Toning, Chanting and Drumming with Holistic Nurses

Last week I spoke to the the KY Holistic Nurses Association and taught them about te many benefits of toning, chantingand drumming with patients. Several of the nurses were already experienced in toning, chanting and drumming many interesting questions were asked about music and sound with death and dying. I told them about the "Chalice of Repose Project" at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula, Montana and how many hospices now employ music and music therapy, often administered by nurses, chaplains and even volunteers!
I willbe speaking again to their state convention next month, May 17th at IUS. I'll do three consecutive workshops starting at 2:30. The public is invited!

Vocal toning for your sonic spring cleaning

About this time of year many of us begin to think of Spring Cleaning. The weather is getting warm, doors and windows are staying open more and there is a strong desire to sweep away the accumulated dust, dirt, and pet hair that gathered over the winter. But have you thought about doing that for your body? Thanks to the powerful technique of vocal toning, we can get the “cobwebs” out of many of our body systems.Think of your Respiratory system: over the last six months you might have had two or three common colds. You might have even had the “flu.” Sitting or standing with your legs about shoulder’s width apart, take a deep breath from the bottom of your lungs and exhale it very slowly on the syllable “ah” using a tone that is comfortable for your voice. Probably 4 or 5 deep breaths and exhalations on “ah” each morning and evening will begin to clear the lungs and also the mind. Now lets take the Circulatory system: many of us like to hibernate during the winter and not even stick our noses out if the temperature is below freezing. Therefore, our bodies and our circulation find it hard to get going when Spring first appears. Try some toning on a slightly higher pitch and the syllable “ehhhhhhhhhhhh.” At first just try it sitting in a chair or on the side of your bed. Then as you begin to move around in the morning, continue the toning on that syllable. You’ll find yourself beginning to feel strangely invigorated and more motivated to begin your day happily. Finally let’s look at the Musculatory-Skeletal systems. Again, winter has done a bit of a number on us and we’re feeling (I’m feeling!) a bit creaky. Every time before you get up from sitting or lying down, take a deep breath and as you lift your body from its resting position, take a deep breath and let it out slowly on the “ouuuuuu”(rhymes with shoe) vowel. When you’re ready to sit again, tone on “ooooooo” (rhymes with toe). You’ll find the soreness disappearing faster and the joints feeling more limber. I do this most every day lately and am beginning to feel the benefits of my “Sonic Spring Cleaning.”

Want to go deeper with toning and chanting?

Hundreds of people have been reading this blog since I started it a little over a year ago. Many of you have been in my classes and workshops and are now teaching it yourself to peers, colleagues, students and family. People are so fascinated and impressed with the power of tone and chant that they asked me to create an online class. This class is ready now and I'm offering it for only $47 for all five lessons. The lessons include step-by-step instruction as well as video clips and audio clips of me and my students toning and chanting. If you want to learn more about toning and chanting, sign up for the class HERE. You can't lose because there is a 30-day money-back guarantee if it's not everything you expected! Toning and chanting are as ancient as life on this Earth. Learn this simple technique and start calming down and relaxing in a way you never thought possible!!

The "Grandmother Drum"

Rhythm is powerful; rhythm is the universal language, then toning, then chanting. What do you think?

How can toning and chanting assist recovery from addiction?

Are you or someone you know in recovery from drug,alcohol, or other addiction? If so then you're probably aware that "The Serenity Prayer" is an integral part of a 12-step recovery program. We've talked about toning a lot in this blog, probably more than chanting, but I wanted to introduce you to a chant that is base on the Serenity Prayer. As Thomas Aquinas said "he who chants prays twice." Try listening to this chant several times in a row and then try doing it yourself when you're upset, angry, or tempted to give in to addictive behavior! And let me know if I can help you!

Have you tried Toning and Chanting?

I think most of know that music is an ancient form of healing, calming, soothing and of course, entertainment. Have you tried toning and/or chanting? I have been teaching these two techniques for nearly two decades and thousands of people in my classes and seminars have reported that toning and chanting are now part of their daily wellness routine. Why? Because they are easy to learn, easy to practice and unbelievably powerful. I even have a CD that will guide you through these techniques or you can get the same program with a simple download.
Toning and chanting are ancient techniques that anyone can learn. They are useful for chronic pain, anxiety management, depression management, looking inside for answers and addiction withdrawal.
I'm also excited about coming to YOUR town and presenting a workshop on this topic for your organization or club. To learn more about this program or buy the CD or download, go to www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com/products/toning_chanting/toning_chanting.html
As always, call me at 502-419-1698 with any questions.

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?