Finding Your Voice

“We take care of everything above the collarbone except for the eyes and the brain.” Meet otolaryngologist – Ear Nose and Throat doctor - Dr. Paige Powers, ENT at Piedmont Otolaryngology. An ENT takes care of everything from ear wax to head/neck cancers, including voice, hearing, sound, swallowing, balance issues, sinus issues, throat troubles. In this episode we cover: - Sinus infections – what is sinus disease, how sinuses affect singers, how sinus cavities affect voices, how inflammation affects breathing, - Identifying post-nasal drip - The head/gut/immune connection - Honing in on acid reflux - Tips for heavy voice users - Being mindful of the confluence of factors in vocal health - What do to early about your voice - The difference between an otolaryngologist and a laryngologist - Who should see an ENT - The difference between a specialist and a sub-specialist It's always a good idea for singers and heavy voice users to have an ENT in their self-care team and to be proactive about your vocal needs. Listen to this episode and you'll understand why! Connect with Dr. Powers here: http://www.entdoc.com/

To reach peak performance, your body has to function optimally. Melanie Dorion, AGNP, works with her patients on addressing environmentally acquired illnesses including Lyme disease and co-infections and mold illness and performance optimization. Her treatment plans are holistic, incorporating vitamin infusion therapy and nutrition, always keeping spirit in mind. In this episode you'll learn about chronic inflammation and why it matters to address it at its root, what led Melanie to this work, her vision for the future of medical care, and steps you can take in your health journey. An AGNP is an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner is an advance practice nurse with a clinical focus on treating people from adolescents through adult ages and into advanced age. AGNP nurses must obtain further specialized education following their certification as registered nurses. Connect with Melanie at https://sanavihealth.com/

Why do we do this? Vocalizing, especially when it’s imperfect, is joyous. The more perfect you try to make it, the less you may get to enjoy it. Joanna Lott is a Speech Pathologist at the University of Virginia Voice & Swallowing Clinic. She does voice therapy, voice evaluations and voice treatment. If you are a heavy voice user in your vocation, have an injury, or are going in for a preventative appointment, Joanna will see you at the same time as laryngologist Dr. James Daniero (our episode 4 guest) and help you chart a treatment plan. What we love about Joanna is that she is a singer who has been a part of the New York City audition scene and has a personal understanding of the investment it takes to come back from vocal injury. In this episode, we will talk about what brought her to this work, how gendered beliefs of the voice can lead to vocal fatigue, how shaming beliefs about your voice can affect your relationship to your voice, and the power of a practitioner who understands the voice journey from the inside out.

Did you know there are doctors who are devoted entirely to the health of your voice? Dr. James Daniero is a laryngologist with the University of Virginia Voice Clinic, a subset of the University of Virginia Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery clinic. He treats people from all walks of life, but specializes in addressing the needs of singers. In this episode we review some basic must-know's of vocal health: - Proper hydration - How to recognize and address acid reflux - How the body reacts during performance anxiety. - Why you should start a relationship with a doctor of the larynx early in your singing career. We send our singers to him because his clinic has the technology to accurately and swiftly diagnose injury AND because he is particularly adept at responding appropriately to the emotional distress in times of injury.

Have you ever frozen on stage or gotten sick before having to sing? Tiffany Jeffers, EFT Practitioner, brings us into the world of the subconscious mind and the gentle technique she uses to help her clients experience themselves with more ease. Tiffany's background includes 4 years at a music school so she brings empathy to the unique challenges that performing artists face and the need to develop healthy coping mechanisms. You'll learn the difference between EFT and traditional talk therapy. Join us as we chuckle our way through this interview. To connect with Tiffany visit: https://tapintou.com/

Whether you're an avid dancer or think you have two left feet, dance teacher Edwin Roa invites you to prioritize depth of connection over motion. Native of Bogotá, Colombia, Edwin has built a thriving social and competitive dance community in Charlottesville, VA. He celebrates the art of connectivity as an avenue of self-expression and sees dance as a microcosm for life. His personal motto is: "A dancer should dance until the dancer disappears and only dance remains." Edwin is the founder of Zabor Dance (http://www.zabordance.com/) and owner of The Dance Spot (http://www.dancespotcville.com/) and leads the Charlottesville Salsa Club (https://cvillesalsaclub.com/).

Whether you're experiencing vocal stress or simply want more freedom and ease in your singing, Sandra Bain Cushman is here to help. In this episode we're introducing you to the world of Alexander Technique. The Technique traces its roots back to a Shakespearean actor who lost his voice on stage night after night, until he began to work systematically on his breathing and posture. Sandra is a facilitator and teacher of this long-running practice, as well as a lecturer at the University of Virginia. She advocates for awareness of the body as you move about your regular everyday life so that your natural voice and playfulness can emerge. She teaches a once-a-month class at The Center for Vocal Study. For more information on Sandra Bain Cushman or to connect with her directly, visit www.orchestralmaneuvers.com