Vocal toning is a form of musical improvisation wherein the singer vocalizes on open vowels. Although it is an old practice, it was not widely performed in Western cultures until relatively recently. A popular toning technique, introduced by Jonathan Goldman in 1992, relies on sustaining one pitch on an open vowel for the length of the exhale.

Music is an emotional language that elicits imagery and feelings. The composer paints an acoustic picture, a soundscape of beauty, brutality, tension, release, soaring upliftment, and devasting grief. But what about music that doesn’t seem to speak at all?

Music is a powerful tool for maintaining wellness. In an ideal world, life would be grand. We would always feel our best, look our best, and do our best. But the world is not perfect, and neither are we. We get sick, we get sloppy, and we get lazy. Nothing impacts mood or health more than stress. Because we live in an imperfect world, bad days will happen.