Sound Healing - Get A Cat!

I found this bit of information really interesting and wanted to pass it on!

The cat's purr may be a self-healing mechanism. Cats purr at between 25 and 50 hertz, a frequency at which vibrations have been found to have a wide range of medical benefits, from increasing bone density and helping in the healing of fractures, torn tendons and muscles to generally relieving pain.

Oprah and Inspiration

If you've ever watched Oprah's show, you'll know she has this uncanny ability to deliver a positive message without seeming sappy or trite. She's a master at presenting inspirational topics that truly do inspire, no matter how simple the message.

Today she featured two people who had 'terminal' cancer, and their message was all about FOCUS. They weren't focusing on their illness, they were focusing on their LIVES. If you truly live in the moment, and seek moments of connectedness, peace and happiness, you can't help but experience it.

Deferred gratification is for grown-ups who are too responsible to enjoy life. Savor every moment you're alive, because as much as we don't want to face it, we're all going to die. It was said today that the only regrets we really have in life are not the regrets for what we've done, but what we haven't done.

Live. Be happy.

Commuter's Voice Warm-Up

Are you a teacher, salesperson, in the hospitality industry or receptionist? Here's a tip for anyone who uses their voice at work:

While driving to work, your car is a wonderful, private vocal exercise booth! Do 10-15 minutes of vocal exercises and your voice will be warmed-up, free of phlegm and 'scratchies' and ready to go! No one will hear you and you'll arrive at work energized, clear-headed and relaxed!

Don't know how to warm up your voice? Volume One of my Joyful Singing Series has over 20 minutes of great vocal exercises on CD. Check it out here!

MTV - AFI's Davey Havok Loses Voice!

According to MTV, AFI has cancelled the last 10 shows of their current tour because singer Davey Havok has been having trouble with his voice and is unable to sing properly.

I don't care what kind of music you do, it can be opera to rock, but the truth is, you should be able to sing all night, for an entire tour, and still have a healthy voice.

This, of course, is if you're SINGING CORRECTLY!

If you're pushing and straining your voice, on and off stage, you're going to have voice problems just like Davey Havok. How awful that he's having to cancel tour dates, and too bad he isn't learning how to sing the right way so that he can keep his voice healthy in any situation.

When you abuse your voice you run the risk of inflammation of the vocal cords; vocal nodules and even rupture or tearing of the cords! Usually, like Mr. Havok, you have to undertake serious VOCAL REST, usually for a month or more, and this means no talking, too. Or the more dangerous route is to undergo surgery to remove the nodules that have formed on your cords. Julie Andrews did this and her voice is permanently damaged.

If you're a singer, do yourself a favor and learn the fundamentals of good singing. An easy way to do this is to invest in Joyful Singing...Seven Principles for Vocal Mastery. Volume One includes two CDs, warm up exercises and the Seven Principles Booklet. Start today to safeguard one of your most important assets - YOUR VOICE!

Viva La Voice Tonic Success!

My friend's meeting (see yesterday's blog) went well, and the Voice Tonic was a success! Here's what he had to say:

Thanks for the tonic recipe. I made about 4 cups of it and brought it
to the meeting. It really seemed to help. The meeting was 90 minutes
long and my partner and I were talking non stop through all of it. So
my vocal chords survived the meeting - they feel tired now - but
they're not throbbing like yesterday. My throat really likes your
tonic.

Vocal Strain 911

Today I got an emergency call from a musician friend of mine. In a matter of hours he was going in to do a big presentation on some music software that he's developed, and his voice was hoarse! Seems he'd been practicing his presentation for the last couple of days, and since he's not used to doing any public speaking, he pushed his voice too hard, causing vocal strain.

He said that not only was he hoarse, but his 'vocal cords felt like they were throbbing', which is a good indication that his cords were inflammed, and probably swollen (causing hoarseness). He was afraid of lasting damage, but if he'd only been straining his voice for a couple of days, I believe he's just experiencing a temporary inflammation, with no lasting damage. It's kind of like going to a concert or baseball game and screaming all night - the next day your voice is hoarse, but with vocal rest and proper vocal technique, this should pass in a few days.

In an emergency case like his, when he couldn't rest his voice, I told him to immediately make my VIVA LA VOICE TONIC! All the ingredients in the Tonic will soothe and relax his vocal cords so that he can get through his presentation with comfort and confidence. I suggested he take a thermos with him and drink the Tonic during his presentation to keep the cords warm, cut phlegm, and reduce swelling.

My advice to all of you singers and speakers is to learn proper vocal technique BEFORE you have a Vocal 911! Get Volume One of my Joyful Singing - Seven Principles for Vocal Mastery Series and do some vocalizing every day!

For vocal emergencies, you should also get my VIVA LA VOICE TONIC recipe. You can carry it with you in a thermos whenever you have a singing/speaking gig. It's a lifesaver for all of us who use our voices.

A Simple Task

"Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people." - Mother Theresa

Tight Belly Syndrome

Here's an exerpt from my July VOICEGRAM - my monthly newsletter that's full of interesting information! Sign up and I'll send you the entire article about correct breathing for singers and speakers (which means EVERYBODY!)

Lots of people think they are supposed to tighten up the stomach area when they sing. Correct breathing is just the opposite! You must have a soft, relaxed belly in order for the diaphragm to be able to optimally descend - allowing for a full breath. If you're not supporting your vocal mechanism with your breath, your body will compensate by holding the tone with a clenched jaw, raised larynx, tight chest and other uncomfortable, unconscious habits.

- Beth Lawrence, from the July 2007 Viva La Voicegram

Weird Ringtones!

Want some weird, quirky ringtones?? Try these from Freud's Funhouse!

Feeling Old?

Still rocking with the best of them, MICK JAGGER is 64 years old today!

The Television Audience

Do watch a lot of TV? If what you're watching isn't educational or enriching, you might like the following quote. TV offers great diversion, but here's the irony in that:

"The inconsistency of the television audience is that it finds satisfaction for hours in idly watching a portrayal of the active lives of others." -Valdivar

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.