They bother a lot of people, including singers!
So far, knock on wood, this Spring hasn't been too bad for me, comparatively speaking. Which roughly translates to one bad attack per week instead of three.
Some people feel like they are allergic to everything - and if your sinuses are already irritated, walking into a freshly industrial-cleaned retail space, the radius of a perfumed person, or a Catholic choir loft (when they light the incense it will take the shortest route to the choir loft - promise!) can be a dicey proposition with goopy results. Many of these same people have tried endless pharmaceuticals - both over-the-counter and prescription - often year round, only to remain sneezy and snuffy. I know that place very well.
I really wanted this year to be a little different in terms of allergies, instead of living it in a pharmacy-induced fog once I got out of my 6-8 week allergy-safe time frame (comparatively speaking again). I tried some different things, and I'm finding that so far this spring I am able to limit my allergy-drug taking to when I'm really symptomatic dangerously close to a gig. It's nice not to have to pop all those pills every day!
Here's what I've found has helped me with chronic allergic rhinitis and frequent sinusitis, and maybe they can help you too if you're suffering:
1) I went to a chiropractor and he got my neck into a more normal curve. Magically my headaches mostly went away too.
2) I got serious about nasal irrigation. The vessel for this purpose is often referred to as a Neti pot. But I found a squeeze-bottle type version at the pharmacy that you can use without contorting your head, neck, wrist, and elbow into strange positions over the sink. You just do it upright. No mess no fuss if you do it in the shower.
3) I got some help from an acupuncturist who specializes in allergies. Don't know why it works for me, but I don't really know why aspirin works either, and that never bothered me. Plus it's wonderfully relaxing.
4) At my acupuncturist's suggestion I started cutting down on "the white stuff" - dairy, processed flour products, and processed sugar products.
Now, when symptoms do get acute and I resort to pharmaceuticals, they are a lot more likely to work for me. Things still aren't perfect, but the above four measures have improved things for me by two-thirds (one attack per week instead of three), and then about two-thirds again (meds more likely to work when things get bad). I find they are also a lot more cost-effective, and "my liver is thanking me", at least according to my husband.
Here's a book with lots of ideas:
The Sinus Cure - 7 Simple Steps to Relieve Sinusitis and other Ear, Nose, and Throat Conditions
Debra Fulghum Bruce, Ph.D. and
Murray Grossan, M.D.
Ballantine Books, 2007
ISBN 978-0-345-49602-7
And if you've found some things that have helped you, feel free to share. Singing is too important to give up on finding sinus relief! And DO keep in touch with your medical support people. Your family doctor or allergy specialist or ENT can keep you up to date about any breakthrough treatments, or any changes they observe in your vocal apparatus.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Capital Vox Jazz Choir Concert! - We Live Here
We Live Here
Saturday April 30, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Knox Presbyterian Church
120 Lisgar Street at Elgin, Ottawa
Tickets $20
available at The Leading Note, Wellington Herb & Spice, Alcorn Music Studios, & choir members
www.capitalvox.ca
www.capitalvox.ca
Nous Vivons Ici
Samedi le 30 avril 2011 à 19h30
Église presbytérienne Knox
120 rue Lisgar, coin Elgin, à Ottawa
Billets $20; disponibles chez The Leading Note, Herb & Spice (rue Wellington), Alcorn Music Studios & des membres de la chorale
www.capitalvox.ca
www.capitalvox.ca
Join us for our upcoming concert which deals with themes of place, peace, and community - as well as celebrating the talent of composers, poets, and songwriters who live in our own backyard. The creative work of fifteen Ottawa artists including John Akpata, Tim Bedner, Tony Cosier, Christine Fagan, Mark Ferguson, Megan Jerome, Elise Letourneau, Rupinder Singh, Nicola Vulpe, and others will be represented on the programme. Thirty voices under the direction of Elise Letourneau, plus saxophonist Mike Tremblay, pianist Mark Ferguson, guitarist Tim Bedner, bassist Mark Alcorn, and drummer Marilee Townsend.
Joignez-vous à nous lors de notre prochain concert qui traite du lieu, de paix et de communauté et célèbre le talent de compositeurs, de poètes et d'auteurs-compositeurs venant de notre propre cour. Le travail créatif de quinze artistes d'Ottawa, incluant John Akpata, Tim Bedner, Tony Cosier, Christine Fagan, Mark Ferguson, Megan Jerome, Elise Letourneau, Rupinder Singh, Nicola Vulpe et d'autres encore sera au programme. Trente voix s'exécuteront, sous la direction d'Elise Letourneau, accompagnées du saxophonist Mike Tremblay, du pianiste Mark Ferguson, du guitariste Tim Bedner, du bassiste Mark Alcorn et de Marilee Townsend à la batterie.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Summer 2011 Jazz Camp Tuition Scholarship for Singers!
Vocal Scholarship to Carleton University Jazz Camp
August 7-12, 2011
August 7-12, 2011
sponsored by Capital Vox Jazz Choir
Open to high school singers in grades 11 & 12
Send us the following:
- an MP3 CD recording of you singing something you love - a cappella or accompanied
- a statement of why you want to go to jazz camp - one page maximum
- a description of your music background - one page maximum
- the form below
All materials must be received by Friday May 20. Your submission will be reviewed by a panel of Capital Vox singers, including the director. Semi-finalists will be asked to audition live before the panel, and will be notified by May 23. The scholarship winner must agree to perform at one of the choir’s concerts during the 2011-12 concert season. The finalist will be notified by mid-June. Capital Vox reserves the right to not award a scholarship in the unlikely event that there are no qualified applicants.
Mail your application to: Capital Vox Jazz Choir, P.O. Box 681, Station B, Ottawa ON K1P 5P8
For more information about the Carleton University Jazz Camp: www.cujazzcamp.ca
For more information about Capital Vox Jazz Choir: www.capitalvox.ca
Monday, March 7, 2011
Off to See the Wizards (JW & VCC) Part2
Winnipeg and Jon Washburn and the Vancouver Chamber Choir were really something.
More on that in a sec though, after a quick digression. I got to watch a bit of hotel-room TV, and there's something that's been bugging me since Thursday. This is a message for BECKY who was on Dr. Phil on Thursday March 3, 2011. Becky, I'm glad you got all that support from Dr. Phil, because you deserve good support. But there's one thing he didn't say, so I'm gonna say it:
BECKY - JUST SING, OKAY? DO IT NOW. THERE IS NEVER A GOOD REASON TO DEFER SINGING. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE ACHIEVED YOUR GOAL WEIGHT BEFORE YOU GO OUT AND SING. LIFE IS TOO SHORT. YOU DESERVE TO SING, THE WORLD CAN USE ONE MORE SINGER, AND YOU ARE ALREADY BEAUTIFUL. GET OUT THERE AND SING NOW. DON'T WAIT ONE MORE SINGLE DAY. DO IT TODAY.
Okay, back to the Interplay Composers' sessions.
A real nice bunch of folks, Jon Washburn and the Vancouver Chamber Choir. It's always a treat to have the opportunity to watch a master at work, and every single one of Jon Washburn's singers had their head fully focused on the music. Accomplished, talented, smart, and all the rest. If you spilled a jar of poppy seeds onto a paper towel, these people could sight-sing it. I went in mentally prepared for the artistic scalpel, because at this stage of the game nobody's got time for warm fuzzies. And I got a lot of really excellent and valuable feedback, but rather than being the musical excision kind of feedback that I had anticipated, it was more grooming and polishing things as they already were. A pleasant surprise, to say the least. It's always a special type of moment the first sing through a new score, when you find out if what you put onto the paper ends up being what comes off of it - or not. There was this really cool moment early in the session when I realized that things had clicked with Jon Washburn and my piece, and it was so instructional to watch how he brought the choir to that same place. I came out with so many ideas, and I'm still riding a crest of renewed creative energy that is infusing my writing since my return from Winnipeg.
Thank-you so much, Jon Washburn and VCC!
More on that in a sec though, after a quick digression. I got to watch a bit of hotel-room TV, and there's something that's been bugging me since Thursday. This is a message for BECKY who was on Dr. Phil on Thursday March 3, 2011. Becky, I'm glad you got all that support from Dr. Phil, because you deserve good support. But there's one thing he didn't say, so I'm gonna say it:
BECKY - JUST SING, OKAY? DO IT NOW. THERE IS NEVER A GOOD REASON TO DEFER SINGING. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE ACHIEVED YOUR GOAL WEIGHT BEFORE YOU GO OUT AND SING. LIFE IS TOO SHORT. YOU DESERVE TO SING, THE WORLD CAN USE ONE MORE SINGER, AND YOU ARE ALREADY BEAUTIFUL. GET OUT THERE AND SING NOW. DON'T WAIT ONE MORE SINGLE DAY. DO IT TODAY.
Okay, back to the Interplay Composers' sessions.
A real nice bunch of folks, Jon Washburn and the Vancouver Chamber Choir. It's always a treat to have the opportunity to watch a master at work, and every single one of Jon Washburn's singers had their head fully focused on the music. Accomplished, talented, smart, and all the rest. If you spilled a jar of poppy seeds onto a paper towel, these people could sight-sing it. I went in mentally prepared for the artistic scalpel, because at this stage of the game nobody's got time for warm fuzzies. And I got a lot of really excellent and valuable feedback, but rather than being the musical excision kind of feedback that I had anticipated, it was more grooming and polishing things as they already were. A pleasant surprise, to say the least. It's always a special type of moment the first sing through a new score, when you find out if what you put onto the paper ends up being what comes off of it - or not. There was this really cool moment early in the session when I realized that things had clicked with Jon Washburn and my piece, and it was so instructional to watch how he brought the choir to that same place. I came out with so many ideas, and I'm still riding a crest of renewed creative energy that is infusing my writing since my return from Winnipeg.
Thank-you so much, Jon Washburn and VCC!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Off to See the Wizards (JW & VCC) Part1
Well, today's the day!
In about an hour (Winnipeg time), I leave my hotel room and head for the music building at the University of Manitoba to meet up with the Vancouver Chamber Choir, their director Jon Washburn, two other composers I'm looking forward to meeting, and whoever else happens to be around and interested.
The VCC is "workshopping" a piece I wrote earlier this year - "i carry your heart with me" - based on e.e. cummings' poem of the same title. Which means they will read it down and pick it apart and see what's working well and what isn't really working at all - kind of a laboratory setting. Or at least that's what I think it means - I'll find out soon enough. I feel so incredibly lucky because the piece is for double choir (plus jazz trio), and it would be quite a job for me to put together an ensemble like this to explore the work. It's doubly nice because the work is intended as a series of four pieces, and I'm getting this opportunity and feedback now, before I write the other three.
Wow - it feels like Christmas. And I feel so hyper! Gotta get ready to roll.
In about an hour (Winnipeg time), I leave my hotel room and head for the music building at the University of Manitoba to meet up with the Vancouver Chamber Choir, their director Jon Washburn, two other composers I'm looking forward to meeting, and whoever else happens to be around and interested.
The VCC is "workshopping" a piece I wrote earlier this year - "i carry your heart with me" - based on e.e. cummings' poem of the same title. Which means they will read it down and pick it apart and see what's working well and what isn't really working at all - kind of a laboratory setting. Or at least that's what I think it means - I'll find out soon enough. I feel so incredibly lucky because the piece is for double choir (plus jazz trio), and it would be quite a job for me to put together an ensemble like this to explore the work. It's doubly nice because the work is intended as a series of four pieces, and I'm getting this opportunity and feedback now, before I write the other three.
Wow - it feels like Christmas. And I feel so hyper! Gotta get ready to roll.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
An Ode to the Uvula
The Uvula. If I admit to a certain amount of fascination with it, am I going on the public record as some kind of fetishist or something?
Most of us have seen cartoon representations of the uvula, even if we didn't know its proper name at the time. It is the small bit of tissue that hangs off the back end of the soft palate, that wobbles back and forth when a cartoon character is hollering.
And for some singers, depending on their training, the uvula has indicated the presence of a well-engaged diaphragm, swinging forwards and back with each mindful "ha" exhalation in front of a mirror.
It has occurred to me, however, that if Nature intended a purpose for the uvula beyond storyboarding and bel canto, then I am in the dark about it. So I thought I'd do a little research...
It turns out that the uvula isn't just hanging out. The uvula plays an important role in articulating the sounds we make into sounds recognizable as speech, functioning in tandem with the back of the throat, the palate, and air coming up from the lungs.
If that wasn't enough, as a distinct bonus the uvula also has an important function in swallowing. The uvula and soft palate work as a team, moving upwards together to close off the nasopharynx, sparing us the indignity of having our soup dribble back out our nose when dining out.
I'm glad I took the time to read up a little more on the uvula. I am now reassured that my fascination with the uvula is neither the first, nor the worst. Apparently it is possible to have one's uvula pierced, with the captive bead ring as the jewelry of choice. I won't be signing up for that any time soon though - manipulation of the uvula also triggers the gag reflex, and I try to avoid regurgitating as much as possible.
(If obtaining an uvula piercing is something that appeals to you, please take the time to do your own research. There are several inherent risks, including inhaling your jewelry, and if you do that then you're in for some emergency surgery. And please find someone who really knows what they are doing - for both the piercing and the surgery that is.)
If you happen to find yourself in a discussion of the uvula at your next cocktail party, be sure to specify "the palatine uvula". You'll not only sound smarter, but you'll also stay on familiar turf. Apparently both the cerebellum and the urinary bladder have uvulas of their own, equally worthy I'm sure, but beyond the scope of this blog posting.
So there it is - the daily contributions to the quality of our lives of the humble uvula. Who knew? Give me a U....
Okay okay I'll knock it off. But take good care of your uvula and it will take good care of you. Seriously - overdoing some of our most common vices (smoking, alcohol, street drugs) can lead to swelling of the uvula. But there are also more pedestrian causes for this, like dehydration or infection. I've read that ice cream is soothing for this, if it happens to you. But more chronic enlargement of the uvula can lead to snoring or sleep apnea. And people who have uvulitis triggered by allergies often have to resort to an EpiPen, without the benefit of ice cream.
Most of us have seen cartoon representations of the uvula, even if we didn't know its proper name at the time. It is the small bit of tissue that hangs off the back end of the soft palate, that wobbles back and forth when a cartoon character is hollering.
And for some singers, depending on their training, the uvula has indicated the presence of a well-engaged diaphragm, swinging forwards and back with each mindful "ha" exhalation in front of a mirror.
It has occurred to me, however, that if Nature intended a purpose for the uvula beyond storyboarding and bel canto, then I am in the dark about it. So I thought I'd do a little research...
It turns out that the uvula isn't just hanging out. The uvula plays an important role in articulating the sounds we make into sounds recognizable as speech, functioning in tandem with the back of the throat, the palate, and air coming up from the lungs.
If that wasn't enough, as a distinct bonus the uvula also has an important function in swallowing. The uvula and soft palate work as a team, moving upwards together to close off the nasopharynx, sparing us the indignity of having our soup dribble back out our nose when dining out.
I'm glad I took the time to read up a little more on the uvula. I am now reassured that my fascination with the uvula is neither the first, nor the worst. Apparently it is possible to have one's uvula pierced, with the captive bead ring as the jewelry of choice. I won't be signing up for that any time soon though - manipulation of the uvula also triggers the gag reflex, and I try to avoid regurgitating as much as possible.
(If obtaining an uvula piercing is something that appeals to you, please take the time to do your own research. There are several inherent risks, including inhaling your jewelry, and if you do that then you're in for some emergency surgery. And please find someone who really knows what they are doing - for both the piercing and the surgery that is.)
If you happen to find yourself in a discussion of the uvula at your next cocktail party, be sure to specify "the palatine uvula". You'll not only sound smarter, but you'll also stay on familiar turf. Apparently both the cerebellum and the urinary bladder have uvulas of their own, equally worthy I'm sure, but beyond the scope of this blog posting.
So there it is - the daily contributions to the quality of our lives of the humble uvula. Who knew? Give me a U....
Okay okay I'll knock it off. But take good care of your uvula and it will take good care of you. Seriously - overdoing some of our most common vices (smoking, alcohol, street drugs) can lead to swelling of the uvula. But there are also more pedestrian causes for this, like dehydration or infection. I've read that ice cream is soothing for this, if it happens to you. But more chronic enlargement of the uvula can lead to snoring or sleep apnea. And people who have uvulitis triggered by allergies often have to resort to an EpiPen, without the benefit of ice cream.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Jazz Choir concert! - Capital Vox Gets the Blues
Capital Vox Gets The Blues at NAC, Feb 25 & 26:
Capital Vox Jazz Choir, under the direction of Elise Letourneau, will be presenting "Capital Vox Gets The Blues" at the National Arts Centre 4th Stage for two evenings on February 25 & 26, 2011. The 30-voice choir will perform a mix of blues and blues-infused music in a variety of settings and textures with the venerable Brian Browne assuming the piano seat, Mike Tremblay on saxophones, guitarist Tim Bedner, bassist Mark Alcorn, and drummer Marilee Townsend. Listeners can look forward to a spirited romp through 50+ years of classic blues music, big vocals, and indomitable groove-making.
Capital Vox Jazz Choir was formed as a community choir to explore the works of classic jazz composers, as well as standards old and new, in a large group vocal setting. It also seeks to present music by Canadian jazz composers and expand the existing body of Canadian jazz choral repertoire; as well as recast traditional music in a new, jazzy light. The choir membership seeks continual growth in vocal, improvisational, and musicianship skills; culminating in quality music-making and concert performances.
Concert begins at 7:30 PM, and doors open at 7 PM. All are welcome. Tickets are $20, available from the NAC box office or Ticketmaster. Please visit www.capitalvox.ca for more information about Capital Vox Jazz Choir.
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