learn to use my voice

“Start by sitting comfortably in a chair. Try to keep your spine as straight as possible. Make these sounds in a gentle voice – don’t strain. Breathe in deeply, expanding your lower stomach as you inhale.

Located at the base of the spine, tone seven times with the deepest “UUH”, as in “cup”, a very low guttural sound just gently riding on the breath. Stay comfortable with the sound – don’t force it.

Located about 2-3 inches below the navel, tone seven times using a higher pitched but still deep “OOO”, as in “you”.

Located above the navel, tone seven times using a higher pitched “OH”, as in “go”.

Located in the centre of the chest, tone seven times using a higher pitched “AH”, as in “ma”.

Located in the throat, tone seven times using a higher pitched “EYE”, as in “my”.

Located in the middle of the forehead slightly above the eyes, Tone seven times, using a still higher “AYE”, as in “say”.

Located at the top of the head, tone seven times using the highest pitched “EEE” sound, as in “me”, you can comfortably make.

Sit silently for 10 – 20 minutes. After this if you feel too light-headed tone an “aaaah” or an “ooooh”.”

I want this goal to be about saying opinions, standing up for myself, giving good quality real constructive criticism and maybe singing. I’m more apprehensive about that last one. It would be louder. It would mean more self-expression=more revealing of myself.

I’m sensitive about talking about my singing lest it sound like I’m boasting. There have been a lot of varying opinions of people in the past. My brother thought it was weird that as a three year old during my imaginary play I would make up my own songs and he soon had me out of the habit. I’ve made a new habit of ensuring that I am absolutely alone should I sing to myself.
In public school every kid is tossed into a choir to sing christmas or children’s songs. The kids that hated it told me that I sung like a cow-lol. Some friends thought it strange that I took the imperative to sing along to their car radio and other friends encouraged me to sing what I knew if they caught me mouthing the lyrics.

I have had a choir teacher, speech teacher, sound therapist and my mother give me both the good and the bad. My mother has been convinced that she gave me a powerful set of lungs. I was that little girl who screamed to seriously just hear the sound of my own voice. My mother has also had me practice breath control at times throughout my life to the point where I can decently carry a tune. My mother has placed me as an alto-somewhere between mezzo-soprano and contralto. She thinks I have a voice someone could work with. The choir teacher saw my voice as workable and was content to place my voice within the voices of others. Though I didn’t take that opportunity. Both the speech teacher and choir teacher noted that my voice had limited range between high and low notes. I could be wrong, but that I’m certain is not something you can change with practice. You’re pretty much stuck with the voice you’re given at birth.

The sound therapist thinks differently. From having one conversation with them they told me that they could definitely tell that I had stuck vocal patterns. I contemplated how easy it would be for a sound therapist to hear a person’s speaking voice and give their sell, but I listened anyway. Occasionally if a person is inclined to notice such they have noted that my voice sounds a bit…strained. It has felt that way from time to time as well. Rarely would a person suggest I get it checked out. Turns out an enlarged thyroid would be likely.
The sound therapist excitedly told me that they had worked with many who struggled with throat issues such as mine and made a few mind-body links between my enlarged thyroid, times in my life where I needed to use my voice-such as in times of danger and did not and my soft-spoken nature.

spent so many hours stressing myself out and fuming about silly things, stood up to someone at work this week and just told them that they were hurting me with the words they said, was amazed by their response, had expected them to laugh, but they were genuinly sorry, just wish I had done it earlier!!!

i have taken the first step and booked myself singing lesson, very scared about this as i haven’t sung in public for at least 10 years. kind of looking forward to it, but at the same time very nervous, who knows i might be the next mariah carey! wish me luck