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.

Trusting Your Creative Inspiration

All over the world composers, painters, sculptures, dancers, playwrights and other artists sequester themselves alone in rooms or with like-minded folks to call on this voice. They sit at pianos, stand in front of blank canvas and balance on Marley to draft an artistic impulse and impression. Something they saw in their head, felt in their heart or heard in their mind.

From the upcoming “Lost & Found: Finding The Power In Your Voice”

It’s easy to witness beautiful art, groundbreaking dance or soul stirring music and think “I’ll never be able to do that”. But that’s because we’re often faced with the end result. Rarely do we get to see the beginning, middle or even initial flashes of inspiration that propelled a creative project into being born. So much of what helps to complete or generate paintings, scores and plays begins with an abundance of ideas, ideas that may even seem to be competing with one another. When you were young it was probably much easier to give yourself creative leeway but as you got older expectations, pressure, comparison got higher. 

When I think back on being a little kid I don’t even remember the difference between creative ideas versus other ideas. We were always inspired to manifest our visions, whatever they were. Like “How are we gonna get enough money to get some biscuits from KFC?” or “Let's have a songwriting contest!” to “Oooo! lets redo your room!” As a vocalist/composer and voice and movement teacher a large portion of what I teach is actually guiding students to let their creative ideas flow and actually trust them. We’ve been adulting for a good while now and some of those “adult” skills can have an adverse effect on a highly captivating and successful project. 

But what is inspiration? What makes it valid? And who gets to sing or write a song or make a film? The best barometer in my opinion is the level of joy, engagement or excitement it brings you.  I didn’t plan on writing a book at this point in my life but writing just felt good, just like when I was a kid (and there have been  a lot of things happening these last few years that didn’t feel good). So I followed the good feeling. I let it lead. And now as it turns out I’m in the midst of completing my first hybrid memoir!

How do you tap into your creative voice and trust the flow? I invite you to take note of the ideas that bring you happiness and come join me for my book launch this November 2022! Lets celebrate with like minded folks who too want to unleash the power in their voices. To be a part of the festivities please make sure to email us here!

Finding Your Creative Inspiration And Sticking With It

One day several years ago my husband found this free bike on the street. He brought it home, pumped up the tires and found that it worked like new! It had no bells or whistles, no basket nor kickstand (like the one above:), no flashy color or brand. But it turned out the bike ran perfectly! Not just perfectly, I actually love this bike!

It took me a while to start using it regularly but when I did, I discovered I really enjoyed it. I like the weight of it, I like how it glides uphill perfectly without me having to adjust the gears (because I prefer having less to think about when I'm riding Lol!). I like that it’s a "female" bike and that I can easily move my legs over when I’m getting off or on. I like that the handlebars are high so I can sit tall without cranking my neck and getting a tight neck and upper back from another modern gadget. As a result in the past couple months I’ve been super inspired to take this bike to discover parts of the city that I wouldn’t normally visit or bike to.

Just as a little background, my husband and daughter often prefer staying in the city during the summer and or holidays whereas I prefer visiting some place new so we often have to find a compromise. But lately I anticipate weekends with the excitement of a little kid. I can't wait to go on our next bike adventure!

Two and a half years ago I never would have thought that I would have a working manuscript to my first book. But just like my bicycle I followed my inspiration and saw where it led me. I hope that you’ll be a part of this next chapter in my voice and movement offerings when I unveil it this November. But in the meantime, tell me where is your inspiration leading you? Please send a reply. I love hearing from you all!

Using The Power of Your Imagination For Better Singing

There’s a misconception about music, performance and art making in general. (There are many misconceptions actually). For example that you have to be born with a good voice in order to sing or that music is all work and no play (or worse) that it’s all play and no work. As if musicians, dancers, filmmakers, comedians haven’t been honing their skills just as long and in depth as lawyers, teachers, scientists and others. But there’s also a misconception about dreaming. That dreaming  isn’t a worthwhile activity, that it isn’t advisable, practical or useful when it comes to getting things done. But I’m here to say just the opposite. Your visions, dreams and desires matter a whole lot!, especially when it comes to realizing your creative goals. 

Despite the fact it’s often in our “dreams” that we get inspiration for where we want to live, work, how to solve a problem or devise innovative technology, our society often holds strong biases against the power of our imaginations. We tell kids to “follow their dreams” yet criticize adults for being childlike if they continue dreaming. And it isn’t surprising if you take a look at the cultures which do value imagination and dreaming, such as African and Indigenous cultures, that messaging in the West continues to suggest the “primitive” thinking of these cultures. I’m not saying that being an adult doesn't demand a deeper level of responsibility and follow through (because it does) but for just that reason alone adults need spaces to free their imagination and dream their voices into being. 

When I work with singers and sounders I ask them to visualize just as high performing athletes and meditators do. In order to create the experience that they want with their voices I believe it’s crucial to spend time contemplating and reflecting on what it is that they want, how they want it to feel, who does it in a way that touches them and why. This intention can then be spun into the act of singing. Plus there’s a difference between wanting to sing for your pets and wanting to sing for stadiums or wanting to sing for weddings and wanting to record your own album. So as much as you need functional based vocal warm ups, a consistent warm up schedule, music that challenges you and moves you,  you also need to tune into what it is that you desire. That desire will be both a guide for your singing and a confidence builder because you are listening to and validating your inner voice. 

So what dreams and music wishes are you having? Next month on Friday, April 8th from 10a-4p EST I will be offering a virtual voice and movement for you to indulge in all the music making and daydreaming you desire so that you can truly improve your singing. There are still some slots available! For more information or to sign up, email here

‘Tis The Season For Your Voice To Shine

Do you ever feel that desire to take your singing and confidence to the next level? The level where you see and feel yourself performing in front of others and feel totally clear headed and relaxed in your body. Your voice shows up for you in a reliable way and as a result you're able to truly express your emotions.

I know you're busy wrapping presents and wrapping up the year but there's still that nagging sense that you're not getting the most out of your voice. It's a little weak, your head voice sounds thin, your chest voice doesn't really have much punch and you can't seem to create a steady time to practice. Well, while you're busy tying bows on everything, remember feeling good in your voice and body is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Next year I'll be launching my new Embodied Artist Group Program to fuse together the multiple levels of support I offer into one. It’s not easy, nor for the faint of heart, being an artist and putting yourself fully out there and sharing your emotions, your words and voice without fear or compromise. That’s why I created The Embodied Artist Group Program.

We are beginning to enroll students now for a January 19, 2022 start so if this program is calling you please email us at lessons@pyengnyc.com to learn more and how to get started.

Keeping Your Inner Child Alive

One of the things that I love about teaching is that my students are continuously reflecting back to me why voice and movement work so well in freeing one’s voice. Time and time again they articulate that using an integrative approach to singing helps them not only find their own authentic sound but it also gives them greater confidence. And the thing is I make sure to add a dose of whacky along the way.

For as long as I can remember I have had a deep bond with my inner child, that playful spirit inside of me daydreaming and goofing around. It is in part thanks to her that I often create outside the box teaching models and original music and artwork. It is thanks to her that improvising and creating music has felt so accessible and relatively easy. Although I am inspired by larger concepts my relationship to music is first a purely intuitive and or instinctual thing. 

On the one hand it seems obvious that play would be a vital component of art making. However, when you become more invested in studying the arts, music can become very serious very fast (almost like a 13 year old who suddenly has to provide for the family). Commit to this approach to art or music making and it will surely paint a picture that is dry and lacking the colorful, sensual and spontaneous impact it once had. You also don’t have to be a professional artist for art to lose its luster. Music can lose it’s shine if you are an amateur and for one reason or another you start to focus solely on your end goals and technical skills without connecting to your joy.

When I started playing with in a band with my friends in junior high and high school one of the things that we spent countless hours doing while practicing was laughing. We learned music, wrote music, found places to perform and throughout it all we laughed for hours and hours. People go to Laughing Yoga classes just to receive the benefits of laughter. Can you imagine how much Dopamine we were getting just from being around one another? That’s the beauty of music. So even though we would win competitions and record, we kept the spirit of play alive. If you want to develop your voice and vocal confidence but while still holding onto your inner child, then look no further to learn about The Embodied Artist Group Program starting January 19th, 2022. Come experience the freedom of your voice while staying true to your love of music. 

Why Groups Matter

Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much I’ve accomplished, how many checks I’ve marked on my to do list, how many new opportunities may be peaking on the horizon,  I just don’t feel right until I’ve shared the whole journey of how I got through Tuesday to appreciate what all I’ve done. Once I get to “break bread” with like minded folks who share my values and or interests, then I can see that despite the detours we’re all making spiritual and artistic progress.

For the last 20 months I’ve found an incredible amount of solace from various online thriving artist groups and it’s made me reconsider how I want to be supporting other artists/creatives. Since the start of the pandemic I began offering a weekly workshop as a way to build community and help those that wanted to feel more centered onstage. This eventually developed into a weekly artists support group for women/non-binary folks. And next year I will be launching my first 9 month group program called The Embodied Artists Program!!

While it seems like this was birthed out of the pandemic, I realize that groups have been a core thread for me throughout the years. From the singer songwriter circle that my friend Tom Paul ran yearssss ago out of his home every Monday evening in Park Slope. There I met artists such as Debbie Deane and Amma Whatt amongst others. I’ve worked with business coach Britt Bolnick where I then met Nikki Starcat Shields whose book writing group I joined during the pandemic where I am completing my first hybrid memoir. My connection to the goodness of groups dates all the way back to middle school and high school where I used to play music with my friends in our band Soul Sauce. Laughing and making music after school was in many ways the foundation for how I built my music making process to feel like home.

I’m now confident that group learning and support is an incredible tool for helping artists stay accountable and continue making huge leaps with their goals. If you’re ready to give your voice the confidence boost you’ve been looking for, email lessons@pyengnyc.com to find out more about The Embodied Artist Program

Finding Your Vocal Compass

What if there was a way that you could re-calibrate your nervous system when feeling stressed, scattered or alone? When you become forgetful and your thoughts start floating above you. What if there was a way to call back the Humpty-Dumpty-parts that perhaps fall down rabbit holes of self-doubt, self-sabotage, confusion or overwhelm into a whole? What if it could begin with the sound of your voice? The vibration starts almost like a homecoming gathering pieces of yourself together again. Like a horn call, alluring, mystical and magnetic illuminating your cells. A light from the lake house reminding you of the way back to your body.

You haven’t sung since that play in high school, since that one semester you took gospel choir, that time you got the courage to write a song and share it with the class. It feels like a really long time since those high pressure/high stakes music competitions that always left your palms sweaty. But your voice is still there waiting to assist, to be your guide, your slightly rusty but trusty compass. Show her a little love and she will surround you in the feeling you’ve been craving. The days are moving fast but it’s safe for you to stay in your body, to breathe and laugh, even cry.  Soon a casual conversation, a presentation, a performance will be your invitation to awaken.

I know for some of you the sound of your own voice is still a little bit jarring, something you prefer to tune out and for others it might be delicious like a cup of hot cocoa. You might want more from your voice but don’t know where to start. Well, no need to worry, this next month there are many opportunities for you to dip your toes into the vast and ongoing journey with your voice. I hope I will see you sounding somewhere soon!

What Artist Season Are You In?

As an artist there are times when I’m super inspired, churning out new ideas, researching, going to see other artists’ work, rehearsing and producing and then there are other times when I’m not quite “productive” at all. I’m doing the normal everyday stuff that everyone has to do like making meals, doing laundry, teaching, taking out the trash (which my daughter actually does), walking the dog, watching Netflix, exercising, going to bed, waking up and doing it all over again. But even during those times when I’m not actively producing new songs, installations, poetry or curriculum for teaching voice and movement, I am still extremely busy. We all are. Life is happening. It’s not just the flashy lights-camera-action of performing and premiering a new project, that makes us productive.

Years ago I had a talk therapist who brought it to my attention that those “slower” times when we’re not in an outflow of production are just another season, like winter. For instance summer harvest doesn’t happen all year round (unless you live in Southern California or the Caribbean and if you do, you will notice the folks there have adapted their lifestyle by moving slower and taking naps). Whereas those of us who live in places with four seasons like New York tend to ramp up for Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall! However, as it turns out, just like food production, if it’s unsustainable for the environment to constantly grow, then it’s also unsustainable for us as humans and artists to constantly produce.

As we head “back-to-school” I am really interested in remembering to cultivate healthy growth practices for the Fall. Earlier this month during my weekly Tuning In series I asked the group what is it that you want to bring with you, or harvest, from summer? What do you want to store away so that you can remember the ripeness and energy of summer? This month I am offering several opportunities where folks can gather and nurture their voices to move into Fall with greater confidence. I hope to see you somewhere fruitful soon!

What To Do With Art-Break

Even on good days sometimes I just feel art-broken. With so much disaster constantly afoot in the world I am well aware of the abundant blessings in my life. Each day I feel immense gratitude for the roof over my head, healthy food, a job that I love, healthy family, my own health and more. However, my desire to make art and contribute art is a spiritual longing that I can’t deny and sometimes I feel heartbroken by how long it has been since I last “loved.” Since I last sang in public, since I last worked towards recording an album of new original music, since I last expressed myself so fully, since I last felt that commune with like minded musicians and audience. 

I know I am not the only one. After a year of such devastating loss in the art world both financially and in terms of human lives I know many feel the yearning of our lost connections. While online concerts have been an option they cannot replace the connection of that mysterious, unnameable thing that happens when music is felt and experienced in real time with other humans  in the same space. It’s something that can’t go on pause and can’t be repeated. (That’s why I call it “living music”). 

But yesterday I realized that I have been carrying a sadness with me for a while now. A loneliness due to the fact that it has been hard for me to live up to the childhood dreams I had of being a successful, independent artist. (You can hear more about my experience with this in this recently aired podcast on Make More Music). However, my child self didn’t know about the adult challenges of carrying music and myself, of nurturing music and nurturing my relationships, of being able to get the rest and food that I need and also being fully available for the students that I love. Music feels too big and demanding at times. 

I wonder “Do I deserve to be here?”, “Am I supposed to be here?” I know if I were talking to one of my students I would say “Most definitely! YES!”  But I also need reminding from time to time. And that’s when I remember that having a talk with myself, including my shadow self, is warranted because maybe just maybe a part of me enjoys feeling lonely and like an outsider. Maybe a part of me enjoys this feeling of missed opportunities. (For those that don’t know her work author, teacher Carolyn Elliot refers to this as Existential Kink). I mean sad songs are kind of addictive! Similarly, when you see the same patterns repeating themselves in your life you have to wonder “Does some part of me actually like this?”

So if you, like me, have been experiencing some tugs on your heart strings, maybe you just need to indulge in this sad song of art-break, like a good cry, until you feel ready to move on. There’s something delicious about diving into the pain and sorrow of a sad song right? It’s actually one of the things I love about singing. I love to sing about longing and I think that’s because it is a huge part of our existence as human beings. There are always people, places, activities, experiences we are longing for. A desire for connection, for love, to be wanted, to be understood, to feel contentment. But alas all the good and the bad is always changing and so we are only left with impermanence. 

So what do you do with your art break? I haven’t fully figured it out but I can tell you what I am working on currently. Mix two parts meditation with one part visualization, add in one dose of negative thought releasing practice and pull a tarot card or some form of divination for good measure. Finally write, draw, sing, dance and witness your art-break start to transform. 

Send me a comment and tell me how you nurture an art-broken heart.

Creating Your Outdoor Studio

How do you get your work completed and also get outside?

Nowadays many people have been feeling they've had enough with being cooped up. With more people getting vaccinated and businesses opening up folks have also been feeling an increase in activities and personal as well as work commitments. As a result I have been hearing more students say “I  didn’t get a chance to practice much this week” 

For most musicians (as well as visual artists) we often spend a great deal of time inside practicing on an instrument, rehearsing new music and recording. During the winter months this probably was a welcome salve but nowadays you are ready to get out! So how do you meet your need to improve your singing, experience more freedom in your body and get outdoors? My suggestion is to combine all aspirations in an intentional way. 

Here are a few suggestions for how to heed your call for the wild:)

1. Create a Mindful Movement session. If you have access to a clean, quiet space such as a nearby park and or backyard, bring your yoga mat, notebook and go out for 10-20 minutes. Set a timer and explore 2 explorations that allow you to slow down and observe your movement habits. You could try lying on your back with knees bent and two books to support your head while raising your arms up and down or walking slowly. Notice when and where you overtighten and see if you can slow down to pause right before the grabbing, then continue moving while focusing on ease. Use your notebook to log your findings. 

2. Take a singing bike ride. This can be done while biking or rollerskating. Go somewhere safe where you don’t have to worry about cars and or traffic and use the momentum of movement as you explore sounds in your head voice. Notice the sensations of the wind and air around you and the feeling of going fast. What’s it like to sing outdoors vs. indoors? What’s it like to sing while moving vs. standing still? Remember to open and close your mouth fully so that your jaw is easy. 

3. Try a Vavavoom session. If you like to run, dance or swim, try a form of vigorous movement outdoors and immediately afterwards return home to warm up your voice with your lesson recording. What do you notice about your breathing, volume and even the energy in your sound after aerobic exercise? Want to take it up a notch? Try running in place or dancing while vocalizing. What got easier and what was more difficult? 

4. Take a mindful music walk. For songwriters/composers take a walk or go sit in nature and let whatever comes to you bubble up and record without editing. You don’t need an instrument such as a guitar or piano for this initial music download. You can use the power of your voice, your creative ideas and a good old handheld recorder (like the voice memos section on your phone which I use ALL the time for composing). Going on a walk is also a great time to listen back to music you are in the process of writing. How does it sit with you while walking in your neighborhood, in a park, sitting on the grass or walking by a body of water? 

5. Remember to listen. There are so many times that students say they didn’t get a chance to practice and forget to just listen to their voice and movement lessons. One of the MOST valued skills we can train as musicians (and people in general) is in the art of listening. Even if you can’t practice or don’t feel up to it, listening to your lessons reminds your brain and body of how to produce sounds in the new way that we are cultivating, it also trains your ear to match pitch and hear the nuances in your own vocal production. So take a walk, bike ride or solo picnic and enjoy the sound of your own voice. Afterwards listen to the sounds around you. What’s it like to fully surrender to sound? What happens to your breath and body?

Let me know how it goes building your outdoor studio. And if you are inspired, please send a photo or you can tag me @pyengthreadgill on social media with the hashtag #outdoorstudio 

As always thank you for being  a part of living music!

The Art of Puttering And Other Potions For Empowered Artists

It’s funny how often our conversations in my Embodied Artist support group, Tuning In, have come around to cleaning and clearing, more specifically puttering. However, puttering often brings with it slightly negative connotations that can make people feel guilty and or embarrassed for engaging with it. It suggests the person is wasting time, aimless, unfocused. Yet, I would argue that there is actually great, creative purpose in puttering.

I often tell people many years ago I used to think that being a composer had a set definition. No one person sat me down and gave me a definition of a composer but I absorbed it from the world I grew up in and  the higher education music training I received. Being a composer meant sitting for hours on end at one’s piano with pencil and paper gradually generating notes of music to form a composition. Similarly I thought being a music producer meant sitting in a dark, often dusty room for 10-16 hours or more staring at a screen as groups of musicians (primarily of the male gender) would gather, smoke, talk and eat as music was arranged and mixed and then this formula would repeat itself. I never realized in my late 20’s that neither of these visions fully lived up to what I wanted although I was aiming my arrow towards both of them.

Instead, what appeals to me is creating in a large space, with lots of natural light, having the ability to play piano, move on the floor, sing, record, walk around, dance, meditate, research online, in books and in films, sit and sing in nature. I define this as “studio time” and you can see it allows for an ebb and flow of output and input, stillness and movement. What I produce is a combination of songs, spoken word, video and sound installations. This is very different from what I originally defined as a legit “songwriter”/”composer”. Yet, this is generally how I work.

But before I can conjure that kind of work I too often need puttering time. Puttering time is woven in and around my “studio time”. It is the time that my brain is thinking, digesting, processing, coming up with new ideas as well as developing musical ideas I have already started. I have systems and community for keeping me accountable to my artistic goals but I believe puttering is some of the most potent and magical problem solving time and it shouldn’t be written off. Dismissing puttering is yet another way Capitalist, white supremacist, patriarchy teaches professional, aspiring and hobby artists to deny their full selves (body, voice, heart, mind). To work hard (not smart), always be on call, deny your body’s needs for sleep, healthy food, healthy relationships, time off and movement. 

But I think the last year has highlighted many habits and systems which don’t best serve people, including art makers. So when does puttering enhance your mental clarity? How can you use it to transition from one activity to another? Everyday I take little moments to clear my piano, nightstand, water my plants and it helps me to be more fully present in the next thing I need to do. If you are wanting to set new definitions for what it means to be an Empowered Artist creating a sustainable and thriving life, then you are in the right place. To find out more about my offerings like next week’s monthly vocal warmup (just one way to maintain your vocal health and creativity) called Community Vocal Gym. I would love to see you!

Listening To Desire & Listening To Your Voice

Do you ever feel like there’s a part of you wanting to unabashedly sing out but for one reason or another decide to hold back? A hidden or unmet desire that sits in close proximity like when children play hide and seek and then pick someplace easy to spot. Last week we sent you a survey to find out whether singing, or sounding, is something that you have been deeply and or secretly craving. So often it seems that people who don’t consider themselves “singers” or “good” singers feel they aren’t entitled to sing. And while it may not seem rational or logical or practical, the desire to sing remains.

You can witness the desire people have to sing just by observing how more and more instrumentalists have taken to releasing new music where they are singing. (One recent example is Jon Batiste’s latest record)

It’s pretty amazing that your voice, the thing causing you anxiety to sing in public or release your original music, is also the exact part of you that can heal those fears. It’s kind of perfectly poetic. Your throat cavity has so many ways it can open and stretch to reveal your voice without you having to push and squeeze to be heard. (This is part of why I jam out on teaching vocal technique). For example when you allow your face to soften and then widen into a smile as you open your mouth, your soft palate, the muscular part at the back of the roof of your mouth, is encouraged to rise up like a parachute (kind of like the image below). 

This creates more of a doming effect allowing your voice to resonate and become louder without pushing. Think of the architecture of a church or temple.

You are actually like a temple. Not in the religious sense (although I would argue that you are in the spiritual/energetic sense) but I am referring to the structure of your anatomy. From the top of your head to the roof of your mouth to your vocal folds to your diaphragm to your pelvis to the soles of your feet, you are filled with domes to absorb the shock of various surfaces (literally and metaphorically) that you walk upon and also support the sounds you choose to make. 

That is part of why you feel that call to sing! Your body is a temple despite what outside forces say or try to do to convince you otherwise. Your body, just like your voice, can be a place of rest, a place of sound, vibration, movement, micro movements, thoughts, emotions, insights, retreats and expansions, electrical impulses and more.

So if you haven’t already filled out the voice survey to tell us about your singing dreams, please do so here. In the coming months I will be launching a new online program for people of all levels looking to find more play and freedom with their voices. We would love to hear from you to know more of what you desire:). 

How Do Face Your Fear & Sing Anyway?

“In strengthening her own voice, she found innumerable ways to both charm and resist.”

• Portrait of Josephine Baker by Kristen D. Burton

What has to happen for a person or player to get over their fear of singing in order to do it anyway? Last weekend I watched numerous performances at the online BRIC Jazzfest and it struck me how almost every group and or artist incorporated some use of their voice and singing in their set. Normally when I have played at or gone to Jazz festivals vocalists sing and instrumental groups play instrumental music and if they want a vocalist, then they feature a vocalist. But last weekend it seemed to me that more and more people are wanting to express themselves, their thoughts and their emotions with their own voices regardless of the extent to their “vocal training”. Right now it seems that the message behind the music is almost equal to, if not more important than, the music itself. The message that I heard was a need for healing, the need for space to mourn those who have passed in the last year and a need for justice for Black and BIPOC lives as a whole. 

It made me smile to see artists such as Keyon Harold, Mae Sun, Robert Glasper, Roy Ayers and others known for their playing include time to sing. From my perspective their voices were slightly breathy, unsteady at times, quieter than a “singer’s” voice would typically be. So often prospective students, aspiring performers and even professional singers reach out to me seeking tools to improve these aspects of their voice. When I talk to people on the phone I often say that studying vocal technique and practicing on a consistent basis will strengthen your voice,  improve your volume, smooth out your “break”, increase your range and help you not to strain when singing high notes. 

However, in addition to wanting to find their voices and sing well, pretty much all of the people who call and write to learn about singing lessons say that what they really want is to be able to sing with confidence! Because there are a million reasons people can find, or create, to fear the sound of their own voice, especially in public. Will others like your singing? Will your voice quiver? Will it crack? Will the audience like your music? Will you sound stupid? Is anyone even going to show up?

These lists of reasons not to take the leap to sing can amount like piles of laundry, mail or stacks of dishes. But if you can acknowledge your fear (i.e. face your fear) and then find a holistic practice to support your voice, you will already start noticing a change in your confidence. Dig into this holistic practice and surround yourself with a supportive community (i.e. Tuning In for example:) and you will start to surprise yourself with the risks you are willing to take when it comes to your music. But take things even further and try connecting to the message behind your music and then you can truly find the power of your voice. Just like the artists I saw performing last weekend. Besides the “thousand hours” of performance practice that they have logged, there is always a level of vulnerability when it comes to singing, even for the “professional” musician. The strength in your voice comes from connecting to your personal story, your pleasure, your pain and our collective need for healing and justice.

This year I am going to be launching two new programs that I’m really excited about! One is an introduction to sounding and ways to play with the voice for those who may not consider themselves “singers” and for singers alike. The second program is focused on supporting women of color/non-binary folks in the creation of a new music project/performance grounded in the principles that I have found to be successful for my own music. If you would like to be informed when these offerings are fully cooked, please let us know here. And til then, keep singing!

Building Your Cocoon

The wings of the butterfly are already held inside the caterpillar, and as it breaks down its old self into goo the wings emerge ready to go. That process is amazing and teaches me that as we change and transform, we also have everything we need already right inside of us. So my organizing and healing work becomes about building the cocoon that can hold the goo so that wings can emerge.

• Micah Hobbes Franzier, from Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree Brown

It seems kind of strange to talk about slowing down when the natural world is currently starting to speed up. Birds singing, leaves greening, sunlight brightening. But I believe and have witnessed how slowing down can actually enhance our growth. Whether you are a performing artist, music/art lover or lifelong learner, when you slow down you can discover parts of your body, breath, voice and thoughts that are really running “the show”. Whether that show is playing an instrument, dancing, acting, sitting on countless Zoom meetings, caring for your family or otherwise, there is a lot to be gained from Mindful Movement.

For example when I slow down and understand where I am gripping or tightening in my body, I start to build new relationships with myself, my movement, my activities and even my beliefs. As I ease the tension in my arms, my arms start to take on a new identity to me. When I let go in my hips, my legs become something new, lighter and more connected. As I let go of my tongue, my breath becomes fuller and more calming to my nervous system. In essence when we slow down, we have the opportunity to transform, to build our own cocoon. We also have the opportunity to develop a stronger connection to ourselves for all the moments when we are taking flight singing, playing and moving at high speed. 

As creative people there are always times when we will be gathering momentum, coasting from that momentum and slowing down. Right now in the northeast we are entering spring and tomorrow is the spring equinox, a time of birth, blossoming and fire. This month why not recommit to your artistic process so that you might yield a fruitful creative harvest? What are doing to nurture a cocoon for your art/practice? If you are looking for support for your creative life and body, reach out to learn more about my Tuning In series here today.

Why Is It So Scary To Be Seen And Heard?

Have you ever noticed yourself holding back from being seen and heard? You don’t have to be a performing artist to feel the fear that can come up around being exposed. Oftentimes being seen and heard requires a huge level of visibility and therefore vulnerability. And within that vulnerability there can be shaky questions that come up. Will you be attacked for being too much? Rejected and or shamed? Will you lose someone’s love? Will you ever be enough? Are you are fully loveable?

So imagine the perfect opportunity presented itself to you. The best venue for your work, the best audience, even the best team. Would you be ready and willing to fully receive it? In this moment would you allow yourself to shine...or would you find a way to unravel and undermine it in some way? Sometimes I feel like this is the real, core work of learning about the voice and or how to sing. Understanding the ways in which we all hold ourselves back and the ways in which we allow ourselves to flow with the tide. 

Whether you consider yourself a singer or not, your level of comfort or discomfort with your voice can show up in a multitude of ways. If you really want to sing and really want to make an impact with your voice and your art, there still may be an ingrained habit of dimming your own light. You may shy away from sharing your accomplishments, procrastinate when opportunities present themselves to reveal new work, find ways to get out of meeting people or potential collaborators, compare yourself or compete with others when you might have to show up as your authentic self.

Your voice shows up in your personal and work relationships. In your fears of expressing your honest opinions. It can show up in your art and how you negotiate or make decisions or collaborate. It can show up in how or whether you nurture yourself as an artist. Do you delay to register for lessons or classes that you know will help you? Do you postpone rehearsals, not texting or emailing people back? Your level of comfort with yourself can show up as overwhelm and scattered thoughts when you decide you want to step up and be more seen. It can show up as overworking yourself day and night so that you go from working non-stop to burning out and then being forced to stop. Trust me, I know from personal experience.

And the thing is you’e not alone. You are not wrong for being scared to be seen. It’s human. The impact your voice makes not only in the world but also your life is quite great. That’s why it’s so valuable to take a hold of support and connect to your voice in a holistic, whole body way. There are a lot of external and internal forces at work trying to disrupt your voice from being fully heard. And I want to support you to ensure that it does get heard and that it feels good in the process. So tell me (because I would love to hear from you)….really, please write me back:). Let me know do you have a fear of being seen or heard and what would make you feel safe dipping your toes in the water?

How Art Making Can Make You More Whole

If you are a professional artist or aspiring artist, you probably care pretty deeply about making artwork that impacts others or helps to create positive change. As a result it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking from the center of your art outwards. To think that your book, your composition, play or painting is the thing instead of remembering that you are the thing. You have to practice, shape, research, write, project and tell the story. You have to figure out where this artistic entity begins and ends. However, a lot of times in art we tend to focus on our goal, or project, without assessing our current state. 

But here’s the thing. I imagine many of you reading this have had the experience where a song or poem just writes itself. Where one day you sit down or saddle up to create and the piece just flows seamlessly out of you. So why is it that we forget our part in the process? Perhaps in those moments it does feel as if we really aren’t the creators but more the conduits for art. Yet even if that is the case, which I do believe, don’t you want to be the best conduit for your art possible? And by best I mean well cared for. 

The way that art has been taught in the past often focuses on getting the job done by any means necessary. But that approach can leave people ripe with physical injuries, mental stress, anxiety, or even worse, dependencies on outside substances such as drugs or alcohol or looking to other people for love and approval. 

So how do you want to make art this year? Do you want to create a well loved, well tended home for your art to spring from? Do you want to create art that touches others and maybe even leaves you the better after it’s completion? Remember YOU are the instrument. You are not a bystander. 

To gain more support for your artistic process, join Tuning In, The Embodied Artist Practice Space. Imagine a virtual artistic “We Work” space for like minded women/non binary folks of color in the arts. Email here to find out more.

Why Finding Your Voice Matters

What makes finding your voice so important...and who said it was lost anyway? Since you have been speaking and maybe singing for many years now, you probably feel that you already know your voice and any unknown parts must not be that important. But for a moment let’s just examine all the ways that you use your voice. At work, on the phone, socializing, placing orders, giving instructions, comforting, explaining, convincing, teaching, connecting and more. You have most likely spent two or more decades already using your voice. And within that time I am sure you have had to tend to your physical health at various points, so why not tend to your vocal health and happiness as well? 

Most people believe that their voices are fixed or immovable “objects” like the foundation of a house. But your voice is in fact malleable. So much more than you give it credit for. Studying the voice and refining it is like tending to a deep part of yourself in winter so that you can bloom with all the lacy petals of spring. When you start to pay attention to the quality of your voice, you start to access your personal power in a new way. The way your voice makes an entrance, the way your voice calls peoples attention to you, your ideas, values, purpose and or calling. Finding your voice is important because your voice is an essential part of you but one that you frequently overlook or take for granted. 

This year we have witnessed, in greater detail, how disastrous things become when we take basic rights and spaces for granted. The rights of BIPOC people, LGBTQIA people, the health of the planet, just to name a few.The more you strengthen your individual voice, the more you strengthen the voice and needs of your community. And the beauty of art is that you can do this through your art. That’s why finding your voice can lead to a wellspring of transformation for you and those around you. 

Next month I will be guest teaching a “Find Your Voice” series through the RISE Collective. To find out more, write here.

PERMISSION TO BE MESSY

As some of my friends and students may now know we recently adopted a puppy. Yes, like many other people during this pandemic we too have a quarantine dog. And although she is not the equivalent of a human child there are a good deal of similarities. As anyone who has had child can attest to you have no idea the amount of things you will lose control over once you have a child...or a dog. And your body is the least of them! There is your schedule, the constant rearranging of your priorities, time for your relationships, dressing and showering! not to mention the mess. Even the tidiest of tidy have to lower their standards. And now that I have a dog I am back in the mess of having a small child, a furry one, but a child nonetheless.

Our pup smells, rolls in the mud, chews corners of things when I'm not looking and eats things that should not be swallowed. She does all of this with the greatest of pleasure and no self judgment or self awareness. And we are hanging on for the ride.

Here’s the rub tho’ I don’t like messy. I don’t mind if other people are messy but at home I want to be able to be able to maintain some semblance of order and beauty. But this pup, she keeps throwing me curve balls. And I couldn’t help thinking how similar her crazy is to the crazy of studying the voice.

We all want our voices to be “tidy” in a manner of speaking. Some version of presentable and or beautiful and lacking mess (unless we were intending it). We want high notes that ring and low notes that envelop the listener. We want to impress others as well as ourselves. But voices and songs don’t just magically behave the way we want them to (nor do puppies I am learning). Even for those voices that we admire like Aretha Franklin or Oum Kalsoum or Nancy Wilson or countless others, they practiced tirelessly. And the challenging part of that practice is being able to sit and listen to yourself making “a mess”. That is the reason that having a voice mentor or voice teacher is so valuable. Part of what will help you know if they are the right teacher for you is whether they can really push you musically and technically while simultaneously not judging “your mess”.

If you want to get more from your voice without judgement, then I suggest you try next month’s Community Vocal Gym to make some vocal mud pies together.
To find out more about this voice experience email now.

HOW TO FACE YOUR VOICE

Okay you’ve decided to take voice lessons or a voice class, maybe a special, voice workshop. You’ve signed up, thought about it, journaled about it, procrastinated about it and now you are finally committing. You know you need this for your vocal health, for your greater confidence, for your creative endeavors...even for your day job! But it’s still kind of terrifying! This voice thing is big! 

It’s scary, this part of your body that comes with so many surprises. So many possibilities. It would be easier if you knew what to expect. If you always knew you could take a breath, sing and that the sound would be exactly what you want it to be...loud, strong, sustained, on pitch, beautiful, inspiring, that everyone would love it. It would be much easier to jump in. But it’s the fear of the unknown that gets you. The fact that you don’t always know what you are going to get from yourself. The fear of what others may think of you. The fear of stepping outside a boundary that you or someone else has laid for you and your life. 

But maybe that’s just why you are wanting it because you are ready to break out! Why you find it calling to you. Taking that voice lesson, class, workshop is another piece of the puzzle. A way to help you find out something new about yourself. To allow you to be more of you that you have been struggling to be and fully accept. 

And since going in alone can be intimidating and difficult to maintain, it is smoother to find a mentor or guide. Someone to allow you to face your voice with support and encouragement. Someone to let you know that you are walking in the right direction. That there is light at the end of the tunnel. Someone to reassure you so that you can relax and sing powerfully yet with ease. 

If you are looking for a way to open your voice, to trust your voice and do it with equal doses of ease and  confidence, I want you to know I am here and this is my jam! To find out more about the voice experience that is right for you, email now.