The Secret to the 'IT' Factor!

Have you ever gone to a concert where the singer just totally mesmerized you, even though they may not have been the best singer in the world? The performer just had the 'IT' factor? One way to develop the 'IT' factor not only when you're onstage, but in your everyday dealings with people day to day, is this: THINK OF YOUR BREATH AS PURE ENERGY! When you are preparing for a concert; a meeting; a difficult conversation, visualize the air you are breathing in as PURE ENERGY! Fill yourself up with that energy. THEN: RELEASE THAT GOLDEN ENERGY OUT TO THE WORLD! Energy comes in, energy goes out. Your audience will feel that energy, it will create a connection with the person or people you're speaking to. BREATH IS ENERGY - USE IT! I have a new Facebook page... All About Voice - please join the conversation there, and give me your comments on how this 'breathing in the energy' works for you!

Jennifer Lopez Is a Better Singer after ‘American Idol’

American Idol Helped Lopez to Become a Better Singer

Jennifer Lopez has credited “American Idol” with pushing her to “grow as an artist” after stepping down as a judge from the TV talent show.

The “On The Floor” singer has quit the panel to return to performing but insists her two years serving as a mentor to contestants has helped her to evolve.

She tells MTV News, “Whenever it’s things like that, where you’re working with other people, like the audience, or even another artist, like we did with the contestants on the show, you learn, you grow. And whatever I’d tell them, it was funny, it was like telling myself. Like, ‘Don’t forget, when you’re onstage ... make sure you connect and make sure it’s about the feeling.’

“Because we all get caught up, when we’re the ones standing there, and everybody’s watching. But it’s about forgetting about that and conveying a feeling. And I always feel like whenever I was telling them this over the past two years of doing Idol, that it was helping me grow as an artist as well.”

Lopez calls her “American Idol” stint a career highlight, but admits she is ready to step back into the spotlight as a singer.

She adds, “It was a great experience to sit there and do that for a while, and I honestly feel like it was put in my life for a reason, to be part of my journey and part of my growth, because it definitely did that. But as much as I love the show, this (singing) is what I do.… And that was fun and it was great, but this is what I do.”

Singing releases feel good endorphins!

Here's more confirmation about the benefits of singing, especially group singing, from Julia Layton @ TLC network:  

All types of singing have positive psychological effects. The act of singing releases endorphins, the brain's "feel good" chemicals. Singing in front of a crowd, a la karaoke, naturally builds confidence, which has broad and long-lasting effects on general well-being. But of all types of singing, it's choral singing that seems to have the most dramatic effects on people's lives.

A study published in Australia in 2008 revealed that on average, choral singers rated their satisfaction with life higher than the public -- even when the actual problems faced by those singers were more substantial than those faced by the general public [source:MacLean]. A 1998 study found that after nursing-home residents took part in a singing program for a month, there were significant decreases in both anxiety and depression levels [source: ISPS]. Another study surveying more than 600 British choral singers found that singing plays a central role in their psychological health [source:ISPS].

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Helen Keller on Optimism

The path of our lives is not so much determined by what ‘happens’ to us, because life does ‘happen’ – but how we react to the things that ‘happen’ to us in life.  Are you choosing to be a Victim or a Victor?  A successful business person, or someone who complains about a lack of business?  Are you someone who gives value, or simply tries to ‘get’ business?

Helen Keller - Beautiful inside and out!

This article from Helen Keller is a favorite of mine because it speaks about a positive attitude; gratitude, and the perception of good in everything around her.  What a remarkable woman!  At Viva La Voice, we are committed to bringing out the positive in singers, speakers and everyday people who seek a more confident, fulfilled life.

Helen Keller - Optimism

“My optimism rests on a glad belief in the preponderance of good and a willing effort always to cooperate with the good, that it may prevail. I try to increase the power God has given me to see the best in everything and every one, and make that best a part of my life. The world is sown with good; but unless I turn my glad thoughts into practical living and till my own field, I cannot reap a kernel of the good.

Thus my optimism is grounded in two worlds, myself and what is about me. I demand that the world be good, and lo, it obeys. I proclaim the world good, and facts rearrange themselves to prove my proclamation overwhelmingly true. To what is good I open the doors of my being, and jealously shut them against what is bad. Such is the force of this beautiful and willful conviction, it carries itself in the face of all opposition. I am never discouraged by absence of good. I never can be argued into hopelessness. Doubt and mistrust are the mere panic of timid imagination, which the steadfast heart will conquer, and the large mind transcend.

I trust, and nothing that happens disturbs my trust. I recognize the beneficence of the power which we all worship as supreme—Order, Fate, the Great Spirit, Nature, God. I recognize this power in the sun that makes all things grow and keeps life afoot, I make a friend of this indefinable force, and straightway I feel glad, brave and ready for any lot Heaven may decree for me. This is my religion of optimism.” From “Optimism” by Helen Keller, introduction by Carl Japikse.

Beautiful Phrasing - 'how to'!

Speakers and Trainers - beautiful phrasing is essential to presenting your message. Here's a tip on 'how to' enhance your communication!

How To Mentally Prepare for a Performance

Check out this quick Viva La Voice Tip shot at beautiful Lake Champlain in the Adirondacks!

Don't Worry, Sing Happy!

Here's my August Voicegram. Would you like to receive my Voicegram by email every month?


Don’t Worry - Sing Happy!
©2010 Beth Lawrence

If you’re like most people, you worry. Throughout the day you may be seized with ‘fear thoughts’ which cause you anxiety. I call these ‘what if’ thoughts....‘what if I lose my job?’; ‘what if my proposal isn’t accepted?’; ‘what if I’ve gained three pounds this weekend?’ and on and on. We’re all plagued with worry, most of it so habitual that it has become our way of being.

You can think of worry as ‘a negative prayer’ - in other words, instead of visualizing and expecting good things to happen, we dwell on the negative, putting energy into something that hasn’t even happened yet! This does nothing but cause stress, further draining our vitality. Most importantly, when you put your focus on something, it tends to manifest in your life!

So let’s apply this state of worry to singing. Most of my adult clients have two main issues: they worry that they ‘can’t sing high’, and they fear that their voice will crack when they do. This sets up a cycle of anxiety that taken to an extreme, literally keeps people from singing at all! They just give it up because their fear completely overrides the joy they used to have as a free, unself-conscious child.

When you are focusing on, and fearing a particular note or ‘high’ section in a song, you are not focusing on the story you’re telling. Have you ever seen a singer whose eyes go blank as they enter a tricky section of a song? They get that ‘deer in the headlights’ look as their anxiety forces them to think of ‘technique’ instead of ‘emotion’. When you’re fully connected to the emotion of your song, there’s no space in your head for worry because you can only think one thought at a time!

So how do you stop worrying and start singing? There are four steps that will take you from fear to fabulous:

Become Aware.
Pay attention to your anxiety and learn to identify it when it comes up. Monitor your focus - where are you putting your attention? On the phantom fear of something that may happen in the future, or on the real emotion you’re feeling dictated by the lyric? Start being in the moment and putting your attention where it needs to be...on the story you’re telling.

Don’t focus on individual notes that may scare you. You are singing in phrases that are telling a story so there should be no fear of ‘notes’ within a phrase. Think in complete sentences!

Take Action!
If you’re having vocal challenges, take charge of your mind and your voice! Invest in voice lessons so that you can get over those mental and physical blocks that are holding you back from joyful singing. Wouldn’t it feel wonderful to learn the skills that would help you end your cycle of anxiety once and for all? What would that be worth to you?

Start vocalizing every day so that you strengthen your voice and reinforce the new vocal skills you’ve just learned. Not only will you speed your vocal growth, but daily vocalizing will energize your mind and body as well!

Visualize!
When a worry thought comes up, take control of your own mind and turn your fear into an opportunity to visualize a positive outcome. Rather than seeing yourself go for a high note and crack, see, feel and hear yourself hitting a clear, powerful, gorgeous note that just flows to the end of the phrase with tremendous emotion. See your audience moved by your heart-felt singing. Imagine your song-story unfolding with you totally focused on the emotion of the story, not your technique.

4. Surrender It!
Once you become aware of your habitual worry habits; and having taken action steps to remedy whatever is causing you to worry, then it’s time for the fourth step which is simply to let go of the perceived problem, and turn it over to a higher power, whatever that may mean to you. That may be ‘God’; the Universal ‘Is’; a Guardian Angel; Nature; ‘Source’ just something outside of yourself that you can conceptualize as a greater power than yourself. You are being willing enough to surrender your problem so that you don’t bear the entire burden yourself. You are allowing the power of the universe to help you. In doing this you will have a sense of empowerment and well-being!

If you don’t believe in a power outside of yourself, then simply surrender your perceived problem. Give it up, let it go. You’ve taken action, now there’s nothing more for you to do, is there? Now you’re free.

Think of singing as surrendering to the emotion of the story you’re telling. You must BE the character who is singing the song. When you are totally immersed in your story you transcend space and time....you are connected to Source! This is the magical alchemy of song.....a truly inspired performance comes through you from somewhere else, your voice is just a channel for this beautiful energy to flow through, out to the listener’s heart.

Happy Singing!
So now that you have the four steps for ending the cycle of worry, what action are you going to take? If you want to sing, if you want to play guitar, if you want to learn to fly a plane, what steps do you need to take to make that happen? Before you answer that question, have you already created worry thoughts that tell you why you can’t do what you want in life? Go through your four steps and create what you want in your life, not what you don’t want. I really believe it is all up to you....your thoughts create your life. Rather than continuing to live in fear, wouldn’t you rather take charge and be free of your anxieties? Then all I have to say in conclusion is:

‘Don’t worry....sing happy!”

© 2010 Beth Lawrence.  Please feel free to pass on this message to others, leaving our copyright, logo and web address intact. Thank you.



‘DON’T WORRY...SING HAPPY’ OFFER!

Complimentary 30 minute Online Skype Coaching Session!

Get rid of fear.....let me help you ‘Sing Happy!’

Go ahead, Do It! Email me for details:
beth@vivalavoice.com
(put ‘Skype Session’ in the subject line)

UPCOMING EVENTS:
“New Thought Mondays...the positive path illuminated” Mondays, beginning August 9th, 2010: : http://bit.ly/cpXeUH
“Voicework for Parkinson’s” - September 16, 2010, Central Utah Parkinson's Support Group, Specialty Hospital, 306 W Riverbend Lane, Provo
“The Successful Voice for Speakers” - September 21, 2010, Salt Lake City
“Sing To Your Baby” - September 28th, 2010 Salt Lake City
“Conscious Speaking for Parkinson’s”, September 30, 2010, Salt Lake City

Beth Lawrence has developed"The Lawrence System for Vocal Excellence”, a singing system that takes a holistic approach to voice coaching and therapy honoring the connection of body, mind and spirit.  Beth is the CEO of Viva La Voice!, a company offering private and online coaching for singers, songwriters, and presenters in all walks of life. To learn more:  www.VivaLaVoice.com   800-567-1718

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Set Personal Policies!

What I used to call 'personal boundaries' I now refer to as 'policies'. Do you have policies in place for your business, as well as your relationships, family, friends AND yourself? Policies help you keep on track. They help you say 'no' without feeling guilty. Create policies to remind yourself that some things are 'non negotiable'. Personal policies allow others to be responsible for their own happiness!

Stage Skills - Stand Still!

Never underestimate the power of STANDING STILL! When you're singing or presenting, don't feel pressured to move; constant movement is distracting. Only move when you're impelled to emotionally, or if you want to utilize a different area of the stage. Move naturally, then stop! Standing still is just as important as motivated movement!

Singers -Don't Think Too Much!

It's important not to think too much when you're singing! Really - if you're thinking about technique; thinking about the audience response; thinking about anything but the story you're telling then you will never be emotionally connected to your song, OR your audience. Get out of your head and start FEELING your music. It doesn't matter if you're 'perfect' -just share an emotionally memorable performance and your audience will love it.

Clarify Your Message!

If you're having a challenge getting clients or growing your business, think about how you can CLARIFY your message so that what you offer is clearly understandable, and the benefits to the client are obvious!