Singing Through Change: Women's Voices in Midlife, Menopause, and Beyond by Nancy Bos & Joanne Bozeman & Cate Frazier-Neely

Singing Through Change: Women's Voices in Midlife, Menopause, and Beyond by Nancy Bos & Joanne Bozeman & Cate Frazier-Neely

Author:Nancy Bos & Joanne Bozeman & Cate Frazier-Neely [Bos, Nancy & Bozeman, Joanne & Frazier-Neely, Cate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: StudioBos Media
Published: 2020-04-16T04:00:00+00:00


ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE AND OTHER BODY WORK

Lindsay entered menopause at age 60, much later than most. Perimenopause can last up to 10 years, and sure enough, Lindsay’s hot flashes and many other symptoms started when she was 50. She is a life-long singer, with degrees in voice performance, and many years as a professional soloist and chorus member. She is also a voice teacher and mother of two.

She said that after having children, her soprano voice gained power and richness. In her 40s, she started working with a voice teacher again and studying Alexander Technique.

Alexander Technique is the practice of mindful learning and honoring the natural, balanced coordination and poise of the body in both movement and rest. It is a re-education; a training of the body towards a freer, dynamic body alignment and movement.[82] The practice releases muscles from unnecessary tension and over-work. It is very popular with musicians, dancers, and actors, among others. There are related health benefits, including lowered blood pressure, reduced neck and back pain, and improved balance.[83] For singers, if the voice is not functioning freely and efficiently, release of unhelpful tensions through the Alexander Technique can give impressive results. It may also help by lowering stress and performance anxiety.

One day, Lindsay got a surprise invitation to sing an important solo that included uncommonly high notes at the very top of her range. She had a little over a week to prepare. It was stressful to have such a short amount of time; her initial attempts were inhibited by vocal tension. Then she remembered that she could use her Alexander Technique training. Though Alexander Technique does not call itself a “magic fix,” Lindsay applied it to make optimizing adjustments in her legs and pelvis. This release translated immediately to free her upper range. It served her well for the performance.

Since then, Lindsay has gone deeply into Alexander training and uses it with her students. She says, “I cannot recommend Alexander Technique highly enough! It helps us disentangle stress and tension from the actual symptoms we may encounter with hormone and age changes. It really keeps your mind and your body connected. Because they are all connected. The way we think affects how we carry ourselves, whether we realize it or not. It’s not about saying ‘no’ to old, poor habits; it’s about saying ‘yes’ to the new, good ones.”

After this time of discovery, Lindsay experienced a period of significant disruption and family caregiving. After many years living in one city, where she was deeply involved in the musical community, her husband’s work transferred them to a different part of the country. At age 50, Lindsay had to start her professional and personal life over again. At the same time, her mother, who had Alzheimer’s, moved in with them. Her young adult children moved in as well.

After 10 years in her new community, Lindsay is now singing in choral groups and teaching voice to all ages. She shares that, “I’ve been singing alto in one of the choirs even though I’m a soprano.



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