Dr. Benjamin Asher on how the psycho-emotional state of singers can keep them stuck, trauma, grief, fear, stage fright, self-sabotage, abusive teachers, and finding your true “Why”
05/25/22 • 57 min
Today’s guest is Dr. Benjamin Asher a New York based, board-certified Otolaryngologist - Head and Neck Surgeon.
In addition to being a highly- regarded conventional physician and exceptional diagnostician, he has been at the forefront of applying alternative methods to Ear, nose, and throat disorders since the beginning of his medical career over thirty years ago.
Dr. Asher’s conventional training includes the University of Iowa which is the preeminent Otolaryngology residency in America, where he was selected to serve as Chief Resident. Harvard Medical School, where he completed a fellowship in Pediatric ENT. He has served on the faculty of Harvard, Washington University, and Dartmouth medical schools.
His study of complementary healing modalities includes cranial osteopathy, hypnosis, myofascial therapy, the Feldenkrais Method, the Alexander Technique, and various energy medicine modalities. Dr. Asher works in cooperation with acupuncturists, chiropractors, and somatic healers as well as Ayurvedic, homeopathic, and naturopathic physicians.
Dr. Asher is credited as the physician who discovered that boosting Glutathione, a substance naturally produced by the body, had a profoundly positive impact on the voice and could often be used in place of steroids or vocal cord surgery.
His unique ability and steadfast desire to protect performers from the harsh, long-term side effects of conventional medical approaches have made him a valued team member for numerous theatrical, concert, film, and television performers. He has served as house physician for the New York City Opera and the New York City Ballet.
In our discussion today we talk about how western medicine is not all that great for treating chronic illness and how understanding people from the level of spirit and looking at the bigger picture is a foundation for how Dr.Asher works with people.
We talk about how psycho-emotional issues such as grief and trauma keep performers stuck. Self-sabotage, and the inability to move forward with one's career. We discuss wrongly diagnosed acid reflux and how antacids can have bad long-term health implications. How the process of singing and learning voice can be traumatizing because of abusive teachers and how fear and stage fright can develop because of it and why listening to your inner voice and knowing your “why” is crucial in the performing arts and so much more.
Connect with Dr. Benjamin Asher:
Links to resources mentioned:- “The undiscovered self” by Carl Jung
- “The body keeps the score” by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
- Immune boosting supplement: “Immunokinoko”
- Dr. Gallands TLC: Black Cumin seed oil
- Trauma Therapy: EMDR, Somatic Experiencing based on the work of Peter Levine, Hakomi
Today’s guest is Dr. Benjamin Asher a New York based, board-certified Otolaryngologist - Head and Neck Surgeon.
In addition to being a highly- regarded conventional physician and exceptional diagnostician, he has been at the forefront of applying alternative methods to Ear, nose, and throat disorders since the beginning of his medical career over thirty years ago.
Dr. Asher’s conventional training includes the University of Iowa which is the preeminent Otolaryngology residency in America, where he was selected to serve as Chief Resident. Harvard Medical School, where he completed a fellowship in Pediatric ENT. He has served on the faculty of Harvard, Washington University, and Dartmouth medical schools.
His study of complementary healing modalities includes cranial osteopathy, hypnosis, myofascial therapy, the Feldenkrais Method, the Alexander Technique, and various energy medicine modalities. Dr. Asher works in cooperation with acupuncturists, chiropractors, and somatic healers as well as Ayurvedic, homeopathic, and naturopathic physicians.
Dr. Asher is credited as the physician who discovered that boosting Glutathione, a substance naturally produced by the body, had a profoundly positive impact on the voice and could often be used in place of steroids or vocal cord surgery.
His unique ability and steadfast desire to protect performers from the harsh, long-term side effects of conventional medical approaches have made him a valued team member for numerous theatrical, concert, film, and television performers. He has served as house physician for the New York City Opera and the New York City Ballet.
In our discussion today we talk about how western medicine is not all that great for treating chronic illness and how understanding people from the level of spirit and looking at the bigger picture is a foundation for how Dr.Asher works with people.
We talk about how psycho-emotional issues such as grief and trauma keep performers stuck. Self-sabotage, and the inability to move forward with one's career. We discuss wrongly diagnosed acid reflux and how antacids can have bad long-term health implications. How the process of singing and learning voice can be traumatizing because of abusive teachers and how fear and stage fright can develop because of it and why listening to your inner voice and knowing your “why” is crucial in the performing arts and so much more.
Connect with Dr. Benjamin Asher:
Links to resources mentioned:- “The undiscovered self” by Carl Jung
- “The body keeps the score” by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
- Immune boosting supplement: “Immunokinoko”
- Dr. Gallands TLC: Black Cumin seed oil
- Trauma Therapy: EMDR, Somatic Experiencing based on the work of Peter Levine, Hakomi
Previous Episode
David Jones voice teacher and vocal pedagogue on collaborative teaching, what determines a voice type and diagnosing Fach, the psychology of teaching, connecting mind and body and voice trauma.
Today’s guest and my very first guest on the Thriving singer podcast is non-other than the great David Jones, who has developed an international career as an author, vocal pedagogue, teacher of singers, and teachers in Europe and the U.S. David is celebrating 50 successful years of teaching the fall of 2022
He has trained singers performing at opera houses and festivals such as the New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Berlin Staatsoper, Vienna Staatsoper, Opera North U.K. the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, the Glyndebourne Opera Festival, Salzburg Festival, and L’Opera Bastille in Paris.
David Jones is a graduate of Texas Christian University with graduate research at the University of North Texas. Having also researched at the Groningen University Hospital (Groningen, The Netherlands) and the Laboratoire de la Voix Voice Clinic in Paris, he has had the opportunity to study how Old World concepts can be therapeutic in treating voice disorders. He also works in conjunction with the practice of Laryngologist Dr. Benjamin Asher in New York.
In 1979, he studied with internationally known vocal pedagogue Allan R. Lindquest (1891-1984), founding member of NATS and the Amercian Academy of Teachers of Singing. It was through Mr. Jones’ study with Lindquest that he learned the concepts of Lindquest’s teachers, which included Enrico Caruso, Mme. Ingebjard-Isene (teacher of Flagstad), Joseph Hislop, Maestro Rosati (teacher of Gigli), and Mme. Novikova. Additional instructors of the Lindquest concepts with whom David Jones studied include Virginia Botkin, Dr. Suzanne Hickman, and Dr. Barbara Mathis, who performed scientific research on the therapeutic benefits of the exercises. It was through this study that Mr. Jones studied the concepts of the Swedish-Italian School of singing.
In 1982, Mr. Jones studied with Dixie Neill, the primary teacher of Ben Hepner, and later with Dr. Evelyn Reynolds. Dr. Reynold's teachers included Lola Fletcher (student of Herbert Witherspoon), tenor Hollis Arment, William Vennard, author of “Singing: The Mechanism and the Technique”, and Ralph Erolle, instructor of the well-known soprano Arleen Auger.
David Jones has trained singers performing at such opera houses and festivals as the New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Berlin Staatsoper, Vienna Staatsoper, Opera North U.K. the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, the Glyndebourne Opera Festival, Salzburg Festival, and L’Opera Bastille in Paris. Mr. Jones has been published by both European NATS and Classical Singer Magazine.
Presenting seminars for teachers twice yearly in New York City and in Europe, he now dedicates his energy toward sharing information with teachers, writing articles, and teaching in his New York Studio and in Europe.
In our interview we travel far and wide, exploring how he got into the world of singing and how he gathered and refined the concepts he now teaches.
We talk about vocal trauma and what causes it, the importance of sensations in singing, diagnosing Fach, and what a voice type consists of. We talk about collaborative teaching, and problem-solving together with the student, making them aware of the process.
We dive into the realm of feeling safe in a voice lesson and what not to put up with. How some teachers might be qualified in their information but not in the psychology of teaching.
Connecting mind and body through work such as Feldenkreis or Alexander Technique and the importance of identifying and releasing tension whatever the cause may be. And last but not least how to work with different coaches while keeping your technique. And many other things connected to healthy singing.
Links to resources mentioned:Connect with David Jones
[email protected] | Facebook : The David Jones Voice Studio | Website : voiceteacher.com
- Article: Taking a professional coaching and protecting your voice
- David’s Book: A modern guide to old world singing
- Janet William’s Book: Nail your next audition
- David’s CD: An introductory lesson with David Jones
- Ingela Onstad’s website: courageousar...
Next Episode
Shirley Tennyson on the most common vocal disorders in vocal performers. The mechanisms of the Passagio, the importance of posture in singing, the dos and don'ts of vocal hygiene and vocal conservation, and the importance of a healthy speaking voice.
Shirley Tennyson, MA, EdM CCC-SLP, is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist with a particular interest and training in voice disorders. She graduated with Master's Degrees from Ohio University and Columbia University.
Her specialty is working with people who have voice disorders caused by such things as polyps, nodules, or cysts on the vocal folds, a paralyzed vocal fold, atrophied vocal folds, as well as voice problems resulting from neurological conditions, e.g., spasmodic dysphonia, Parkinson Disease, etc.
As a singer/actor herself, she particularly enjoys helping singers of all genres, actors, and performers resolve their vocal issues. Anyone who relies on his or her voice to earn a living is considered to be a professional voice user. This would include teachers, clergy, attorneys, salespeople, and receptionists just to name a few.
In our discussion today we talk about the most common vocal disorders in performers i.e nodules, polyps, vocal fold hemorrhage, and Edema, what they are, and how they form.
How problems with the singing voice can often be traced back to how you use your speaking voice. We discuss the mechanisms of the Passagio. We discuss why posture is so important to accessing your optimal sound, the dos and don’ts of vocal hygiene and vocal conservation, and last but not least breath.
Connect with Shirley Tennyson, MA, EdM CCC-SLP
Linkedin | email mentioned at the end of the interview
Links to resources mentioned:- https://www.essentricstv.com
- Alexander Technique
- Feldenkreis
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