Just wanted to reiterate: because every body is different, these won't work for everyone! I am not the arbiter of what's good in your body - you are! 💖 Sending out love to you all for watching! :) Also, a note: if you did experience not being allowed back into the industry after taking a break, I'd love to hear about that! What I'm talking about are those so-called mentors who can sometimes try to scare us into never taking breaks by telling us the industry will definitely-for-sure punish us for those breaks. THOSE are big ol' lies.
EDS violinist here & glad I found your channel! I’ve been bringing a wheelchair or scooter to rehearsals, concerts and gigs for almost a year now. (And making great friends with the people with large instruments who have to use the loading dock to get to the stage!) I use a one-armed custom chair for violin playing due to a stroke that affected my left arm. My hips are also almost completely dislocated now and I’m losing the ability to walk. It’s been a huge struggle overall, but I’m getting stronger thanks to physical therapy and knowing my limits. You’re right that explanations are not required. At first I was very apologetic about the logistics part and kept trying to gauge whether a wheelchair would be “okay,” etc (let’s be honest, it isn’t always, because sometimes ableist people think mobility aids aren’t attractive in a performance), but now if it’s a new gig and I’ve already scoped it out, I just show up like, “Hello! Yep, bet you didn’t know I was disabled; anyway, let’s make music!” 😁 Over time, classical music has come to accept queerness-because there are actually a lot of us. Now it needs to come to accept disability-because there are actually a lot of us.
I haven't been trained or anything, but I found I'm a contralto, based on the lowest note I can hit, but I also can hit really high notes, and I figured it had to do with my hypermobility. I know strengthening your muscles is so important, and I don't exercise anymore, which is why I'm in tons of pain all the time 😒 the problem is, I feel like I can't stretch properly because my joints go too far..so it seems like my muscles don't get a full stretch. When I try strength training, my joints start hurting 😑 it's quite challenging 😔
I'm honestly so impressed by this. And some (if not most) of these tips also apply to non-opera singers :D (I don't have NEARLY the skill that opera singers do... High key I have so much respect for you. That is DIFFICULT. Mad props.)
Thank you so much! Opera is super physical, but I totally agree that these things apply to pretty much anything that we could do that might challenge EDS bodies!
Just found your channel. Loving your content! I have HEDS. I was in glee club, showchoir and madrigal in high school & college and was an alto/second alto. Then I had several years or severe illness where I stopped singing and now I can't sing like I used to. Any tips on how to regain my voice? Thanks!
Hi! :) Thank you so much! Let's see if I can help. :) If you're able, the ideal situation is always finding a voice teacher you like who is curious, creative, and respectful of your body's limitations and who can help you with an outside ear, so you and that teacher can work as a team to re-build - you from within, feeling what's happening and what your body can do, and them from without, guiding the work. I have a student right now where we're doing something very like that. But that's not in the cards for most people - even for those for whom it's financially available, not everyone really wants to try it - so when you're alone, I recommend starting gently, doing gentle vocal exercises at a piano to feel out where the holes are, and then start at the beginning, reminding the body of posture and breath systems first. I think the key thing to me is being patient and kind with yourself - it can be tempting to compare the voice as it is to what it was before, but that was then and this is now and things have changed, right? You may not be able to sing with the power or range that you used to, but that's okay. Bit by bit. If you do decide to start feeling out your voice again, and have any specific questions that arise when you do it, I'm happy to answer those, too. :) Best of luck, if you choose to try it out again!
1 in 500. The same average as Finnish people who play in a Metal band. Thank you for yet another informative video!
I told my partner this stat about Finns in metal bands and he was surprised it wasn't higher. xD Thanks so much!
Just wanted to reiterate: because every body is different, these won't work for everyone! I am not the arbiter of what's good in your body - you are! 💖 Sending out love to you all for watching! :) Also, a note: if you did experience not being allowed back into the industry after taking a break, I'd love to hear about that! What I'm talking about are those so-called mentors who can sometimes try to scare us into never taking breaks by telling us the industry will definitely-for-sure punish us for those breaks. THOSE are big ol' lies.
As an EDS singer and piano player, I'm loving that I found your channel!
EDS violinist here & glad I found your channel! I’ve been bringing a wheelchair or scooter to rehearsals, concerts and gigs for almost a year now. (And making great friends with the people with large instruments who have to use the loading dock to get to the stage!)
I use a one-armed custom chair for violin playing due to a stroke that affected my left arm. My hips are also almost completely dislocated now and I’m losing the ability to walk. It’s been a huge struggle overall, but I’m getting stronger thanks to physical therapy and knowing my limits.
You’re right that explanations are not required. At first I was very apologetic about the logistics part and kept trying to gauge whether a wheelchair would be “okay,” etc (let’s be honest, it isn’t always, because sometimes ableist people think mobility aids aren’t attractive in a performance), but now if it’s a new gig and I’ve already scoped it out, I just show up like, “Hello! Yep, bet you didn’t know I was disabled; anyway, let’s make music!” 😁
Over time, classical music has come to accept queerness-because there are actually a lot of us. Now it needs to come to accept disability-because there are actually a lot of us.
This video is SO important and super helpful. Thank you! Also, lol the Teen Wolf call out
Thank you!
thank you for this video!
Very interesting, thank you! ❤
I haven't been trained or anything, but I found I'm a contralto, based on the lowest note I can hit, but I also can hit really high notes, and I figured it had to do with my hypermobility. I know strengthening your muscles is so important, and I don't exercise anymore, which is why I'm in tons of pain all the time 😒 the problem is, I feel like I can't stretch properly because my joints go too far..so it seems like my muscles don't get a full stretch. When I try strength training, my joints start hurting 😑 it's quite challenging 😔
This video is EXCELLENT and INFORMATIVE and also gave me several sorely necessary giggles. Thank you. 💗
Thank you so much! Information + giggles is my ultimate goal with this channel, tbh! 💗
I'm honestly so impressed by this. And some (if not most) of these tips also apply to non-opera singers :D
(I don't have NEARLY the skill that opera singers do... High key I have so much respect for you. That is DIFFICULT. Mad props.)
Thank you so much! Opera is super physical, but I totally agree that these things apply to pretty much anything that we could do that might challenge EDS bodies!
@@robinhahnsopran oh you know what? I said that in a very weird way.
I meant singers who sing things other than opera 😁
New supporter I watched all and liked
Thank you so much! :)
Mp
Just found your channel. Loving your content! I have HEDS. I was in glee club, showchoir and madrigal in high school & college and was an alto/second alto. Then I had several years or severe illness where I stopped singing and now I can't sing like I used to. Any tips on how to regain my voice? Thanks!
Hi! :) Thank you so much! Let's see if I can help. :)
If you're able, the ideal situation is always finding a voice teacher you like who is curious, creative, and respectful of your body's limitations and who can help you with an outside ear, so you and that teacher can work as a team to re-build - you from within, feeling what's happening and what your body can do, and them from without, guiding the work. I have a student right now where we're doing something very like that. But that's not in the cards for most people - even for those for whom it's financially available, not everyone really wants to try it - so when you're alone, I recommend starting gently, doing gentle vocal exercises at a piano to feel out where the holes are, and then start at the beginning, reminding the body of posture and breath systems first.
I think the key thing to me is being patient and kind with yourself - it can be tempting to compare the voice as it is to what it was before, but that was then and this is now and things have changed, right? You may not be able to sing with the power or range that you used to, but that's okay. Bit by bit.
If you do decide to start feeling out your voice again, and have any specific questions that arise when you do it, I'm happy to answer those, too. :) Best of luck, if you choose to try it out again!
Let's play "count all the mobility aids"!
The best game! :P
💜
💜💜 Thank you for the support!