Ruthie at House of Music, Vienna

technical, natural history, clocks, etc. But in 2000 a very different sort of museum was launched — the House of Music (Seilerstatte 30) near Karlsplatz. It is in the same house where the first Viennese Christmas tree was displayed in 1816.

The museum is a marvelous gift to us singers. The few museums I have visited that are music museums, or have music exhibits, have focused exclusively on musical instruments — other than the human voice. But not so here! To be sure, there ARE rooms here where one can learn about the lives of some major composers with ties to Vienna such as Mozart, Schubert and Mahler, an area where the science of acoustics is demonstrated, and the occasional harpsicord.

But what sets this museum apart –for me– is that the human body and voice and are the main focus of this experience. Not the ‘human body and voice’ in general, but YOURS!

One of my favorite areas was the “singing tree,” which is a not really a tree, but rather a pole with a sort of drapey piece of plastic that you stick your head into (they call it an ‘acoustic hood’), with headphones and a microphone to sing into. Depending on the sound quality of your singing, the computer will orchestrate with you — harmonies, dissonances, surging waves of sound washing over your voice, amplifying your voice but never overpowering it, diminishing as you get softer. It is a delightful way to improvise and a welcome oasis for a singer visiting in a city where she knows no one to sing with!

Rhythm Tree

The “Rhythm Tree” was great fun for percussion. Each uniquely molded sensor pad makes a different percussive sound and you can have a blast playing alone, or with others. And, of course, I sang along with the percussive track as well!

I couldn’t get a few of the exhibits to work — the “sensor chair” which reportedly measures the electricity in your body and turns your gestures into music, the future music blender and the harmonic driving machine. Perhaps you’ll have better luck with those!

This museum provides a sensory ‘rush’ from the start (literally, as it seeks to recreate the sound environment for the fetus in the womb) to the finish (I ended by ‘conducting’ the Vienna Philharmonic).  Wherever you are today I hope you will take time to seek out ways to open your mind and experiment with your own voice and environment.

This article in Utne Reader reminds me of the power of
community singing, in any format, and I thought I would
share it with you. http://www.utne.com/The-Sweet-Pursuit/Be-Subversive-Sing-with-Your-Neighbors.aspx?newsletter=1&utm_content=08.22.11+Mind+and+Body&utm_campaign=Mailings&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

An update on my own singing condition — my larynx
is still not fully restored. But after nearly a year of
resting my voice I have ‘tested the vocal waters’ this
summer by singing at a nursing home and to an Alzheimer’s home a few times.

My voice is still not fully back, but I’m happy to report that the ‘joy factor’ is definitely intact! Happy singing to the rest of you.

If you would like to meet up informally with others interested in Singing Meditation while you are at GA I suggested you post a note on the message board giving the day and time and place you will be (contact info would also be helpful) and then post under “S” on the big message boards with the ‘name’ on the note being “Singing Meditation.” Others who are interested can scan the message board for Singing Meditation.

Sorry this is such short notice, but it didn’t occur to me until today. I hope you have a wonderful time at GA!

Ruthie Rosauer

singing for quite some time. I received a ‘second opinion’ from an Ear, Nose, Throat doctor this Spring who said my problem is actually acid reflux, which goes up to my larynx and causes granuloma and lesions — even though I have no symptoms of heartburn. I have had, however, a great deal of throat clearing; which I understand is also a sign of acid reflux. And the vocal equivalent of hitting your vocal folds (cords) with a ball peen hammer.

I am now on Nexium for the acid reflux (not happy about the potential side effects) and working with a Vocal Coach, Dr. Sharon Radionoff, who specializes in singers with medical problems that affect their voices. I have had seven sessions with her so far. The first five were dedicated entirely to a) breathing technique and b) consonants. No opportunity to ‘buy a vowel’ yet!

I thought I’d share with you a little of what I am learning. First, although I have always known there was a physiological component to singing (witness the wicked effect of mucus on the voice, the raked raw feeling of a throat after prolonged coughing, or the inability to take a good deep breath due to fluid in the lungs) I always thought this component was strictly those parts of the body directly involved in sound production — like my throat and lungs. However, I am learning that the entire body is my ‘instrument.’

In years past choir directors would admonish me, “Sit up straight!” And so I stuck out my chest and arched my back to show him/her that I was making a genuine effort to sit up straight. I wasn’t, though. Sitting like that is “overextension.” The goal is to sit with a back that is literally straight. It is helpful to use a mirror to know when you are sitting straight, because all my life I have been ‘overextending’ instead.

Another thing I have been doing wrong is holding my chin up when I sing (‘elevation’). This might be the result of trying to look at the printed music through my bifocals. Although you don’t want to tuck your chin downward into your chest, the chin should not be sticking out.  Nor should you be ‘leading’ with your chin (‘protrustion’).  As I became aware of sitting and standing ‘straight’ and not sticking my chin up or out — I began to notice that I had poor posture all day long!!! Walking the dog, talking to a friend, standing at a kitchen counter . . .  I was constantly leaning forward! I also have had chronic neck pain and discomfort for several years. I’m sure there is a correlation.

The muscles in the neck affect the muscles and cartilage ‘inside’ the throat — which in turn affect the shape, position and tension of the vocal folds (cords) — which affect your vocal quality.  So the first job for me in learning to sing again has been to learn how to ‘sit up straight’ and how to position my head.

In Singing Meditation we do not teach vocal technique, or offer voice instruction. But so many of us have problems with our voices/necks from time to time that I thought some of you might find this of interest.  These are relatively simple adjustments to make once we become aware of them.

If you would like to read more about correct posture and breathing, Dr. Radionoff has written a book, “The Vocal Instrument.” It includes many helpful photographs. Here is the link to the publisher’s website:

http://www.pluralpublishing.com/publication_vi.htm

Of course this was very personal to me since I have been grappling with the loss of my singing Voice for over a year now due to a problem with my larynx. One story he relates is about a performance by Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, in 1995. Just as he begins playing in a concert at Avery Fisher Hall a string breaks on his violin. The audience expects to have to wait until he is able to replace the broken string. Instead, he dazzles them all by playing passionately and flawlessly through the concert with only three strings. Afterwards he said, “You know, sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left . . .”

I think the book has universal appeal, even for those who have not suffered the loss of their Voice — as we all suffer losses of one kind or another.

This is a beautiful, authentic jewel of a story book. Anne Lamott says is ” . . . a blessing, funny, brilliant, wise.” I couldn’t agree more.

1. To soothe a dry irritated throat make a gargle from 1/2 tsp. of salt, 1/2 tsp of baking soda, 1/2 tsp of clear corn syrup (I’m thinking they probably mean something like Karo syrup) added to 6 ounces of WARM distilled water. Gargle quietly and gently for two long minutes. Do not rinse. Use as often as necessary.

2. If thick mucus is causing you to clear your throat, or cough in an effort to clear you throat — don’t do it! Instead, take a deep breath, hold it for a moment then expel the air with a sharp, silent “H” sound. (actually I have tried this one and it works)

3. For post nasal drip secretions they recommend over-the-counter Mucinex with LOTS of water.

The brochure warns against frequent use of antihistamines because they tend to cause dryness.
An OTC exception is Nasalcrom and as well as prescription nasal steroid sprays (Aventis, Nasonex and Veramyst). The brochure particularly warns against Astelin nose spray.

I am looking forward to working with the Vocal Coach starting the end of next month. I’ll try to keep passing on suggestions for improved vocal health as I learn about them.

This specialist did a thorough exam that included putting a scope up my nose and then snaking it down my throat. While in this rather awkward situation he had me sing “The Star Spangled Banner.” It was NOT my finest performance! In fact, I may not ever be able to enjoy this song again! But he got it all on video and presented me with two postcards of my larynx when I left the office.

His diagnosis is that I have Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPRD) because he saw granulomas in my larynx. This happens when acid reflux travels all the way up through the esophagus to the back of the throat. Yet I have never had heartburn in my life! The fact is that very few patients with this problem ever experience significant heartburn.

Symptoms of LPRD include: hoarseness, chronic cough, frequent throat clearing, pain in throat, feeling of a lump in the throat, problems with swallowing, bad taste in the mouth, referred ear pain, post-nasal drip and difficulty with singing.

It seems obvious to me that LPRD hurts your voice in at least two ways — one by irritating the larynx and the other by causing you to clear your throat more. I have been assured by at least a dozen voice teachers and doctors that clearing your throat is the absolutely worst thing you can do to your voice. As at least two of them have said — ‘you might as well just take a hammer to your vocal cords as clear your throat.’

So if you are having problems with excessive clearing of your throat, post nasal drip or losing the notes of what used to be your range — you might want to get tested for LPRD even if you have never had heartburn.

Some of the suggestions for those with LPRD include: 1) reduce the stress in your life as even moderate stress can drastically increase the amount of reflux, 2) minimize caffeine, 3) avoid alcohol, 4) wait at least one hour after eating before exercising (some suggest waiting 2 – 3 hours) 5) avoid wearing tight clothes

6) maintain a healthy body weight (good thing I just lost 22 pounds!) 7) wait at least 2 hours after eating before going to sleep and, of course, don’t smoke!

It goes without saying, I suppose, that you should drink LOTS of water!!!

The doctor has started me on acid reflux medication, given me a long list of lifestyle modifications and referred me to a vocal coach who specializes in people with damaged singing voices. The coach can’t see me until April 26 but I have the date circled with a red crayon. I can hardly wait.

I hope to be singing again in the foreseeable future!

I love this song that celebrates the unity of humankind with the entire Earth!

On Sara’s website you can also download all the lyrics to “By Breath.” (www.sarathomsen.com) For those of you who already love the chorus of “By Breath” I guarantee you will love the verses just as much.

Japanese Garden

If you facilitate an ongoing group, whether you have a specific time you strictly adhere to, or whether the schedule is still flexible, and would like us to list it here with a link to the church that hosts it, please let us know.

For six years I facilitated Singing Meditation in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. As far as I knew I was the only one leading a group. What a pleasure to compile this fledgling list and find 15 groups around the US. I know there are more! I think there might be some in Canada (based on our sales of songbooks) but would love to hear this confirmed.

The next Music for People weekend is February 18 – 21 at Immaculata University, northwest of Philadelphia in Frazer, PA.  You can drop in for a weekend and enjoy the music and atmosphere on offer, with no obligation to enroll in a specific program — although they do also offer training programs. For more information see their website: www.musicforpeople. org