Creating Space For Your Voice
Many years ago I used to live in what felt like a continual Groundhog’s Day of chronic voice loss and fatigue. After shows, during rehearsals, at the end of a cold my voice would play mind games with me ducking, disappearing then reappearing again. Getting sick once or twice and losing your voice is one thing but this happened on repeat. It was horrible! Last week I watched “Not Just A Girl”, the Netflix documentary on Shania Twain, where she shares, amongst other things, her fight with Lyme disease and how it took her voice away for almost a decade. I was reminded of just how stressful it is to be a singer/performing artist while managing a challenging voice condition and still trying to deliver the musical goods.
Of course, I wish I knew then all the things that I know now about how to keep my voice healthy. All the self care tools that I have for listening to my emotional and physical body. When it’s telling me to slow down, take time for myself or when to move, get outside, see a friend. I’ve also cultivated ways to practice that truly maintain my voice, not just for rehearsing and performing, but also to handle all that comes with being a performer. These routines and practices are woven into my teaching and my life for good reason.
I want my students to be able to withstand long and sometimes uncomfortable travel days, quick dress changes, lack of privacy, soundchecks, glitches in sound and communication, radio and tv interviews, meeting and connecting with different people, posing for pictures, advocating for your and your band’s needs for sound, housing, pay, etc. There’s so much that can take a toll on you, especially as a woman, Queer person, person of color, or mother!… knowing at the end of the day you still have to play and do it gracefully. And by gracefully I mean allowing whatever frustration, exhaustion, sadness and joy there is to be a part of the music.
I started writing “Lost & Found”, my upcoming book on the voice, because I wanted to share some of the struggles and many blessings of being an artist. Even in those times when I didn’t sound or feel my best, most often my voice just wanted me to take some time for myself.
So here’s the down and dirty quick cheat sheet…listen to your voice. When I make regular space for my voice, body and creativity most things in my life wind up having clear solutions, they become manageable, even great. But a lot of us, myself included, need some outside support, someone to listen, offer their own pitfalls and routines, give you a boost of confidence when you’re down. So if you would like to create some space for your voice , come join the Tuning In workshop later this month on Monday, August 22 from 11am -1pm EST.