Let's Talk About Stress!

Does Stress Affect Your Singing Voice?
Yes!  According to Thomas Griffin Music and worship Leader and student of voice at Appalachian State University.
Managing stress in your life is difficult for singers to learn, but must swiftly avoid stress before it becomes a vocal issue.  This can be confusing for the singer because in many cases singing can relieve stress.
If stress is not managed it can have almost immediate negative effects.
The first and most devastating negative effect stress has on a singer is tension. Stress causes tension within the body, making muscles constrict and tighten. Unfortunately for singers, the muscles in the throat also constrict, reducing the amount of vocal and tonal resonance. When this occurs, vocal tone is altered and your singing comes out sounding like it is painful to sing.
 Stay tuned for next weeks"Let's Talk About Stress"

Sunday January 12, 2014

What Matters To You? Exodus 20:1-6

#1 Hymn: 404 Every Time I Feel the Spirit

#2 Hymn: 529 How Firm a Foundation

#3 Hymn:  398 Jesus Calls Us

Choral Call to Worship: Surely the Presence

Choral Anthem:  Give Me Oil in My Lamp by Pepper Choplin

Choral Benediction: A Closing Prayer by Don Besig       

Part 1 of the Cantata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zda8rkV9oys&feature=youtube_gdata

CUMC Stewardship November, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/v/lm5hsHJqGOI?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&feature=share&showinfo=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=x09byw2a-9q3asnEQy2p8A

Are you checking your Choir Blog? Choir members and instrumentalists wear all black for the Cantata.

Do you abuse your voice?

Don't abuse or misuse your voice. Avoid yelling or screaming, and try not to talk loudly in noisy areas. If your throat feels dry or tired, or your voice is getting hoarse, reduce your voice use. The hoarseness is a warning sign that your vocal cords are irritated.

Tips for a Healthy Voice

http://www.livescience.com/4078-10-tips-healthy-voice.html 

Some people spend hours at the gym or pounding the pavement to keep their bodies in shape. But beyond singers and actors, who worries much about their voices?

 1. Drink water to keep your body well hydrated, and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Your vocal cords vibrate very fast, and having a proper water balance helps keep them lubricated. Important note: Foods containing large amounts of water are excellent hydration-conscious snacks, including apples, pears, watermelon, peaches, melons, grapes, plums, bell peppers and applesauce.

Are you harming your vocal cords?  

 According to
Throat Clearing & Harsh Coughing
Throat clearing and harsh coughing are traumatic to the vocal cords and should be reduced as much as possible. One of the most frequent causes for throat clearing and coughing is thick mucus (due to dry vocal folds) or too much mucus (as with a cold) on or below the vocal folds. The safest and most efficient way to clear mucus is by using a gentle, breathy productive cough where there is high airflow with little sound. This can be achieved by using the following strategy: take in as deep a breath as possible, momentarily hold your breath, and produce a sharp, silent “H” sound while you expel the air.
http://www.texasvoicecenter.com/advice.html