Sensible Suggestions For A Successful Time Coping With The COVID-19 Crisis
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that we are all going through a very stressful time right now, as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis for which most of us have no precedent. The situation is unpredictable and downright scary. Many of us are experiencing feelings of dread, fear, anxiety, and helplessness. […]
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IF YOUR VOICE IS BOTHERING YOU, IT COULD BE…YOUR LAPTOP!
Have you heard that expression “Straighten up and fly right”? Well, in last month’s blog we learned how to straighten up and sing…or speak…right! Posture is so important for voice, for breathing…for everything we do. We hope everyone is using the simple posture exercises we posted in February’s blog. But there’s another aspect of posture […]
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POSTURE AND VOICE: STRAIGHTEN UP AND SING (OR SPEAK) RIGHT!
One of the first foundation skills that I teach at Professional Voice Care Center in Voice Session 1 or Singing Lesson 1 is posture and alignment. As soon as I present this concept in our sessions, people look at me, sometimes with confusion, like “Why posture?”, with abject fear (“I have to sit up straight?”), […]
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STOP GIVING 150% – YOU ALREADY GOT THE PART!
Let’s face it, the entertainment industry is competitive. A recent study from Queen Mary University in London revealed a not-surprising statistic: the acting profession’s unemployment rate hovers at about 90%, and only 2% are making a living in the profession. I don’t think anyone has done a study on the “unemployment” rate of community theater […]
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MAKING DAILY VOICE CARE SIMPLE
As a vocologist for 38 years, I’ve heard every excuse in the book for why my clients didn’t practice or follow my therapeutic recommendations: I was busy with my family, work was crazy, the dog ate my homework, I forgot…and on and on. But as I always say in my office, no one is too […]
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CLEAR YOUR THROAT SAFELY AND PROTECT YOUR VOCAL CORDS: LET’S “CLEAR UP” THE CONFUSION!
By now most of us know that repeated forceful throat-clearing is not a good idea, as far as your vocal folds are concerned. In fact, my friend and colleague, laryngologist Dr. Joel Portnoy, says “Throat-clearing is like injuring your vocal cords just before you want to use them”… to sing, to teach, or even to […]
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CIRCUMLARYNGEAL MASSAGE DE-STRESS YOUR VOICE
As a vocologist, I see people in my office every day who have voice problems. They have many different ideas as to what factors have contributed to their voice issues. So, what’s one of the biggest obstacles to having a healthy voice, whether speaking or singing? Reflux? Surely a big problem but probably not the […]
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ALL STEAMED UP: STEAM YOUR WAY TO VOCAL HEALTH
According to my clients, good voice care (what we call vocal hygiene) can seem overwhelming at first. So much to remember, so little time. Today, I’d like to simplify some of that vocal hygiene for you. What if I told you there’s something you can do, in only 5-10 minutes a couple of times a […]
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DRINK UP! HYDRATE FOR A HEALTHIER VOICE
Hydration – we all know it’s important for your health in general: for digestion, flushing toxins, healthy joints, for staying alert and clear-headed, etc. But why is hydration so important for your voice? The answer is simple: vocal folds (which aren’t really skinny “vocal cords”, but rather multi-layered folds of tissue) are covered with mucous […]
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DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING DE-MYSTIFIED: IT’S NOT A LOT OF B.S.!
In this fast-paced world of work deadlines, high-stakes presentations, and competition for clients, stress is a given. Add to that the stress of your SECOND job: caring for your family, with carpooling, rushing to your kids’ appointments, and trying to keep up with exercise, a good diet, and enough sleep. Sure enough, stress becomes an […]
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