Vocal Freedom Episode 29 - Claire Cordeaux

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My guest this week is Chief Executive Officer for BAPAM (The British Association of Performing Arts Medicine) Claire Cordeaux.  BAPAMs expert clinicians understand the demands of a performing arts career and can help you with physical and mental health problems related to your creative practice.  Every month BAPAM offer free training sessions on keeping mentally well, vocal health and injury prevention for performing artists and those in training.  Since Lockdown they have started new online community drop in sessions on Tuesday afternoons at 3pm. Claire has a background in social care and shares her wealth of experience combined with love of playing live music.You don’t have to be sick to get help from BAPAM, if you do have a health problem that is affecting your ability to do your job in performing arts call them on 0207 404 8444 or visit https://www.bapam.org.uk.   For many who participated in the first online community group over the summer, Claire observed it wasn’t only the common issues of being unable to work (due to covid restrictions/lockdown), having no money, being missed out completely from the government financial help schemes through lockdown and the stress that all that can bring in itself but also that suddenly how you identify yourself comes into question.   Being a musician or singer is very often a calling and if you can’t do it, or there doesn’t appear to be a purpose in doing it, you can lose all motivation, you can experience grief-like symptoms, develop feelings of isolation and hopelessness, which in turn can affect your mental health and wellbeing.  If you need help with this please get in touch with BAPAM, who are funded by Help Musicians, MU (Musicians Union), Equity, PPL, PRS Members Fund and others.    During our chat Claire references some of her favourite performances which you can enjoy here:Anjelique Kidjo - AkwabaJoni Mitchell - Little Green (Live NYC 1967)The above link has a brief audio interview with a young Joni talking about stumbling into music. Followed by a live performance of Little Green in New York in 1967.  I hadn’t watched this performance before and found it quite captivating,  I was interested how natural her flow was and how much the lyrics got me thinking!  Don't you love song lyrics that seem like they are offering advice, or a view that offers new possibilities?Sinead O'Connor - He moved through the fairAARTWORK - Road Trip  If you have anything to feedback about this episode please leave your comments on our Facebook page @vocal freedom and join in the conversation!

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