Vocal Psychology

03/20/2020

😳🦠😩All your gigs cancelled?! Here’s what you can do:
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Wow...crazy times, huh?? For most working singers, the reality of our situation right now means: no gigs until at least the end of March.
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Well, now what??⠀
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In crisis mode, the question that always comes up for me is:

✨How can this be an opportunity?✨⠀
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The more threatening the situation, the more relevant this question is. ⠀
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So, now I ask you the same. ⠀
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Here are some ideas:⠀
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💰 NEW INCOME STREAMS⠀
Your bank account is probably gonna take a hit from this one... ouch 😕 But, take this as a wake up call. Can you set up new income streams for yourself? More recording gigs? Online concerts? Merchandise? Use your creativity to think of other ways to make money with your talent!⠀
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💪 HONE YOUR CRAFT⠀
Downtime can be a blessing in disguise. What are some challenges you have as a singer and performer, things you’d love to improve on? Still struggling with volume or high notes? Feel like your sound could be more pleasing? Your delivery could be more authentic and emotional? Now is the time to finetune your voice & performance!⠀
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🎨 TRY SOMETHING NEW⠀
How about writing that album you’ve been dreaming about? Teaching yourself how to produce your own vocals? Or even picking up something completely different, like painting? You’ve got some 'extra' time now, so make the most of it!⠀
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How can this be an opportunity for you? ⠀

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Let me know how you are doing, and if I can help in any way. Much love!! ❤️❤️❤️

01/07/2020

FROM SINGER TO PERFORMER: 4 mindset shifts

Singing for an audience is more than just...*singing* for an audience. ⠀

Your job as a performer is to create an 🔥experience🔥⠀

I want to share some mindset shifts we focus on in the Vocal Psychology program to help you become a more compelling & more mesmerizing performer:⠀

✨IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU, it’s about your audience⠀

—— If you focus all your energy on how *you* sound & look, you’re not building rapport with your listeners. Major game changer: Start making real eye contact and focus on making a genuine connection with the faces in the crowd.⠀

✨SING WITH YOUR WHOLE BODY, not just with your mouth⠀

—— No matter your motor skills, the audience can tell that you’re not giving it 100% if you’re not showing any body movement or facial expressions. I’m not saying you gotta roll on the floor like JLo (although you certainly can!), but pleeease show me that you’re feeling the music.⠀

✨TELL AN EMOTIONAL STORY, instead of going through the motions⠀

—— This is a tricky one, because most singers *think* they do this...until I start working with them 😂 (Ask my clients, I have a goosebump test that never fails) You gotta gotta GOT-TA connect to an authentic emotion and project that onto your audience... if you want them to feel something powerful. It’s actually quite simple, if you’re willing to show your vulnerable side. (Stay tuned, I’ll get into this in a later post)⠀

✨STOP WORRYING ABOUT MESSING UP, by focusing on what *really* matters...⠀

—— Again, your job is to create an experience! Your job is not to be the epitome of perfection. Even if you dooo make a ‘mistake’, learn to handle it with confidence & humor, and your audience will most likely love you even more! No one has ever made magic by ‘not making mistakes’...⠀

So there you have it! This is a great start to polishing your performance game 🤩⠀⠀

What helps you give it your all when you sing in public?

09/14/2019

My forever mood IS guilty pleasure songs!!!⠀
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👏 Africa - Toto⠀
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👏 Tearing up my heart - @nsync⠀
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👏 Never gonna give you up (oh yeah) - Rick Astley⠀
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👏 I wanna dance with somebody - Whitney Houston⠀
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👏 All I want for Xmas is you (also during summer) - @mariahcarey⠀
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How about you??⠀
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#guiltypleasure #eighties #nineties #mariahcarey #absolutequeen #questionoftheday

07/29/2019

☀️|| S U M M E R D E A L ||☀️⁠⠀
Are you looking for vocal coaching that ~really~ works? For YOU? Search no more, darling! I'm here to help 😊⁠⠀
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What is your main struggle on your vocal journey? 😬 Pitch control? High notes / low notes? Putting in genuine emotion? Volume issues? ⠀⁠⠀
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Whatever it is, we can overcome it together! 👯‍♀️⠀⁠⠀
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You might read this and think: ‘Yeah but I tried singing lessons before and they didn’t work for me...’ 🤔😞⠀⁠⠀
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That’s because no one actually worked with the SOURCE of your technical issue...⠀⁠⠀
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🌱 Lack of volume is often related to shyness (chest not open enough) and not enough groundedness (lower body support)⠀⁠⠀
🌱 Pitch control issues are often related to lack of focus and not reeeally being in the moment⠀⁠⠀
🌱 Range issues (high notes / low notes) are often related to breath control issues, which usually have something to do with trying tooo hard...pushing air out instead of finding your resonance and flow⠀⁠⠀
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Of course, every person is different! Your mind and body work in your own unique way... 😉 Want to find out the source of YOUR challenges and overcome them for once and for all?⠀⁠⠀
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***For the whole month of August, I'm offering intro-sessions for $25 (instead of $100). I call these Strategy Sessions, since we are going INNN! We analyze your singing voice, set goals and create a development plan for you. ⁠Online or face-to-face (Hollywood)⁠***⁠⠀
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Click link in bio for more info on how to work with me. Step by step we’ll get to your ideal voice! 💕⠀⁠⠀
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#motivation #summerdeals #onlinesinginglessons

06/26/2019

How good is my voice?

[NEW BLOG}

'One moment you think you’re pretty good, and the week after that, you hate your voice with a passion and are seriously considering moving to a Buddhist monastery and living in complete silence for the rest of your days.

No worries, my love! You are probably somewhere between Beyoncé and those adorable goats that sound like humans. What I’m trying to say is: There is a middle ground. And there ~is~ a way to know where you’re at.

So, let’s get started. We’re gonna take a closer look at your vocal skills by breaking down the situation. Are you ready to go deep?'

https://vocalpsychology.com/how-good-is-my-voice/

How good is my voice? Most of us have at least at ~some~ point stared at the ceiling, laying in bed awake at night: ‘Can I actually sing? Am I good enough? Oh no... I forgot to call Grandma. I wonder what I should wear tomorrow. Those new booties for sure. Which dress though? And seriously, how d

06/19/2019

I had the pleasure of working with the gorgeous Tania Christopher a while ago, helping her to bring out the power in her beautiful, soulful voice. And powerful she is! ⠀
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I'm so incredibly sad to share that she is terminally ill. She is fighting to reach her 27th birthday. Sometimes, life just isn't fair.⠀
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Please send her your love & prayers! Her last wish is to go to Italy with her family. Check this link (https://steuntania1.wordpress.com/) to read her story, and to help make her wish come true.⠀
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In her words: ‘Do what you have to do to find your own happiness, because tomorrow is not promised’

❤️❤️❤️⠀⠀
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06/17/2019

Hello, my darlings! I’ve been seeing some new faces & names around, so I think it’s time for a quick intro:
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My name is Maru. (Well, actually it’s Maruja Retana, which kinda sounds like Hakuna Matata but more complicated 😂) I’m half Dutch, half Costa Rican, and I moved to LA about 4 years ago. I used to work as a psychologist (in Holland), then I became a singer-songwriter, and these days I combine those 2 passions to help other singers! Together, we get their voices in the best shape ever, and I help them not only sing & perform with confidence, but also create the artist career of their dreams...⠀
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What else? Mmmmwell, here are 5 random fun facts about me:⠀
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👨‍👩‍👧 I’m married to Ross Palmer, and we have an adorable 10 month old daughter called Xoco (she’ll be a singer for sure, her first sound was ‘La!’)⠀
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💎 I have 2 small tattoos: a heart on my middle finger (for ‘forgiveness’) and a diamond on my ring finger (for ‘self-love’)⠀
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🐘 I love elephants! They’re just so sweet and smart and beautiful and magical. My dream is to get a pet elephant someday... just kidding, I’ll stick to cats, lol... Ooh, I love cats too!⠀
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🍕 I’m a terrible cook.... Godddd I wish I was a little more Nigella Lawson-y, but I just don’t have the patience! (I do really love haute cuisine, though...almost as much as I love pizza & donuts)⠀
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🎥 Currently binge-watching Black mirror, next is OA ⠀
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What are 5 random things about you?? I wanna get to know you better 🤗

04/09/2019

Any idea what surprise I have in store for you? 🤷‍♀️
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Hint: I’ll be answering a lotttt of your questions about singing & performing! 🤗
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#howtosing

04/09/2019

A warm welcome to my new & existing darlings! 💕 I have something fun coming for you guys!! Really hope you’ll like it 🤗
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In the meantime I would love to know about your goals. When you dream big...what do you see yourself doing?
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Writing and recording an album? Going on a national tour? Singing live with a band every week? Performing your latest single on Jimmy Fallon? ✨
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Let me know in the comments!
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#howtosing

04/09/2019

Laziness Does Not Exist

Great read!! I see this all the time with some of my sweet clients and friends: they beat themselves up for being 'lazy' about their music projects... and I always reply 'Laziness does not exist.'

"When a person fails to begin a project that they care about, it’s typically due to either a) anxiety about their attempts not being “good enough” or b) confusion about what the first steps of the task are. (...) People do not choose to fail or disappoint. No one wants to feel incapable, apathetic, or ineffective. If you look at a person’s action (or inaction) and see only laziness, you are missing key details. There is always an explanation. There are always barriers. Just because you can’t see them, or don’t view them as legitimate, doesn’t mean they’re not there. Look harder."

Psychological research is clear: when people procrastinate, there's usually a good reason

03/11/2019

Vocal Psychology's cover photo

12/31/2018

R E A D Y || Yaaasss, miss @gabriellarosie nailed it with this one! 🙌 What do you want to do this year? What gifts do you want to show the world? I can’t wait to see what you have in store! 🤗
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I don’t really believe in ‘new year, new me’... The original, authentic you is glorious, darling! Show me more of THAT 😍🙃💕
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#happynewyear

12/24/2018

G I F T C A R D || Looking for a last minute Christmas gift? 😩Don’t stress! I got you, darling! 💁‍♀️ Click the link in bio to purchase a gift card for one 60 minute vocal coaching (either online or in-person if your singing friend / family member can come to Hollywood). Now discounted from $50 to $20 👌💪
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This coaching is for first time students only! We’ll analyze our singer’s beautiful voice, do a bunch of really good exercises and go over goals and challenges. My goals is ALWAYS to have singers leave inspired, armed with some great new insights and tools...and a big smile on their face 😁 An awesome gift if I do say so myself! 🤪
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DM me for any questions
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🤶🎅🎄MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🎄🎅🤶
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PS I won’t tell Santa if you buy this gift card for yourself 😂🙊
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#lastminutegift

12/07/2018

Wow... some serious real talk in this video by Will Smith ✨🙌
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Most singers I meet are very concerned with: ‘does my audience like me?’ which is another version of ‘am I good enough?’ 🙇‍♀️
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What if we stopped being concerned about whether people love us enough, and started loving others more? 🥰 What if you looked into every person’s eyes that is listening to you sing, and you give them your real emotions? Not the pretty polished ones? (Scary, right?! 😱)
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As a singer, you help others by sharing your truth and letting them know: ‘You’re not the only one, I feel you...’ 💗
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Try it next time you perform. Magic guaranteed... ✨🙃💕
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#raiseyourvibration #willsmith #feelgoodfriday #howtosing #allaboutvoices #hotvocals #thegoodvoice #litvoices #omgvoices #instasinger #upcomingartist #independentartist #unsignedartist #youngartist #newartist

11/30/2018

Kindness. Sprinkle that sh*t everywhere! ✨ It always makes me so sad when my singers (especially when they’re in their teens) tell me about the nasty comments they receive on their social media 😞 I understand that only hurt people hurt people... but you can still choose differently. I’m sure you darlings all agree! That’s why I want to focus the whole month of December on ACTIVELY giving and spreading positivity 🤗 Who’s with me??
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#kindness #bethechange #raiseyourvibration #feelgoodfriday

11/26/2018

How was everyone’s Thanksgiving weekend? 🎉 I am extremely grateful for all of you, and that I get to share what I’ve learned about my favorite thing in the world: singing 🤗
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And while we’re on the subject: when you’re grateful for your voice, you actually sing better! 🤯 When you feel like there is something wrong with it, that you should change a lot...you create tension! 😩 And you know, darling, the process of learning and improving is really fun if you show up with patience and self-compassion 💕
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What are you grateful for?? (Voice related, or otherwise... 😊)
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#thanksgiving2018 #happythanksgiving #howtosing #allaboutvoices #hotvocals #thegoodvoice #litvoices #omgvoices #instasinger #upcomingartist #independentartist #unsignedartist #youngartist #newartist #kellyclarkson

11/16/2018

So proud of this woman!😭@marenamusic and I have been working together for about 2 years now, and WOW has she blossomed into a beautiful, confident, authentic artist who completely captivates you in every single performance 😍 Give her a follow and stay tuned for her next single ‘Flow’... (It’s so so so good 🤗🎉)
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#feelgoodfriday #flow

11/10/2018

Shyness? Throatiness? The feeling that you ‘just don’t have what it takes’? Let me know in the comments or DM me! 💕
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PS: Whatever it is, there IS a way to break through that ceiling and surprise yourself with how amazing your voice really is! Promise! 🤗
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#howtosing

11/02/2018

What questions about singing and performing would you like to have answered? ✨ ⠀
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What are you struggling with? 😩⠀
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What would make singing and performing feel goooooood? 🤗⠀
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#feelgoodfriday

10/31/2018

Happy Halloween!! 🎃👻✨ What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
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#happyhalloween

10/28/2018

As an artist, it can’t hurt to experiment! 👩‍🎤 Change up your genre, the way you decorate your lines, change up your look, and the way you move on stage.
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Only by being brave enough to try new things will you come closer to who YOU really are. And yes, people may have to get used to the ‘new you’...and might even hate it 😕 But imagine if Bruno Mars or Nicki Minaj or Madonna had been too concerned with what other have to say, and sticked with what is ‘normal’!
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So, if you dare...experiment, play and have fun until something clicks...✨
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PS: in this pic I was trying to get a light pink sheen over my blond hair...this is what happens if you get distracted and leave the color mask in too long 😂😂😂
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#sundayfunday #tb

10/27/2018

A smile makes EVERYONE sing better, automatically ☺️ Especially if it’s a genuine one... It changes your face shape, and makes your sounds resonate in a much more pleasing way. What made you smile today? 💕⠀
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#smile #saturdayvibes

10/26/2018

Dealing with anxiety? 😩 Where in your body do you feel it most?⠀
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The more control you have over your muscles, the better you’ll be able to sing... 🗣 because the more you can relax, the more you can actively engage the right muscles and keep your breathing under control.⠀
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Can’t ‘just relax’? What’s the reason for your anxiety? And what’s the reason behind that reason? 😉⠀
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For instance, your reason could be: stress about midterms. The reason behind your reason could be: I don’t believe I’ll pass, I’m so bad at tests 🙈⠀
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Or your reason could be: I’m worried about not getting enough followers/likes on my posts, I’m not growing fast enough on social media 😔The reason behind that reason could be: What if I’m not worthy of attention? What if I’m not a good enough singer to get actual fans?⠀
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A while ago, every time I left the house I would have this anxiety thought: Did I leave the stove on? What if my house burns down? 🔥😭 I would literally cut meetings short or not even leave the house at all because of this anxiety. Then I realized the reason behind my anxiety was: things were going so well for me, almost....TOO well! 🤔 Deep down I believed things never worked out for me. Sooner or later, something had to go horribly wrong in my life...👻⠀
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Once I started telling myself: ‘I deserve, expect and accept good things’, my anxiety was gone 🤗⠀
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Tell me what you are worried about! And what’s the reason behind your reason?⠀
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Illu: @justgirlproject⠀
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#fridayfeeling #feelgoodfriday #anxiety

10/26/2018

Life gets overwhelming! 😩 Lots of singers I know deal with anxiety and overthinking, as have I. That neverending to do list, the crazy high expectations and standards you hold for yourself, that nagging belief that things never really work out for you...you know what? They’re ALL constructs of the mind! 😳
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The beautiful thing about singing is: if you allow yourself to turn off your thoughts and just FEEL, you will not only sing better...you will also start to feel more relaxed! Singing then becomes a magical experience for your audience and for you ✨
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Vocal psychology is not therapy. We help singers perform better by offering holistic vocal coachings, including reprogramming of beliefs. You probably will feel better about yourself, but that’s just a lucky side effect 😉
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#faceyourfears