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Well I've discovered a much less known form of this self-delusional condition. In fact I've coined the name for this close cousin of Body Dysmorphia. I conjecture to say Voice Dysmorphia is even more widely experienced as the same distorted self-image but applied to one's own voice.

As a music teacher for over 15 years, most students are so severe in their assessment that it cripples them in one way or another. They are embarrassed, ashamed and anxoius to sing, all based on a false perception.

Most of the students I see love singing. That's why they show up for lessons week after week. But their voice dysmorphia causes them so much needless personal pain. It directly inhibits their ability to fully enjoy their voice.

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Many theorize that he did this to create a monopolization of the music industry. “By imposing this frequency, it herded populations into greater aggression, psychosocial agitation, and emotional distress predisposing people to physical illnesses and financial impositions profiting the agents, agencies, and companies engaged in the monopoly.” This is a quote by Leonard Horowitz, one of the most proliferated voicies on the subject.

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This is the magic of nature. Nature can restore us to our true identity, heal our shame, our blocks to our own voice. We are reminded of our creative nature, which is as natural to us as breathing. But many of us, most of us, have been blocked from this abilty. Whether it was trauma, poor education, or growing up in a world gone mad, we were disconnected with our natural voice.

But it's still there. We never loose it, even when it's neglected and forgotten.

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First of all, why 432hz? The global standard is 440Hz for A. Why mess with this accepted and uniform frequency for tuning. Isn't it more practical and modern so that musicans can travel anywhere and play in the same frequency?

I think Jonas Maluik says it best in his book 432hz; The Magic and Mystery of Sound and Music:

“A lot of the challenges and dis-ease human beings are facing today is a result of the fact that we are out of tune with the cosmos. We are supposed to live in harmony with our earth and universe, but somewhere along the way, we got lost; and now we are operating on our own frequency. One which is not in harmony with the music of the cosmos at all.”

I think this is well said, our own frequency indeed.

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My Friday Night Video tonight is one of my favorite Jazz Standards - Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered.

I learned this early days in Jazz School. It was because I could relate to feeling put under some kind of love spell (a bad one) and loosing self respect in pursuit of a man that was no good for me. See video for the lyrics…

I used the 2nd verse as empowerment for myself. And to focus my mind on forgiving those foolish mistakes I made in my 20's. It's such a good one to sing along to/ learn to play if you are finding yourself in a similar situation.

Speaking of mistakes - I'm often telling my students how mistakes are part of music. And in this recording, I make a BIG bobble. After many years out playing live, I typically can pivot from a wrong note with out loosing the beat. And in many cases, with out the audience even noticing.

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This week's video is a just a fun one. Jackson is a song I love and have loved playing with my partner. We threw it in at the end of a small live set at Dosey Doe's in Texas, and I decided it was the perfect song to accompany some recent Photos I took at a Classic Car Show. After last week's song Sex Wars, it is a continuation on the theme of the difficulties we face in pursuit of life Partners. This song is a good one to sing when you need to reignite the passion in your relationship. As well as dispel the disney programing of how relationships SHOULD be.

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And if you are not already tuned into your creativity, this is advocate using it in this pursuit. This Shadow Work is important beyond what we can conceive in our postage stamp consensus. But having my music and art as my vehicle driving it forward has grounded and stablized me in this world, enabling me to focus on it with out going off the deep end. I'm so thankful. So I want to gently suggest you listen to the calling of the holy Spirit, offering you a personalized, inspired path forward. I pray that you will find a creative pursuit that gives discipline and meaning to this deeply personal work that connects you to worlds beyond this one.

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Learning to love, learning to be in healthy relationship is far more difficult than most will admit. It's not something we learn in school, nor is it modeled in the media we absorb like sponges since our youth.

For most of us, it was not modeled in our families growing up either. Instead we learned patterns such as such as bullying, over passivity, venting and worse – abusive behavior – verbal, physical and even sexual.

In my 20's, I fell flat on my face in my first attempt at romantic partnership. I fell so hard that I was too afraid to try again for close to 20 years. The reason was me – I saw a side to myself I had never seen so clearly as when I was in that relationship - my temper, my moods, my lack of consistency – how could anyone live with all this? I couldn't barely stomach myself.

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I've created packages for any student interested in lessons - from Children and Teens, to Adults. Click below to find out more! Get in touch now for your free online 45min consultation. Never any obligation! It's just a discussion to find out about experience and goals. Then I can offer my insights and possible options for any musical journey.
For my former in-person students, it'd be great to just get caught up and hear some of your music. At the very least, the consultation can inspire your creativity and discipline.
So please contact me with interest and we'll set up your time today.

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Over the years, I've used a certain analogy So many times in my music lessons. Last week, when it came up with both students and then in conversation with a dear friend, I realized I wanted to write about it. By coincidence, I was editing this Video of Barry Kay and I singing you are my sunshine from a gig at Plainsboro Library last week. I love when life lines up in such obvious ways as to point me in the direction of where to focus my creativity each day, each week.

And it's this love and appreciation that I just felt that is the metaphorical sunshine I'm referring to when I talk about giving yourself sunshine to grow.

Just like plants, we need the sunlight to grow and expand.

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This is the magic of nature. Nature can restore us to our true identity. It can heal our shame, and dissolve the blocks to our creative voice - both metaphorically and physically. We are reminded of our creative nature, which is as natural to us as breathing. But many of us, actually most of us, have been blocked from this ability thru trauma, poor education, and growing up in a world gone mad.

But it's still there. We never loose it, even when it's neglected and forgotten.

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For many years, I’ve been quiet about my faith. I was raised Catholic, but just after confirmation, started exploring ALL other options. In college, I was surrounded by Evangelical Christians who displayed behavior 6.5 days of the week. Then for that Sunday morning, they were shined up and full of judgement for the rest of us. I spent my 20’s running as far away from Christianity as possible. I never wanted to be like those Sorority Girls who gave Jesus a bad name. But no matter what religion I researched, from Buddism to Atheism, they just weren’t it for me. I’m thankful I had the courage to seek, and ask questions, to learn and explore. This is what the 20’s is for, in my opinion.

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I wrote this song in 2017 after Hurricane Harvey finally made it's way up to New York City. I sat in a LES bar watching the rain, sick with guilt on how this very storm had ravaged my hometown. Back in Houston, most of my friends and family were dealing with devastating flooding and destruction of their homes. It was so strange to see falling so softly on NYC, as tame as a kitten by then.

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Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered am I… This was the title of the last episode of 'And Just Like That' (Sex and the City Reboot) and it made me think of this song instantly. Ironically, I never heard the song on the episode nor did I see the connection to the title, but like the plot of this reboot, filling in the blanks with my own imagination can provide some interesting insight.

I'll confess here first, that I LOVED Sex in the City back in the day. I watched the seasons as they came out, and then binge watched them for years after.

I was a single 20 something who was newly awakened to my artistic nature. Carrie Bradshaw was a hero who was making a living on her art in what seemed like the center of the Universe, New York City. Breaking the mold of step-ford wife was very real for me. This show offered a glimpse to another life.

I was living in Austin, working a corporate job, and dreaming of the day when I could paint, play music and write full time for a receptive audience. I am thankful to Carrie Bradshaw for helping me to inspire me to dream this dream.

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I first heard the idea of Infinite Patience from a Course in Miracles. I loved the idea instantly. Somehow, for an anxious person like me, it just worked like butter to calm my nerves. It set my mind in a different place. Rather than setting goal posts which I continually failed, and berated myself for failing, instead it was a quiet confidence that I would reach the goal, even if it took 9 lifetimes. What is time to an infinite universe? What is time to our souls?

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