Every Saturday from 11am to noon, I run Office Hours over on my Discord Server. Wanna join in? Here’s the link: https://discord.gg/XTWHcCu Wondering wth Discord is? Scroll to the bottom to watch my video tutorial.

This past Saturday the Office Hours addressed the topic of how mental health can impact your practicing and I reviewed a warm-up album on Spotify in real time. Check out the transcript below. All comments are mine.

[11:05] This week I want to address practicing and mental health.

[11:06 AM] So, how does your mental health impact your musical practice? And, what kinds of tools help you work through it and get to the practicing?

[11:07 AM] It's on my mind because this past week I've only practiced 3 times (including today). It's actually the non-practicing that clued me in that I wasn't feeling all that well emotionally. When I can't find the motivation to do warm-ups even when the opportunities are there, that's a sign that I'm feeling a little blue.

[11:08 AM] Sometimes, of course, it's the other way around - I know that I'm struggling with life events and/or emotional events and I don't sing as much (or sometimes at all).

[11:10 AM ]It can also sometimes trigger a spiral effect - I'm not practicing as much because of feeling down and then I start beating myself up because I'm not achieving my goals and that makes me feel worse about myself - and on and on.........

[11:11 AM] And when we are already feeling low it's harder to talk ourselves out of false thinking like "I'm bad because I'm not practicing like I'm supposed to." and "I'm letting myself/my bandmates/my voice teacher/etc. down."

[11:12 AM] So, this can be a ferris wheel of emotional space and musical journeying that we can't get off of. We'll get dizzy hanging out here.

[11:13 AM] I think there are a few replacement thoughts that can be a lifeline when we find ourselves spinning repeatedly:

[11:14 AM] 1) It happens to everyone. It happens to me and it happens to every professional musician I know. It's good to remember that you aren't alone in dipping out on your practicing while experiencing emotional ups and downs. This can help us accept what's happening and that's often a critical key to getting off the ferris wheel.

[11:18 AM] 2) Know and trust yourself first and foremost. Whatever practicing you were doing before you can get back into it when your ready. You will never lose what you've established. You've worked hard to build a musical pathway for yourself and the road, with all it's tar and gravel will weather any of life's turbulence.. You can use the onramp anytime, anywhere cuz you've already done the work to make it so.

[11:21 AM] 3) It ain't a competition. Nobody is hiring musicians because they practice x hours y days/week. Yes, preparation is super important, but nobody's keeping track of how often you hit the woodshed. What you need to do in your practice space is determined by what your body and mind need as much as it is determined by what a gig or a band demands. Actually, what you need is more important that what others expect. So, be generous with yourself and what your instrument is asking of you, which is sometimes simply patience.

[11:24 AM] 4) Practice with buddies . I imagine that my singing community is out there right now while I do office hours so it helps motivate me to practice, like, right now! Mark this time in your calendar and practice adjacent to me if it helps keep you motivated. Or, find another singing buddy who can check in with you to see how your practicing is going. Sometimes a text is the nudge we need to move out of that ferris wheel.

[11:25 AM] So, with that, I'm gonna explore some vocal workouts on Spotify. Let's see what's out there!

[11:27 AM] I found an album by Pete Faint. While I'm singing with it you can also play it simultaneously by clicking on my avatar. You'll see the track on Spotify and an option to play it on your end. (you may need to have spotify installed on your device)

Here is the link: https://open.spotify.com/album/63giiARfCErWYolDvvpLKB?si=hGMejz1ZTe2C3wg_-FbCcQ

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The track "E A Ah Ah" is challenging and fun

[11:41 AM] Where in the world is spelled "tyres"? UK? Australia?

[11:42 AM] Anyways the "tyres" exercise is also fun

[11:43 AM] "chester cheetah chews a chunk of cheap cheddar cheese"!!!!!! I'm going to have to practice that one

[11:44 AM] these tongue twisters are kicking my butt

[11:47 AM] I don't really know what's going on with "1,2,3,4,5" so I skipped it

[11:49 AM] "1, 121, 12321..." is an exercise I used to do a lot back in high school choir. They've got it going at a break neck speed so it would be hard to follow if you don't know it well. I don't know why the recorded vocalist drops out so soon - maybe these exercises are intended to be used in a choir setting so you'd have your director singing it? Anyways, I'd recommend skipping it if you don't already know it.

[11:50 AM] "Bella Signora" is a great agility exercise. I talked about agility last week. Read the notes I made and then sing this one.

[11:51 AM] Overall I'd recommend this warm-up album.

It's paced really nicely and I love the articulation exercises (the tongue twisters). I think the vowel choices as compared to range would match an AFAB (assigned female at birth) voice best. AMAB larynxes might need to do some vowel modification.

[11:56 AM] You can comment on the transcript from my office hours after the fact! Chime in about how you relate to the conversation on mental health and practicing. What do you do to work through it? How does it impact your practicing, or not? What tips that I provided resonate with you?

[11:58 AM] Before I sign off on this Saturday Office Hours session I wish everybody a wonderful fall weekend. I wish for Colorado rain/snow/mist/dew/spit/any kind of moisture. I'm heartbroken for our beautiful mountain forests and the people who live there. I hope everyone has a good week and that vocal warm-ups play a positive role. If you don't get around to it - that's a-ok

[12:01 PM] Next Office Hours will be next Saturday at 11am. It will be Halloween so maybe we'll do some Halloween exercises!!!!!

Here’s a little walkthrough on what Discord is and how to use it. My voice studio server is open to ALL. I hope to see you over here.