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Start flappin your jaw!
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Sunday, November 22, 2009
Start flappin your jaw!
It seems to be the theme this week…. What’s going on with your jaw while you’re singing… I want to talk, or keep talking, about a specific thing that causes problems for every singer...
Tension in your jaw, neck and shoulders…
Sometimes you aren’t even aware that you are tensing those muscles… but if you are having trouble hitting high notes you might want to look at yourself in the mirror while you’re singing and look for tension particularly in your jaw and neck… If it’s there, I’ll almost guarantee that it’s also in your shoulders and back.
Here are a few obvious things you can do to help relieve this tension..
Deep breathing exercises
Massage
Neck and shoulder stretches
Physical exercise, and
Get enough sleep
Another exercise that we do specifically to combat this problem is to sing and let the jaw unhinge and flap while you’re singing… drop the jaw, open the mouth and don’t articulate anything.. The whole objective of this exercise is not to understand any of the words you are singing… This will sound REALLY FUNNY… trust me you will laugh at yourself while you’re doing this.. but if you learn to rehears songs this way it will help you get rid of the tension in your jaw. You can’t open your mouth as wide as you'll need to if you are holding tension in your jaw.
Another good test is to see if you are touching or clenching your back teeth together… never, never, never hold your back teeth together… the more you can keep your jaw in that unhinged position the better it will be for you singing…
I see singers all the time that miss notes largely because they are pushing to hard and tensing their jaw and neck, trying to force the note out… the part of the body you should be engaging while you’re singing is the core… ab’s, back, legs and glute’s…
Leave the neck and shoulders out of the act… and start flappin your jaw…
Tension in your jaw, neck and shoulders…
Sometimes you aren’t even aware that you are tensing those muscles… but if you are having trouble hitting high notes you might want to look at yourself in the mirror while you’re singing and look for tension particularly in your jaw and neck… If it’s there, I’ll almost guarantee that it’s also in your shoulders and back.
Here are a few obvious things you can do to help relieve this tension..
Deep breathing exercises
Massage
Neck and shoulder stretches
Physical exercise, and
Get enough sleep
Another exercise that we do specifically to combat this problem is to sing and let the jaw unhinge and flap while you’re singing… drop the jaw, open the mouth and don’t articulate anything.. The whole objective of this exercise is not to understand any of the words you are singing… This will sound REALLY FUNNY… trust me you will laugh at yourself while you’re doing this.. but if you learn to rehears songs this way it will help you get rid of the tension in your jaw. You can’t open your mouth as wide as you'll need to if you are holding tension in your jaw.
Another good test is to see if you are touching or clenching your back teeth together… never, never, never hold your back teeth together… the more you can keep your jaw in that unhinged position the better it will be for you singing…
I see singers all the time that miss notes largely because they are pushing to hard and tensing their jaw and neck, trying to force the note out… the part of the body you should be engaging while you’re singing is the core… ab’s, back, legs and glute’s…
Leave the neck and shoulders out of the act… and start flappin your jaw…
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Snack ideas around 200 calories or less!
I know eating healthy can sometimes slip into … well … boring … And because great nutrition is so important to good health and good singing.. here are some ideas that are quick and easy to keep your snacking interesting, low calorie and yummy… There are a few in here I found for a particular client … (You know who you are…) The rest of you will be glad he asked…
Eat well, live well, and sing well...
Enjoy!
EGGLESS STUFFED BREAKFAST BURRITO
Serves: 1
Ingredients
1 La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Low Carb High Fiber large tortilla
1 Slice extra-lean turkey bacon
2 Cups spinach leaves
1/3 cup diced mushrooms
¼ cup diced Roma tomatoes
¼ cup diced green bell pepper
2 tablespoons diced onion
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
Instructions
Cut bacon into small, bite-size pieces. Set aside. Spray a small pan with nonstick spray, and bring to medium-high heat. Add bacon pieces, mushrooms, pepper and onion to the pan. Stirring occasionally, cook until bacon begins to crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add spinach leaves, and cook and stir until the leaves have wilted. Add shredded cheese, and stir until just melted. Remove pan from heat and set aside.
Warm tortilla in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Lay tortilla flat and spread cheese wedge on top of it. Evenly layer spinach mixture over the cheese-topped tortilla. Place diced tomatoes on top of spinach mixture. Fold in the sides of the tortilla, and then slowly roll tortilla up from the bottom to top. Enjoy!
PIZZA
Here is a really simple suggestion to satisfy a pizza craving and it is an excellent snack size serving.
* whole wheat English muffins
* pizza sauce
* low-fat mozzarella shredded cheese
The English muffin you purchase should be whole wheat, because we are aiming for a healthy snack. Whole wheat bread has many more nutrients than white.
The pizza sauce can be any tomato based sauce, but it should NOT include cheese. Check the label - so many pasta sauces on the market now include a form of cheese. The problem, again, is the added calories, which almost none of us need.
Split the muffin, spread some sauce, and use 1/8 cup of cheese (that is one-half of 1/4 cup) and you got a 100 calorie snack. Put it in a toaster-oven or under the broiler for a few minutes and you are done. (Do not use the microwave - it will turn out yucky).
How did we get to 100 calories? 50 for the English muffin, 10 for the sauce, and 40 calories for the cheese
And now you have a chance to add some Pineapple or other fruit or vegetable to make it even more healthy!
MEXICAN SNACK PIZZAS
A low-fat, low-calorie pizza with a Mexican flavor. The beans and whole-wheat muffins give a fiber boost.
4 servings. Per pizza (1/2 English muffin) : Calories, 95; Total fat, 2 grams; Saturated fatty acids, 1 gram; Cholesterol, 4 milligrams; Sodium, 300 milligrams. 1/4 c. tomato puree 1/4 c. kidney beans (canned), drained and chopped 1 tbsp. onion, chopped 1 tbsp. green pepper, chopped 1/2 tsp. oregano leaves 1/4 c. Mozzarella cheese (part skim milk), shredded 1/4 c. lettuce, shredded
Split muffins; toast lightly. Mix puree, beans, onion, green pepper, and oregano. Spread on muffin halves. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly, about 2 minutes. Garnish with shredded lettuce.
BETTER-FOR-YOU BUFFALO WINGS
Ingredients:
* 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
* 2 teaspoons chili powder
* 2 teaspoons garlic powder
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* 2 tablespoons flour
* 2 1/2 pounds (about 28) wing drumettes (look for skinless drumettes if available)
* 1/4 cup nonalcoholic or light beer (chicken broth or wine can also be used)
* light blue cheese dressing (optional)
Preparation:
1. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the seasoned salt, chili powder, garlic powder, pepper, and flour. Remove and discard the skin from the wings (if you weren't able to find skinless drumettes). Dip each wing into the seasoning mixture, pressing the mixture onto the chicken to coat well.
2. Generously coat a large nonstick skillet with canola cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the chicken wings (cooking in batches if necessary) and cook for about 4 minutes, or until the bottoms are browned.
3. Flip with prongs and cook for about 4 minutes more.
4. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the beer. Cover the pan and cook for about 5 minutes. If the wings aren't cooked through, turn them over and cook for a few minutes more.
5. Remove from the heat and serve hot with light blue cheese dressing if desired (not included in nutrition information below).
Yield:
Makes 7 servings (4 wing drumettes per serving)
Nutritional Information
per serving: 174 calories, 29 g protein, 2 g carbohydrate, 4.5 g fat, 1.2 g saturated fat, 73 mg cholesterol, 539 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 23 percent.
NO-BACK PEANUT BUTTER POWER BARS
Ingredients:
* Canola cooking spray
* 1 tablespoon butter or canola margarine
* 1/3 cup reduced-fat smooth peanut butter
* 2 cups miniature marshmallows, lightly packed
* 1 cup low-fat granola
* 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal (or other puffed rice cereal)
* 1/3 cup ground golden flaxseed (golden flax works better in this recipe)
Preparation:
1. Coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with canola cooking spray. Put the butter, peanut butter, and marshmallows into a medium-sized microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds, or until mixture is just melted. Stir to blend.
2. Microwave again briefly if the mixture isn't melted or smooth. Then stir in granola, puffed rice and flaxseed.
3. Spread the mixture in the prepared pan, flattening it evenly with a sheet of waxed paper. Let it cool completely before cutting into 8 equal-sized bars.
Yield:
8 bars
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 207 calories, 5.5 g protein, 31 g carbohydrate, 8 g of fat ( 2 g saturated fat, 1 g monounsaturated fat, 1.8 g polyunsaturated fat) , 4mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 174 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 35%. Omega 3 fatty acids = 1 g, Omega 6 fatty acids = 0.7 g.
SPICE-ROASTED ALMONDS
These almonds are given a treatment of spices and a short baking time for amazing rich flavor and intense crunch.
Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 cups whole almonds
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine chili powder, olive oil, kosher salt, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and pepper; add almonds and toss to coat. Transfer mixture to a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
2. Bake about 10 minutes or until almonds are toasted, stirring twice. Cool almonds completely before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Yield:
32 (1-tablespoon) servings
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 62 calories, 5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 33 mg sodium, 2 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein.
SMOOTHIE
Smoothie blended with 6 ounces skim milk, 3/4 cup diced strawberries and banana, 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup and 1 cup ice
ANY WHOLE FRUIT
1 medium pear with 1 ounce Brie
2 ounces smoked salmon with 1 tablespoon nonfat cream cheese on 1/2 small whole wheat bagel
Larger than a tea sandwich, this snack is almost a mini meal in itself. It's low on calories and high on protein and whole grains, which means you're really getting the most out of those calories
TURKEY HERB CHEESE ROLL UPS
These are easy and make a slightly fancy, hit-the-spot snack.
Ingredients:
* 2 ounces sliced turkey breast
* 4 teaspoons light herb cheese spread (like Alouette® brand) or use light cream cheese and sprinkle it lightly with a Mrs. Dash® Herb seasoning blend
* 1/2 carrot, cut into about 4 thin sticks (thin celery sticks can also be used)
Preparation:
1. Lay out your turkey breast slices (about 4).
2. Spread about 1 teaspoon of the herb cheese spread over each turkey slice (if using light cream cheese, spread it over the turkey slices then sprinkle the an herb blend lightly over the top of the cream cheese).
3. Set a carrot or celery stick on one end of the turkey slice and roll up.
Yield:
1 snack serving
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 214 calories, 21 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate, 7 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat, 2.2 g monounsaturated fat, 0.1 g polyunsaturated fat), 40 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 260 mg sodium (not including the sodium from the turkey). Calories from fat: 29%.
Eat well, live well, and sing well...
Enjoy!
EGGLESS STUFFED BREAKFAST BURRITO
Serves: 1
Ingredients
1 La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Low Carb High Fiber large tortilla
1 Slice extra-lean turkey bacon
2 Cups spinach leaves
1/3 cup diced mushrooms
¼ cup diced Roma tomatoes
¼ cup diced green bell pepper
2 tablespoons diced onion
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
Instructions
Cut bacon into small, bite-size pieces. Set aside. Spray a small pan with nonstick spray, and bring to medium-high heat. Add bacon pieces, mushrooms, pepper and onion to the pan. Stirring occasionally, cook until bacon begins to crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add spinach leaves, and cook and stir until the leaves have wilted. Add shredded cheese, and stir until just melted. Remove pan from heat and set aside.
Warm tortilla in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Lay tortilla flat and spread cheese wedge on top of it. Evenly layer spinach mixture over the cheese-topped tortilla. Place diced tomatoes on top of spinach mixture. Fold in the sides of the tortilla, and then slowly roll tortilla up from the bottom to top. Enjoy!
PIZZA
Here is a really simple suggestion to satisfy a pizza craving and it is an excellent snack size serving.
* whole wheat English muffins
* pizza sauce
* low-fat mozzarella shredded cheese
The English muffin you purchase should be whole wheat, because we are aiming for a healthy snack. Whole wheat bread has many more nutrients than white.
The pizza sauce can be any tomato based sauce, but it should NOT include cheese. Check the label - so many pasta sauces on the market now include a form of cheese. The problem, again, is the added calories, which almost none of us need.
Split the muffin, spread some sauce, and use 1/8 cup of cheese (that is one-half of 1/4 cup) and you got a 100 calorie snack. Put it in a toaster-oven or under the broiler for a few minutes and you are done. (Do not use the microwave - it will turn out yucky).
How did we get to 100 calories? 50 for the English muffin, 10 for the sauce, and 40 calories for the cheese
And now you have a chance to add some Pineapple or other fruit or vegetable to make it even more healthy!
MEXICAN SNACK PIZZAS
A low-fat, low-calorie pizza with a Mexican flavor. The beans and whole-wheat muffins give a fiber boost.
4 servings. Per pizza (1/2 English muffin) : Calories, 95; Total fat, 2 grams; Saturated fatty acids, 1 gram; Cholesterol, 4 milligrams; Sodium, 300 milligrams. 1/4 c. tomato puree 1/4 c. kidney beans (canned), drained and chopped 1 tbsp. onion, chopped 1 tbsp. green pepper, chopped 1/2 tsp. oregano leaves 1/4 c. Mozzarella cheese (part skim milk), shredded 1/4 c. lettuce, shredded
Split muffins; toast lightly. Mix puree, beans, onion, green pepper, and oregano. Spread on muffin halves. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly, about 2 minutes. Garnish with shredded lettuce.
BETTER-FOR-YOU BUFFALO WINGS
Ingredients:
* 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
* 2 teaspoons chili powder
* 2 teaspoons garlic powder
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* 2 tablespoons flour
* 2 1/2 pounds (about 28) wing drumettes (look for skinless drumettes if available)
* 1/4 cup nonalcoholic or light beer (chicken broth or wine can also be used)
* light blue cheese dressing (optional)
Preparation:
1. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the seasoned salt, chili powder, garlic powder, pepper, and flour. Remove and discard the skin from the wings (if you weren't able to find skinless drumettes). Dip each wing into the seasoning mixture, pressing the mixture onto the chicken to coat well.
2. Generously coat a large nonstick skillet with canola cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the chicken wings (cooking in batches if necessary) and cook for about 4 minutes, or until the bottoms are browned.
3. Flip with prongs and cook for about 4 minutes more.
4. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the beer. Cover the pan and cook for about 5 minutes. If the wings aren't cooked through, turn them over and cook for a few minutes more.
5. Remove from the heat and serve hot with light blue cheese dressing if desired (not included in nutrition information below).
Yield:
Makes 7 servings (4 wing drumettes per serving)
Nutritional Information
per serving: 174 calories, 29 g protein, 2 g carbohydrate, 4.5 g fat, 1.2 g saturated fat, 73 mg cholesterol, 539 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 23 percent.
NO-BACK PEANUT BUTTER POWER BARS
Ingredients:
* Canola cooking spray
* 1 tablespoon butter or canola margarine
* 1/3 cup reduced-fat smooth peanut butter
* 2 cups miniature marshmallows, lightly packed
* 1 cup low-fat granola
* 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal (or other puffed rice cereal)
* 1/3 cup ground golden flaxseed (golden flax works better in this recipe)
Preparation:
1. Coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with canola cooking spray. Put the butter, peanut butter, and marshmallows into a medium-sized microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds, or until mixture is just melted. Stir to blend.
2. Microwave again briefly if the mixture isn't melted or smooth. Then stir in granola, puffed rice and flaxseed.
3. Spread the mixture in the prepared pan, flattening it evenly with a sheet of waxed paper. Let it cool completely before cutting into 8 equal-sized bars.
Yield:
8 bars
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 207 calories, 5.5 g protein, 31 g carbohydrate, 8 g of fat ( 2 g saturated fat, 1 g monounsaturated fat, 1.8 g polyunsaturated fat) , 4mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 174 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 35%. Omega 3 fatty acids = 1 g, Omega 6 fatty acids = 0.7 g.
SPICE-ROASTED ALMONDS
These almonds are given a treatment of spices and a short baking time for amazing rich flavor and intense crunch.
Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 cups whole almonds
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine chili powder, olive oil, kosher salt, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and pepper; add almonds and toss to coat. Transfer mixture to a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
2. Bake about 10 minutes or until almonds are toasted, stirring twice. Cool almonds completely before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Yield:
32 (1-tablespoon) servings
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 62 calories, 5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 33 mg sodium, 2 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein.
SMOOTHIE
Smoothie blended with 6 ounces skim milk, 3/4 cup diced strawberries and banana, 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup and 1 cup ice
ANY WHOLE FRUIT
1 medium pear with 1 ounce Brie
2 ounces smoked salmon with 1 tablespoon nonfat cream cheese on 1/2 small whole wheat bagel
Larger than a tea sandwich, this snack is almost a mini meal in itself. It's low on calories and high on protein and whole grains, which means you're really getting the most out of those calories
TURKEY HERB CHEESE ROLL UPS
These are easy and make a slightly fancy, hit-the-spot snack.
Ingredients:
* 2 ounces sliced turkey breast
* 4 teaspoons light herb cheese spread (like Alouette® brand) or use light cream cheese and sprinkle it lightly with a Mrs. Dash® Herb seasoning blend
* 1/2 carrot, cut into about 4 thin sticks (thin celery sticks can also be used)
Preparation:
1. Lay out your turkey breast slices (about 4).
2. Spread about 1 teaspoon of the herb cheese spread over each turkey slice (if using light cream cheese, spread it over the turkey slices then sprinkle the an herb blend lightly over the top of the cream cheese).
3. Set a carrot or celery stick on one end of the turkey slice and roll up.
Yield:
1 snack serving
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 214 calories, 21 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate, 7 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat, 2.2 g monounsaturated fat, 0.1 g polyunsaturated fat), 40 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 260 mg sodium (not including the sodium from the turkey). Calories from fat: 29%.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Eat Healthy - Be Healthy!
Good nutrition is important for everyone... Singers if you aren't healthy you won't sing as well as you could.. Not only is eating healthier better for your body but it will make you feel better on stage.. so look at you diet... I suggest everyone keep a food diary.. you'll be surprised at what you are actually eating.. and also make note of the time you eat and how it makes you feel...Start preparing more of your own meals and cut out the fast food, and lay off of the refined sugars ... I love recipes that I can throw in the oven and forget about.... here's one that's easy to make and healthy... combine this with a grilled chicken breast and a veggie and you have a quick, easy, nutritious meal!
Enjoy...
Yields: 4 servings, 1 1/4 cups each
Total Time: 1 hour
Prep Time: 5 min
Ingredients
* 1 tablespoon(s) butter
* 1 cup(s) brown basmati or brown jasmine rice
* 4 1/4 cup(s) water
* 1 cup(s) brown lentils
* 4 clove(s) garlic, peeled
* 1 stick(s) cinnamon
* 4 slice(s) (1/8-inch-thick) peeled fresh ginger
* 1 teaspoon(s) red curry paste (see Note) or 1 tablespoon curry powder
* 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
* 4 scallions, trimmed and sliced
Directions
1. Place rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 350 degrees.
2. Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large ovenproof Dutch oven; add rice and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 1 1/2 minutes. (If using curry powder, add it now and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds.) Add water. Stir in lentils, garlic cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger, curry paste, if using, and salt; bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the curry paste.
3. Cover the pot tightly with a lid or foil. Transfer to the oven and bake until the rice and lentils are tender and all the water is absorbed, 50 to 55 minutes. Fluff with a fork, removing the cinnamon stick and ginger slices. Serve garnished with scallions.
Tips & Techniques
Note: Red curry paste is a blend of chile peppers, garlic, lemongrass and galangal (a root with a flavor similar to ginger). Look for it in jars or cans in the Asian section of the supermarket or specialty stores.
Carb Servings: 3 1/2 starch, 1 1/2 very lean meat, 1/2 fat Carbohydrate Servings: 3 1/2 Nutrition Bonus: Folate (65% daily value), Fiber (54% dv), Iron (30% dv).
Enjoy...
Yields: 4 servings, 1 1/4 cups each
Total Time: 1 hour
Prep Time: 5 min
Ingredients
* 1 tablespoon(s) butter
* 1 cup(s) brown basmati or brown jasmine rice
* 4 1/4 cup(s) water
* 1 cup(s) brown lentils
* 4 clove(s) garlic, peeled
* 1 stick(s) cinnamon
* 4 slice(s) (1/8-inch-thick) peeled fresh ginger
* 1 teaspoon(s) red curry paste (see Note) or 1 tablespoon curry powder
* 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
* 4 scallions, trimmed and sliced
Directions
1. Place rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 350 degrees.
2. Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large ovenproof Dutch oven; add rice and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 1 1/2 minutes. (If using curry powder, add it now and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds.) Add water. Stir in lentils, garlic cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger, curry paste, if using, and salt; bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the curry paste.
3. Cover the pot tightly with a lid or foil. Transfer to the oven and bake until the rice and lentils are tender and all the water is absorbed, 50 to 55 minutes. Fluff with a fork, removing the cinnamon stick and ginger slices. Serve garnished with scallions.
Tips & Techniques
Note: Red curry paste is a blend of chile peppers, garlic, lemongrass and galangal (a root with a flavor similar to ginger). Look for it in jars or cans in the Asian section of the supermarket or specialty stores.
Carb Servings: 3 1/2 starch, 1 1/2 very lean meat, 1/2 fat Carbohydrate Servings: 3 1/2 Nutrition Bonus: Folate (65% daily value), Fiber (54% dv), Iron (30% dv).
Friday, November 13, 2009
What happens to your body when you quit smoking!
So I was at the VA with my Dad this morning and this flyer was on the wall… (And yes… as I’ve said before…everything turns into a lesson with me…) I deal with singers all the time who are quitting or trying to quit smoking. Of course I never think smoking is a good idea, but as a singer it’s really a bad idea. It severely diminishes your lung capacity…which you need in order breathe and then sing!
I thought you might find this interesting… I hope it helps you understand what you are going thru if you are in the process of quitting and why it’s affecting your singing… Hang in there… it will get better..
20 MINUTES
Blood pressure drops to normal
Pulse rate drops to normal
Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal
8 HOURS
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
Energy level in the blood increases to normal
24 HOURS
Chance of heart attack decreases
48 HOURS
Nerve endings start regrowing
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced
2 WEEKS TO 3 MONTHS
Circulation improves
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases up to 30 percent
1 TO 9 MONTHS
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases
Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, reduce infection
Body’s overall energy increases
1 YEAR
Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker
5 YEARS
Lung cancer death rate for average former smoker (one pack a day) decreases by almost half
Stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5-15 years after quitting
Risk of cancer of mouth, throat and esophagus is half that of a smoker’s
10 YEARS
Lung cancer death rate similar to that of non-smokers
Pre-cancerous cells are replaced
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases
15 YEARS
Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker
You can turn this around… please quit smoking for your quality of life and your singing!
Acknowledgements: American Cancer Society; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
I thought you might find this interesting… I hope it helps you understand what you are going thru if you are in the process of quitting and why it’s affecting your singing… Hang in there… it will get better..
20 MINUTES
Blood pressure drops to normal
Pulse rate drops to normal
Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal
8 HOURS
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
Energy level in the blood increases to normal
24 HOURS
Chance of heart attack decreases
48 HOURS
Nerve endings start regrowing
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced
2 WEEKS TO 3 MONTHS
Circulation improves
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases up to 30 percent
1 TO 9 MONTHS
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases
Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, reduce infection
Body’s overall energy increases
1 YEAR
Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker
5 YEARS
Lung cancer death rate for average former smoker (one pack a day) decreases by almost half
Stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5-15 years after quitting
Risk of cancer of mouth, throat and esophagus is half that of a smoker’s
10 YEARS
Lung cancer death rate similar to that of non-smokers
Pre-cancerous cells are replaced
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases
15 YEARS
Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker
You can turn this around… please quit smoking for your quality of life and your singing!
Acknowledgements: American Cancer Society; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Vocal Placement Exercises...
I’m going to give you two quick exercises in this blog that will help you with vocal placement, and breath control. If you’d like a free recorded example of this lesson, please visit my myspace.com/jillawebb and listen in. Just scroll down to the bottom of my songs and you’ll see Vocal Tip 1… I’ll do this periodically with exercises when I have questions from you. Please get back to me and let me know what you think of hearing some of this and if there are other specific questions I can answer for you.
I had a question this week from a student regarding vocal placement and was also chatting with some friends about vocal placement for public speakers… how to help people whether you’re a singer or speaker find better vocal resonance, projection, clarity and vocal endurance..
In simple terms a good way to look at vocal placement is to feel or picture where the air is directed in the head, and I believe for projection, clarity, vocal endurance and resonance, it should be as far forward and in the head as possible..
So I’m going to give you two quick exercises that you can do every day to help you with this issue.
The first is just to hummm on one note as long as you can. Actually say the “H” but not so much that pushing out a lot of air at the beginning… If you do that, you’re over pushing, drying out the cords and guess what, you’ll run out of air faster…
If you’re tuning in to the session on myspace, lets try a few.
Remember when you’re warming up to always keep humming in a low to moderate range. Never take it too high until you are properly trained to do that…
Okay here we go..
The next exercise is to hummm while traveling up and down a pentatonic or five note major scale.. again, please keep this in a comfortable range.. never strain…
Again, if you tune in to the lesson on myspace you will hear examples and can then add it into your warm ups that you do now… and yes, I am assuming you all warm up…
Okay, I hope this helps…now its time for my own vocalizing.. gotta run…
See you next time.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
But I might look stupid!
I was talking recently with a colleague about young singers and their performance skills and abilities. With the state of today’s record industry you have to be able to put on a great performance in order to keep your fan’s coming back… remember “frequency”… They have to keep coming back for you to have longevity in this career…and if you don’t know how to put on a great show, you may lose fans not keep or gain them.
A lot of time young artists tell me they are afraid of “looking stupid” or saying something silly. My thoughts on this are if you are being real, being who you are things won’t ever come out wrong. I think it’s when artists are “trying to be something” or someone they think they should be that things come out wrong and don’t look natural.
Fans want to get to know you. They want to see you being exactly who you are. If that is silly and goofy, let it show… if it’s serious and moody.. Be moody… if you’re a type A personality… take command of that stage (it will feel normal to you)…
Remember, performance involves some sort of emotional connection with the song, when you put the emotion on your face and in your body, you will sing completely authentically.
Here’s a big thing to get your head wrapped around. The perception of the audience is reality to them. But I thought what I was doing was what’s real… Nope.. Get this into you…. “The perception of the audience is their reality.” What they think of your performance is true to them, and determines if they will follow you and your career or not.
Now, there’s no way to guess and give every member of the audience what you think they want, right… I mean can you imagine looking out at a sea of people and trying to be everything you think they might want… That doesn’t work… You need to be yourself and they will enjoy your performance because it is from the heart, authentic. You will feel more confident and comfortable on the stage and you will sing better because you’re not stressing yourself out trying to do things that may not be natural to you. If you sing with confidence and handle the occasional mistake like a professional, most of your audience will be convinced that you meant to sing it that way. I heard this and thought this was a great way to think about handling mistakes… “Professionals sing creatively, amateurs make mistakes”
Please remember that wishing your voice and stage show was pro, won’t get it there. If any of you have any doubts about how much preparation it takes to put on a show, you should go and watch “This is it” MJ’s rehearsal footage… I think you’ll find it interesting! You’d be surprised what one-hour of specific vocal practice five days a week can do.
And this doesn’t mean singing your favorite songs in your car or singing the same song over and over again in your bedroom. You may make some improvement this way, but making a practice vocal schedule would be much better for you and you’d make much faster progress.
So many singers avoid doing vocal exercises they say they can warm up by singing their favorite songs. While some professionals will do this occasionally, most of them train their voice using exercises and warm up before every performance. Professional singers know that warm ups will take your cords through muscle movements that singing a song could never do. Practicing correct vocal exercises and warm ups will help you develop necessary muscle memory for difficult passages that you will run into in songs that you sing.
So be prepared and be yourself… if you do those two things you will ALWAYS have a great show!
A lot of time young artists tell me they are afraid of “looking stupid” or saying something silly. My thoughts on this are if you are being real, being who you are things won’t ever come out wrong. I think it’s when artists are “trying to be something” or someone they think they should be that things come out wrong and don’t look natural.
Fans want to get to know you. They want to see you being exactly who you are. If that is silly and goofy, let it show… if it’s serious and moody.. Be moody… if you’re a type A personality… take command of that stage (it will feel normal to you)…
Remember, performance involves some sort of emotional connection with the song, when you put the emotion on your face and in your body, you will sing completely authentically.
Here’s a big thing to get your head wrapped around. The perception of the audience is reality to them. But I thought what I was doing was what’s real… Nope.. Get this into you…. “The perception of the audience is their reality.” What they think of your performance is true to them, and determines if they will follow you and your career or not.
Now, there’s no way to guess and give every member of the audience what you think they want, right… I mean can you imagine looking out at a sea of people and trying to be everything you think they might want… That doesn’t work… You need to be yourself and they will enjoy your performance because it is from the heart, authentic. You will feel more confident and comfortable on the stage and you will sing better because you’re not stressing yourself out trying to do things that may not be natural to you. If you sing with confidence and handle the occasional mistake like a professional, most of your audience will be convinced that you meant to sing it that way. I heard this and thought this was a great way to think about handling mistakes… “Professionals sing creatively, amateurs make mistakes”
Please remember that wishing your voice and stage show was pro, won’t get it there. If any of you have any doubts about how much preparation it takes to put on a show, you should go and watch “This is it” MJ’s rehearsal footage… I think you’ll find it interesting! You’d be surprised what one-hour of specific vocal practice five days a week can do.
And this doesn’t mean singing your favorite songs in your car or singing the same song over and over again in your bedroom. You may make some improvement this way, but making a practice vocal schedule would be much better for you and you’d make much faster progress.
So many singers avoid doing vocal exercises they say they can warm up by singing their favorite songs. While some professionals will do this occasionally, most of them train their voice using exercises and warm up before every performance. Professional singers know that warm ups will take your cords through muscle movements that singing a song could never do. Practicing correct vocal exercises and warm ups will help you develop necessary muscle memory for difficult passages that you will run into in songs that you sing.
So be prepared and be yourself… if you do those two things you will ALWAYS have a great show!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Eat Healthy - Live Healthy!
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
This is one of my favorite recipes … easy to make, healthy and quick… Remember it’s important to eat 5 to 6 small meals per day and if you can find a way to cook and eat real food… Do it! Also when you’re trying to get healthy… remember to drink enough water. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water, and if you are trying to lose weight, add 8 ounces of water for each additional 25 lbs of weight you want to lose.
Get active… it’s all about calories in vs. calories out… so get moving… and eat real food!
Enjoy..
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
2lbs sweet potatoes, peeled
2-4 T toasted sesame oil
2 t ground cumin
2 t chili powder
1 t paprika
1 t salt
Lightly oil (or spray with oil) two non-stick cookie sheets and set aside. Cut the peeled sweet potatoes into “French fries” or pieces ½ in wide and 3-4 inches long. Transfer the cut sweet potato fries to the prepared cookie sheets, dividing them ecenly between the two sheets, and spread them to a single layer. For each cookie sheet: drizzle the sweet potatoes with ½ T toasted sesame oil, then sprinkle with 1 t ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, and salt (to taste).
Bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven, stir the sweet potatoes and spread to a single layer again. Switch the placement of the cookie sheets on the racks of the oven and bake the sweet potatoes and additional 20-25 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp.
This is one of my favorite recipes … easy to make, healthy and quick… Remember it’s important to eat 5 to 6 small meals per day and if you can find a way to cook and eat real food… Do it! Also when you’re trying to get healthy… remember to drink enough water. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water, and if you are trying to lose weight, add 8 ounces of water for each additional 25 lbs of weight you want to lose.
Get active… it’s all about calories in vs. calories out… so get moving… and eat real food!
Enjoy..
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
2lbs sweet potatoes, peeled
2-4 T toasted sesame oil
2 t ground cumin
2 t chili powder
1 t paprika
1 t salt
Lightly oil (or spray with oil) two non-stick cookie sheets and set aside. Cut the peeled sweet potatoes into “French fries” or pieces ½ in wide and 3-4 inches long. Transfer the cut sweet potato fries to the prepared cookie sheets, dividing them ecenly between the two sheets, and spread them to a single layer. For each cookie sheet: drizzle the sweet potatoes with ½ T toasted sesame oil, then sprinkle with 1 t ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, and salt (to taste).
Bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven, stir the sweet potatoes and spread to a single layer again. Switch the placement of the cookie sheets on the racks of the oven and bake the sweet potatoes and additional 20-25 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp.
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