Lani Star states, “A singer must reach within, connecting heart and voice, to produce a powerful resonance that can move their audience to tears. This same power can be used in all areas of life – and not just by professional musicians.” With the power that comes from music, the rest of one’s life manifests the self-actualization and power of healing in relationships, friendships, in their work and hobbies. You don’t have to be a musician at a professional level . You don’t even have to have prior skill. Music doesn’t have to have an audience beyond oneself . Even so, any audience appreciates emotional sincerity and intensity, maybe more than the musicality of the performance. It is said that an audience will forgive a missed note – they will not forgive an inauthentic performance.

The author of The Mozart Effect, Don Campbell, said that music, even when it’s calm and peaceful, still vibrates with energy and power . When singing, that energy and power spreads through your body and affects your physical as well as your mental state, and comes out all the more intensified.

Lani Star’s advice for those who wish to achieve self-healing with music is to treat your body like a precious instrument. Your body needs to be nourished in order to protect your voice , and your mind needs to be nourished for the emotional purity of performance . A good diet and lots of water has been shown to immeasurably improve one’s health and thus affects your voice. Lani Star also believes that everything that comes out of your mouth effects the environment within and around you, so it is good for you to take care the subject of your music and to reinforce your mood with positive music. Not only does it help you, but lifts the mood of your audience as well. Songwriting can also be a vehicle for expressing your emotions, getting the poison out of you and transforming it into a piece of art . Singing can also act as a form of meditation, which helps your internal balance just as meditation does.

My Story

This writer used to have a photographic memory. I could remember, in minute detail, comedian’s monologues, song lyrics, family conversations and the names and years of all the winners of the Kentucky Derby. When I was a child, this photographic memory served me extremely well in school, because I could remember lessons on the test day. It was also nice to be relied on as a walking reference desk.

Ad Then I Grew Up

People around me, rather than being enchanted by my photographic memory, grew to positively hate it. I could remember things they said that they couldn’t for the life of them remember that name. It got to where no one would talk around me. And my classmates could not stand me, because I knew all of the answers. Sometimes I would purposely flub an answer just to make the rest of the class laugh.

The reason person without a photographic memory resent someone with one is that no one likes to be proven that they are wrong. If you want to hold on to a photographic memory, be very careful who you let know of your ability. Although this is not fair, this is the way the world works.

I lost my photographic memory practically the day I hit 30. Or was it 29? Maybe it was when I was 28…anyway, I lost it and haven’t been able to find where I last put it. I would miss not having a photographic memory anymore, but I can’t quite remember if I was unhappy with it.

Children are more prone to having a photographic memory than adults, for the simple reason that children don’t have as much to remember the name. If your child pops up with, “That’s not what you said! You said this,” they are not trying to make fun of you; they are actually trying to be helpful. Having a photographic memory can be hard for a child at times, since it seems they are so different. Be sure you let your child know that you appreciate their ability, but not to volunteer information unless asked.