Ask Arthur

I love to talk and sing. And I talk on the phone for a living. But I have some tiny nodes on my vocal chords. I also have mucous that sits in my throat, and am taking mucinex 1200 so I won’t have to keep clearing my throat. I saw a doctor who says I have allergies and have made an appointment with an allergy specialist. My chest xray is normal. I really do need to know what to do, so the nodes do not get bigger. Any suggestions of Vocal Awareness techniques that might help me?

Marsha Marcus, August 2011

There are a number of ways to address the problems of severe mucus in your vocal folds and tiny nodules (water soluble blisters on the vocal folds which occur in the higher registers of a voice and are largely caused by vocal abuse).

Regarding a cause, it is highly possible that constantly clearing your throat – to clear it of mucus – in the way that one traditionally does it is part of the problem. There are actually healthy ways to clear your throat, for example, by gently coughing air or building up saliva and swallowing. In addition, using your voice intensely every day as a professional can tire the laryngeal muscles which then can compromise your vocal health.

With your symptoms, it is smart to seek out a physician, as you did, to help evaluate medical causes and the severity of allergies, and so on. But there is so much more.

First, at the initial signs of vocal distress, I want you to not merely seek out a general practitioner, but rather an otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in the study of the larynx beyond that of a General Practitioner or Ear/Nose/Throat specialist). Second, always get two opinions. And third, begin a course of vocal rehabilitation such as Vocal Awareness. Virtually all vocal maladies can be healed through the correct diagnosis, proper care and patience.

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Do some people have Vocal Awareness naturally? If so, what are other factors in a person’s life that contribute to awakening Vocal Awareness?

Greta Larson, New York, October 2010

Vocal Awareness is a learned skill. It is a completely new take on the concept of Mastery. Would this question be asked of someone who is a great athlete or artist? “Do you just do what you do naturally?” The answer is clearly no. Yes there are gifts which provide some people with more skills and abilities than others, but every great artist and great athlete has diligently trained to develop those skills. Without that training their gift is wasted.

People are awakened to Vocal Awareness in many ways for many reasons. Life is sometimes dissatisfying. We want more. Some want to sing better. Others no longer want to be afraid. We want more joy or to be a better speaker. People want to feel safer in their own skins. We want to feel more comfortable in all social encounters from dating to Work. We want to honor who we are and claim our Voice, our Power. We realize we are no longer merely who we present. We are awakened at different times in our lives for different reasons. Each of us comes to Vocal Awareness when we are ready to take the Journey and do the Work.

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How is Vocal Awareness different from other Voice Training Methods? What can I expect in terms of results?

Stephen Murray, California, September 2010

Vocal Awareness is to Voice what Cirque du Soleil is to gymnastics. Vocal Awareness differs from every other vocal training method that exists. As a singing model it approaches Voice as if it were as rigorous, artistic, and disciplined as ballet. It is never like a standard singing lesson, which has traditionally seemed to me more like basic calisthenics. Vocal Awareness encompasses much more than just Singing. It is the ultimate Communication Model in that it teaches intra and inter-personal communication.

Unlike other Voice methods, Vocal Awareness’ application applies to all aspects of human behavior from the arts to politics, from broadcasting to the boardroom, from the human “achievement” movement to relationship building, from family dynamics to leadership development.

I coined the term Vocal Awareness in my early 20s because I already knew that “awareness” is the first step to personal growth. Simplistically speaking we become aware of what’s positive and enhance it. We become aware of what’s negative and we discard it. The results are immediate and ultimately exponential as Vocal Awareness is a synonym not simply for Consciousness but for Conscious Awareness. Joyfully we learn to live in what I refer to as our Deeper Listening (the 6th ritual of Vocal Awareness).

Traditionally one teaches singing or coaches voice. There is not another system anywhere that has as its mission Communication Mastery. Vocal Awareness is relevant to the media consultant, speechwriter, leadership trainer, actor, broadcaster, singer, life coach, and teacher. Literally everyone who uses his or her Voice (inner and outer) will benefit from Vocal Awareness.

The foundation of Vocal Awareness is built by mastering the subtleties of form and integrating mind/body/spirit as is required in all Mastery. In Vocal Awareness we don’t just “take a breath” we “allow a breath”. We don’t just “stand up straight”; we “embody ourselves in stature”; we don’t “drop” our jaw but “release” it. We make voice visual…

I often say, through Vocal Awareness we learn how “never to be the cork in our own bottle”. Instead we focus on always serving the Work, learning to surrender (to yield and give back) empowering ourselves to be our best and thus others by our example.

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Is it possible to be in Vocal Awareness at all times? Does Vocal Awareness become so integrated that one doesn’t ‘know’ any difference over time?

Lisa Tierney, California, September 2010

Absolutely, Vocal Awareness does become easier over time. The body is a thinking organism. In the beginning Mastery requires mindful, focused attention to every detail of the skill development. But over time the body notices and remembers. The skill is built and sustained. Think of a trained ballet dancer walking down the street always in alignment with feet turned out. They simply wouldn’t walk another way. This is Vocal Awareness. Through everyday always embodying one or more of the Seven Rituals your mind/body/ spirit, your Self is always in synergistic relationship and thus in Conscious Awareness.

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