Hi,

I am trying to develop and improve my singing, but I find that health problems are getting in the way. I picked up a tummy bug on holiday in August, which took ages to go. And now I just seem to be going down with one thing after another. I've had M.E. in the past, and what's happening to me at the moment has a similar flavour.

I don't want to give in and give up or anything, but I feel sad at the way my performance is affected when I feel so tired and unwell, and I wonder if there are any tips that other musicians can give me?

I've also been working really hard on learning and understanding the theory, and sat my Grade 5 exam last Wednesday. So with that out the way I just wanted to get back on with my actual singing, but having spent most of yesterday and today in bed I feel disappointed with myself that I'm not doing better. Also, I've started on the Grade 6 syllabus, but nothing seems to be sinking in.

My teacher had said to go from Grade 5 (which I took a year ago) straight to Grade 7. But because of the effects of my being unwell he is now saying to do Grade 6 instead. I'm happy on the one hand to do this because 7 felt a bit daunting, and Grade 5 was the only singing exam I've ever done. And I love my Grade 6 pieces. We are aiming to take 6 in the Spring Term, and I'm worried about being good enough. But I want to know that I am actually at a Grade 6 level and to pass well, rather than just scraping through. I don't have a lot of confidence, and so a certificate helps me to believe in myself. If that makes sense?

All I've learned from my singing about posture, breathing, grounding etc - I'm sure I should be able to overcome a little bit of post viral fatigue. What is it I'm doing wrong, and has anyone any tips to help me overcome this?

Hope this isn't too disjointed.

Thanks

Amber
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I find illness/recovering is one of the most useful times to practise~ strange as this may sound.

I don't sing though (strangled cat situation) but I find that when I'm ill or tired, its a good time to play things slowly and with lots of focus. Theres no point in me playing my pieces through as I might in a performance, it would be a disaster, so instead I concentrate on small sections, playing a few bars checking my fingering is smooth etc, having a short break and moving on.

I don't know if this method can be applied to singing, but either way, it certainly helps me.

I don't know if you are into alternative / herbal treatments, but some people find that Echinacea seems to boost their immune system. It might be worth a try. I take it when I get colds or flu. You don't need a prescription.

Maggie

i normally just get on with my performance...even though i do have some health problem sometimes...

QUOTE (liebe_klavier @ Nov 8 2004, 07:50 PM)

i normally just get on with my performance...even though i do have some health problem sometimes...

It's a bit harder when you have/had health problems like amber.

I had a similar sort of thing to you in my GCSE year, and you can't do anything about it! But you beat it once, so you can do it again! Nothing seems to sink in, but actually it does. you have to learn where your limits are, and tell your teachers what your limits are. Don't push yourself, it'll make it worse in the long run. I was quite confident as a performer before, and afterwards, and now I worry about performing, more because of the effects it'll have on me afterwards or during the actual thing

Try some herbally stuff like maggie may says, and alternative medecines, like reiki (dont knock it til you've tried it!) really do help! and positive thinking!

It should be easier second time round
Good luck!
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QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Nov 8 2004, 11:14 PM)

Add to that now, I've just had my insomnia treatment adjusted - in fact I wanted it changed to get away from termazipam. The doc has put me on something that looks more like anti-hystamines for pete's sake.

Ouch. I have SAD, so I get horrible insomnia during the summer as a side-effect, and can't stop sleeping through the winter. I manage to balance things by practising all night in the summer, and then cut back on my playing in the winter. I also reschedule lessons over wintertime, so that I start later in the day and end earlier. This has meant I've had to teach 7 days a week for the last few years in December, but it's the only way to cope

Amber, I'm really sorry to hear about your health problems. You must be feeling really frustrated. I agree with the suggestion of taking echinacea. I wouldn't be surprised if there were actual dietary recommendations for coping with ME and similar problems. Have a look on the Web.

QUOTE

All I've learned from my singing about posture, breathing, grounding etc - I'm sure I should be able to overcome a little bit of post viral fatigue.

As I'm sure I've already written at least once this week, in a different context, "should" and "ought" are rarely useful concepts. There's a well known prayer that I first read many years ago and which might be helpful here: Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

QUOTE

What is it I'm doing wrong?

Apart from picking up the virus in the first place, probably nothing at all.

Good luck!

Hi Amber, so sorry to hear that you're not feeling too good.

I did my Grade 6 last year - which pieces are you doing? I'm working towards my Grade 7, but just having changed teacher I'm not sure if / when I'll do it. There's some great peices in that syllabus.

I can sympathise with you about singing when you're not feeling up to it. I have only about 3 hours of fitful sleep last night, and a lesson this morning. The last thing I wanted or felt like doing was my lesson - I had no energy at all, and my brain was telling me it would be a diaster. But I have a great teacher, and we did a lot of 'mindless' exercises on voice placement, looked at some anatomy and how the voice works (all very interesting), trying to isolate various singing muscles and using the body well.

Didn't get to do much of my Lieder after all that, but it was a good lesson anyway. It goes to show that you can make progress, even when you are not 100%. Stick with it, and ask your teacher if he can do more of the stuff you can cope with - in the long term it will reinforce the rest.

Hope you feel better soon.

Amber,

Do check out the website www.nutritionhelp.com as through their help I have been cured of years of my problems. Erica White has written some books, one of which is "M.E.: Sailing Free". I can't recommend her and her books highly enough for the help she has given me.

Thank you to all of you who have replied. I felt a bit guilty after posting my message because it wasn't very upbeat and cheerful, and because I find it difficult asking for help and support. Usually I'm the "cheerful" one, and the one who usually takes care of others. Your support and thoughtful advice mean a lot to me.

I'd forgotten about Echinacea - sounds a really sensible idea. I'll give it a go. Also the Garlic capsules - I'm such a curry fanatic that I'm sure people are used to me being ol' garlic-breath!

Up until now I've been taking Aloe Vera juice, Actimel drinks, as well as a good quality Multi B vitamin supplement. I also started using a lightbox three weeks ago, to try and bring my body's sleep/wake clock into sync with the real world. So I kind of thought I was taking very good care of myself, which is why it's distressing to be still unwell and in this situation. But I haven't tried Echinacea and Garlic, so that gives me some hope. Also, thanks DomRUK for that website address, and the Erica White books. I think that the better informed you are, the more chance you have to overcome things.

I'm sorry to hear about your sleep problems Rhapsodin. My doctor just told me to up my dose of Zimovane to help me get off to sleep, but how much nicer it would be to not have to rely on medication, don't you think? Have you ever tried a lightbox?

Hi Emma, yes I find the whole anatomy thing very interesting. My teacher seems to know loads about it, and has some knowledge of Alexander Technique and Pilates, and I'm often amazed at how quite small postural changes can make such big differences to my voice. My Grade 6 pieces are: Alma Del Core, Dein Blaues Auge, It was a Lover, and Far From the Home I Love. And my folk song is Green Bushes. I really like them all, and they are all so different so there's lots of contrast. Did you sing any of them for your Grade 6? And for Grade 7 I had already started working on Ich Liebe Dich and Sento Nel Core and Somewhere before we decided to go back to Grade 6. How about you? Which songs were/are you singing?

Thank you to everyone again for your help. I hope it's not long before I can post a message to say I've bounced back to health.



Amber
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For my Grade 6 I did alma del core , but was nearly sick of it by the exam. Just hearing the intro now makes me groan inwardly.... I also did the Holst, Malcolm Williamson The Flowers and one of the Schubert Lied. For my unaccompanied I did a Scotish folk song which escapes me at the moment.

I'm not really preparing anything for an exam as such, but asked my teacher to help me enjoy German Lieder. So we have been doing a lot of work on Fruglingsglaube , and have just started to look at Mozart's un moto di gioja which I know I am going to love.

There's too much on the syllabus I like, but we've been doing a lot on voice palcing and technique. It's really odd, but my old teacher didn't do any of that, and now I really feel like I am learning to sing and project my voice properly. Far better than ploughing my way though exams, and so exciting to discover new things.

And even in my very sleepy state this morning I got a really good top D - so exciting!!! Let me know how you are getting on.

as a matter of fact...who's planning to do diploma here.... i really want to know what has people chosen?

I got some Echinacea today (no garlic capsules because the health shop's run out of them), so fingers crossed!



Amber
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QUOTE (Amber @ Nov 9 2004, 03:20 PM)

Thank you to all of you who have replied.  I felt a bit guilty after posting my message because it wasn't very upbeat and cheerful, and because I find it difficult asking for help and support.  Usually I'm the "cheerful" one, and the one who usually takes care of others.  Your support and thoughtful advice mean a lot to me.

We all need a bit of support now and then . Hope the Echinacea helps.