Chanting and Singing all through the holidays

This is a wonderful and fun video of acapella singing that I think you'll enjoy...sent to me by Don Campbell, author of "The Mozart Effect." Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving: Let the Vibrations Begin!

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and many Americans enjoyed the healing vibrations of delicious food and loving conversation with family and friends. Can "non-musical" vibrations be healing or can only music be healing? I believe that the world is made of vibrations. A key element of what makes certain vibrations more healing than others is the intention behind the vibration. If food is prepared with love and energy is expended with love then the result is healing vibrations. I think we know this intuitively because something as simple as a smile or a need or a pat on the back can do wonders for both the giver and the receiver.

Think about that this holiday season. You don't have to give expensive gifts, buy fancy foods or go to expensive concerts (although I enjoy doing that if possible!) in order to enjoy the healing vibrations of the season and of every day! I offer this very special healing music package to you:

http://www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com/listmailings/Thanksgiving_Special_2007.htm

Please keep your eyes on all my blogs this season for tips on using music to enhance every aspect of holidays and the family experience!

Kid's Drumming Circle a Big Hit

Yesterday I led a children's drumming circle at the Unity Church in downtown Louisville. It was part of the Rainbow Healing Festival and we had an awesome drum circle! The was one little boy there who was 3 and 1/2 years old. He had been very quiet through the first 30 minutes or so. I kept introducing chant after chant and finally he said "I know a song." We were thrilled that he wanted to teach us his song. Turns out it was "Old McDonald" done in pow-wow style! It was really cool. Then an 8 or 9 y.o. girl said that she knew a song she'd like to teach. Again, we were all thrilled that she was participating and going out on a limb. Turns out hers was "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven! We asked her to sing a little of it (and of course it has no words) and so she began playing one drum beat to each note she hummed. Sure enough, she was humming the Moonlight Sonata! I never thought I'd hear that at a drum circle but it was a beautiful thing! When's the last time you went to a drum circle??

Vibrational Healing at the Beach

I spent a wonderful week in Florida at the end of September and couldn't help but noticing the soothing, calming, lulling sounds of the sea, the birds, and the wind through the seagrasses and palms. To me, the beach and the ocean pretty close to Heaven. If you've heard my lectures and workshops at all, you know that I always talk about the music of nature being the original music of our planet. My trip to Florida and Lido Key definitely felt like what early humans must have experienced at the shore. We have very old artwork of various media showing people at the seaside...Greek, Roman, South Pacific, American Indian and from all over the world.
When you're feeling stressed out and anxious, try putting on a recording of ocean waves and all the accompanying healing sounds.

Chanting and Toning at Clemson University

Saturday afternoon I had the thrill of doing something I had not done in about 50 years!! I went to Clemson football game and it was soooo much fun! Clemson was playing Furman University and I was in town a few days earlier delivering the John C. Calhoun lecture at Clemson! Since there just happened to be a home game that week-end, I thought I'd try to catch that. To my delight, the Strom Thurmond Institute arranged for me to be in one of the beautiful, air-conditioned boxes and so I watched the game in luxurious comfort. The picture in the upper right corner is me sitting in the part of the box that had cushy chairs, delicious food and drink and a big screen TV. The rest of the time I was actually watching the game out of the beautiful big windows and enjoying the excitement of a Clemson home game!
Not surprisingly, Clemson won and a good time was had by all! I even won a beautiful potted plant there--a little rubber tree!

Oh, and by the way, the crowd was toning and chanting throughout the game. Everytime when they would kick off, the crowd would go "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" and when they were about to make a touchdown, the crowd was chanting C-L-E-M-S-O-N T-I-G-E-R-S! Both, perfect examples of the power of toning and chanting!

Toning and Chanting for Recovery

Today, people talk a lot about "being in recovery." Usually, this refers to 12-step recovery for addictions such as alcohol, drugs, gambling, spendingor even sex. One of the common threads in recovery is the cravings to do an illicit substance or activity.

From my experience as a therapist for people in recovery, I believe that toning, especially, can be a powerful tool for getting through the cravings of early recovery. After working with recovering folks for nearly 20 years, the consensus is that it really does work!

For more information and instructions on how to tone, read this blog from the beginning as well as visit my regular site: http://www.healingmusicenterprises.com/.

The link about will take to you to a download or a CD you can purchase of a live workshop I conducted recently. Give it a try!

Just how powerful is your voice?

Recently I did a presentation in San Diego for over 2000 professional speakers. When the program was over, people were flocking to me, asking if they though they could use the vocal toning process to improve their "Charisma Quotient." When you practice vocal toning, you go to a whole new level of control and awareness of the multitude of subtleties possible within your voice. As a music lover you are acutely aware of speaking voices that soothe you, grab your attention, or annoy you instantly. Physicians are usually tuned into to the patients tone of voice, the vocal volume level and the speed at which they describe their illness. As a therapist as well as a musician, I gather loads of information about a new client at their first session, simply from what their voice tells me in addition to the words they use. The voice is powerful, totally independent of the singing voice. Consider working on your voice by doing some simple toning for 5 minutes, a couple of times a day. You can order my toning CD or you can set up an appointment to learn more about this, either by phone or at my office! Hope to see you soon!

Chantdoc returns from toning presentation in San Diego

It's hard to believe that the big trip to NSA is over and I'm back in Louisville. Teaching 2000 people to tone was a real high and a profound joy. I wasn't sure what the reaction was going to be since vocal toning is just not something that you run into every day, but I'd say that 99% of the audience really got into it and were all very excited and enthusiastic to learn a technique that is so easy and yet so powerful. On the last night, at the banquet, they had Dale Irvin, who is a "professional summarizer" and comedian, to summarize the general sessions from the conference. He had a good time lampooning the toning session but he did it in a very good-natured way and, as they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity! So many people were fascinated by the information that 10 minutes of vocal toning is equivalent to 5 mg of Valium, that I think the NSA members will definitely learn to master this simple technique. Now who wants to learn toning? I have a CD or a download of a toning workshop so rush to the link above and get your download or CD now!! You'll be glad you did!!

Chantdoc makes her NSA debut in San Diego!

Here I am in beautiful San Diego and yesterday was the big toning and chanting debut at NSA!! (The National Speakers Association's Annual Convention)I've beenlooking forward to this for almost two years and it finally happened yesterday! I don't have a lot of time right now to tell you all about it and my computer battery is rapidly running out of juice, but suffice it to say that, in front of 2,000 people, I had everyone toning and chanting and many people say they are now "believers" in the power of tone and sound vibration to calm and focus and energize and intergrate the mind, body and spirit! What more could I ask?? More later! Alice

Final Free Class Ends with a Bang!

This afternoon we had our final toning, chanting and drumming class at Healing Music Academy. There were six of us and we learned how to tone, chant and drum in a way that was fun, healing, and easy! Listen to the excerpt below and you'll get a little taste of what we did today!

Penultimate Class in Toning and Chanting Has a Blast

This afternoon, was the next-to-last free toning, chanting and drumming at Healing Music Academy. We really had a wonderful time and actually got around to doing toning, chanting, and drumming in addition to some lively discussions on music with autistic children, music with surgery, and music with preemies and pregnancy. Sure wish that YOU could have been there. Is it on your calendar for next Saturday afternoon? The final class will be from 2-4 at our classroom, 2518 Frankfort Avenue. Hope to see you there!

Toning, Chanting, and Drumming Class focuses on new technique

Do you know what "skeletal humming" is? Well neither did the students who attended my free class today, but they do now! Skeletal humming is a technique I learned when studying with Dr. Alfred Tomatis. It is a process whereby you actually turn your own spine into a human tuning fork by vibrating first your teeth, then your jaw, then your skull and then down your spine. It is quite an amazing process and is done for the purpose of "charging your brain"!

We have two more free classes left; please try to make it there if you can!

Mind-Body Healing with Vocal Toning

This afternoon we had our fourth free toning and chanting group at Healing Music Enterprises in Louisville, Kentucky. The group was very eager to understand all the many things that toning can do for an individual. We reviewed the five different primary vowel sounds, the three postures, and the three pitch ranges. We also reviewed the difference between toning with eyes open and eyes closed. The power of toning continues to amaze me. Within two minutes of moderate toning on an "OOOHHHH" or "AAAHHH" we all agreed the we were as calm and relaxed as if we had taken 5 mg. of valium! Toning is powerful. It is the best way that I know of to catapult yourself directly into the present and out of the past or future.



If you live in the Louisville area you are cordially invited to our final four classes which will be every Saturday in June from 2-4 PM. No experience is necessary. Bring a drum if you have one. If you don't, I have several. Just let me know that you're coming please! Hope to see you there!

The Power of Toning for Vibrational Healing

I've been doing a lot more toning recently and am powerfully aware of what a mind-altering experience it is. For example, in our last toning group I asked everyone to just do some slow, deep breathing for two minutes. I set my watch in front of me and we all did slow, deep breathing for two minutes...those two minutes moved soooooooooo slowly and we all agreed we were thinking about how much time had elapsed, primarily. Then I asked the group to add a tone to that slow deep breathing for another two minutes. We did that and could not believe how fast the time elapsed! Why is that? I believe that when you tone like that, your mind and body absolutely disappear and you are in an altered and healing state of mind and being. What do you think?

Second Class Learns Skeletal Humming

Well, our second free toning, chanting, and drumming class was today and we all had a great time! We did lots of toning today and even ventured in to some skeletal humming. The class proved to be naturals for skeletal humming and the room was buzzing with vibration!

One of our members brought in her beautiful, huge crystal singing bowl and played it for us and again, the room was alive with vibration. We all commented that the bowl seem to take on a life of its own.

Our next class will be MAY 19TH. Look forward to seeing you then! Feel free to invite a friend (or two) if you'd like but do let me know in case I need to reserve a bigger room. Remember to go to the blogs or www.babyboomerarticles.com and enjoy some Google ads!

See you in three weeks. Feel free to post your comments and questions on the toning and chanting blog: www.toningandchanting.blogspot.com.

Keep the music flowing!

Toning and Chanting Classes Begin

Yesterday we started he first in a series of FR*EE classes at Healing Music Enterprises in Louisville, KY. I think it went very well and we covered the introduction to toning, chanting, drumming and music healing. The group at this first class was exceptionally musical and the toning was absolutely beautiful. The drumming and chanting were pretty good too and because I felt they could handle it, I gave them a hefty assigment to report on next Saturday!

The class will meet on April 28th from 2-4 and then again May 19-end of June. If you're still wanting to join the class, let me know so I'll have enough chairs and handouts! Hope to see you there next week!

Weekly toning & chanting group beginning in Louisville, KY

In preparation for opening the National Speakers Association conference in San Diego this July, I've decided to offer a weekly toning, chanting, drumming and music healing group on a weekly basis. I would like to invite all my friends, neighbors and other aquaintances a chance to meet weekly for two hours and learn about toning, chanting, drumming and music healing techniques.

If you, or anyone you know, is interested in this, please email me immediately at chantdoc@healingmusicenterprises.com and let me know whether Saturday or Sunday afternoon from 2-4 PM would be better for you. Location will be somewhere in the Crescent Hill/Highlands area. Donations to Healing Music Enterprises will be accepted but there will be no charge. I'd like to start this week-end April 14/15.

Space is limited so please get back to me as soon as possible!

Clear the cobwebs: Spring Cleaning with Vocal Toning

Did you know that you tone at some point most every day? "No I don't!" you say, but you really do! For example, I just finished a fabulous dessert of mango sorbet with raspberries and whipped cream. Now that was one delicious dessert and you can rest assured that I was going on and on with my "UMMMMMs" and "ahhhhhhhhhhs" and "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOs." I was expressing a wide range of pleasure with long vowel sounds, repeated at different pitch levels and held for various lengths of time. Was I doing it to practice my toning? Of course not. I was just expressing my pleasure at eating this delicious dessert.

Think of all the ways you express yourself with long, vowel sounds: seeing a newborn baby:aaaaaawwwwwwwww; seeing mouse run across your kitchen floor: eeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkk! Sitting down after standing on your feet for a long time: oooooooohhhhhhhhhhh. When you make these long vowel sounds you oxygenate your body and charge your brain. It's good for you and we do it spontaneously many times a day.

Now, think about doing it intentionally! You can order my CD toning program or sign up for my course! Do it today. You'll feel better and you'll feel happier!

I'm going outon a limb here

As you know, I was in Las Vegas this past week-end for a family wedding. I'm not really a fan of Las Vegas but we did have a great view from our hotel room. That's about all I can say. Im going out on a limb to say that I heard many people in the casino chanting the old casino chant "please, please, please" and "come on, come on snake eyes." Do these chants work? Well, they must do something for the folks that are repeating them over and over and over. Chant has to do with putting people into a "zone" and when one is gambling, I suppose they need to go to that zone to feel they are doing their best to align with Lady Luck. I don't know, what do you think?

Toning with Your Valentine

Many people simply do not realize the power of vibration in a romantic relationship. Of course there is a little device that uses the a variant of the word vibration (blush) but did you know that you can make your partner feel really good just with tone and sound vibrations? Try toning on each other's necks, backs, chests and anywhere else that inspiration suggests. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised!

Sound Healing for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and the air is full of different expressions of love! People talk about "good vibrations" but it's true, we can feel good vibrations coming from people, from songs, from gifts. Everything that exists is made of molecules and atoms and since molecules and atoms are constantly moving around, everything is actually vibrating...even though we can't see it. The way those vibrations are felt or perceived by you has a lot to do with the intent of the person, the song, the reasons the gift was given.

Vibrations can be healing, they can also be damaging. This year let's all send out positive, loving, healing vibrations.

Can you feel the good vibrations?

I think we all know that music makes us feel better. And better than listening passively to music, is actually makeing the music yourself. Singing, humming, whistling, playing an instrument or dancing to music. They all make us feel better. Why? Well, there are lots of reasons from brain chemicals being released to the vibrations that massage our bodies from the inside out! Next time to listen to some favorite music or make it yourself, put your hands on your forehead, your cheeks, the back of your head or arms and legs. Can you feel the good vibrations?? I'll bet you can!

What about the chanting at the Bowl Games?

What is your definition of chant? Many people think automatically of Buddhist chant, Gregorian chant, or Native American chant. But guess what, the "cheers" that fans chant at sports events are also a type of chant. They fit the definition: "chant is a positive statement repeated over ad over in a rhythmic fashion for the purpose of raising energy for a group or an individual." Can you imagine going to a sporting event that didn't have cheerleaders and fans jumping up and screaming and yelling to encourage the players to play their best and win one for their team? Can you imagine how boring it would be without a pep band? Think about it! It's yet another form of vibrational healing.