After another exhausting day of teaching lessons at the college and for my private singing studio, I’ve been pondering how many times I had to give the same instruction, over and over, to almost every student, male or female. What is the one thing that so many singers struggle with— but don’t even know is…
Spring has sprung! Or at least it’s on its way, even if the weather where you are isn’t quite perfect yet. It’s time for Spring Cleaning Tips for Singers— actual cleaning and organizing hacks to make your singing environment happier and healthier. But second, and maybe even more importantly— Spring Cleaning Tips for the inside…
Happy Ninth Day of Christmas! And Happy New Year! By now, you’ve made it through all the joys, but also the stresses, of preparing for Christmas Day— shopping, decorating, sending cards, attending social activities, dealing with travel or visiting relatives, and a host of other holiday-related tasks– all during a pandemic! Ugh! Folks, you’re probably…
Do you ever suffer with jaw pain? Is it hard to open your mouth all the way, or does your jaw pop or crack when you do? Have you ever had a spasm in the jaw while trying to eat or drink, or sing? If so, READ ON! You may have TMJ dysfunction, and it…
Need headache relief? Did you know that taking Aspirin or other NSAIDS (Ibuprofen, Motrin, or Naproxen) can be dangerous for singers? If you take any of these medications while you are singing, or even talking a lot, you run the risk of causing bleeding in the vocal cords! Yes, as wonderful as these medications can…
Would I recommend joining a choir to anyone, at any time, at any age? You bet! Singing in a group, whether it’s as small as a dynamic barbershop quartet or as large as the mighty Mormon Tabernacle Choir is one of the great joys in life, a unique and rewarding experience like none other! You…
Do you ever make plans to do something a certain way, and then turn around and do something completely different? I’m finding out that this is happening with this blog— although I have many ideas scheduled out on a master calendar for the next weeks and months, I often abandon my planned post for the…
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that singers need a good night’s sleep, even more than the average person. Your body is your instrument! From head to toe, everything that’s going on with your body will be reflected in your voice. If you don’t sleep well, especially on a regular basis,…
As a voice teacher, I work with students every day who are experiencing singing problems due to health issues rather than their vocal technique, and none is more troublesome than acid reflux! As a professional singer myself, I have had more than a few bouts with it at various times during my career, ranging from…
It’s allergy season again– well, it’s always allergy season somewhere– so it’s time to Take Care of Your Allergies!* Many singers try to brush off the fact that ongoing breathiness or hoarseness, and overall fatigue can be the result of inflammation from allergies. But it is so common, I hear it in students every…