Voice Problems?

Are you having problems with your singing or speaking voice? Want to get personal help for your vocal challenge? I'm here to help! I'll personally answer any question you have; just go to my new website and ask away!

Are You Getting IT?

Are you getting my monthly Voicegram? If not, here's a bit of what you missed. The June Voicegram, "The Psychology of Choosing' talks about, among other things, the 'story' of your life that you've created for yourself, which most probably is based on false belief systems that no longer serve you! Here's an exerpt:

Today, start being conscious of the 'story' you have chosen for your own life. You will probably find that the novel of your life has been written by the suggestion (subliminal or overt) of ghost-writer parents, teachers, and society as a whole, and that you have simply put your name on the book.

Sign up for my Voicegram and get "The Psychology of Choosing" today!

I love helping people with 'aha!' moments. Here's what one of my readers commented:

Beth,
WOW! I just got it how you are serving your clients from and at a significant depth. This last voicegram jogged me into a fresher level of looking at my stories and how they are limiting me in my role. Thank you so much! JZ

PayPlay correction

My last blog talked about downloads from PayPlay. Downloads aren't .65, sorry. Here are their download fees, still inexpensive!:


$0.77 for DRM WMA and $0.88 for MP3.

Great Download site!

For all you frazzled parents who want to get a good night's sleep, here's help!

Downloads from my award-winning CD "Land Of Sleepytime" at this Pay Play site are only $.65!!! Try 'Baby Mine' from Dumbo - your baby will be sleeping in no time!


http://payplay.fm/bethlawrence

Miss Utah Pageant Judge

I'm off to Salt Lake City to judge the Miss Utah Pageant. I'll be there all week finding a stunning Miss America contender.

These pageants are TOUGH! The girls do a series of intense interviews, preliminary pageant every night, then compete the final night for the title. All the contestants are unbelievably strong scholastically, artistically; are high acheivers; active in volunteerism; are articulate and concerned about the challenges we all face. They want to make a difference in the world while serving as a positive role model for young women.

Don't ever think that pageants are all fluff and glamour! These women work hard and deserve a great deal of respect. I can't wait to meet them all!

Vocal Cord Physiotherapy

If you've ever been hurt in an accident; had a sports injury; or have been recovering from surgery, you know the essential value of physical therapy.

What about a damaged voice? Many professionals are finding that incorrect use of their voice is leading to sore throat, a raspy voice, or total loss of the voice. More and more corporations, teachers and salespeople are learning the value of vocal cord physiotherapy to overcome the ravages of vocal damage.

In order to heal the voice, you've got to unlearn bad vocal habits, and train the voice so that further damage won't occur. Once you are speaking or singing correctly, the voice can heal and regain strength and clarity.

Early in my career I healed my vocal nodules by retraining my voice! Simple as that - no surgery, just correcting the damaging vocal habits I had been taught by an incorrect singing method. If you want to learn more about my vocal recovery, read 'My Story'.

Take care of your voice by learning healthy voice production! By simply doing 10 minutes of vocal exercises a day you can be on your way to vocal health, no matter what your profession! My Joyful Singing - Seven Principles for Vocal Mastery series is a great first step.

Here's to healthy singing/speaking!

Do you have a question about your voice? Ask me!

Music in the Workplace

Here's some interesting info from Life@work:

Through the decades: Work-music connection centuries old

A University of Illinois study proves that when employees listen to music of their choice at the workplace, it soothes frayed nerves, drowns out distracting office chatter, boosts mood, and significantly enhances office performance.

However, the music-work connection goes beyond sleek iPods, nifty speakers and freshly-downloaded MP3 tracks.

Way back in the 1800s, handloom weavers and child labourers sang as they worked.

Some factories even hired orchestras to sing to workers. Apart from helping labourers stay awake (!), music was connected with:

* Increased productivity

* Fewer accidents

* Improved alertness

* Team interaction

During World War II, radio played a part in bringing music to the masses. In 1940, the British Broadcasting Corporation ran a radio programme, Music While You Work, especially for factory workers. The bands were instructed to play medleys to help workers focus attention on the tasks at hand. “A rhythm that would keep productivity up” was also among the requirements.

Cows Love Music Too!

More evidence for the power of music. If it works for cows, it can certainly work for you! Try singing as a healing, energizing part of your day!

This is an article from ech-chorouk online:

Mozart to the rescue of reluctant milk-cows.


Spanish farmers seem to find a solution for increasing their milk production. An innovative and apparently very persuasive way to make their cows produce more milk a day.

No, it is not a magic medicine nor a special type of grass, but very relaxing classical music composed by Mozart. It is commonly known that Mozart's music increases children IQs and make adults more creative, but when it comes to cows, nobody knows.

Some Spanish farmers wanted to experiment this revolutionary method, they decided to play Mozart's music for their cows in the cowshed, the outcome was unexpected and stunning, the "uninspired" cows seemed in very good mood and the outcome in milk was surprisingly high.

It seems that the Spanish farmers have found a solution to their plague, and the investment is cost-effective a Mozart's CD for a better milk outcome. The genius of Mozart seems to timeless, so after Mozart's therapy in hospitals, Mozart's therapy in the gardens , now comes the turn of Mozart's therapy in milk production, who's next ?!!

Want singing therapy in the privacy of your own home? Check out my Joyful Singing Series! Vol. One gives you all the basics plus your very own vocal exercise CD!

How Do You Spend Your Free Time?

Do you spend your 'free' time doing something that's stimulating, educational or relaxing? Or do you 'zone out' in seemingly mindless pursuits that put your brain to sleep?

Here's a good one for you compliments of Geri Robak:

Living Will

Last night, my wife and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her,
"I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some
machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug."

She got up, unplugged the TV and then threw out my beer.

Have a question about singing? I can help.

Prosperity

This is a great quote compliments of the Evergreen Church in Bellevue, WA:

"Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just
money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking,
and not just a lack of money or things.”
~ Eric Butterworth

Have a question about singing? Need some free advice?

Gardening for Health

Being an avid gardner who loves creating beauty and working with the natural cycles of the seasons I've become personally aware of the beneficial effect of working in the garden. Just as singing is its own type of therapy, gardening, or horticultural therapy is now being recognized as a natural route to health and wellness. Here's some info I found interesting:

The field of horticultural therapy studies the effects plants have on people. This includes everything from enhancing mood by having a single plant in a room to a recent study by British researchers who found that good bacteria in soil may affect the brain in ways similar to antidepressants.

Dr. Richard Mattson, professor of horticultural therapy at Kansas State University, said scientific advances have allowed researchers to measure the body's response to stimuli and pinpoint what happens when people are exposed to plants.

"We're finding that there are changes that happen when we are in the presence of plants," he said. "The brain is working, the autonomic nervous system is involved. We're also finding that some of these changes are affecting our immune system."

One study found that within 40 minutes of gardening, there were changes in the chemicals in saliva that affect the immune system, Mattson said. Another study measured blood pressure and heart rate as people entered and then left a botanical garden. Both rates decreased, which was especially notable given they walked through the garden, an exercise that normally would have increased blood pressure and heart rate.
"I think the evidence is pretty strong that healthwise, there are changes affecting our perception of the environment, the way our minds looks at objects, affecting our sensory system - these are translated into things that make us healthier," Mattson said.

Free Online Help For Singers!

Do you have a question about singing? I've created a new website that will come to your rescue! Go to my new site: askbethlawrence.com, and I'll PERSONALLY answer any question you may have.

No computer generated information - you'll get a real-life answer from me, based on my SEVEN PRINCIPLES FOR AN INTEGRATED VOICE system.

So ask away at askbethlawrence.com

I'm here to help!