The voice began softly, drifting into my unconsciousness. The words were indistinguishable. Then it grew stronger. The words began to take shape. “There’s a mouse in your purse.” How funny I thought, still blissfully asleep, what an odd thing to dream. The voice grew more intense, more insistent. “Jen, wake up, there’s a mouse in your purse.” Through my foggy, now half-opened eyes I could see my husband standing in the doorway. “What?” I asked? “There’s a mouse in your purse.” He replied. “What?” I asked again. “There’s a mouse in your purse.” He replied again. He was getting impatient. “What are you saying to me?” I asked again, still struggling to understand. “THERE’S A MOUSE IN YOUR PURSE!” he replied a final time. Okay, now I was awake. But I still didn’t believe him. I went with him to the kitchen door. There on the deck sat my favorite red purse. He had dumped out all of it’s contents and set it out on the deck. “Watch, he told me.” We stood in the doorway for what seemed like an eternity, watching, waiting. Nothing happened. “You’re crazy I told him.” Then all of a sudden, it MOVED! A little bump here, than another there, than another. “Holy ____,” I exclaimed, “there’s a mouse in my purse!” We left the bag outside and by morning the critter had moved on. I’m not exactly sure how my purse acquired the mouse, but needless to say, it’s a moment neither of us will soon forget! 2013 was a very full year. There were some incredibly wonderful moments, some sad moments and some truly, truly bizarre moments. If you had asked me last January to tell you what the coming year […]
Make 2014 Your Best Year Yet!
As 2013 is winding down it’s a great time to start thinking ahead to the new year. December is usually a very busy month with holiday gigs, social events and finishing touches on projects, but I find that it’s also the perfect time to start creating my plan for the upcoming year. That way, on January 2nd I can hit the ground running! Here are 5 things you can do right now to help make 2014 your best year yet! 1) Take some time to look back at 2013 and acknowledge, REALLY acknowledge your accomplishments. Most of the time we are so focused on the things that we have yet to accomplish that we forget to give ourselves a good ole’ pat on the back for the things we HAVE accomplished. It doesn’t matter how small you may think these accomplishments are, give yourself a little credit. Write a list and then look it over. Better yet, get on the phone with a friend and read him or her the list. 2) Set some goals for the coming year, VERY specific goals, and assign dates to them. Here are some examples: By the end of February I will have booked 10 new gigs By March 1st I’ll have 12 new songs written and ready to record This year I’ll make $X from my music 3) Once you’ve set these very specific goals you can back up on the calendar and figure out exactly what you need to do, and by when, to make these goals happen. For example, what do you need to do to get those 10 gigs booked? Research venues/booking agent info – Have a list by Jan 2 Submit materials to venues/booking […]
Caution: Bump In Road
It was a beautiful spring morning. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, but I wasn’t feeling it. Actually, I felt as if my world was crashing down around me. Okay, maybe a bit melodramatic, but man I was bummed! I was 18 and my band was on the verge of a label deal. This was it I thought, my BIG break! Then, in the blink of one band meeting gone sour, everything changed. Two band members stormed out. We had officially broken up. Label deal off the table. So there I was, feeling completely deflated. What should I do now I wondered? Did I even want to keep doing music? It was too hard I told myself. I needed a sign. A sign that told me that I was on the right path; that I just needed to stay the course. And there it was. Big and yellow and staring me in the face: CAUTION: BUMP IN ROAD I started laughing so hard I had to pull the car over. Yup! The truth was this was not the end (of course) but merely the beginning. Fast-forward a bunch of years and guess what, I’m still here! Still doing what I love and in more ways than I could ever have imagined. When you embark on a music career, or any endeavor for that matter, know that there are going to be bumps, possibly even a pothole or two, along the way. Some you’ll see coming, others will sneak up on you and leave you on the side of the road with a flat tire and a broken axel. But if you’re doing what you love, stay the course! The truth is, we need […]
Gladiators, crazy emperors and the Truth about breath support
Have you ever seen the movie Gladiator? I saw it years ago, and one scene that has always stayed with me is the one in which the young emperor (who is more than a little nuts) played by Joaquin Phoenix says, “that vexes me, I’m terribly vexed.” I’m not an emperor and I’m pretty sure I’m not crazy, but I am terribly vexed! Travel with me back in time…. (cue the TV “travel back in time bubbles”) It’s circa 1984 and I’m 15 years old. I’m standing in front of my new voice teacher. It’s my first lesson and I’m very excited! She’s a nice woman and I trust her. She tells me that I’m breathing “incorrectly” and that I need to “breathe into my diaphragm” (at which point she pats her tummy). Further, she tells me that I must “sing from my diaphragm”, again, patting her tummy. I’m 15, I have no idea what or where my diaphragm is and I’m too embarrassed to tell her that. I surmise, from the way she’s patting her tummy, that my diaphragm must be in my tummy and therefore breathing and singing correctly has a lot to do with my tummy! This assumption is given additional “merit” when she shows me an exercise that involves lying on my back with a book on my tummy. The idea is that I should lift the book up with each inhale. Now, she was a very nice woman and I’m sure she meant well, but as a result of this instruction, I spent several years trying to control my breath with my tummy. Years of great frustration, I might add, wondering why the heck I couldn’t do it. Then I […]
Are You Prepared to “Wing-It”?
It’s a bit of an oxymoron isn’t it, being prepared to “wing-it”? Isn’t the idea of winging-it all about not being prepared? Ah, I beg to differ. “Winging-it” is ALL about being prepared. Has this ever happened to you? You’re out to hear some music, maybe your friend is playing at a local club. During the course of the evening said friend asks you to sit in with the band and your mind becomes a complete blank. You can’t seem to think of anything to sing! Or maybe you’re at a party and someone pulls out their guitar and starts an impromptu jam session. You want to join in and can even think of a bunch of songs to sing, but you’re not sure that you know all the words and you have no idea what key you sing the songs in. Many great performance opportunities can happen very unexpectedly. Be prepared so you don’t miss out on the fun! To be prepared, I recommend that every singer have a “book”. These are the songs that he/she can confidently sing at any given time, rehearsed or not. It can be a physical book with lyric sheets and chord charts or a mental “book”. It doesn’t need to be a large book, but should contain at least a few different songs, each appropriate for a different performance situation (full band club gig, intimate get-together, campfire sing-along). You should know the key in which you like to sing each song (chord charts are always great!) and should ideally have the lyrics memorized. Performing confidently in impromptu situations actually requires quite a bit of preparation. While it may appear to be “off the cuff” it’s really anything but. […]
Do You Have An Accountability Buddy?
There are many factors that contribute to success. However there’s one, vital step to success that’s so simple you may very well be overlooking it! Having an accountability buddy! Let’s face it success requires action, getting stuff done. One of the most important factors in getting stuff done is accountability. You know, you say you’re going to get something done and then you do it. Cool, right. However, very often saying it to yourself isn’t enough to get it done. You need to actually say it, out loud, to someone else. But here’s the catch, you can’t just say it, you need to commit to it and with a deadline to boot. I know that there are some people who are quite good at making commitments to themselves and then sticking with them to completion. They’re the ones who go to the gym diligently, no friend they’ve promised to meet, they just show up and get to it. I love those people, but frankly, I’ve never been one of them. Maybe it’s the artist in me, but I’m just too easily distracted. Scheduling out my activities is hugely helpful, but I also need deadlines and accountability. Example, if I need to finish a song, or write an article or finally finish mixing those new tracks and there’s a deadline – bam! It gets done. No deadline? Well…….you see how it could go. Life sneaks in, distractions, well, distract. Having an accountability buddy not only gives you much needed support, but also helps you stick to your commitments and deadlines. For singers, an accountability buddy can come in the form of a band-mate, coach/teacher, co-writer, friend, partner, etc. I very often fill the role of accountability […]
The Power of Showing Up!
Woody Allen is famously quoted as saying that “80% of success is showing up”. While I’m not sure I agree with his percentages, I agree completely with the sentiment. The percentage really isn’t the point here and while we all know that success doesn’t happen merely by showing up, we also know that success won’t happen if you don’t show up. So what is showing up really all about? How can you “show-up” more? 1) Show Up Physically – While this may seem like a no-brainer, it’s surprising how often it doesn’t happen. Busy lives too often keep us from showing up to do the things we most want to do. Do you want to improve your vocal technique? Show up to your voice lessons and practice sessions. Want to finish that album you’ve been writing? Schedule time in your week for songwriting and show up! Want to improve your website, social media, marketing, etc.? Show up at your computer and get to it! 2) Show Up Mentally – Turn off all potential mental distractions. Put your phone on silent and turn off the e-mail notification on your computer. You may have other things on your mind and some of them may be reasonably important. However, unless it’s a fire that must be put out immediately, set it aside for whatever time you’ve allotted to the project at hand. 3) Show Up Emotionally – Attitude really is everything. Life stresses can make it difficult to feel creative, but when you show up to the gig, practice or writing session or whatever it happens to be, put all of that stuff aside. While you may not feel terribly enthusiastic and energetic, find a way to pull it out of yourself. Feeling down? Pour that emotion into […]
8 Ways to Naturally Ease Allergy Symptoms
April showers may bring May flowers, but for a lot of people, they also bring seasonalallergies. With those beautiful spring flowers comes pollen, and it’s everywhere. The familiar yellowy/green film that coats everything outside, and drifts into your home when windows are open. For most people these spring allergens and the accompanying symptoms are, of course, a nuisance, but for singers they can be downright debilitating. Allergy symptoms may include nasal and/or upper respiratory congestion, excess mucus, coughing, sneezing and the like. All of which can, to greater or lesser degree affect your singing. Fast Commercial Loans Many people who suffer from seasonal allergies turn to over the counter and/or prescription medications for relief. While these medications do offer relief from the symptoms, singers often find the dehydrating side effects of the antihistamines that they contain to be as bad as, or sometimes worse for the voice than the allergies themselves! So what’s a singer to do? Fortunately there are a number of natural, non-medicinal ways to help combat your allergies. While I’m not a medical professional and can’t promise that these suggestions will fully handle your particular allergy symptoms, I do know many singers who have found them to be helpful. As with everything relating to your health, be sure to consult a trained health professional if your symptoms worsen and to layout a plan to address your personal health needs. 1. Drink plenty of water. In addition to being important for overall physical and vocal well-being, staying hydrated has been shown to reduce seasonal allergy symptoms. The general thinking on this is 1 ounce of water for every 2 pounds of body weight. 2. Use a neti pot or saline rinse to rinse pollen […]
More Range, More Power, Less Strain – Part 2
When I talk with singers and ask them what they’d most like to improve about their singing, the top 3 answers I get are: more vocal range, more power and less strain while singing. In Part 1 of this series, we looked at one of the key factors that contributes to vocal strain as well as reduced range and resonance – pushing too much air while singing. If you missed that post, I highly recommend that you check it out! More Range, More Power, Less Strain – Part 1 This month we’re going to look at another factor, tongue tension! Okay, a little anatomy here. Most of us think of the tongue in terms of the part that we see in our mouths. This however is only a portion of the tongue, which actually goes much further down into your throat to where your larynx is located. To sing freely and easily across your range, your larynx must be permitted to maneuver freely and easily. Any amount of tension in your tongue, particularly in the base of your tongue, will restrict the movement of your larynx, thus contributing to a decrease in vocal range, a reduction in resonance as well as increased vocal strain. This movement of your larynx isn’t something you need to make happen, but rather allow to happen naturally. This doesn’t mean that your tongue shouldn’t move as you sing, but rather that it should not be pushed, pulled or held in a tense manner. Try this! Extend your tongue slowly out of your mouth so that it rests on your bottom lip. Using a comfortable volume, sing the vowel sound AH (as in FAHther) on a pitch right around your speaking voice. Sustain this […]
Attracting Opportunity!
We all want to attract great opportunities right? So why is it that sometimes Opportunity can feel as elusive as a really great date? Opportunity must know how much we want it, how much we long for it to call. Surely Opportunity knows that we’re just waiting to show it how great we are! Unfortunately, just like that elusive great date, the more you wait, the more you yearn, the less likely Opportunity is to call. So how can we attract this fickle beast Opportunity? The truth is, a lot like it’s friend Romance, Opportunity is much more likely to call when we’re already happy and fulfilled. The more we’re already doing, the more we’re creating for ourselves, the more likely Opportunity is to show up…and sometimes it shows up in disguise. “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” ― Thomas Edison Opportunity is everywhere! But often we don’t see it because as Edison pointed out, it usually looks like work. And the best way that I know to attract Opportunity is to do the work! Here’s a great example. I know an amazing singer/recording artist. She’s signed to a major label and has a huge worldwide audience. Several years ago, however, it was a very different picture. She had been turned down by every label she had approached. She was great, her band was great, but the labels just weren’t interested. At this point, a lot of artists may have thrown in the towel. But not this one. Instead, she found a financial backer, produced and recorded an independent CD, got in the van and went on tour. She toured the country for 2 years and sold thousands of copies […]