Vocalist.org archive


To: "VOCALIST" <vocalist>
Subject: Re: womens business
Date sent: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 10:13:55 -0500
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Hi Katchia:

Without going too much into detail, my answer is "yes". Part of it is that
I'm grumpy, never the best time for me to sing and particularly difficult if
I have to overcome physical stress. But also, I sometimes have to work much
harder to get out of the way in terms of support. I have, on rare occasion,
simply had to sit down while singing. Luckily, my church gig is longstanding
and supportive and if I had to stand on my head it would still be cool with
them.

Suggestions:

Exercise and thorough, but gentle physical warmup, adding the voice to the
physical warmup as you start to feel better (or moaning and groaning if you
don't feel better)
Extra calcium and a B-complex vitamin for grumpiness and reducing other
symptoms
Drink tons
Do let your teacher know, not as an excuse, but so your teacher knows what's
up and might offer suggestions. Even a guy ought to be able to come up with
something. Just tell him to imagine that the lining of his whoozy-whatsis is
being flooded with blood and then RIPPED OFF, little by little, over a
period of a WEEK and see if he can come up with some ideas to help you find
your support.
If your monthly difficulty seems more intense than it ought to be, certainly
discuss it with your gynecologist.
Also, I have found that Alexander Technique really helps to keep me from
succumbing to that "downward" energy thing that seems to happen the week
before.

Good luck!

Laura Sharp


From: "katchia ***"
> Although this subject may be a little titchy for some, I was wondering
> whether other women vocalists are as badly affected by their period as I
am. (SNIP)