Seniors Just Want to Have Fun!

Here I am in the middle of my Singing For Health class CHORUS LINE! Clearly, Seniors like to have fun, too, and I drag everybody up 'on stage' even if they are in a walker! We sing, we dance, we hoop and holler -- we just spend 45 minutes supporting each other and having a silly, raucous time. And guess what - a lot of the folks who haven't talked in months are singing, moving, laughing. Music opens everyone's heart and accesses parts of the brain that regular therapy can't. It's marvelous!

Muse's Muse Book Review!

Here's a wonderful review of my new singing book! Thank you Anastasia!

Book Review by Anastasia Karalekas for The Muse’s News.
"From Shower to Stage! 7 Easy Steps for Singing Like a Pro" by Beth Lawrence
www.vivalavoice.com
www.from showertostage.com
I’d like to introduce you to my new singing coach, Beth Lawrence, author of the book, “From Shower to Stage! 7 Easy Steps for Singing Like a Pro”.
Beth has quite an impressive bio. She has been studying singing for over 30 years, and the result is this gem of a book she has published to teach us her singing method, The Lawrence System. With this book, you will learn 7 simple steps to improve your singing, and help to correct anything you may have been taught wrongly in the past.
If you’ve taken singing lessons somewhere along the line, you may very likely have been taught wrong things, and therefore developed bad habits which have caused you to not enjoy singing as it should be enjoyed – joyfully! Beth accurately describes the most common mistakes taught by many singing instructors, and then tells you how to do it the right way.
The exercises in the Lawrence System force you to focus on things other than hitting the right notes, and before you know it, you’re able to sing notes you didn’t think you could, and without straining. The improvements come easily, but you do have to make the effort to practice the exercises, to replace old habits with new ones. If you have about 15 minutes a day, the end result will all be worth it. You’ll forget about producing a perfect tone, but rather focus on releasing your natural voice. And that’s when you find yourself wanting to sing, no matter who’s around… or whether you’re in the shower or not.
Relax… Beth’s method promotes relaxation, because, not only is it important in our everyday stressful lives, but it is also important to be relaxed in order to sing properly. Being nervous doesn’t help us do anything well, singing included. However if you relax, and know what you’re doing, you’ll sing like you never imagined you could. You may be hiding the next Beyoncé or Steven Tyler, (or fill in your own blank here) somewhere in there; and if not, that’s okay; the one thing you will certainly learn is to be confident enough in your ability to sing, and that’s really all some of us may be striving for here.
This book is not only about the ABC’s of how to sing. Beth gets you to involve your whole self – body and mind – in your singing. I found that these 7 steps were all I needed. The exercises are simple and effective. And you can practice them anywhere – in your car, in the kitchen while cooking, even when you’re in the shower!
Finally, you’ll definitely want to read this book more than once. I read it the first time, just soaking up all the information. Then I read it again, this time actually doing the exercises as I went along. And I'm not done yet. I plan to keep reading it over again until I no longer need to consult it, until all the information becomes second nature to me. (And then I’m going to lend it to a friend of mine who recently claimed she has the worst singing voice ever.)
This book comes with a CD for vocal exercises based on the Lawrence System. These exercises are so well explained, they’re not just there for you to mimic. In fact, before each exercise, Beth describes the exercise, she then explains the purpose of it, and then guides you along, sitting at her piano while you stand beside her.
I believe I have found the only singing teacher I’ll ever need. And I highly recommend her to you, too.
PS: Beth has a Viva La Voice column in The Muse’s News. Check it out at http://www.musesmuse.com/menu-columnists.html

Vocalizing Clears the Mind!

Did you know that doing simple vocalizing exercises in the morning can clear that foggy brain?!  Try it -  singing helps oxygenate the blood, clearing the mind and energizing the body!

Singers - Tight, Tired Throat?!

I recently got a question from a reader on my ASKBETHLAWRENCE.COM site who wrote:

 "I am contacting you just with a concern.  I am a musical theatre major, which requires me to sing on a regular basis.  I am planning on seeing an ENT within the next week or so, but I was just wondering what all could cause fatigue in my upper registers.  It is mainly when trying to sing soft that I experience this.  Is this most likely only related to technique?  Or could it be more serious than that?"

This was my response which I believe could be helpful to a lot of singers who have the same issue:

Sorry you're having challenges with your voice.  Without hearing your voice, or seeing you in person, I can only give you an answer based on my experience in what you're describing.  It could be any number of things, but it doesn't sound to me like you're having these symptoms based on anything more than poor technique, but it's good you're going to the ENT to check it out.   I had lots of vocal problems early in my career until I found a Maestro who saved my voice.  I hope you can do the same!  

If you're planning on having a career as a singer, then you owe it to yourself to sing effortlessly and easily, as your voice IS your career!

By fatigue, a singer could mean just a 'feeling' in the throat (tightness?), or actual hoarseness which would indicate damage.  Number one, are you supporting your tone?  Your breath support is critical and you need to make sure that you are breathing fully; expanding the ribs and belly; softening the belly but not 'pushing out' or having any tension in your belly, diaphragm or throat.

Two, if your throat is feeling tight and tired when you sing, your tongue may be the culprit!  If you're not supporting, then your body compensates by tensing the base of the tongue in an effort to 'hold' the tone, which is really uncomfortable.  This also causes the larynx to jam up, which again, causes a tight throat.

If your throat is tight and the larynx raised you're causing constriction which not only feels bad, but forces you to push the voice to get more sound out.

All in all, a cascade of events  is set in motion that feed upon each other creating a pinched sound, excessive force on the vocal mechanism, mental distraction, a tight, tired throat, and ultimately can result in vocal nodules.

If you haven't already done so, go to my website and read 'A Singer's Story' and some of my philosophy on voice.  

Do you have any questions about voice?  Let me know!

Joyful Singing Class - laughter and tears!

First of my 'Joyful Singing!' classes last night - we had lots of laughs, and even some tears as the attendees shared their desire to sing without fear. I love empowering people to get rid of their old beliefs and sing with CONFIDENCE! It's life-changing! Class continues next Monday in Salt Lake.

Welcome Back Your Creative Presence!

We were born singing, moving to music and banging on pots and pans and still harbor that joyous, creative spirit inside ourselves, no matter what our age. No matter how busy your life is, that playful, childlike soul is just waiting for you to welcome it’s passionate presence back in to your life!

Read more in my latest Voicegram!

Human Voices are Powerful!

Went to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal last night....my head is still spinning from those ethereal voices! There's nothing more transcendent than the sound of human voices singing/sounding together! Powerful.

Feel Comfortable with Your Voice

“When you finally feel comfortable with your voice, you can stop obsessing about technique and just sing, as we were born to do.” - Beth Lawrence

Start Kids Early!

Next time you hear a toddler using their voice, listen to the strength and clarity of the tone. To maintain this natural voice, start your child early with healthy vocal habits that will help to keep the voice free, open and relaxed - all attributes that will make singing a joyful experience at any age!

Poll: Can everyone sing???

I took posted a poll on Facebook, asking "Do you believe that Everyone can sing?" Here are the results:

100% believe that everyone can sing. 75% believe that NOT everyone can sing ON PITCH. And we all agree that not everyone is an artist.

Would you believe me when I tell you that I've found most pitch problems to be caused by improper breathing/support, and that all my clients improve in this area once they start supporting?!!! True!

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

According to the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, sound energy therapy operates on the premise that certain sound frequencies can heal the body by resonating with specific body organs.

The center's site says numerous studies suggest that music can affect blood pressure, help reduce pain and anxiety and affect mood.

We are meant to be a 'whole' organism. Not just a physical body, but an integrated being which operates with the cooperation of body, mind, AND spirit.

Change it! Drop it!

"Change it! Drop it!

Imagine speaking with your body, instead of your throat - this produces a deeper more resonant tone!" BL
Read this and more tips and inspirational quotes in my most recent Viva La Voicegram!

Singing Is 90% Mental!

In my opinion, singing is 90% mental! The real secret to having a great voice is to stop trying to control the voice (which causes tension and constriction) and just sing with your pure, innocent, natural voice. This unimpeded sound is effortless, powerful and filled with beautiful overtones.

Voice for Life!

Be kind to your voice; treat those vocal cords with care and you'll have a healthy, strong voice for life! Scream, yell and sing incorrectly and you'll have a raggedy, raspy, weak voice. People judge you on your vocal tone, so make a good impression!

Belly Breathing!

Did you know that if you habitually suck in your belly in order to look slim, you are actually interfering with your breathing mechanism? In order to breathe properly for singing and speaking, you have to soften the belly so that the diaphragm can descend naturally, allowing for a full breath that will support your tone! You can find more tips in my monthly Viva La Voicegram

Vocal Power!

Did you know you can get more volume from your voice if you RELEASE the voice, rather than trying to 'push', which causes tension and potential vocal damage? It's all about going back to the basics - just letting your natural, unencumbered voice out without constricting and controlling it! Sounds scary? Not at all. This concept will change your voice forever, and singing will become effortless!

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.