My mom makes meat

"What the ? Has she lost her mind?"

"Oh no. That's just Carla practicing her vocal exercises! She sure sounds goofy!"

True story. I have about 10 phrases that I've been working with (we're not up to full sentences yet), and they all start with the letter "m" or "n." I'm supposed to be practicing the list 5 times a day. In all honesty, I practice about as much as I practiced piano when I was a kid...when I felt like it! With the piano lessons, you could tell. I never became a virtuoso, but I dabble around still. And I'm realizing ... it's working the same with the voice. I REALLY have to pratice to get it right, as yesterday's vocal therapy session was just so-so.

Slow down. Open your mouth when you talk. Breathe! Don't punch out your words.

I'm working on all of these! Here's the good news. In voice therapy, there are exercises, then there's the small talk before and after the session with the doctor. During small talk, she said I was doing MUCH better, and that she noticed much less strain in my voice. It's starting to work!

I also saw Dr. Amin while I was at NYU. Another scope in the nose (yuck). We're happy to report that I'm at 98% ... well ahead of schedule. And I don't have to go back for another 6 months (which is too bad, because I really like having that laryngoscope stuck through my nostril) barring any issues between now and then.

And I agree. Things seem to be working just perfectly. I survived my first couple of teaching gigs and I am being much more cautious about how and when I use my voice.

Enough blogging...I have to practice my phrases...

"My mom makes meat."