Tag Archives: Vocal freedom

Presidential

Posted on November 5, 2024 | Leave a comment

It’s not an easy task to be presidential
You have to unmask your highest potential

A potential that soars, untouched by greed
A potential that scores when it meets a need
A need to fulfill the will of a nation
To balance the cost of a global inflation
To rectify errors of governments past
To build a foundation that’s made to last
To humbly do what is required
To seek to inspire, not to be admired

It’s not an easy task to be presidential
You have to unmask your highest potential

To be presidential is hard work, indeed
It requires of you to relinquish all greed
To spend all of your time and all of your ease
In service of justice, democracy and peace
It requires that you read the news
It requires that you speak the truth
It requires compassion, diplomacy and grace
It requires a language that unites us in the face
Of war and famine and terror and fear
The loss of the lives that we hold so dear

To be presidential requires maturity
A higher perspective beyond personal security
It requires a soul both humble and bold
Someone courageous beyond the outrageous
It requires a heart that have learned it’s lessons
Enough to step aside from ego possessions
An ability to soothe where the fire rages higher
Than any amount of gold can acquire
A soothing that comes from unbuilding the wall
Where nothing else matters, but the good of all

I wrote this song to inspire people to vote. And I hope it can inspire more of us to rise up and use our voices and to really strive to be the best that we can be for and with each other.

If you click on the picture below, you can hear and see the music video I created for the song and sing along if you like.

Musically Yours,
Caroline

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Posted in Self Confidence

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Vocal Empowerment & So Much More

Posted on May 7, 2024 | Leave a comment

People often ask me to describe what I do, since the terms “Vocal Freedom Camp” and “Journey to Vocal Freedom” can mean many things. But since what I do is comprised of so many different elements, I try to focus my answer on what clients achieve as a result of working with me.

“I have so much more ease and comfort in my performance”
“I can finally sing out loud and not worry about what other people think”
“My throat no longer hurts when I sing and I have so much more stamina”
“My writers block is completely gone!”
“I have so much more confidence and am no longer afraid to speak my truth”
“I have given my inner child a voice and she is giving me so much joy”

So what is it that I offer, specifically, that makes all of this possible?

As a platinum recording artist with a massive International track record as a film-, TV- and stage performer, composer, writer and producer, I offer inspiration, experise and a giant arsenal of helpful tools for creative fulfillment.

As an award winning Vocal Coach with more than thirty years of experience, I work with people from all walks of life, including professional singers, actors, speakers, writers, teachers, coaches, therapists, nurses, – the list goes on… and trauma survivors.

As a recommended and accredited Journey Therapist, I offer deeply transformational processes that helps people identify, process and release the core emotional root cause of a current issue.

My life long work as an Intuitive Healer with certifications in multiple modalities, such as Energy Active Craniosacral Therapy, Reiki, Matrix Energetix, Hypotherapy and Thai-, Swedish-, Esalen-, Lomi Lomi Massage Therapy, enables me to offer additional support for the body, voice and mind.

All things considered, you can say that I am a Life Transformation Coach, using voice, breath, movement and mind techniques to help people express themselves with greater ease, joy and freedom.

On that note, I am super excited to offer a Vocal Freedom Camp LIVE seminar as a weekend retreat in Villa Drottninggatan in Sweden May 24-26. This seminar is imited to 10 participants. Room and board is included in the price. More info and registration via www.journeytovocalfreedom.com

I would of course love to see you! Let me know your questions and how I can be of service to YOU.

Musically Yours,
Caroline



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Posted in Self Confidence

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From Ella Fitzgerald to Vocal Freedom

Posted on March 29, 2024 | Leave a comment

Ella Fitzgerald was one of my favorite role models in singing, as I would dance around the living room to her records, and sing and scat my little heart out.

My dad got to play with her in the 60s, before I was born. And I got to meet and talk with her in person after an amazing concert she did at Oslo Concert Hall in 1978 with the Count Basie’s Orchestra.

Here she is, scatting up a storm, like only Ella can do.

Ella Fitzgerald is the most amazing live artist I have ever seen and heard. She could do a three hour concert, fully engaged, dancing, scatting, singing and grooving, without a break and without missing a beat. The freedom, joy and ease of her being was contagious. I was so inspired after seeing her that I would sing and dance for hours. And, even to this day, my heart comes alive when I hear her sing.

Inspired by legendary musical artists, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Streisand, Al Jarreau, Annie Lennox, Nina Hagen, Singers Unlimited, The Manhattan Transfer, Bonnie Raitt and Whitney Houston, to mention a few, I have strived to learn all that I can to empower, strengthen and liberate my own voice and being. And after a lifetime of performing, as well as being mentored by some of the worlds greatest voice teachers, I am thrilled that I get to share my new coaching program Journey to Vocal Freedom with y’all. In this program I offer my services, both as a musical artist, vocal coach and Journey therapist.

If you are curious to learn more, – if you want to learn some of the tools and techniques that have helped me and many others achieve greater ease, joy and freedom of expression, you can sign up for a FREE webinar with me😃

The next FREE Journey to Vocal Freedom WEBINAR dates are:

Wednesday April 3rd at 09:00CET/ 7PM AEDT/ 12AM PST
Wednesday April 3rd at 19:00 CET/ 9AM PST/ 12PM EST
Wednesday April 10th at 09:00 CET/ 7PM AEDT/ 12AM PST
Wednesday April 10th at 19:00 CET/ 9AM PST/ 12PM EST

Email me at voice@carolinewaters.com with you preferred date and time and I will shoot you a Zoom link.

Musically Yours,
Caroline

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The Power of Silence

Posted on July 20, 2023 | Leave a comment

Growing up with three much older siblings and parents with tremendous verbal and vocal ability, I learned to speak up, as well as, sing so I could reach the farthest end of the theatre.

I got so good at being heard that I was able to sing without a microphone, in front of a forty-piece orchestra to an outdoor audience of thousands, and be heard.

Then I met Sue Raney. Yes, the legendary Jazz Hall of Fame singer, Sue Raney. She became my mentor in vocal performance while I was studying at the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles.

One of the first things she said to me was, “I would love to hear you sing at no more than 10-20% of your capacity. And I would love for you to take time to pause after a phrasing. And I would love to see you sustain that pause, in silence, as you energetically reach out and stay present with the audience and allow the them to receive the message you just gave them.”

Sue Raney taught me the art and power of silence, of allowing extended pauses, of taking the voice down to a whisper while still holding the energy of being fully present and engaged. She taught me to hold an end note, perfectly still and then add vibrato for only the conclusion of it.

In her teaching and by the example of her brilliant performance, she helped me connect my voice and my song with the very core of my being. Sue Raney taught me to sing from my heart and soul.

Here she is, performing one of my favorite songs, I’ll See You In My Dreams, written by Isham Jones and Gus Kahn. Just click on the image and it’ll take you there.

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Posted in Communication, Expansion of Consciousness, Vocal freedom

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Vocal Freedom Testimonial by Julia Othmer

Posted on January 11, 2022 | 4 comments

I was so deeply moved and honoured to receive such a heartfelt testimonial from beautiful and brilliant singer/ songwriter and pianist, Julia Othmer, that I had to share with all of you. To see and hear the amazing video she recorded, which includes some of her amazing performance, please click on the link below the photo. Love Always, Caroline

“Hello my name is Julia Othmer and I have been a student of Caroline Waters for almost two years now. And in that time I have seen a huge transformation in my voice. I cannot recommend Caroline highly enough. I’ve had an expansion of my range in both the top and bottom end. I have so much more ease when I’m performing. I’m so much more relaxed. 

Within the notes that I do have I also have a much broader palate of textures and colours at the various points of my voice that allow me to have a greater range of expression. And Caroline as a teacher is phenomenal. She’s very conscious and conscientious in the way that she speaks. She listens very deeply. Very much responding to your request as a singer as to what you would like your voice to transform into. 

You know, in the past, I would sing my heart out. And I wouldn’t know if I would have a voice the next day. I often was fatigued and it hurt to sing. And since I’ve been studying with Caroline all of that have just completely shifted. I can still hit these huge notes, well, even bigger notes than normal. And it feels really good. And I’m pretty positive I’m going to have a full voice the next day and the next day and the next. 

The stamina that I’ve been able to accrue has been fantastic. It has all been so incredibly liberating to me. Just to have so much more ease and comfort and be som much more relaxed in singing. Something that always has this kind of intensity to it. The intensity now is coming purely from the emotion. Nothing from the technical aspect if it. 

And, you know, the greatest gift in life is to be able to have an amazing teacher. And I am 100% sure of Caroline being exactly that. And I have tremendous gratitude that I get to be her student. So, sign up for some lessons!”

Click HERE to see and hear Julia Othmer’s Vocal Freedom Testimonial video.

For more information, go to www.carolinewaters.com/vocal-freedom

To schedule your session(s), send an email to voice@carolinewaters.com

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Posted in Self Confidence

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From Paralyzed to Energized

Posted on May 12, 2018 | Leave a comment
I admit it. I am petrified. Frozen with fear. Emotionally locked inside a deep darkness. The big fat void of avoidance, of all things postponed, is now staring me down to the ground. I am, literally, chained to the floor of my internal torture chamber, as the poisonous venom of guilt, shame and feeling inadequate works its way through my veins.
 
These are powerful feelings and I allow them all. “Bring it on!” I say, as I close my eyes and prepare for death, still unable to move or even brace for the impact. And as I allow the waves of distain, of self loathing and blame, of hatred and shame to wash right through me, to the very core… As I allow this nuclear explosion, this unhinged train, this blow torch, this torrential rain, to have its way with me, I am strangely okay.
 
“How is it possible,” I ask, “to feel okay in the middle of my very own, personal, Armageddon?” At the moment of asking, I don’t know the answer. I don’t have to. It is what it is and I accept it as is. I’ve paid my dues. I no longer need to prove myself, not even to myself. And herein lies the answer to my quest. I no longer need to prove a thing, not even to myself. From this statement alone, another revelation is born: When we surrender the ego, all ego-related feelings, such as guilt and shame and feeling inadequate, automatically falls away.
 
In the ten minutes it took me to write this, I have moved from feeling completely paralyzed to feeling completely energized. This, to me, is the power of surrender, of being totally present in the moment, in the body, letting whatever emotions are there be fully felt and pass through unobstructed, without trying to deny it, fix it, explain it or change it.
 
Bring it on and enjoy your day!

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Posted in A Call To Action, Communication, Creativity, Expansion of Consciousness, Getting out of denial, Healing, Liberation, Life and Career, Self Awareness, Self Confidence, Self Empowerment, Tools for overcoming depression

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3 Keys to Communicating With Ease

Posted on October 24, 2017 | Leave a comment

Have you ever experienced feeling like you expressed yourself with such immaculate clarity, but for some bizarre reason, most of your intended communication got lost in translation? I have. Many times. In fact, over and over. It’s really frustrating.

So, here’s the deal: We receive 400 billion pieces of information every second. Of these 400 billion pieces, only 2000 gets delivered to our conscious mind via our brain’s filtering system. And, this filtering system is continuously formed by our emotional experiences, which of course varies greatly from person to person, depending on our DNA, our upbringing and our surroundings at any given time.

This explains why we perceive things so differently and why we can experience the same event, but observe completely different aspects of it and thus tend to give entirely different accounts when we reiterate said event.

Seeing and hearing and feeling things so differently from one another can make it difficult to communicate. Here are my three keys to making it easier:

1 – Listen with the intention to learn where the other person is coming from and how they experience what they experience. Ask them to clarify if anything is unclear.

2 – Resist the urge to offer an opinion, unless specifically asked. And, even then, I often find it more useful to ask more questions so that the other person can arrive at their own understanding first.

3 – Let new information sink in before jumping to conclusions. Recognizing that we are only perceiving a small part of the whole picture at any given moment opens the door to more playful, curious and exploratory communication. When we resist the urge to judge, we open for the possibility to expand our vision. This, in turn, expands our ability to collaborate and co-create.

For those of you who are interested, I am designing new Vocal Freedom seminars that include fun and empowering processes for expanding our self awareness and enhancing our communication skills. This, in addition, of course, to finding, freeing and exquisitely  expressing our voices.

If you want me to stop by your town for a Vocal Freedom Seminar and/ or House Concert or to give a concert at your favorite venue, feel free to shoot me an email. Many choose to book a seminar/ concert as a one- or two-day event.

Email booking@redheadrecords.com with any questions or booking inquiries.

Vocal Freedom via SKYPE/ FaceTime is also an option.

Musically Yours,
Caroline

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Posted in A Call To Action, Communication, Expansion of Consciousness, Self Awareness, Self Confidence, Self Empowerment, Sivilized Debate, Vocal freedom

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Angels, Bandits and the Power of YES

Posted on May 25, 2015 | Leave a comment

Amazing things happen when we open to receive the good that abounds. Last summer, I said YES to perform at a music festival in Brønnøysund. It took three days to drive there with my sweetheart in a super cool electric Nissan Leaf and three days to drive back, across the beautiful mountains of Norway. And, as I thoroughly enjoyed the whole festival experience and appreciated all the aspects of the journey, I received another proposal. A group of extraordinary women musicians asked if I wanted to join them in a band. Again, I said YES.

Engla & Banditta

Our band name is Engla & Banditta, which in English means Angels and Bandits. The name itself is significant for many reasons. In addition to our music being incredibly expressive, deep, joyous and diverse, ranging from Bluesy Rock to Jazzy Pop, we have a fierce social engagement and a soft spot for the underdog.

Banjo- and guitar playing Tove Bøygard, who sings in real Halling, is improving the lives of drug addicts and prostitutes as a social worker. Bass- and castanet playing Venja Ruud Nilsen and sax tooting Bente Mari Mortensen are improving the lives of women prisoners as music therapists. Swedish singer/songwriter and electric guitar player Sara Andersson teaches and performs with extraordinary depth and compassion. Legendary drummer Metch Johannessen fights for the downtrodden with every beat of her heart and drum. And I, in addition to sharing my own personal story of overcoming adversary in Finding Venus, give seminars and teach Vocal Freedom for anyone and everyone who wants to heal from post-traumatic stress, find/ strengthen their voice and let their heart sing with no holds barred.

Engla & Banditta in Action

Engla & Banditta recently completed our first concert series, with performances at Iris Scene in Odda, Bredtveit Women’s Prison and Herr Nilsen in Oslo, Norway. The audience response has been amazing and we are now getting ready for a delicious summer of joyous expression in both Norway and Sweden.

If you would like to book us for your event, party, club, stage, TV or radio program, let us know via booking@englaogbanditta.com. Chances are, if schedules allow and the price is right, we’ll say YES!

Click HERE for a video teaser from one of our shows in Oslo!

Musically Yours,
Caroline Waters

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Posted in Caroline's Concerts, Communication, Concerts, Creativity, Expansion of Consciousness, Feel Good Music, Healing, Liberation, Party Music, Self Empowerment, Vocal freedom

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Letting Go

Posted on February 18, 2014 | 2 comments

It’s not easy to let go. Not for people like me. I am so practiced at fixing things, maintaining equilibrium no matter what, taking the higher road and reaching for the good in everyone and everything. These are useful habits, but sometimes they keep us at bay.

Sometimes anger is good, as it propel us forward and help us take action. I have found it extremely helpful to acknowledge the contrasts that clarify my desire. Accepting people, things and events for whom and what they are, without trying to fix, change, belittle or make excuses for them, can release a tremendous amount of energy, – energy that is otherwise bound up in denial or repression.

I have found that, when I allow this anger or dismay to simply be what it is, an uncomfortable feeling, a gage, if you will, that helps clarify my preferences… When I allow this feeling without resistance, it changes form quite quickly. Resisting my feelings, resisting change is what causes me to feel pain. When I let myself go with the flow and allow the gage that is my emotional meter to simply clarify my objective, I can rise to my own occasion with surprising speed and elegance.

This year is a year of tremendous change for me, personally and professionally. I am letting go, physically and emotionally, of people, places and things that have held me at bay. And in doing so, I am stepping up to my own plate in a way I have never done before. By letting go of that which no longer serves my creative vision I am opening my heart and soul to new dimensions of being. It’s very exciting!

The most effective way for me to let go of people, places and things are by acknowledging the awesome gift of their being in my life. I am eternally grateful for each and every experience that has led me to this place in time. No matter how joyous or sad, not matter how pleasurable or painful. Each contrasting experience have served to clarify my vision and enhanced my dream building.

As I mentioned in the beginning of this blog post, it is not easy for people like me to let go. As a matter of fact, it has taken me half a lifetime to get to this point of feeling okay with it. But I can tell you this much. The joy I am feeling at the core of my being as a result of my resolution to let go of the old and embrace the new is beyond words. I highly recommend it!

Here’s to celebrating the Now, by fearlessly releasing the ghosts of the past and embracing what is to come with no holds bar!

Love, Blessings and Cheers from Caroline

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Posted in Codependant no more, Communication, Creativity, Expansion of Consciousness, Getting out of denial, Healing, Liberation, Life and Career, Self Awareness, Self Confidence, Self Empowerment, Tools for overcoming depression, Vocal freedom

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3 Keys to Vocal Freedom

Posted on October 14, 2013 | Leave a comment

Have you ever felt like you’re on the verge of doom and that you don’t know how to move forward? Have you ever felt trapped in your own mind because you feel as if you are stuck between impossible choices?

I go through periods when these kinds of feelings are prominent. And when I stop to analyze the situation, I realize the feeling of doom is usually exaggerated and not a realistic response to my actual predicament. But it is often serious enough to warrant some major changes in the way I go abut my life or business.

The key, when I am faced with indecision, of not knowing what to do next, is to stay calm, breathe, make sure my body is properly nurtured and then proceed with activities that move me into a better feeling place.

When we build habits based on activities that put us in a better feeling place, solutions will present themselves in a more organic fashion. The following habits are my personal keys to freedom from mind bondage and indecision:

1. Make sure you get enough oxygen flowing through your system by doing yoga, breathing meditations, walking, running, jumping or dancing on a daily basis.

2. Make sure you are properly watered and nurtured with organically grown whole foods that are alkaline and life affirming on a daily basis.

3. Make sure you have an outlet for thoughts, feelings and ideas by journaling, conversing, songwriting, creating art, speaking or singing on a daily basis.

Vocal Freedom in Santa Monica
For the next five mornings, I will be teaching Vocal Freedom on the beach in Santa Monica. Feel free to join us if you’d like to walk with the dolphins, free your expression, strengthen your voice and sing your life into a more powerful and joyous existence. I will walk with you every step of the way.

Vocal Freedom in Culver City
You are also welcome to join us next Saturday, as I’ll be teaching a one-day Vocal Freedom Intensive seminar at Redhead Records Studio in Culver City.

Registration and more info at www.carolinewaters.com/seminars.php 

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Posted in Creativity, Life and Career, Self Confidence, Self Empowerment, Songwriting, Tools for overcoming depression, Vocal freedom

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