to uplift. Often, it is forgotten how integral singing is to our existence. When at play, children seem to almost instinctively sing as part of their games. These same young voices are instruments capable of producing a wide array of tones and timbres. In order to access this wide range of sounds, though, the sounds produced at play are not enough. Proper training in healthy vocal production is needed.
    Recently, I have been asked quite a bit about the appropriate age to begin voice lessons for children. Parents realize that their kids have either an overwhelming enthusiasm for singing or some substantial native talent that they want to properly nurture. They just wonder if formal lessons are safe for the youngster to undertake and worth the financial investment. First of all, I stress that the most important issue with kids is their attention span and not the perceived talent level. I've had some clearly gifted 7 year olds come in but they did not have the focus and maturity that is needed. Once that is explained, I relay that I believe lessons can successfully begin at age 8. I have trained a couple of 7 year olds, though, because they had the requisite focus, attention span, and teachability in addition to natural musical instincts. As long as the training is based in healthy technical habits and applied correctly to songs, there are no inherent dangers.
    Many people wonder what young singers can actually learn in private voice lessons. Some have believed that their physically immature instruments cannot acquire any real technical skills until their voices fully develop at puberty. But I am one of many who work with kids on a regular basis who believe that these voices can develop quite a lot of facility if guided correctly. We must remember that singing is an intricate psychomotor skill, not so different from the learning of piano, dance, or athletic moves. It's all about the systematic training of correct muscle memory which builds healthy technique that will strengthen and protect the voice. And if the goal of vocal study is establishment of good vocal habits that will carry over into adulthood, vocal technique has to be of primary importance! Of course, this must be balanced with singing good songs, but it will be difficult to expand repertoire if the instrument is limited in the sounds it can produce.
    The very same technical issues that need to be taught to adult singers need to be taught to kids. The building of tone production practices is essential. Child singers need to develop the ability to produce tones without undue tension and restriction. They must be taught proper breathing techniques and good body posture and alignment. Range extension is still important for kids, even though it must be applied relative to their still-growing voices. Many of the exercises that I use with my adult clients are used in the sessions with my youngsters, though sometimes with modifications. I also make sure that I introduce them to correct terminology concerning how the voice is put together and how it works. They learn about head and chest voice, the larynx, vocal folds, diaphragm, and resonance. They need to start learning a singer's vocabulary from the start of their study.
    We are seeing some fine examples of superstar singers who have become elite vocal athletes because of some fantastic vocal training starting at a young age- Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Adam Lambert among others. It is a worthwhile investment to begin lessons with a child who has the love for singing coupled with a sense of focus and discipline. The teacher must have a great knowledge of vocal pedagogy and a personality that can provide a safe, nurturing environment for the young singer to embark on this great journey of singing study.

  • TMV World Team
    No but really, apparently the YouTube community who have found my videos can't decide if they love me or hate me. My comments are split down the middle with pretty much no middle ground. It's weird, after receiving nasty comments from people, I realized that I don't think I've ever left someone a nasty comment. Typically, If I don't like something, I do this crazy thing called stopping the video and browsing away. There are millions of videos on YouTube, finding an alternative is very easy. I've listened to my fair share of awful singers on YouTube and mediocre and some amazing ones. I always try to compliment the wonderful ones and let the mediocre ones know when they get something spot on. But I think the only time I comment negatively on someone's video is if they ask for critique or seem generally open to it and then I try to be as constructive as I can. Maybe I'm missing out on this supposed joy some people get by tearing into people with rude comments but I honestly don't care. I was raised that if you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all. And truly, telling someone "you suck" or "omfg plz stop singing" or, my favorite, (direct quote!) "Stop raping the song, you c*nt!" doesn't really do any good for either side.
    Really, I hope you feel awful if you have the nerve to tell someone that, especially if you wouldn't dare put yourself out there and sing in front of anyone unless you were drunk as hell as is so often the case. And putting someone down is never ok. That doesn't help them improve. And you really want to stop someone from singing? I mean, there are some people's singing that I will never listen to for pleasure, no denying, but I would never ever tell someone to stop altogether. They may never be a professional or even rock a karaoke bar or even be able to harmonize Happy Birthday. So what? So long as they're having fun, why ruin that? No one's hurting you. Oh, your precious ears, I'm sorry! *cue tiniest violin* But wait, here's a novel idea, did you ever think to close the window? No one's forcing you to listen to anyone or watch their videos. Or even use the internet. There's sooooo much out there to do in the world. You cannot tell me that you can't find anything better to do with your time than to ruin someone's day. Read a book. Do your laundry. Eat a pickle. Go weed your garden. Don't have one? Go weed your neighbor's garden. Or weed the park. Any of those are significantly more productive and, I garuntee you, more useful to society than your bullying.
    And now that I've let out that annoyance, I'm going to take my own advice and go do something more productive than rant about cowards on the internet. Like my homework.
    Anyone else had experience with negativity on the internet? How have you dealt with it?
     

  • TMV World Team

    There's an epidemic in the music industry right now. Three major stars are all having throat surgery within weeks of each other. Adele had surgery last Thursday to stop a vocal hemorrhage a recurring problem for her that finally cancelled her world tour. Keith Urban just announced he will undergo throat surgery to remove a polyp growing on his vocal cords followed by extended vocal rest. John Mayer also had surgery recently to remove a granuloma (enlarged nodule) just above his vocal cord. He is now on complete vocal rest (no singing OR speaking) for one month, and unfortunately granuloma's tend to grow back ;(. Janet Jackson is having vocal troubles and is cancelling concerts, Christina Perri had vocal damage What on earth is going on?
    Why now? What's changed? Or is it simply more acceptable to blame the voice now than it used to be? It's true that singers have suffered from hemorrhages (Christina Aguilera had one a few years ago), nodules, polyps matter of fact, most singers in the biz eventually come face to face with the knife. Is this the fated outcome of years in the biz?
    As a vocal coach who specializes in vocal problems (well known ENT's send me artists to work some magic on), little do they know I resort to acupuncture, deep tissue massage of the throat and other alternative remedies simply because they work where drugs fail. Poor technique, tension and dehydration are always at the root and other maladies, among them laryngeal reflux, allergies, poor health and diet - and more often than not speaking voices that ruin singing voices.
    But I know that the bigger problem is that stars are not training the way they should be. And no one around them is supporting them to do so. I deal with labels every day that ignore their singer's vocal health it's the why-fix-it-if-it's-not-broken attitude. But I tell them, they are in for a major loss one-day and there will be millions of fans disappointed and ticket sales revoked. Let alone the healing and realignment process, which can be lengthy. That said it's not easy when your vocal cords are your instrument it's an art. It's one of the things I specialize in and most of the time, few are heeding the call.
    Who's next?
    I'll keep preaching until they HEAR me!
    Oh and if you've been living under a rock and missed my free video series check out the last of the free vids here you're not going to want to miss this!!

  • TMV World Team
    (Blues, Jazz singer Cheryl Hodge - author, is currently nominated for BEST BLUES SONG, 2011, at the Hollywood Music In Media Awards)
    People are always asking me about what my secrets have been for getting ahead in the music biz. It's almost like they think there is some magic answer that will help them move up the ladder. Well, in a funny way, maybe there is one. But you might not like the answer.
    There are basically three rules that I live by and have for 30 years. In order to succeed in the music biz (the simple answer), you need three basic ingredients. In time you will find that all three ingredients are inner-related, and that one hand scratches the other. You must have:
    1.) A great musical product (it doesn't have to be original - but if you are going to do a cover, do it nothing like the original... avoid comparisons.) The first 20 seconds of the production have to be both innovative, infectious, and flawless. This has to be music so catchy that if you, yourself, had only enough money to buy one CD a year, this would be the one you would buy. Put yourself in the consumer's seat. Remember, we are presently in a devastating recession. Talk is cheap (there are lots of sales pitches out there), and money is dear. For someone to buy your music, they need to be really moved by you, in a way that no one else has.
    2.) Relentless drive (unending belief in yourself). 99% of the artists who are successful did not "make it" over night. They knew, at the start, that they would most likely be in for a "long haul" before the public would become aware of them. The chances of being a huge success in the selling market are actually less than that of being kidnapped, believe it or not. When people see those odds, they tend to become daunted. The sooner you get started, the better. Look at former mouseketeers, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christine Aguilera. Starting early certainly gave them a "leg up" in the business. However, having said all this, it is truly never too late. At 56 years old, I am starting to be discovered in the biz. Why? Because I didn't give up. I believed in my music; I believed in myself. I knew my niche, as it were. I realized my market. The great Lou Rawls once said at a seminar that his golden rule for success was, "Never change your music to suit the public, and current trends. Do what YOU believe in. If you believe in your music, then sooner or later the public will, too."
    3.) Business savvy. This is the one that some artists absolutely hate to acknowledge. Many believe that the words "business" and "artist" are polar opposites. Every year, a few songwriters approach me by saying that they feel that being a business-minded musician is the equivalent of "selling out". Interesting premise, but I beg to differ. Songs are a communication. If you believe in your art, then you will admit that you believe in communicating the message of the song with the most listeners you can possibly relay the song to. And now we get to the ultimate goal: exposure. You'll need to learn all about agents and managers. You will need to schedule out at least an hour per day of web work. You will need to know about tax shelters. You will need an office that includes: a computer, possibly (probably) a home studio, a phone/fax machine, a scanner, a filing cabinet, and a few absolutely great books about the music business. One of my personal favorites is Hal Galper's book, "The Touring Musician". The best way to find out what you like is to talk to some of the most successful people whom you have already made acquaintances with in the music business.
    Questions? Feel free to contact me at one of the following places: cherylhodge.com ,jazzboulevard.com, reverbnation.com, Jazz & Blues Artist, Cheryl Hodge (facebook) .

  • TMV World Team
    Hello everyone,
    This week I wanted to ask a question about many different things that came to my mind. I will explain my situation and I am pretty sure that a lot of people will truly understand how I feel and what I think. recently at school I had to audition for a show and I was chosen to participate in the college session's concert. I was so happy, but yet, I am a classical singer, so pop song can be a little bit hard for me to switch sometimes. A lot of people in my class know that I am a classical singer and that I will be one of the only girls singing a hard 'pop/rock' song ( Woodstock by Joni Mitchell) and I feel like I am not (yet) able to give it my 100% in my singing. Like if it was really hard and I feel like I keep on pushing myself even if I know that I can sing it. I am afraid that it is going to break in front of everybody because of my ''lack of support'' in the pop singing. I always have to switch from chest to a really strong head voice and it is hard for me. My problem, in all of that, is that I am a little bit afraid of the judgment of others. I hear a lot of people telling me (and they don't even know how to sing properly) that classical singing is much more easier than pop (and them, they can not even hit the A4) and there are a lot of people who thinks that.... so I feel like I am the only one knowing the ''truth'' about singing (even if I don't know a lot yet) but more than them and that kind of hurts me. Any tricks about that? Have you ever felt like nobody understood how it was hard to sing this one song or anything like that? Each day I have to feel like this because I am studying in music. I can't wait to get to University and in a singing program where I'll be at my place. A lot of person make fun of opera because they think it's sounds funny and they say that it look easier to sing *sigh*. Please, just tell me what you think.
    I also wanted to know if you had any tricks to give me about performing in the public? I know that a lot of people have that ''issue'' about stress and wanting to give the best performance of their lives. Any tricks not to breakdown or anything?
    Thank you very much!

  • TMV World Team

    How To Practice

    By TMV World Team, in Articles,

    It pretty much goes without saying that practicing is essential to mastery of any endeavor. Anyone who is serious about his singing recognizes this fact. It goes with the territory. What I see as a problem is that students often just don't know HOW to practice efficiently. They blindly jump in without a game plan that will allow them to optimize their practice room time. Well, not to worry- that's why I'm writing this little entry. Here are some helpful guidelines to make your hard work more effective.
    1) Set goals for the practice session. Go in knowing what you will be working on. What songs will you tackle? Will you be rehearsing songs you've already learned well? Are you just running problem areas? You can always tweak your plan as the session goes on, but have a plan to start with.
    2) You should ALWAYS start your practice time with warming up. Do some physical stretches as well as tongue stretches before launching into your vocal exercises. Humming, lip trills, and 'ng' sounds should start out the workout.
    3) If learning new songs, you need to break them down and learn them incrementally. Don't start out trying to sing the tune full blast with words. This can be taxing to the instrument. Begin by vocalizing the melody on a lip or tongue trill, hum, exercise syllables (goog, mum, wun, nay), or a single vowel (I like 'oo') so that the vocal muscles can get used to creating the pitches accurately. Learn the lyrics independently of making pitch. Let the articulators get used to making all your word sounds efficiently. Only then should you start singing on the text.
    4) If you are working on numbers that you have already learned but have problems, take the trouble passages and phonate them on exercise sounds to get your vocal coordination back on track. Then add the words back in.
    5) Record yourself often as you practice. The immediate feedback you get from hearing yourself goes a long way in fixing problem spots in your songs and in your technique.
    6) Practice in front of a mirror. This goes for technical exercises as well as songs. Watch for undue facial tensions, bad vowel shapes, and high, shallow breathing.
    7) If you've had a long or very intense session, wrap up with a vocal cooldown. You will essentially do a shortened version of your warmup in reverse. It's important to bring the vocal folds back to their normal speech state.
    These tips will help you to make your practice sessions more productive and, in the process, allow you to be a better artist.

  • TMV World Team
    I'm often contacted by singers asking how to make their voices stronger. Weak or breathy singing can be corrected. Read on.
    There are two outstanding reasons for always singing with a weak or breathy sound.
    1. Shyness. Often, when people who are shy sing, their sound is also shy. Since shyness comes from a fear of being judged by others, or a fear of standing out from the crowd, singing in front of people puts a shy person in a very uncomfortable position.
    Singing softly is reflexive for very shy people. This is interesting, since the reason that person is up there singing is to be noticed and appreciated by others. It might help to know that many top performers suffer from extreme shyness, and yet have been able to overcome the problem, at least while they are performing.
    One technique which can help this is for you to assume a different, more aggressive personality ("acting" a part) while singing. Usually, shyness can't just be overcome by trying not to be shy. It often takes extensive therapy and much dedication to change from shy to brave.
    So, why not just work on being a good actor. This way you can take the pressure off while you are performing by doing what all good actors do, acting. Of course you have to practice doing this, and it takes dedication and work, but as your "character" emerges in songs, your voice will become stronger.
    2. The second major cause of weak singing sound is much easier to fix breathiness. This is just what the term describes: singing with a "whispering" sound. Letting too much breath come through the vocal cords along with sound.
    If this is your problem, work with these vocal exercises daily: Sing some short scales or a series of notes using the sound "ka". "Ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka" ("Feel" this sound up in your forehead, not down in your throat.) Then follow this up by singing the same notes using just an "ah" sound. Try to make the "ah" scale sound as bright and punchy as the "ka" scale.
    Then sing this again, starting with the "ka"s and finishing with another vowel. "ka-ka-ka-ka---EE.........., etc. Make sure your throat remains very open when you sing the pure vowel. Don't push the range on this. Guys stop around middle C, girls an octave higher. The exercise should start around an octave lower. Stop when you feel any stress.
    Then, sing a short song like "Happy Birthday" trying to continue the more solid sound you should have been getting with the exercises. Do this often and your voice should become more solid and powerful.

  • TMV World Team

     
    PA few weeks ago I posted a Blog about Commitment (Are You Commitment Phobic?). In my conversation about Commitment I also talked about how most people in addition to side-stepping Commitment, resist Completion too. It seems that it's a human dilemma.Is it the stars in our eyes like this little pooch here?
    Probably, because, left to our own illustrious fantasies, we'd be famous overnight, win J.Lo's approval and become the next American Idol, or become a purpose-driven cooler-than-heck rockstar who changes the world in one year's time (reasonable amount of time -no?).
    But without the power of Completion we procrastinate, crawl under the covers, suck our thumbs and wonder why our vision of ourselves does not match reality. We have the best of intentions!? and talent to boot!
    My big sister is the Editor and Publisher of a weekly newspaper in Telluride, CO, The Telluride Watch with her husband Seth. For the past 21 years, their lives have revolved around deadlines. One of my younger sisters is a healer. She sets her own hours (like me) and her work is all self-motivated. I fall somewhere in between but more and more appreciate deadlines, and I find, while stressful, are actually easier to function under and a ton more content gets created and a ton more people get served.
    A deadline at least forces you to deliver whether or not you think it's good enough it has to be, you're under deadline. So I've learned the power in finishing- it makes for progress and longer term, for better work.
    Because when you force yourself to deliver you exercise a different muscle the muscle of Completion. Finishing is a skill and it is perhaps the key to writing great songs or hit songs and really making a career for yourself. At the ASCAP Conference last April in LA, I heard Josh Kear/songwriter (Before He Cheats/ Carrie Underwood, Need You Now/Lady Antebellum) say that the biggest thing you could do as a songwriter is to finish your songs. Maybe you don't have the skillset to finish that song the way you need, but if you write 30-40 more songs, then suddenly you know how to finish them. Write a BUNCH of songs and FINISH them even if you don't love them because then you have finished songs. One of the hardest disciplines to learn is to finish. Starting a song is simple, you've got an idea, the first verse and chorus will come fast and then you hit that wall. Sometimes you don't finish it at all. Part of the habit of becoming a professional songwriter is learning how to finish. But in the early stages finishing doesn't mean it has to be great you just have to finish the song and then write another one and another one and another one(listen to Josh talk about it on the ASCAPExpo videos from 2011, The Hitmakers Cookbook: Recipes for Success at 60:00 at www.ascap.com (look for the link to purchase the vids from the 2011 conference way worth the price).
    Another way we resist Completion is to not finish projects or agreements. One of my past students, Shawna was a very talented girl. She had a beautiful voice, and effervescent bubbly spirit, and a knack for writing rhyming lyrics. When she first came to me, her voice was weak and she had no clue how to put her career together. During our 9 months together we created a powerful singing voice, co-wrote 6 songs, developed her performance and stage presence, built her confidence and got off to a great start. However, just as we started to make progress, she stopped coming unfortunately for her because we were JUST getting started, there was so much left to do. One of her problems was that she had money issues. She had a terrible habit of paying late (none of my students pay late, it's not professional and I am teaching them responsibility), but she was always promising she would get up to speed, and I took her at her word, but she never did. When she called me to let me know she had other plans, she said the reason was mainly financial, and it's not that I don't believe her, but it was what she chose to spend her money on that was sapping her dry. Every week she came in with new clothes, new hair and one time even talking about her vacation, what she didn't realize is, that it was blaringly clear where her bigger commitment was. She, like many others, was caught up with the idea of stardom, got distracted by the bright shiny objects, the allure of the lights, instead of the real work. But the truth is, careers happen by doing the work, investing in one's career and building relationships with people in the business. From her vantage point and lack of experience, she didn't realize. It's okay, I've been there that's the only way I learned. Hopefully she will. Either way, it's too bad she doesn't realize the mistake she's making. Karma's a bee-aa-tch.
    You see, what makes someone successful has as much to do with their personality, their integrity, intelligence-smarts, self-perception and awareness, ability to grow good relationships, loyalty, their own personal growth and choices they make as it does their talent. It's the truth. Ask anyone in the industry and they'll say the same thing. And people in the business can see it, smell it. No one wants to do business with someone who has trouble with commitment or completion or is a fair weather kind of person.
    If you are one of those people who flit about from person to person in the industry and you don't build relationships it's kind of not your fault, at first. Lots of people have a tendency to do that thinking the next person will be the one to make their career turn out but it doesn't work.Because it isn't other people that make your career happen, it's you, the way you conduct yourself and the choices you make. And the industry is waaay too small Many times I've seen it come back around and slam people in the face, it's happened to me too. There you are, ready to sign a deal and someone that you blew off (who is friends with the label) gives you thumbs down and bam there it goes, down the river. It can happen all the time.
    I'm also not saying to stay in a relationship that isn't working either, because I see a lot of artists doing that too. Working with people who are promising the moon but can't deliver or are taking them down the wrong road. And even if you've made mistakes in the past, it's okay as long as you learn, grow and change. People will respect you when you do. You have to use your smarts.
    But once you find a true mentor, guidance, support, someone who can take you there someone who cares enough about who you are as well as your talent, someone who is as serious about your career as you are then be smart enough to know it and value it. Work with them, stay in touch with them, nurture your relationship because when you are ready, they'll be there to open doors for you.
    The Your Professionally Fit List for the Music Biz:
    Keep Your Word. When you give your word, keep it for YOU. Do what you say you're going to do and you will not only be empowered, others will knock down the door to work with you. Build Relationships don't Break them. A great relationship is built over time. People work with people they know, like and trust. Don't be so quick to jump ship it could be you who's not ready. Keep your Commitments, you will be tested. Be Good at Completion. Finish projects, finish songs, do your work, that's what becoming a professional musician is all about. Respect Your Money. Every artist today who is successful, invests in their own career. Learning how to handle money and respecting your financial interactions is important. You are building or breaking your reputation by the way you do business. Get a pair of Sunglasses with Stars like your BFF dog toy above, to remind yourself when you're full of it! FREE STUFF: Get your free Dreamer to Diva Triple Pack here.
    MORE FREE STUFF: Check out my new Free Vocal Instructional Videos here 34 of them! Let me know what you think!

  • TMV World Team
    Vocal practice can be a way to heal emotional trauma. Emotional trauma can be healed faster by learning to sing better. You have to learn to feel the air as it moves through the voice and connect and surrender to the feeling of the vibration. If you are delicate enough with the process, it can unravel unconscious emotions trapped in the body. It is way faster than therapy.
    That is one of the incredible gifts of a life in the arts. If you want to show up and be totally present, you have to clear any emotional stuff in the way of a free expression.

  • TMV World Team
    Ever wonder why stars get vocal problems? Why they lose their voices after years of being in the business? So do I. It doesn't have to happen.
    But what does it take to avoid vocal problems and maintain vocal health? So many are still unaware that there's another way. Wouldn't you think they'd consult the best in the business to keep their voices at their peak? Yeah, me too. And sometimes, even if they do, they do not heed the warnings, forfeiting health for rock and roll sigh.
    But the simple truth is, the voice is not an instrument to screw with. The vocal cords are not replaceable. You only have one set of cords and the way you treat them and your body will determine whether you go down the road of deterioration that befalls the working singer, or be smarter and preserve your voice for your future forever.
    Right now I am struck by how many stars are suffering. John Mayer just announced that he has a granuloma and had to cancel his birthday concert in two weeks with Tony Bennett plus the next few months of touring. He doesn't know yet when he'll be better because granuloma's can take a long time to dissolve. One thing is for sure he has to completely stop singing and talking for at least 3-4 weeks or longer and it could be quite a while before he recovers enough to sing, let alone tour again. If surgery is the last resort, his voice may never be the same. That's a scary thing in the career of a famous performing and recording artist.
    Adele (as I wrote about last week) had to cancel her tour as well (hopefully just temporarily), but is also suffering from vocal issues. Christina Perri just recovered from nodules and there are many more, I assure you. It's just not easy to be out on the road singing for a living and keeping your voice in great shape. Here's my tips on my holistic recommendations to stay healthy in my Vocal Road Warrior Formula, but today I want to talk about vocal technique and preserving your voice while you sing. I want to teach you how to master your instrument and the key things to do to ensure that you never have to experience vocal problems of this magnitude. Of course there is MUCH more than what I can present in this article, but I picked out the biggest culprits that cause issues as it relates to the technical voice.
    Just quickly let's take a quick peek at what some of these problems are and how they develop.
    Vocal abuse or misuse, such as excessive use of the voice when singing, talking, smoking, coughing, yelling, or inhaling irritants can cause abnormalities of the vocal cords, such as nodules, granulomas, polyps, or cysts. The difference between these abnormalities is mostly a function of what kind of tissue is involved. Symptoms of throat granuloma (and nodules & cysts) can be hoarseness, chronic throat clearing, throat pain, cough (sometimes with a little blood), and the feeling of having a lump in your throat. Surgery is a less optimal treatment for throat granuloma than vocal therapy, although granulomas are often slow to regress, according to NYU Voice Center's Website.
    Most disorders of vocal abuse and misuse are reversible. The best treatment is to identify and eliminate the vocal behavior that created the voice disorder. In many cases, a brief period of voice therapy is helpful so the individual can learn good vocal techniques, such as proper breath support for speech or eliminating high pressure at the vocal mechanism.
    What do to:
    Avoid coughing. Coughing shreds your vocal cords. When you have an infection, the body will naturally cough to get rid of it. The best remedy for this on the market is Bronchial Soothe with ivy leaf (available at Whole Foods). It's the only remedy I've ever found that actually stops a vicious cough. And see my Vocal Road Warrior Formula to avoid getting sick in the first place. Don't glottal. Glottal's happen when the edges of the vocal cords bang together in over-closure. This results from poor vocal technique. The way to avoid it is to add a soft h to the onset of words that begin with vowels, i.e.; hh-everyone, hh-; hh-always. It can happen in the middle of a word too: st-ay. A really good vocal coach can teach you more about how not to glottal, however the operative word is really good vocal coach most mid-level coaches do not have this kind of expertise and can even cause vocal problems like these. Get your voice out of your throat. Speaking low in your throat can cause nodules and granuloma. Associate your voice with less pressure and move it higher into your mouth or head cavity. Speak higher in pitch and raise the soft palate to move out of the throat (learn how to raise the palate in my Singers Gift Warmups). Don't yell or talk excessively for long periods of time. Yelling and speaking for a long time (especially over loud music) is an immediate burnout and can ruin your singing voice. But whispering is just as bad. If you know your speaking voice is a problem, find a speech therapist, or vocal coach that understands speech therapy to help you get back on track. Study vocal & breathing technique. Find a great (not just a good) professional vocal coach who specializes in vocal disorders and knows a thing or two about holistic approaches to speed you back to health (like me). This is non-negotiable if you want to have a professional career and keep your speaking and singing voice healthy for life. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, John Mayer, Adele, Christina Perri and all the other Vocal Road Warriors out there on the mend ~ stay healthy! We need you and your music!
    To keep your voice healthy and prevent damage, experience my Singers Gift Warm ups and Cool Downs and do it right from the start! www.caricole.com/singersgift
    ©2011 Cari Cole, Vocal Mag, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

     


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