Hi Creative Explorers,
TODAY IS LAUNCH DAY! And, I am going to address the Elephant in the Room. Believe it or not, there are people who are deaf or partially deaf who have had success as professional singers, including Brian Witkowski! Brian, who wrote the forward to my Singing in Tune book, has an amazing story. Born 100% deaf in one ear, and discouraged from getting a music degree by one voice teacher in high school, Brian went on to earn a Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate in Music - Vocal Performance - and ended up having international success as a vocalist! TESTIMONIAL “Karen Lyu is a master at helping voice students sing beautifully and on pitch; she has a wealth of knowledge of pitch problems and easy-to-understand solutions to improving your singing on pitch, as demonstrated in Singing in Tune. This is a book I would have eagerly purchased when I was in graduate school still trying to figure my voice out. Many pedagogical texts tend to be overly philosophical and not sufficiently practical. Many texts don’t even directly address the topic of singing in tune, even though it’s one of the most common challenges singers and aspiring singers face. Singing in Tune doesn’t just touch on the topic, but it offers insights and tips on 25 different causes of the problem and what you can do about it. In our increasingly fast-paced world, when you don’t have time to wait until your next voice lesson, a book that helps you zero in on and address the specific tuning issue holding you back—without all the philosophical fluff—is truly invaluable to have at your disposal. Whether you’re a singer or a voice teacher, Singing in Tune can be a perfect resource to keep accessible on your shelf whenever you feel like you need a “tune-up.” --Brian Witkowski, DMA, Baritone Classical Singer, Speaker, Author, Voice Teacher, and Business Mentor for Artistic and Creative Entrepreneurs Thank you, Brian, for all of your support and inspiration! That said, I did some additional research on ear health that to add to my previous blog “7 Solutions for Hearing Loss” ~ Blog No. 34: www.holisticvoicecoach.com/blog/7-solutions-for-hearing-loss-blog-no-34 WHAT IF I’M PARTIALLY DEAF? CHAPTER ONE HEARING LOSS (continued) h. Get checked for allergies. Why? If you get a diagnosis of allergies, you can alleviate allergy-related hearing loss stemming from inflamed sinuses via Neti Wash Plus, allergy meds, or allergy shots. Neti Wash Plus: https://amzn.to/4bD8F4A i. Consider ear surgery or an ear procedure. Check with an ENT (ear/nose/throat doctor) aka laryngologist to see if they recommend getting surgery, an implant, or other procedure for your ear to improve your hearing. Why? This could help address the root cause(s) of any hearing loss issues. Winchester Medical Health website: Types of ear surgery and procedures: https://www.wmchealthaps.com/ear-surgery-and-procedures BUY NOW ON AMAZON - Kindle & Paperback SINGING IN TUNE: Solutions for 25 Pitch Problems https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVFPJM2Y
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Hi Creative Explorers, LAUNCH DAY POSTPONED TO TUE, 02/13/2024. To be clear, my Singing in Tune: Solutions for 25 Pitch Problems book is FINISHED, but I made a rookie mistake. I thought that when you upload your eBook to Kindle, that it goes online right away. Oops! It takes 72 hours, and I’m adding an extra day, just because it’s Blog Day. GOOD NEWS: It will also be available in paperback. ~~~~~ Here is a FREE chapter for ADVANCED singers in the meantime… CHAPTER FOURTEEN Difficulty with Agility |“What is important is to believe in something so strongly that you’re never discouraged.” - Salma Hayek SOLUTIONS a. ⭐Practice slowly with a recording. Practice with YouTube videos set at .75 or .5 speed by clicking on the gear-shaped settings button. Why? This helps you to be more accurate more quickly. Be a happy turtle. b. Count the number of notes in a run that you need to sing. ie. on the iconic ballad “I Will Always Love You”, “you” in the chorus has 5 notes total. Why? This helps you to learn more quickly and accurately. c. ⭐Break a run into sections. ie. on the iconic ballad “ I Will Always Love You”, “you” in the chorus has 5 notes total, separated like this:1/1/3 Why? This helps you to learn more quickly and accurately. d. ⭐Practice runs with your index finger on your chin. Why? This helps you to keep your vocal tone fluid and consistent, just like your mouth shape. Why not give it a try? REMINDER: Tune in TOMORROW Sat, Feb 10th (Lunar New Year) for my very first official speaking gig: ”The Origin Story of The New Choice Game” Barbara Sher Dare to Soar Telesummit Featuring 9 Book Authors SAT, FEB 10TH, 2024 3:30PM EST https://barbarasclub.com/telesummitworkshops/#lyu I will also talk about my upcoming book: SINGING IN TUNE: Solutions for 25 Pitch Problems. #voicecoach #singingintune #beginnersinger #singing #holisticvoicecoach #vocalpedagogy #ebooklaunch #ebook #karenlyu #brianwitkowski Hi Creative Explorers,
TOMORROW IS LAUNCH DAY ~ for my new eBook “Singing in Tune: Solutions for 25 Pitch Problems”, and I have the final rough draft in my hands. Only 3 more changes. ~~~~~ Here is a sneak peek at a portion of the INTRODUCTION: Has anybody ever tried to insult you by saying things like “Go back to singing in the shower”, “You’re more tone-deaf than a bump on a log” or “I should pay you NOT to sing”? Words like this can really hurt, but are you going to let some mean comments get in the way of your dreams? Wouldn’t you rather hear sincere compliments like: “You sound good”, “Beautiful singing” or “Holy cow, you knocked my socks off” - and know that you earned them through hard work and persistence? Did you know that Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Janet Jackson, and Mariah Carey have all had to overcome issues with their pitch - and gone on to have HUGE success as Grammy-award-winning artists with multiple hit songs? Ed Sheeran singing badly YouTube video - LINK People who write you and your singing off as being hopeless are just ignorant and stuck in the old days. They must have no idea that there are now new ways to improve your pitch. Listen to people who do: “When people say artists are born with talent, you're not. You have to really learn and really practice.” - Ed Sheeran “Never believe anyone who says you don’t deserve what you want.” - Taylor Swift “I don’t believe in luck… It’s persistence, hard work, and not forgetting your dream.” - Janet Jackson “If you believe in yourself and know what you want, you can make it.” - Mariah Carey If you have a deep desire to sing on pitch, this Cliff Notes-style eBook is designed to get you there sooner, rather than later. Singing in Tune condenses 35 years of vocal pedagogy research, 31 years of experience as a vocalist, and 27 years of experience as a Holistic Voice Coach into 105 solutions total for 25 pitch problems, with 50 online resources. ~~~~~ Are you ready to sing better? Best wishes, Karen Lyu (she/her) Holistic Voice Coach + Keynote Concert Speaker + Game Designer aka "Karey Poppins" ~~~~~ Karen's Links https://linktr.ee/karenlyu ~~~~~ 612-299-2462 karen@holisticvoicecoach.com karen@newchoicegame.com Hi Creative Explorers, Last June, I created an improv acting cheatsheet for my voice students with 25 thoughts, 25 feelings, 25 actions, and 25 places you could go. Before that, I had gone through the toughest year of my life, after my Dad died. RIP. On top of the grieving, I was stalked, robbed, scammed, and had to suddenly escape Chicago, for my safety. The scariest thing was…I could have been kidnapped! Thank God, I escaped! And, there were times when I was stuck with 4 main negative thoughts going through my head. But, this fun and quick mindset hacking trick blew my mind and CHANGED MY LIFE! My life will NEVER be the same. Are you going through a tough time? Here are 5 New Thoughts, 5 New Feelings, 5 New Actions, and 5 New Places to inspire you to make some new choices in acting or in life: 5 NEW THOUGHTS 1. What makes me smile? 2. What do I need? 3. What have I learned? 4. What would be smart? 5. Who can I help? 5 NEW FEELINGS 1. I feel grateful. 2. I feel wonder. 3. I feel curious. 4. I feel better. 5. I feel thoughtful. 5 NEW ACTIONS 1. I am dancing. 2. I am writing. 3. I am growing. 4. I am laughing. 5. I am playing a game. 5 NEW PLACES 1. I’m at a festival. 2. I’m at a museum. 3. I’m at a library. 4. I’m at a castle. 5. I’m at a park. To sum it up, it was a very challenging year - that has turned into something AMAZING! How did this acting cheatsheet become my New Choice: Improv Your Life! board game? Wouldn’t you like to know? Tune in next Sat, Feb 10th for my very first official speaking gig: ”The Origin Story of The New Choice Game” Barbara Sher Dare to Soar Telesummit Featuring 9 Book Authors SAT, FEB 10TH, 2024 3:30PM EST https://barbarasclub.com/telesummitworkshops/#lyu I will also talk about my upcoming eBook: ”SINGING IN TUNE: Solutions for 25 Pitch Problems” BOOK LAUNCH DATE: FRI, FEB 9TH, 2024! Best wishes, Karen Lyu (she/her) Holistic Voice Coach + Keynote Concert Speaker + Game Designer aka "Karey Poppins" ~~~~~ Karen's Links https://linktr.ee/karenlyu ~~~~~ 612-299-2462 karen@holisticvoicecoach.com karen@newchoicegame.com Hi Creative Explorers, Have you ever wondered, “Am I tone-deaf?” Tone-deafness only affects 4% of the population ~ according to a single estimate based on a single test from 1980. Which is very rare. I like to tell my voice students that if you know that you’re off-pitch, you can know when you’re on-pitch - which indicates that you are probably not tone-deaf. What about the 20% of people who have some hearing loss? Many vocal coaches will sadly write them off as “hopeless”, but not me! I have seen pitch improvement in every voice student that I’ve ever taught - over 1,000 of them - some with moderate to severe hearing issues. So, I am currently working hard on writing an eBook called: ”Singing in Tune: Solutions for 25 Pitch Problems” which will have a forward from Brian Witkowski - classical singer, former voice coach, and music business coach. Sometimes, I need a break from New Choice Game stuff, and this is a good way to take a break for me! FYI - 24 of the pitch problems in my eBook are actually NOT hearing loss related! Here is the first chapter: CHAPTER ONE HEARING LOSS QUOTE: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”― Lao Tzu SOLUTIONS a. Use an analog or digital tuner. Why? You can see what note you are singing, and how far off you are from the intended note. b. Cup your hands behind your ears, with closed fingers. Why? This helps you to hear yourself better. c. Record yourself and listen to the recordings Why? This helps you to hear yourself better, and you can listen to yourself at various volumes. d. Sing with one cupped hand to make a “C” facing your good ear. Why? This helps you to funnel your singing sound waves to your good ear, so that you can hear yourself better. e. Use good headphones and a microphone. Why? They help you to hear yourself better, hands-free, and you can listen to yourself at a higher volume. f. Use Hearfones (https://www.hearfones.com) Why? They help you to hear yourself better, hands-free, without needing electricity. Working on Chapter 8 now. Please pray for me and wish me luck. Want to find out more about my eBook, my Holistic Voice Coaching, and my New Choice: Improv Your Life! board game? Tune in to my interview on the “Conversations with Melissa” podcast next Sunday! "Conversations with Melissa" LIVE ADHD Renafi YouTube podcast SUN, FEB 4TH, 2024 (RESCHEDULED) 5pm-6pm PST/7pm-8pm CST/8pm-9pm EST https://www.youtube.com/@RenaFi Best wishes, Karen Lyu (she/her) Holistic Voice Coach + Keynote Concert Speaker + Game Designer aka "Karey Poppins" ~~~~~ Karen's Links https://linktr.ee/karenlyu ~~~~~ 612-299-2462 karen@holisticvoicecoach.com karen@newchoicegame.com Hi Creative Explorers,
Lest you assume that my life has been all roses without thorns, I'd like to share a vulnerable story. Growing up in California, bullies at school harrassed me for 8 years, saying hateful things to me ~ that I was a poor, ugly, stupid, clumsy, chinky, "4-eyes." These words cut deep, and they would make me cry. At one point, when I had laryngitis, I was helpless while bullies surrounded me and forced me to eat an eraser. I couldn't even cry out. It was extremely traumatic. Thankfully, board games, books and music helped me to get through! Ever since then, vocal health has been super important in my life. So, I have channeled that experience and put 27 years of Holistic Voice Coaching, 30 years as a jazz vocalist, and 34 years of research into my "How to Protect Your Voice" Interactive Zoom Workshops. Amazingly, I just realized that the "How to Protect Your Voice" this Thu, Jan 25th, 2024 will be my 25th HTPYV workshop ever ~ transforming voices since 2016! I hope that you can join us! (It will be a while before the next one, due to the April 2024 Kickstarter coming up for my New Choice: Improv Your Life! board game!) 5 GIFTS OF A HEALTHY VOICE 1. SAFETY If you are in danger, you can scream for help. And, if someone else is in danger, you can shout to warn them. 2. CONFIDENCE If you want to accomplish your dreams and goals, it helps to have a clear and powerful voice ~ which gives you more confidence. 3. COMMUNICATION Communication is important to get anywhere in life - and having a healthy voice makes communication much easier. 4. CONNECTION To emotionally connect with clients, colleagues, friends, and family, a healthy voice makes all the difference in the world. 5. CREATIVE EXPRESSION And, to live life fully and creatively, the beauty of an expressive voice is unmatched in its ability to touch the heart and get your feet dancing. TESTIMONIAL "Karen is so passionate about what she does and it's contagious! Before I took her vocal health class, I hadn't really thought too much about it, I was using the remedies I've used all my life but found out they were not helping at all (and in some cases making it worse!). Karen's insight and experience opened my eyes on how to take care of my voice as a voice actor and I've already noticed a difference before and after my long sessions in the booth. She doesn't just provide tips... she provides real-world experience and that is extremely valuable. Thank you so much, Karen! You are a powerhouse!" ~ Michelle Price HOW TO PROTECT YOUR VOICE 90-min Interactive Zoom Workshop THU, JAN 25TH, 2024 6pm PST/8pm CST/9pm EST on Zoom $50 General Admission TICKETS https://www.eventbrite.com/e/784941971567 Best wishes, Karen Lyu (she/her) Holistic Voice Coach + Keynote Concert Speaker + Game Designer aka "Karey Poppins" ~~~~~ https://linktr.ee/karenlyu https://www.holisticvoicecoach.com karen@holisticvoicecoach.com newchoicegame@gmail.com Hi Creative Explorers,
Want to avoid COVID, colds, flu, and many other illnesses? Like him or not, have you ever wondered which supplements young-looking, hard-working 83 year-old Dr. Fauci takes? TOP SUPPLEMENTS TO AVOID GETTING SICK Dr. Fauci takes and recommends Vitamin C and Vitamin D3, in an interview with Jennifer Garner. Since taking both Vitamin C and Vitamin D3 myself for the last 10 years, I have been very healthy, only had 2 colds - and thankfully ZERO COVID! Dr. Fauci's advice works for many people, including me! FYI ~ Please note that Vitamin C can void the effects of certain medications, like Adderall. PRO TIP: You may want to take Vitamin C at night, before you sleep, instead of during the day. WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Learn to take care of your voice, so that you can confidently speak and sing with more ease, range, and power ~ with experienced Holistic Voice Coach and jazz singer/songwriter/actor, Karen Lyu aka Karey Poppins. RECORDING A Zoom recording will be available within 24-hours after the workshop. TESTIMONIAL "I have always known that Karen Lyu is a master teacher and communicator. It was a pleasure for me to witness Karen present a thorough, but concise blueprint for maintaining vocal health. This webinar is of great benefit for experienced and beginner, vocalists and speakers." Bruce A. Henry, Jazz Vocalist/Voice Coach CAN YOU JOIN US? HOW TO PROTECT YOUR VOICE 90-min Interactive Zoom Workshop THU, JAN 25TH, 2024 6pm PST/8pm CST/9pm EST on Zoom $35 Early Bird/$50 General Admission EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT TICKETS https://www.eventbrite.com/e/784941971567 Best wishes, Karen Lyu (she/her) Holistic Voice Coach + Keynote Concert Speaker + Game Designer aka "Karey Poppins" ~~~~~ https://linktr.ee/karenlyu https://www.holisticvoicecoach.com karen@holisticvoicecoach.com Hi Creative Explorers, Great news! Due to popular demand, my How to Protect Your Voice INTERACTIVE Zoom Workshop is back - in a budget-friendly 90-minute foundation version. In this insightful and info-packed workshop, you can learn:
One of the things that I teach is to make sure and drink 8-10 cups of water every day. Today we will explore the world of water and how it can transform your vocal performance. 5 VOCAL BENEFITS OF DRINKING WATER
Best wishes, Karen Lyu (she/her) Holistic Voice Coach + Keynote Concert Speaker + Game Designer aka "Karey Poppins" ~~~~~ Karen's Links https://linktr.ee/karenlyu ~~~~~ NEW CHOICE Game Links (3 VIDEOS POSTED) https://www.tiktok.com/@newchoicegame https://www.instagram.com/newchoicegame https://www.facebook.com/newchoicegame ~~~~~ 612-299-2462 karen@holisticvoicecoach.com newchoicegame@gmail.com RESCHEDULED TO 02/04/24
Hi Creative Explorers, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wishing you all an INCREDIBLE 2024! One of my resolutions to make this an INCREDIBLE year is to meditate daily. MEDITATION MAGIC: 7 Top Benefits of Meditation
And, it has helped me stay more even-keeled even though we didn’t get a grant. (Thank Godl for the MAJOR business loan opportunity!) In addition to meditating alone, I also do my best to meditate with the 3x/week Renafi Mindfulness, Meditation & Reflection for Emotional Regulation ADHD Zoom group. This meditation group is how I met Melissa Reskof, the. curious and compassionate host of the “Conversations with Melissa” ADHD podcast ~ and a leader in the ADHD community. "Conversations with Melissa" LIVE ADHD Renafi YouTube podcast SUN, FEB 4TH, 2024 (RESCHEDULED) 5pm-6pm PST/7pm-8pm CST/8pm-9pm EST https://www.youtube.com/@RenaFi Best wishes, Karen Lyu (she/her) Holistic Voice Coach + Keynote Concert Speaker + Game Designer aka "Karey Poppins" ~~~~~ Karen's Links https://linktr.ee/karenlyu ~~~~~ NEW CHOICE Game Links (3 VIDEOS POSTED) https://www.tiktok.com/@newchoicegame https://www.instagram.com/newchoicegame https://www.facebook.com/newchoicegame ~~~~~ 612-299-2462 karen@holisticvoicecoach.com newchoicegame@gmail.com Hi Creative Explorers,
Last week, I helped a brand new singer/songwriter voice student to increase her vocal range by over half of an octave in one lesson. It wasn't hard, and it really surprised her! So, I thought I'd give you some of those same helpful tips. Speaking of high notes... FANTASTIC NEWS x3 A. I have just received a SIGNIFICANT interest-free business loan for my New Choice: Improv Your Life! board game from a kind friend of the family! B. I have hired an AWESOME games industry expert, Bjorn Loessing ~ who is replacing the wonderful Eric Rivera, as my new Kicksetarter Marketing Campaign Manager! C. I'm SO EXCITED! In January, I will join an exclusive public relations group coaching program with award-winning PR expert https://www.gloriachoupr.com! 5 WAYS TO REACH HIGH NOTES 1. Practice aligned breathing and posture 2. Do slides and lip trills. 3. Relax your throat. 4. Experiment with vowels and consonants. 5. Keep your vocal cords hydrated. 5 WAYS TO REACH HIGH GOALS As many of you know, I have reached high goals in the past as Executive Director of the West Bank School of Music, as bandleader of Global Jazz, etc. Here are some principles that have helped me in the past: 1. Surround yourself with good support. 2. Learn from the best, as much as possible. 3. Be ready for any opportunity. 4. Keep track of the numbers and be accountable. 5. Your connections can make all the difference. SUPPORTER SHOUTOUT: Shoutout to enthusiastic Southern University student, Jaylen Gomes! TESTIMONIAL "It's a fun, interactive game that challenges vocabulary and allows creative ways to express yourself. This is a great party game that can be played with many players and encourage friendly competition. Overall a very enjoyable game with a cool concept. " ~ Jaylen Gomes, Southern University Student Best wishes, Karen Lyu (she/her) Holistic Voice Coach + Keynote Concert Speaker + Game Designer aka "Karey Poppins" ~~~~~ Karen's Links https://linktr.ee/karenlyu ~~~~~ NEW CHOICE Game Links (3 VIDEOS POSTED) https://www.tiktok.com/@newchoicegame https://www.instagram.com/newchoicegame https://www.facebook.com/newchoicegame ~~~~~ 612-299-2462 karen@holisticvoicecoach.com newchoicegame@gmail.com |
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