Sing! It's Spring!

Spring is a time for new beginnings; to start something that you've put off; to do something that will bring you joy. Whether it's singing, dancing, golf, learning French - whatever you've wanted to do, but haven't made time for - DO IT NOW.

If you need a bit of inspiration, read my article "Spring Is The Time To Sing!".

Look around you and see that everything is stirring with new life, and you should be, too. Everyday is a new beginning. Start something new today.

The Wisdom of Goethe

What a great quote this is! It's always my theory that instilling confidence in my music students brings out the best in them, and empowers them to excel beyond even their own expectations.

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being." -Goethe

Saving Your Sanity 2

Do you take life too seriously? Have you forgotten that life should be a light-hearted journey? I think it's healthy to practice being childlike, and sometimes, downright silly!

If you need a little light in your life, try this:

As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk

Happy skipping!

Baby Sleep Formula

Moms and new Dads, do you long for a good nights sleep? Many new parents swear that soothing music helps calm their baby and very often helps them sleep.

“Beth has such a beautiful and soothing voice. With three energetic and growing boys, we really need a winding down time at the end of the day and this CD really does the trick.” - Renee Marrs

You can now download individual songs from my NAPPA GOLD AWARD winning lullaby CD, "Land Of Sleepytime" here:

Ths GreatIndie link for MP3 downloads is:
http://www.greatindie.com/ipnmusic/store/list.php?item_number=632368017224

Here's what some happy parents have to say!

"I recently had a son named Matthew and he has been listening to your Lullaby CD since I was pregnant with him :-) Well, now he LOVES it, and it relaxes him and he goes right to sleep! Your voice is beautiful and I just wanted you to know how much we both love and appreciate the CD." – Rebecca Olson

Surround Sound Bath

Doesn't this sound dreamy?? I don't know anything about this company, but what a great idea!

Stereo H20 Bath tub
From the rhythm of the rolling sea to your favourite melody , the new Stereo H2O bath tub wraps you in strains of relaxing music. Music Therapy is an established treatment that promotes wellness and healing, relieves stress and alleviates pain. By providing these benefits in the comfort of your own home, the Stereo H2O offers a bathing experience that you'll relish for the personal time and space it affords. The Stereo Bath features high performance acoustic transducers which transform the bath's shell into a sounding board. This provides an even sound throughout the bath and a deep resonance you can feel. Compatible with any iPod, CD player, or audio system the Stereo H2O is a compact and discrete accessory that can be used with a wide range of bathtubs. Available from MTI Whirlpools, the Stereo H2O makes your luxurious bath into a full sensory experience with relaxing music you can hear and feel.

Face Lift Surgery Aided by Music Therapy

The thought of a face lift is pretty scary, but if you're considering one, you might find this article pretty informative! Read about a new procedure and how music is helping the patient during surgery below:

Among the hot topics at the January American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) Annual Winter Meeting at the Cascades Ski Resort is face lifting under local anesthesia - one of several new techniques which has been shown to speed recovery time.

Among those lecturing at the meeting is New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
Andrew Jacono, M.D., F.A.C.S., whose quick recovery face lift procedure
combines state-of-the art, minimal-incision face lifting techniques and
homeopathic medicine performed under a local anesthetic for an easier
recovery and natural-looking result.

Until recently, patients desiring a younger look have had to submit to
a face lift procedure that required a two to three week recovery and a risk
of visible scarring. "Today, a highly skilled facial plastic surgeon can
perform a face lift without "tell tale" scars and by combining several
techniques the patient can look exceptionally well in as quickly as two or
three days," says Dr. Jacono.

Using Novocain-like drugs, Lidocaine and Marcaine, to numb the face
with several painless injections from a tiny needle that spreads the
medicine slowly to avoid even the slightest discomfort, Dr. Jacono performs
a quick recovery procedure while the patient is awake and alert, yet
totally comfortable. "General anesthetic drugs cause major physiologic
changes that cause bruising and swelling and without them, the recovery is
significantly and even amazingly faster," says Dr. Jacono. Additionally,
general anesthesia can induce vomiting which can lead to further trauma and
torn sutures for some patients.

To ease the stress and fear some patients may have about being awake
during surgery, Dr. Jacono also incorporates Music Therapy. "Studies
indicate that the use of music helps lower patient's blood pressure during
surgery, which limits bleeding, and therefore minimizes bruising," says Dr.
Jacono who references a March 2006 article in the Journal of Advanced
Nursing. Lavender aromatherapy is also being introduced prior to surgery to
help promote relaxation.

Tips for Saving Your Sanity 1

Life is a journey, so remember to lighten up! Here's a tip:

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a
Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

Music Sweetens Mangoes!

Here's a great article about using music to create a superior crop flavor and yield! Fascinating! Try it on your houseplants at home. Remember the book, 'The Secret Life of Plants'??

Article from DNA
Anshuman G Dutta
Sunday, March 18, 2007 23:41 IST


Here The Mangoes Grow Sweeter


GANDHIDHAM: If music can have an enchanting effect on humans, it can also help mangoes grow sweeter. Sounds bizarre? Not really, if this cultivator in Kutch is to be believed. Making mangoes ‘listen’ to his music to make tastier has become the USP of Batuksinh Jadeja, who grows the fruit in his Ashapura Farm and Nursery in Mau, a village 37 km from Mandvi.

“Like humans, plants too respond to music. Mangoes from our farms are sweeter compared to those from other farms that produce Kesari mangoes,” claims Jadeja.

Mango trees in Jadeja’s orchards get their ‘dose’ of music twice a day. Jadeja has installed speakers across the farm, which is spread over 200 acres, to belt out classical and devotional songs, and aarti for the mango trees.

“Bhajans are for mornings while aartis and classical folk songs are slotted for the evenings,” said Batuksinh’s younger brother Prithvirajsinh Jadeja.

Almost 90per cent of the yield from Batuksinh’s farm is exported to London and the Middle East where his mangoes are said to be giving a tough fight to the well-established Sinduri and Chausa varieties from Pakistani.

“Our Kesari variety is treated at par with Indian Alphonso which is in high demand in Europe and other countries,” said Batuk.

The family is not new to this music therapy. Batuksinh’s father first used music for his banana crop in 1960. “He would play his old bulky radio for the plants. At that time too, our bananas were in great demand and used to fetch almost 25 paise more per dozen,” said Prithvirajsinh.

Batuksinh is among the largest producers in Kutch, famous for the Kesari mangoes. Estimates say Kutch produces between 30,000 and 35,000 tonne of Kesari every season.

Estimates say Kutch produces between 30,000 and 35,000 tonne Kesari every season. Last year, the total produce was around 33,000 tonne. Looking at the good monsoon and advancement of summer, farmers are expecting production to cross 35,000 tonne.

Last year, Ashapura farm produced around 150 tonne Kesari mangoes and this year, the yield is expected to be over 200 tonne. Orders have already been booked with new buyers from the Middle East showing more interest in the product.

Expecting an increased demand, Batuksinh is also building his pre-cooling and refrigeration unit to assure longevity of his mangoes. "Pre-cooling is essential as the mangoes are shipped to foreign shores. It reduces the latent temperature of mangoes and they remain fresh for a longer period," Batuksinh said.

Besides mangoes, Ashapura Farm and Nursery also sells "special" mango saplings (which have been 'treated' to music) to places like Surat, Vadodara and Navsari, and is planning to expand its farm by around 400 acres

Medications and Your Vocal Cords

I was pretty upset yesterday about losing my voice, even though I knew it was not a permanent condition. An acute laughing (ha!) or coughing attack can obviously inflame the vocal cords, as it did mine, but only chronic abuse of the voice can create nodules or polyps on the cords. So I knew it was just a fluke and would quickly heal.

Actually, my voice is better today although I'll continue to be silent to rest it. I'm sure I'll be perfectly recovered by tomorrow, and will be singing like a bird on Thursday.

Since I've never had this happen to me, and I've been laughing heartily for most of my life, I thought it curious that suddenly a little laughter made me hoarse. I've been taking antihistamines recently for allergy, so found this info on the AAO-HNS (American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery) website pretty interesting.

Although I drink a lot of water, knowing the importance of hydrating the vocal cords, I believe that the antihistamines had dried out my cords more than usual and caused the raspy throat after laughing/coughing.

It makes sense. Probably my cords had less fluidity or protective mucous and were traumatized by the laughing!

I'm going to be drinking my Viva La Voice Tonic for the rest of the week and while I'm on antihistamines. You should too if you're taking any of the following medications. It will help protect your voice.

Find the VIVA LA VOICE TONIC RECIPE to guard and heal your voice!

Here's the info from the AAO-HNS:

Medications can also affect the voice by thinning blood in the body, which makes bruising or hemorrhaging of the vocal cord more likely if trauma occurs, and by causing fluid retention (edema), which enlarges the vocal cords. Medications from the following groups can adversely affect the voice:

*
Antidepressants
*
Muscle relaxants
*
Diuretics
*
Antihypertensives (blood pressure medication)
*
Antihistamines (allergy medications)
*
Anticholinergics (asthma medications)
*
High-dose Vitamin C (greater than five grams per day)

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Laughing Can Hurt Your Voice

Usually we think of damaging the voice by loud yelling, speaking, or singing incorrectly. But did you know that laughing can hurt your voice??

In over 20 years of singing I've never lost my voice, even though I sang for hours on end, sometimes 5 or 6 nights a week. I teach people how to get over bad habits and use their voices correctly to keep the voice healthy and strong.

Today while recording I got into a laughing spree with my co-writer Norman Thalheimer. We often get into these laughing jags while we're working together. I laughed so hard that my stomach was hurting, I started coughing, and when we finally stopped laughing, my voice was rouch and squeaky! I have never hurt my voice before, and this was weird and scary. I sang a bit more, but evidently I had irritated my vocal cords because I couldn't really control my voice.

I stopped singing and realized that I had to rest my voice. Tonight and tomorrow I'm not going to talk at all so that my vocal cords can recover.

This is very important for everybody: NO LOUD LAUGHING! Be very careful with your voice no matter what you do. Control coughing; no yelling. Your voice is your instrument and you've got to honor it. I have no idea why my voice was affected today because I've never, ever been hoarse before, but this reminded me that I need to stay aware of how I'm using my voice no matter what I do. Although I've always had a wonderfully healthy singing voice, I've got to watch laughing too loudly! So be aware and guard that voice!

Chanting For Stress Relief

There is so much ancient wisdom that can be applied to today's stress-related disorders. In the earliest cultures, chanting was used as a healing tool by individuals, Shamans, and in a group setting.

There's something very powerful about chanting in unison; the vibrations are incredible and wonderfully healing.

Dr. Ranjie Singe, author of the book Powerful Self-Healing Techniques, found that chanting causes the release of the hormone melatonin. In many studies, low melatonin levels have been shown to lead to depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Years ago, Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School observed that chanting helps to cause reduction of heart beat, brain waves and respiration - also known as the “relaxation response.”

On an energetic level, Dr. David Shananoff-Khalsa has found that reciting some specific sacred mantras enables the tongue to stimulate the acupuncture meridians inside the mouth balancing the flow of chi through the body - especially the pineal gland - thus helping the body to relieve stress.

Allergies and Voice

Here's some interesting information from the NYU Voice Center about allergies and voice:

Clinically, in our experience, although there are no obvious changes in the larynx due to allergy, there are some changes in the throat and nose, which affect the voice. Allergy causes swelling of nasal tissues, which can alter the voice. Additionally, allergy can increase nasal drainage and lead to frequent throat clearing, which may irritate the vocal cords. It is therefore important to include allergy as a consideration in evaluating patients with hoarseness.

That being said, the majority of patients that have been told they have hoarseness due to allergy (symptoms such as mucus in their throat, frequent throat clearing, a lump in the throat), actually have silent, undiagnosed acid reflux disease. A proper evaluation of the hoarseness is necessary to distinguish the different potential causes of their hoarseness.

Yahoo's Singing News Anchor

Yahoo Hopes Singing News Will Resonate

Another news "innovation,"
Canada's Naked News

Yahoo News announced a new video project designed to leave people tapping their feet as they take in current events. Named "Odd News Underground," the show will feature a journalist-cum-crooner who will sing the news, reports AdWeek.
The singing anchor is the first venture from Yahoo News since the last year's launch of The Hot Zone With Kevin Sites, which chronicles the correspondent's travels to war-torn areas around the globe.

Yahoo declined to identify the warbler/wag, but sources said the performer is not an unknown and has experience as a reporter and musician. The venture is expected to be on the lighter side, so ditties about Iraq aren't to be expected.

Life Lessons

The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.
Tom Bodett

Dolphin Assisted Therapy

I always marvel when we human beings feel ourselves so superior to other sentient beings in nature such as dolphins, whales, and elephants, among others. Perhaps at one time we could claim superiority, but humans have become so out of touch with nature and their environment, that we've shut off any of the higher, intuitive, natural insticts that we may have once had.

Here's an excerpt from a great article by Robert Wolff that talks about the healing power of dolphins. I've often thought that these creatures were much wiser than us, and science is just beginning to discover that to be true!

Author:Wolff, Robert

"Deena Hoagland understands the impact a dolphin can have on a human life. Her son, Joe, was left partially paralyzed and visually impaired after having a stroke at the age of three during open-heart surgery.

Deena learned about Dolphins Plus, a nearby research center specializing in dolphin communication. Wanting to get Joe into the water, and intrigued by the prospect of exposing him to dolphins, Deena secured permission from Dolphins Plus owner, Lloyd Borguss, to bring Joe to the center.

It was at Dolphins Plus that Joe first encountered Fonzie, an Atlantic-bottlenosed dolphin. Meeting Fonzie prompted Joe to smile and laugh for the first time since his stroke. Before long, Joe was not only walking, he was bringing Fonzie buckets of fish. After 22 months of interacting with the dolphin, and participating in swim therapy and physical therapy, Joe was close to a full recovery. Now, 11 years later, Joe and Fonzie remain the best of friends.

What Is It About Dolphins?

Researchers have found, for example, that dolphin-assisted therapy aids in reducing stress and increasing relaxation, alleviating depression, boosting production of infection fighting T-cells, stimulating production of endorphins and hormones, enhancing recovery, and reducing pain.

One of the more popular theories is that the dolphin's use of sonar and echolocation produces changes in a person's body tissue and cell structure. Similar to the effect of music therapy, some researchers have suggested that the sounds dolphins emit through their whistles and clicks help produce these changes.

Indeed, some individuals swimming with dolphins have reported actually sensing that they were being scanned. They say the echolocation resonated in their bones as they felt it pass through their bodies, producing a tingling sensation.

Another theory is that dolphins are uniquely sensitive to the needs of people with disabilities and seek to help them through playful expressions of concern. This is sometimes referred to as a "secret language" shared when dolphins and people with disabilities "communicate." Dr. Smith goes so far as to suggest that dolphins communicate acoustically with a variety of movements and attend to the body cues of individuals; in particular, individuals with autism, thereby seemingly understanding their thoughts and actions."

Safeguard your voice from winter air

We've just had a big winter storm here in Utah. Loads of fluffy snow on the ground, and more to come. Yes, I know that in some parts of the country, it's nearly Spring, but here at 5600 feet Spring won't be showing herself for a couple more months.

If you live in a cold, winter climate, make sure you safeguard your voice throughout the winter. Avoid directly breathing in the cold air by covering your mouth with a scarf. Drink plenty of warm liquids to keep your vocal cords hydrated.

Try my Viva La Voice Tonic Recipe for winter, or 'singer's throat'. It's great for warming and hydrating the voice; wards off colds; clears the system and boosts the immune system! Try it, it's fantastic!

Breathing in cold air dries out the vocal cords and can cause a scratchy, rough sounding voice. Be kind to your voice this winter!

Givingness

Here's a wonderful message I found from Rev. Diane Russell, reminding me that it's the everyday, authentic gift of self that changes the world, one person, and one moment at a time.


"Givingness is the nature of God, and It gives to us from pure Love. Because our nature is the nature of God, it is also our nature to be giving, to be generous. Giving comes from the heart, not from a sense of obligation or duty. The gifts that mean the most are the gifts that are you - your attention, your love, your smile. This is easy when you come from your authentic self - the Divine at your core.

Remember that you are the gift, and make your giving your joy.

Remember that you are the Light, and your light makes a difference to me, and to each other, and to the world."

Guest Writer: Rev. Diane Russell
Staff Minister, Bonita Church of Religious Science

Sound Therapy - Hope For Tinnitus Sufferers

Because so many of my musician friends suffer from tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, I was really excited to read this article on Medindia.com. It seems that the administration of low pitched tones gives relief, albeit temporary, from the incessant, annoying high-pitched ringing that just about drives my friends crazy. This is great news - pass it on:



Low Pitch Therapy for ‘ringing in the Ears’

UC Irvine researchers have found a treatment for tinnitus, the hearing damage loud music can cause.


Fan-Gang Zeng and colleagues have identified an effective way to treat the symptoms of tinnitus, a form of hearing damage typically marked by high-pitched ringing that torments more than 60 million Americans.

The researchers found that a low-pitched sound applied by a simple MP3 player suppressed and provided temporary relief from the high-pitch ringing tone associated with the disorder.

Tinnitus is caused by injury, infection or the repeated bombast of loud sound, and can appear in one or both ears. It’s no coincidence that many rock musicians, and their fans, suffer from it. Although known for its high-pitched ringing, tinnitus is an internal noise that varies in its pitch and frequency. Some treatments exist, but none are consistently effective.

Zeng presented his study Feb. 13 at the Middle Winter Research Conference for Otolaryngology in Denver.

“Tinnitus is one of the most common hearing disorders in the world, but very little is understood about why it occurs or how to treat it,” said Zeng, a professor of otolaryngology, biomedical engineering, cognitive sciences, and anatomy and neurobiology.

“We are very pleased and surprised by the success of this therapy, and hopefully with further testing it will provide needed relief to the millions who suffer from tinnitus.”

At first, Zeng thought of treating the tinnitus with a high-pitched sound, a method called masking that is sometimes used in tinnitus therapy attempts. But he ruled out that option because of the severity of the patient's tinnitus, so an opposite approach was explored, which provided unexpectedly effective results.

After making many adjustments, the researchers created a low-pitched, pulsing sound -- described as a “calming, pleasant tone” of 40 to 100 hertz of frequency --which, when applied to the patient through a regular MP3 player, suppressed the high-pitched ringing after about 90 seconds and provided what the patient described as a high-level of continued relief.

Zeng's patient programs the low-pitched sound through his cochlear implant, and Zeng is currently studying how to apply this treatment for people who do not use any hearing-aid devices. Since a cochlear implant replaces the damaged mechanism in the ear that stimulates the auditory nerve, Zeng believes that a properly pitched acoustic sound will have the same effect on tinnitus for someone who does not use a hearing device.

Dr. Hamid Djalilian, a UCI physician who treats hearing disorders, points out that a custom sound can be created for the patients, who then can download it into their personal MP3 player and use it when they need relief.

“The treatment, though, does not represent a cure,” Zeng said. “This low-pitch therapeutic approach is only effective while being applied to the ear, after which the ringing can return. But it underscores the need to customize stimulation for tinnitus suppression and suggests that balanced stimulation, rather than masking, is the brain mechanism underlying this surprising finding.”

Music Education Improves IQ

I found this info on EduKey. Again, more confirmation that music - no matter what the medium- is a natural part of our being. It is theraputic, cleansing and beneficial to body and soul! Drumming, singing, chanting are all primal expressions of the deepest part of our spirit, and our means of connection with each other, our connection to our natural and spiritual world. Here's part of the article:

Drumming increases heart rate and blood flow just like an aerobic exercise. The process of drumming engages both the linear, (rational left brain) and the creative, (intuitive right brain). It slows the brain waves to around 8 cycles per second, the exact frequency of the earth.
Improved IQ scores can now officially be added to the growing list of benefits from playing drums. A recent study shows that playing the drums or other percussion instruments actually improves IQ scores of children.
While previous studies have hinted that musical training improves a child’s literacy and math skills, this is the first time that a study has shown that one’s intelligence level can be improved by drumming…
Among the other benefits of playing the drums are improved musical coordination and brain activity; physical therapy, and stress relief; improved social skills such as team work, self-esteem, discipline, improved abstract thought processes, a tool for creative expression, a balance for internal energy, life long enrichment, a great mood lifter, physical fitness, responsibility and a fun alternative to other less productive activities.