Practice 9/11/17

Lesson 2/7/17 x2

Middle voice is worst. Tension of tongue around larynx is sore. Feels like a veil is on my sound.
In my attempt to figure out what I could possibly be doing, I read over old practice blogs. I had tagged some of the more recent ones with conditions that I was feeling (Tongue Tension, Breathing, etc.), and I decided to read over my blog for 2/7 and 2/8/17. This helped so much; it helped me to find what worked for me in the past. Super grateful that I have these to look back on.

• "hmmm" hum through nose really helped to release tongue. 
• Do not MAKE sound. 
• Feel like the hum is between the eyes. Think more "nose sound," rather than singing through nose. 
• Chewy. 
• Really pay attention to the things Cindy has to say here. I didn't write everything down in this blog, because everything was very helpful. 

After about an hour, I figured out some sort of release that allowed me to sing without feeling like I was trapped in my own body/throat. The tension was so bad that I thought something must be wrong, but it was just tension. I have to reestablish that feeling of release in my body now, because it (sadly) feels a little foreign since it's been so long. 

Practice 9/10/17

Lesson 7/2/16

earplugs

• Think "sob", but watch (internal) frown. (Helps breath)
• [u i, o e] in same space for vowels. 
• Don't be "careful"
• sing before you finish inhalation 
• ("ya ya" --> "(a)yaya")
• Don't move too early to consonant. 

Gave up about an hour in. Tongue is almost sore from being so tight. I'll come back to it with a fresh mind tomorrow. I have been trying so many different ideas, but I think I just need to mix things up and surprise myself at this point. I know I'm overthinking something, but I'm not sure what. But I KNOW it has to do with my tongue. I'm trying too hard to make a physical thing happen, which I know is something I shouldn't be doing. I just need to convince my body to trust me. 

Practice 9/8/17

Lesson 7/18/16

The throat/pharynx below the jaw is REALLY tight. Almost feels like beginnings of vocal tension dys. again.

• Try imagining the root of the tongue isn't connected to anything: There's not any constriction of space surrounding the tongue. 
• Low voice/middle has been the worst. Really tight. Tongue tension has been really bad. Feels like a curtain over the voice (which sounds alarming, but I'm pretty sure it's just really bad tongue tension.....). Feels like everything is stuck in the throat. 

Practice 9/4/17

Lesson 8/31/17

Before lesson: tried to figure things out without recording. 

• On "nyam" [a] should feel like nasal, but it's not?
• watch for lazy soft palate on [mi e a]; it gives illusion of forward resonance. Also esp. watch in tongue as well the lower voice. 
• Use earplugs: really pay attention to "breathe-->sing"
• notice how everything lifts when you inhale. Sing along that contour. 

Practice 9/1/17

9:45 AM

Some residual phlegm on folds, but I think that's just dehydration. Causing some scratch in sound.

• Start low (no higher than G4)
• taking concepts from Lesson 8/31/17:
• gently release soft palate upwards; key is gentle
• be aware of root of tongue and tip of tongue
• watch [i] for purity, as well as [u]
• stay ground (use whip/belt/rope for pulling)
• be patient. start quietly.
• watch chin, and temporal muscles.
• gentle panting for scrape-y onsets
• sometimes thinking about tongue is too much; so think release space between molars AND front canines (so sound doesn't fall back)
• on [i]: release blade of tongue.
• back molars release (of both palates... hard/soft)
• experiment with different vowel order/patterns

Still some interference in larynx. Perhaps tongue? (Probably tongue.)

Practice 8/26/17

Lesson 2/26/17 (x2)
8PM

Much chest congestion is going away. No more post nasal drip! Still VF a little phlegmy.

• Earplugs; I noticed I would grab yesterday
• nasal passage is refreshingly clear tonight. Wish pharynx was just as clear...
• don't think too much about your pharynx
• notice scratchiness as you descend
• focus on the good!
• alternate nose/mouth breath
• imagine how you want things different, and request it. Don't overthink and force.
• Nasal-pharynx seems really released today.
• imagine an open glottis
• remember to be holistic in your sensory awareness
• "like that"
• be aware of the feeling of a "roof" --> esp. behind nose. 

Practice 8/24/17

10 PM

Lesson 2/26/17

Voice a little swollen, but post nasal drip is slowing. Just more tracheal irritation and chest congestion, which leads to coughing. I'm very glottal scrape prone right now.

• release the entire tube
• breathe-sing; space shouldn't really change
• release back of pharynx/tongue/jaw
• E5+ --> head shift only
• Watch airflow that it isn't leaky as you descend or open to vowel. 
• start with something, like [v, th]
• watch snarl...