Sustaining Your Voice

Perhaps you've wondered:  Is it proper technique to clear your throat?  When presenting or singing, is it OK to bend over towards the audience?  How do you pronounce the articles a and the?  Is it, Give me a (“ay”) break, or Give me a (“uh”) break? 

Here are the answers:

Avoid Clearing Your Throat

Avoid clearing your throat (audibly).  Audibly clearing your throat is detrimental to your vocal cords.  There is a way to clear your throat called "the silent cough" where there is no sound made while clearing your throat.  It’s a mix between swallowing and clearing your sinus passages—at the same time.  Another safe way to clear your throat is by drinking water.  

Keep Your Body Erect

Refrain from bending at the waist, which is a no-no in singing.  It constricts the diaphragm.  And, with all of your movement on stage, be sure that you are rooted and stabilized in your diaphragmatic breathing.  You want to be breathing from that core area, not your chest. 

Diction:  “A”

In this sentence the a is an article.  The article a is pronounced "uh", as in duh.  (This also pertains to the phrase, “a lot”).

Example:  There is a (uh) cat.

The letter in the alphabet a is pronounced "ay", as in day.  

Example:  The alphabet begins with the letter a (ay).

Diction:  “The”

If it comes before a consonant it’s pronounced “thuh”, as in duh.

Example:  The (thuh) dog is running.

If it comes before a vowel sound, it’s pronounced “thee”.  (This also pertains to the silent “h” as in honor).

Example:  The (thee) elephant is sleeping.

These are a few of the major points of vocal technique to get you started.  Look for more information in the future! : ) 

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Is Your Voice Sustainable?

     These days the term “sustainable” is used in many contexts.  And, I admit that there are some instances that I don't know what "sustainable" would actually look like.  But, recently I heard Michael Pollan define it so well.  I am paraphrasing, but it goes something like this:


                                            We cannot continue this way.  


     Whether it's regarding energy, farming, manufacturing, or any other practice, we want to know that what we're doing can be replicated, over and over, with an endless supply, without causing harm.  


     So, in light of this, have you ever considered your own voice--your vocal chords?

     My background in music includes several years of vocal training.  I have been singing since I was a little girl.  And, in college I minored in vocal performance.  My primary objective in doing so was to protect and preserve my voice.  


     To some I may have appeared persnickety or taking myself too seriously.  But, my instrument, my voice, was something to be cherished and nurtured.  And, thankfully, along the way I encountered people like myself who thrived on best practices of the profession and went to great lengths to take care of their voice.


    In my singing circles there were firsthand accounts and urban legends about strange events involving the human voice.  There were stories of unusual feats, quirky abilities, and---(gasp)


damaged vocal cords. 


     For instance, have you ever wondered if it's possible to shatter a wine glass only using the sound waves of a voice?   Well, I'm here to tell you that, yes, it's possible!  A first soprano from my church did it.  --A shout out to Barbara!  --You know who you are! 


     In the 90's my friends and I were obsessed with Mariah Carey's unorthodox range.  At the time she was rumored to have SEVEN octaves.   Many believed that report, but those familiar with the abilities of the human voice know better.  It's impossible!  I recently looked it up, and according to Wikipedia, she apparently had (perhaps still has) a FIVE octave range.


     There was a guy in my college singing group who told us about the time he was singing and burst a vocal chord--with blood spewing (projectile) out his mouth.  I suspect that it was caused by his constricting his vocal chords and powering from his chest.  --The neck and face must be relaxed to produce a quality, safe sound.  And, the sound must also be powered from the diaphragm, not the chest.


     The most impactful stories were those of the singers who had developed--(gasp, again) nodes.  


     Even today, I shudder at the thought of it.  I remember hearing true stories about the singers who got nodes, and their voices were forever changed.  When I was in high school, I heard that Contemporary Christian artist, Trace Balin developed nodes.  And as a result, her voice became deep and raspy.   


      There are tips and techniques that professionals employ to prevent damage.  If you suspect a problem, keep in mind that pain and change in voice quality could mean overuse, damage, and illness.  


     Here are some simple things to get you started on protecting and preserving your voice. 

#1 No Pain
     The first thing to keep in mind is that using your voice properly shouldn't hurt.  If any part of your throat, neck, or face hurts during or after using your voice, there's a problem.  The root of the issue could be lack of hydration, tension, constriction, overuse, etc.  


#2 Hydration
     Keeping your voice well-hydrated is a great proactive step.  The vocal cords are two folds facing each other.  By hydrating them, you prevent them from rubbing against each other and becoming damaged.  Because everyone's body is different, there is no set amount of how much water to drink.  However, I was told in a college music class that one hour of talk equals one glass of water expended.  And, proper vocal management means that you always want to be sufficiently hydrated.  That's why I continue to drink water throughout the day and night to ensure there are no deficits.


#3 Warm-Up
     It's good to gradually warm-up your voice when you wake-up in the morning, as well as other times during extended periods of non-use.  This is especially true when you are about to teach, give a presentation, etc.  Although there are different methods of warming-up the voice, simply speaking in a gentle, natural manner for several minutes is a good way to prepare for non-singing, speaking activities.  After doing this for a few minutes, gradually project louder, moving in various ranges, as it is comfortable. 


#4 Avoid Sneezing and Laughing Loudly
     I'm not saying, don't sneeze and laugh.  But, I am saying that you should keep the noise down because doing so loudly can cause damage.  Have you ever sneezed or laughed so loud that you felt discomfort in your throat?  That's the sign that it was too loud.


     Your voice is a precious resource, and I want to help you steward it well.  Look for upcoming posts with more vocal management tips! : )

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I'm Going to Carolina--I Mean, ISRAEL--in My Mind

     In just a few short minutes my friend, Donna, and her husband will touch down in Tel Aviv, Israel.  This will be their first visit among many, I predict.  My husband and I have had them constantly in our conversation this past weekend as we counted down their arrival.  And, all morning I have been preoccupied with the sights and sounds that await them as I remember what it was like living there ten years ago.  And, today part of me lives vicariously through Donna and her husband.


     I have to admit that up until now, I've had a hard time rejoicing with those who went to Israel, either to visit or live there.  That's terrible, I know!  But, it's only because I missed Israel so much, and it broke my heart to have to leave.  If you've ever lived there, or even just visited, you understand what I'm talking about.  And, for me, there is no where else like it; no other place can, or ever will compare to its lifegiving essence.  Sadly, since my departure, an unrelenting sorrow has laid heavily on my heart; its remedy has eluded me.


     Yet, this time I truly rejoice with my friends.  It's a little bit like that James Taylor song, "Going to Carolina in My Mind".  But instead, this Carolina girl is going to Israel in her mind.  And, today it feels as if a heavy blanket has been lifted off my heart.


     A funny thing about my friends' visit is that it is a direct result of their coming in contact with me.  It was just over a year ago that Mr. McCormick, my career counselor, referred me to Donna.  He felt she'd be an encouragement to me.  I didn't think much about it at the time, but that connection became a live wire.  And, its sparks perpetually burn and wildly fly, extending all the way around the world.  Perhaps one day I will tell you more about that connection.  It's a divine one, indeed. 


      There is a saying in Hebrew that regulates my life, "Tikkun Olam".  It translates as "repairing the world".  I believe that it articulates in our lives as a passion, a drive that we know comes from God.  We know He put it there, and we know He stewards it in us. 


     We don't always know who sees, who gets it, and who it's for.  But, today God gave me a gift, like a precious rose that continues to open and release its fragrance.  He's telling me--no, showing me, that it's not in vain.  Carrying this torch, this flame, is not in vain.


     There are many things that are at the heartbeat of God.  As believers we've all been given a mission--a calling to carry His flame.  Mine includes Israel.  


     According to the sages, God poetically hides Himself, waiting for us to find Him.  For me, as I sought Him, I encountered Israel (and the Jewish people).  And, in them was He.  Matter of fact, He showed Himself to be more brilliant and illuminated than I ever imagined.  


     And, from there I began to develop a more firm, stable foundation for my faith to stand.  And for the first time in my life as a believer, I saw the Root that holds me (and this whole universe) together and gives us all life.  And, of course, I've never looked back.


     Tonight my heart sends out a Psalm to Donna and those who travel with her.  It says, "Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good; how blessed is the one who finds refuge in Him."

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A New Life, New Town, & New Landscape Part II

     It’s been over three months now that we’ve been living in our new part of the world.  We are so grateful to be in such a lovely place.  Since we’ve been married the mountains have been calling to us.  We love the mountains not only for the dry, cool air and dramatic rolling hills, but also the pioneering spirit that resides there.  

     We spent our first year of marriage in Southern Mississippi near the Gulf of Mexico, and on our first year anniversary we moved to the Piedmont region of North Carolina.  For the past year and a half my husband and I have been in limbo, not knowing where we would put down roots.  We have been like nomads, living out of boxes, never really feeling a sense of permanency.
  

     Since my last post we’ve added a beautiful barn cat from an elderly couple that owns a farm.  Her previous owners named her “Michelle”, but we’re calling her “Kitty” for now.  She has a gorgeous, shiny black coat—the shiniest we’ve ever seen.   She is a sweet, smart cat who knows how to defend herself, which has been priceless in our neck of the woods. 

     There are foxes and several dogs that roam onto our property including a male bulldog next door that, when not pinned-up, spends his day marking his territory and looking for scraps.  He’s a good dog, but he has difficulty resisting peer pressure from friends (e.g., a coon dog, a hound dog, a boxer, and a German Shepard).  And, the first thing on their agenda is to terrorize our sweet Kitty.  But, Kitty quickly puts them in their place and sends them on their way!

     From day one, even as a kitten, Kitty has shown herself to be a valiant girl.  Whenever her tail-wagging foes arrive, she arches her back and shows her teeth with the hiss of a tiger.  It’s comforting to know that she can take care of herself out here in the country where, for animals, it’s a little bit like the Wild, Wild West!

     And, really, Kitty’s biggest nuisance—her most present threat—is, and may always be, her own tail.  I’ve tried to help her make friends with it, but so far, nothing has worked.  I’ve put her in front of a mirror, held her tail up, and tried to introduce it to her.  


     But, my efforts have been fruitless.  She still fights it with fury. 

     I walked outside this morning, and the dry, windy air reminded me of where we are now (in the foothills of the amazing Blue Ridge Mountains) and where we came from (the humid, flat coastal plains).  Sometimes it’s hard to believe how quickly our lives transformed.  My husband loves it so much up here.  He says that going to work every day in the mountains is like being on vacation.

     Tonight, at the closing of the Sabbath, I stopped to take in the view of the sun going down over the Brushy Mountains in the distance.  I was reminded of how hard we prayed to get here.  And, I realized that my prayers had been answered far beyond what I could have imagined.

     Finally, we're home.

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A New Life, New Town, & New Landscape Part I

      I haven't posted anything for a while because for the past few months we have been in the process of moving.  There have been many times that I have had spurts of ideas—things to say—but I didn't feel the freedom to sit down and explore the rest of the story.  For whatever reason, the majority of my creative moments have occurred when I can be by myself and let go of the things that weigh me down. 

     The past month I have juggled packing and unpacking, taking care of my husband, and starting a jewelry business.  Adding to that are health issues that interrupt and impose on my life.  I do my best to wrestle, faithfully, with the inclination to give-in to the fatigue and pain.  But, sometimes my body betrays me.  When it does, I relinquish my plans and surrender.  Afterwards, I am reminded that I am not omnipotent and that the "will" doesn't always win.

      As I seek to find the good in a difficult situation, I resolve to embrace and be content with what God gives.  At the same time I pray and war against the forces that try to keep me shut up, shut down, and shut out of the fullness that God has provided.  With that, I let go of the tendencies of the flesh that deter and distract me.  My struggles, to name a few, are perfectionism, self-criticism, and pride (e.g., opinions and desires that attempt to exalt themselves above what God gives). 

     With each day I hold out my hands to receive whatever God has chosen to give me.  His gifts always come with an ample dose of grace.  His grace upon my life means that everything has been filtered through His loving hands, and He has not given me anything that I can't handle.  All of this has been a lesson in gratitude.  I'm learning to be grateful for what God gives and calls “good”. 

     Further, if it is indeed good, then I must embrace Him and the life that He gives.  Life is good.  Life is good!

     Even now, right now, that concept sits and marinates upon my heart.  I inhale and exhale.  I look up and realize that the air about me is clean and free—free from anxiety and alarm.

     I keep hearing, “It’s the process—the process!”  He’s telling me that deliverance is a process.  It's a journey whereby we are being transformed and transported from glory to glory!  

     Despise not the process.  Enter into His rest—the rest that He has provided.

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Shabbat Shalom, a Sabbath of wholeness, safety, soundness, health, prosperity, tranquility, contentment, and peace.

     

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Are You Ready To Do Something? Part IV

“My son, if you accept my words and treasure up my commands with you so that you make your ear attend to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver and search for her as hidden treasures, then you would understand the fear of יהוה (Yahweh) and find the knowledge of Elohim.”

~Proverbs 2:1-5, The Scriptures Version

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Now I know better.  Don’t discount the journey!   

The journey makes us who we are.  And, it is our teacher if we receive it as such. 

It shows us what we’re good at and what we enjoy doing.  

It provides the framework for us to learn to be faithful in the things that He has set before us.

That’s probably the most important attribute to have in God’s economy—being faithful in the small things. 

Further, I believe that the journey is full of much-needed preparation for walking in maturity.  

I think that sometimes, we underestimate the depth and weight of maturity. 

In our longing and waiting, it’s easy to lose sight of God’s highest objective—that we be like Him.

And, who, in their heart, would refuse or diminish the richness and purity of being approved, shown faithful by our Creator?

Most of all, I know that God’s hand has woven, in love, every thread of my journey with His watchful eye. 

Now, I understand that the journey was needed to get me to let go of what I had been holding onto. 

I didn’t see the walls I had built that defined my life—the way I thought it should be—leaving little room for Him to move and create His vision for my life.  

I held tightly to them.    

Moreover, I now value and attend to God’s plans for my life. 

I will probably never fully understand, on this side anyway, why He chose the path that He did for my life.

However, the longer I walk with Him the more I understand that He is indescribably creative.  His greatest work is in the coloring outside the lines. 

But, if you had tried to explain that principle to me as a young woman, I would not have understood what it meant, much less appreciate it.

Yet, thanks to God’s loving inner-workings, I am transformed into someone so unique and breathed by the spirit of God.  And, He has extracted the religiosity and immaturity that kept me from relating to most people in this world. 

It came with a price, though.  From arduous exercises of living outside my comfort zone, crucifying my flesh over and over again, He molded me.

Though I can’t see the full picture of where He’s taking me, I am at peace. 

Now I know, not just in my head but in my heart, that His plan is better than anything I can dream or imagine.  The Bible says in Isaiah 55:8 that His ways are higher than ours, and His thoughts, they are not ours.

Sometimes I get weighed down with the things I don’t understand.  It’s not hard to do when we only see in part, through a glass dimly lit.  But, if we stay in that place, in that depraved condition, we miss so much.  Yes, even His best plan for our lives. 

And, if the life-giving sustenance, the very flame of His spirit and power, comes from our willingness to move with Him, we must press onward and leave behind those things we don’t understand.

Once He has given us a vision, a calling, we are responsible for taking steps towards fulfilling it.  His gifts and callings are without repentance.

He doesn’t take them back.

They, just like His Word, go forth from Him for His purposes. 

We are, therefore, stewards.

God has an appointed time for all things, and all things are purposed by Him. 

So, here I am with open hands for Him to fill.  I know that His time is here now, and He will give me something beautiful.  For, He makes all things beautiful in their time. 

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Do you feel that in certain areas of your life God has abandoned you? 

As believers we know that we are not alone.  God has said that He will never leave us, never forsake us. 

As we grow we see His hand of love in those tender places in our hearts more and more.

For me, the process has taken longer than I’d like.  But, it’s all been good.

I trust God’s word that says that all things work together for my good. 

To my surprise, on this journey I have already met others who are in the same place.  They don’t know exactly where their “desires of the heart” will take them.

But, what they do know is that they are walking away from that which what was not life-giving and uniquely prepared for them.

Are there steps that you can take today toward your dream?  What are some long and short-term goals that you can make today?

Write the vision and some achievable goals to accomplish this week.  You may not have the full picture yet, and that’s OK.  It is important that you do something!

Take care not to abandon or abort that which He has put in you. 

Begin to cry out to God.  His word says that if we ask for wisdom, we will receive it

If it is courage that you need, reach out and borrow some from another.

If it is a resource, counsel, or accountability that you need, make your desires known.  Ask for help. 

Lay your burdens and desires at His feet, and He will make something beautiful of it all. 

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Are You Ready To Do Something? Part III

As the struggle persisted, I became more vulnerable to the opinions and criticism of others, as well as the closed doors in its wake.  

At that time I didn’t realize that much of my frustration was the result of my own weakness—my vanity.

My pride was on the line, and I couldn’t do anything about it.

But, now understand more about the Kingdom of God. 

According to Romans 8:28, all things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. 

And, if I have died (to myself) and been raised again, there is no shame.  

Someone once said that the only thing to be ashamed of is sin.  And, I have treasure those words ever since.

For many years I harbored pain and disappointment because God didn’t give me the life I imagined.  So, I rendered Him passive and uncaring.

However, now I see that it was I who abandoned Him.

Permit me to explain.  

His word says that His ways are higher than ours, and His thoughts are not ours.  He withholds no good thing from those who love Him.  

He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.  

So, why had I been discounting the journey?  

Why had I been looking and reaching for a life that was somewhere in the future—as if the "blessings of God" were there, not here?

It always bothered me when Christians talked about "finding God's will" for their lives.  They made it out to be something complex and laborious, as if God were hiding it from them.   

And, then there were those who spoke of “fulfilling their destiny", in ministry or otherwise, with such spectacular and sensational vernacular.  For some, it was more along the lines of a fantasy—resembling nothing in their current lives.

I could never reconcile the disconnect—the incongruence, and most of all, the respecting of time.

Their destiny was never something they were experiencing in the now, but it was out “there”. 

It was something intangible, something to be acquired, to be obtained.

Yet, God was showing me that I, too, was like them.

I had been deceived in thinking that my discontentment was justified because I was on my way to something better. 

Certainly God understood! 

I thought. 

Wasn’t it OK to despise my condition?

I mean, wouldn’t my thoughts and dialogue with God mimic those of the people of the Bible who harbored a dream, a vision given to them by God?

Couldn’t they commiserate with me? 

What about Joseph?  He held his dream in his heart for years while suffering in prison.  What about Sarah and Abraham?  They were given a promise at, what seemed like, the most inopportune time, and then told to wait for their child of promise.

There’s no doubt that they could relate to my feelings and experience.

However, God’s word says that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. 

His word says that He has given us life abundant!

If so, then, where is it?

If it’s not here, then we must examine ourselves.

Now, that's not to diminish the pain and travail of awaiting the birth of what God has impregnated. 

I know firsthand that there are days when the vision is so dim that you wonder if you ever had it right.  And, there are days that the weariness of waiting without fruition nearly consumes all the strength you can muster.

Also, God allows discomfort and dissatisfaction in certain situations for His purposes—perhaps to propel us to a place of greater obedience or to illustrate His desires as we seek discernment. 

But, when we live in the future, in the "what ifs and what could be", and we don't embrace and value what He's given us in the present, we're missing it.

Further, when we're continually making our trials and lack of ability to be satisfied with our lives about us, we're missing it.  

A wise, godly friend of mine, Joy, has taught me that as believers, our lives are about being present in the moment and ministering to others.  

If we are in a tough place, it's not all about what He wants to do in us, change in us, or produce a certain behavior in us.  

He will take care of that as we yield to Him.  

We are to give our lives away with abandon, each day, for Him to be in us.

That is the essence of our ministry. 

And, our act of ministry is whatever we find to do that day. 

The Bible says that it may be as simple as a "cup of cold water".

His spirit continued to rush over me.  And, in my newly-found humility and understanding, I repented.

I repented for manufacturing, in my mind, a life that would please me and, presumably, Him.  

I didn't realize that the pictures and scenarios in my mind were birthed from the people and programs of my experience.  I picked the parts I liked and planted myself in them with my own personalized twist.  

This was all my doing, not His.

As His spirit continued to wash over me, He showed me that He had given me the desires of my heart.  He had given me opportunities to do what I loved.

And I walked in them.

He had given me above and beyond what I could have ever dreamed or asked.  

So, what was the problem? 

The problem was that they weren’t given to me in the context or capacity that I wanted.  

He didn't satisfy the criteria of what I had presented to Him.  

And, all along, my mind—my flesh—was telling Him, "That's not enough.  I don't care what You have for me.  

What's next?!"

How rebellious and ungrateful I was.

So, the truth is, He did see me.  He did hear me.  He had been faithful to me! 

You see, the Enemy wants us to think that God is not who He says He is.

And, when we accept that lie, either consciously or subconsciously, we begin to embrace discouragement and distance ourselves from God.

When we assert that posture, we take ourselves out of the Kingdom of God, and we live for ourselves, not Him. 

We’re telling Him, “I know better”.

It’s so subtle.  Yet it has serious, all-encompassing consequences.

There’s more I’d like to tell you about my journey.  I hope that you are encouraged, and discover truths that, in the past, may have been overlooked.

My desire is that you, too, know the freedom that comes from letting go and letting God reign in your life.

(To Be Continued)

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