Do you covertly sing in the bathe? Have you always imagined of feeling confident enough in your voice that you could sing in public? Do you bother that your voice is merely not good enough and it never will be? If you have responded yes to these questions you are not alone. Lots of people dream of singing and worry that they are simply cursed with a bad voice.
Thankfully, you do not have to mend for your voice as it stands right now. You can constantly get better on the voice that you have and one of the best ways to do that is to teach yourself to sing with online singing lessons. Online singing lessons is one of the best singing lessons, and it can be the very best aid to help you get that singing voice that you have wanted.
The first thing that you want to check out is the wide variety of vocal warm-ups. A vocal warm-up is an exercise developed to strengthen your vocal muscles for a variety of uses. Some of those are designed to develop your vocal range, some are geared towards increasing breath control, and others are centered on helping you to manipulate the jumps and notes in your vocal range. The great point about the exercises on singing is that there is something for everyone. You can identify what your problem area is so that you can choose the adjust exercise to focus on.
Progressing with vocal exercises is one thing, but even though you can successfully sing a range does not mean that you are a remarkable singer. The absolutely good vocalists are able to beautifully sing full songs. With each of these songs you will get the accompaniment tracks to perform with in addition to the sheet music to read.
Speaking of sheet music, absolutely great singers need to know how to read it. Regrettably, it is not a skill that everyone is taught so you may need to learn how to read music. Don't worry, online singing lessons acknowledges that you may not have had that education and it provides the tools and interpretation to help you learn how to.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Guides In Head Voice
What exactly is the head voice? This musical term is used with regard to a singer's vocal range, the vocal register, or the vocal resonance.
The head voice is usually confused with falsetto.
Head Voice and the Vocal Register:
When discussing the vocal register, experts distinguish between men and women. They look at the chest register, middle register, head register, and falsetto register for men.
Woman's voice is identified as the chest register, the middle register, and the head register. Each men and women experience the resonance of singing in their head - this is the head voice.
Men and women travel from one register to the next at similar pitch. The tenor will move from the chest to the head voice around E flat.
At the similar pitch an alto voice and a soprano voice will go between registers - from the chest register to the middle register.
To make understanding the head voice easy, I have found it simple to consider E4 to be the average where most voices change into the head register.
The only exclusion is the soprano voice which is greater to make this change at F4.
The Head Voice and Resonance
The head voice is often confused with the falsetto register. As an alternative, it is helpful to think of the head voice while having resonance.
Particular areas of your body let you to feel resonance when you sing. In addition to the head, the nasal cavities and the diaphragm resonate.
Think of it this way: As you sing from your diaphragm you force the sound out through the uppermost portion of your mouth - almost to your nasal cavity.
The feeling provides you is your head voice and it is a very unique feeling. Most artists love accessing it because it is so unique.
Getting to Your Head Voice
It takes practice to see your head voice. First, don't attempt to access it by bringing up your larynx. This is not the proper technique and will feel wrong from the start.
To ensure you are not making this common mistake stand in front of a mirror. If you can see your larynx - your Adam's apple - rising while trying to reach your head voice you are not using the proper technique.
Draw back and make an effort to really learn how to reach the head voice before you upset your vocal chords and your throat becomes too sore to sing.
The first rule is to retain your larynx still. Secondly, you have to keep your throat open. When attempting to develop the head voice it is natural to 'close up' your throat channel when you reach for the higher notes.
Because you move up in pitch you can really feel the notes moving up within you. If you make yourself aware of this feeling you will benefit from the resonance when you reach high notes.
Don't Make a Falsetto Mistake
While resonance is the key characteristic of the head voice it is not strictly the falsetto register.
In music circles the phrases are often used interchangeably but if you want to correct in your utilization of the terms the 'head voice' is any high note that is not strained or falsetto.
Do not allow the head voice scare you away from high notes. The best way to reach high notes is to expand your vocal range slowly.
As you begin to gradually sing higher and higher notes you will see that you feel more resonance in your head.
The head voice is usually confused with falsetto.
Head Voice and the Vocal Register:
When discussing the vocal register, experts distinguish between men and women. They look at the chest register, middle register, head register, and falsetto register for men.
Woman's voice is identified as the chest register, the middle register, and the head register. Each men and women experience the resonance of singing in their head - this is the head voice.
Men and women travel from one register to the next at similar pitch. The tenor will move from the chest to the head voice around E flat.
At the similar pitch an alto voice and a soprano voice will go between registers - from the chest register to the middle register.
To make understanding the head voice easy, I have found it simple to consider E4 to be the average where most voices change into the head register.
The only exclusion is the soprano voice which is greater to make this change at F4.
The Head Voice and Resonance
The head voice is often confused with the falsetto register. As an alternative, it is helpful to think of the head voice while having resonance.
Particular areas of your body let you to feel resonance when you sing. In addition to the head, the nasal cavities and the diaphragm resonate.
Think of it this way: As you sing from your diaphragm you force the sound out through the uppermost portion of your mouth - almost to your nasal cavity.
The feeling provides you is your head voice and it is a very unique feeling. Most artists love accessing it because it is so unique.
Getting to Your Head Voice
It takes practice to see your head voice. First, don't attempt to access it by bringing up your larynx. This is not the proper technique and will feel wrong from the start.
To ensure you are not making this common mistake stand in front of a mirror. If you can see your larynx - your Adam's apple - rising while trying to reach your head voice you are not using the proper technique.
Draw back and make an effort to really learn how to reach the head voice before you upset your vocal chords and your throat becomes too sore to sing.
The first rule is to retain your larynx still. Secondly, you have to keep your throat open. When attempting to develop the head voice it is natural to 'close up' your throat channel when you reach for the higher notes.
Because you move up in pitch you can really feel the notes moving up within you. If you make yourself aware of this feeling you will benefit from the resonance when you reach high notes.
Don't Make a Falsetto Mistake
While resonance is the key characteristic of the head voice it is not strictly the falsetto register.
In music circles the phrases are often used interchangeably but if you want to correct in your utilization of the terms the 'head voice' is any high note that is not strained or falsetto.
Do not allow the head voice scare you away from high notes. The best way to reach high notes is to expand your vocal range slowly.
As you begin to gradually sing higher and higher notes you will see that you feel more resonance in your head.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Best Things You Should Think About Developing A Falsetto Voice
Thus you desire to expand your falsetto voice. If you are male, fine. If you're female, you don't have to except you have to play a character role in a musical theater production.
Presently what is falsetto? Falsetto is a genuine, breathy tone on high notes. Think of it as pure head voice, with no few vibration or chest sound at all. An example some people have heard is a boy soprano. Women can attain the sound without much complexity once they learn to use their upper resonance. So, ladies, you don't have to read any further if you don't want to.
Falsetto is so termed because it was once believed to be created by the false vocal folds of the larynx. Modern laryngoscopy exhibited that it is in fact produced by the true vocal folds. When singing in falsetto the vocal folds are adulterated, stretched, and elongated so that they vibrate only at the margins. They do not fully close, which recommends the breathy quality.
It is hard to control dynamic changes (softness and loudness) on persistent notes when singing falsetto, because of the fruitless use of the vocal folds. Falsetto can be valuable when you're learning to use your head voice and upper vibrancy, but when you have learned that you should use it usually instead of falsetto.
If after reading the above you're still determined to develop falsetto, here is how to do it.
Start with a good warm-up routine, and make certain you're using good posture and breath support. Try to do again the sound of a boy soprano. Listen to a few recordings to get the idea of the tone you're striving to produce.
Go for a pitch in the upper part of your range. On a hum, sidle from your starting pitch up a fifth and back down: act upon. Keep your tone light and hoot. Try similar pitches on "nee" and "nah". Then, move up a half-step and do again the fifth slide up and down, again on the hum, "nee", and "nah". Keep on moving upward as far as you can without exertion.
During the exercises, have your face and mouth relaxed and clear of tension.
If you want to sing the high range with power and dynamics and you're not a natural tenor, you may bemore comfortable to have the song transposed to a lower key. If you can't improve the range without falsetto, maybe you just shouldn't be singing that range.
Falsetto can be used now and then for artistic effect in various songs, but it's not healthy to form a habit of it.
Presently what is falsetto? Falsetto is a genuine, breathy tone on high notes. Think of it as pure head voice, with no few vibration or chest sound at all. An example some people have heard is a boy soprano. Women can attain the sound without much complexity once they learn to use their upper resonance. So, ladies, you don't have to read any further if you don't want to.
Falsetto is so termed because it was once believed to be created by the false vocal folds of the larynx. Modern laryngoscopy exhibited that it is in fact produced by the true vocal folds. When singing in falsetto the vocal folds are adulterated, stretched, and elongated so that they vibrate only at the margins. They do not fully close, which recommends the breathy quality.
It is hard to control dynamic changes (softness and loudness) on persistent notes when singing falsetto, because of the fruitless use of the vocal folds. Falsetto can be valuable when you're learning to use your head voice and upper vibrancy, but when you have learned that you should use it usually instead of falsetto.
If after reading the above you're still determined to develop falsetto, here is how to do it.
Start with a good warm-up routine, and make certain you're using good posture and breath support. Try to do again the sound of a boy soprano. Listen to a few recordings to get the idea of the tone you're striving to produce.
Go for a pitch in the upper part of your range. On a hum, sidle from your starting pitch up a fifth and back down: act upon. Keep your tone light and hoot. Try similar pitches on "nee" and "nah". Then, move up a half-step and do again the fifth slide up and down, again on the hum, "nee", and "nah". Keep on moving upward as far as you can without exertion.
During the exercises, have your face and mouth relaxed and clear of tension.
If you want to sing the high range with power and dynamics and you're not a natural tenor, you may bemore comfortable to have the song transposed to a lower key. If you can't improve the range without falsetto, maybe you just shouldn't be singing that range.
Falsetto can be used now and then for artistic effect in various songs, but it's not healthy to form a habit of it.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Top 5 Mistakes In Songwriting
This article is the great chance for me to give you significant information about the top five songwriting mistakes.
These errors destroy promising careers and are experienced by the best songwriters in the business. Luckily, once you know to watch for them they can be easily corrected.
*Mistake Number 1 - Writing a great opening line should be the important thing you do. There is no guideline that you have to write your song from first line to last line in strict order.
*Mistake Number 2 - Lack of collusion leads to poor songwriting, writer's block, and more.
*Mistake Number 3 - Learn to revise your songs. It is hard to revise your own work. In most cases you will be unfair when you look at your song and may not see major problems.
Let's look at several ways you can influence yourself to look at the song objectively.
First, reread the lyrics you have written for the song. Do not sing the lyrics - reread them out loud. Listen for words or phrases that are redundant and sound out of place. Remove difficult words and phrases.
Secondly, you can change the song's form. After you complete your piece consider adding something extra. A bridge, a pre-chorus, or some other verse might improve the song.
Finally, edit the song. When you edit the song you will improve everything in the song. Many songs are huge hits because they are stripped down to the basics.
*Mistake Number 4- Know when your song is ended. Have you ever heard a song that goes on and on? This can be a song - killer. To avoid this mistake there are a few quick tips to follow after you revise your song.
*Mistake Number 5 - Don't shy away from criticism. A songwriter who avoids sneer is likely to fail. In fact, the best songwriters ask for critics of their work.
Keep in mind, it is very hard to judge your song with an unbiased ear. Make a recording of your work and and get feedback from people who will give you an honest opinion.
When you avoid these five problems and make use of the tips included in this blog you will be on your way to getting to be a songwriting star!
These errors destroy promising careers and are experienced by the best songwriters in the business. Luckily, once you know to watch for them they can be easily corrected.
*Mistake Number 1 - Writing a great opening line should be the important thing you do. There is no guideline that you have to write your song from first line to last line in strict order.
*Mistake Number 2 - Lack of collusion leads to poor songwriting, writer's block, and more.
*Mistake Number 3 - Learn to revise your songs. It is hard to revise your own work. In most cases you will be unfair when you look at your song and may not see major problems.
Let's look at several ways you can influence yourself to look at the song objectively.
First, reread the lyrics you have written for the song. Do not sing the lyrics - reread them out loud. Listen for words or phrases that are redundant and sound out of place. Remove difficult words and phrases.
Secondly, you can change the song's form. After you complete your piece consider adding something extra. A bridge, a pre-chorus, or some other verse might improve the song.
Finally, edit the song. When you edit the song you will improve everything in the song. Many songs are huge hits because they are stripped down to the basics.
*Mistake Number 4- Know when your song is ended. Have you ever heard a song that goes on and on? This can be a song - killer. To avoid this mistake there are a few quick tips to follow after you revise your song.
*Mistake Number 5 - Don't shy away from criticism. A songwriter who avoids sneer is likely to fail. In fact, the best songwriters ask for critics of their work.
Keep in mind, it is very hard to judge your song with an unbiased ear. Make a recording of your work and and get feedback from people who will give you an honest opinion.
When you avoid these five problems and make use of the tips included in this blog you will be on your way to getting to be a songwriting star!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Techniques To Increase Vocal Range
Adding high notes is what mostly discussed in articles that talks about how to increase vocal range and ignoring altos and basses. Lower voices, this one's for you! We'll explore some ways to add low notes by using your chest voice.
Everyone uses the chest voice for normal speaking. Your speaking voice can teach you a lot about your singing voice as a matter of fact. The way you use your speaking voice can either help or hinder your singing voice.
Let us explore your speaking voice for starter. Laugh, cry, yawn, sign etc are your various non-speech sounds. Try voicing it out. Find the nearest pitch to the sounds you made if you have a piano or pitch pipe available. Now speak a few monosyllables: uh-huh, mm-hmm, aha. Once again, using the piano or pitch pipe, speak a few monosyllables and match the pitch you produce.
Now speak a few simple sentences, such as "my name is_____" or "I love to sing". Like the past exercise, find the matching pitch. Many people try to speak at a lower pitch than is natural for their voice when ideally, the pitch should be the same for the speaking as it is for monosyllables or non-speech sounds. This is not a healthy thing to do.
Speak monosyllables at various pitch levels on a piano and continue exploring your voice. Find the lowest pitch you can speak without sounding gravelly. "Vocal Fry" is the term used for the gravelly sound and sustaining this is not healthy. Your ideal speaking pitch should be about four to five steps above your vocal fry level.
After that, try reading a paragraph or speak some sentences. To find out how high you can go, experiment with higher speaking pitches. Along the way, note where your voice is most comfortable and where you start to hear and feel strain.
You will feel vibration or resonance in your chest when you use your 'chest voice'. This is when you produce tones in that pitch range. With you thumb and fingers resting on your collarbones, put your hand gently on your upper chest. Do a yawn-slide (exhale on the syllable "hee" or "hoo" while sliding from the top of your range to the bottom). Your hand should feel vibration as you slide down into your chest voice.
Although it feels like the resonance is occurring in your chest, it's actually happening in your throat and mouth. The air moving from your lungs and across your vocal folds is vibration that you feel.
The fifth slide is the simple low-range singing exercise. Use the buzz (that's the puckered lips vibrating as air is expelled) or a syllable such as "vaw", while in the comfortable middle part of your range and sing the starting pitch and slide down five steps. In the key of C major it would be G-C, so-do. The slide should be smooth, not bumpy or creaky. Start each repetition a half-step below the previous one.
If you feel bumpy or creaky sensations as you descend the scale, you're probably holding some tension. You stop for a while and do some relaxation exercises for your face and neck. Gently massage your face and throat, then try again. Close your mouth slightly from its starting position as you descend the scale.
Next, using again the buzz or "vax", sing an octave scale up and back down. As you go up the scale, allow your jaw to drop and your mouth to open a bit wider, then reverse that as you come back down. It may be helpful to imagine your tone on a path leading away from yourself, with low notes nearest and high notes farthest away. You can move one hand back to your side as you descend and move it away from your body as you ascend the scan. Well, that's one thing to try out.
The arpeggio is another helpful exercise. Sing do-mi-so-do-so-mi-do on a vowel sound, such as "oo", "ee", or "ah". Start each new arpeggio a half-step lower than the last.
Adding a lower range will take time and effort too, just like any other singing technique. If you are patient and persistent, you will see positive results.
Everyone uses the chest voice for normal speaking. Your speaking voice can teach you a lot about your singing voice as a matter of fact. The way you use your speaking voice can either help or hinder your singing voice.
Let us explore your speaking voice for starter. Laugh, cry, yawn, sign etc are your various non-speech sounds. Try voicing it out. Find the nearest pitch to the sounds you made if you have a piano or pitch pipe available. Now speak a few monosyllables: uh-huh, mm-hmm, aha. Once again, using the piano or pitch pipe, speak a few monosyllables and match the pitch you produce.
Now speak a few simple sentences, such as "my name is_____" or "I love to sing". Like the past exercise, find the matching pitch. Many people try to speak at a lower pitch than is natural for their voice when ideally, the pitch should be the same for the speaking as it is for monosyllables or non-speech sounds. This is not a healthy thing to do.
Speak monosyllables at various pitch levels on a piano and continue exploring your voice. Find the lowest pitch you can speak without sounding gravelly. "Vocal Fry" is the term used for the gravelly sound and sustaining this is not healthy. Your ideal speaking pitch should be about four to five steps above your vocal fry level.
After that, try reading a paragraph or speak some sentences. To find out how high you can go, experiment with higher speaking pitches. Along the way, note where your voice is most comfortable and where you start to hear and feel strain.
You will feel vibration or resonance in your chest when you use your 'chest voice'. This is when you produce tones in that pitch range. With you thumb and fingers resting on your collarbones, put your hand gently on your upper chest. Do a yawn-slide (exhale on the syllable "hee" or "hoo" while sliding from the top of your range to the bottom). Your hand should feel vibration as you slide down into your chest voice.
Although it feels like the resonance is occurring in your chest, it's actually happening in your throat and mouth. The air moving from your lungs and across your vocal folds is vibration that you feel.
The fifth slide is the simple low-range singing exercise. Use the buzz (that's the puckered lips vibrating as air is expelled) or a syllable such as "vaw", while in the comfortable middle part of your range and sing the starting pitch and slide down five steps. In the key of C major it would be G-C, so-do. The slide should be smooth, not bumpy or creaky. Start each repetition a half-step below the previous one.
If you feel bumpy or creaky sensations as you descend the scale, you're probably holding some tension. You stop for a while and do some relaxation exercises for your face and neck. Gently massage your face and throat, then try again. Close your mouth slightly from its starting position as you descend the scale.
Next, using again the buzz or "vax", sing an octave scale up and back down. As you go up the scale, allow your jaw to drop and your mouth to open a bit wider, then reverse that as you come back down. It may be helpful to imagine your tone on a path leading away from yourself, with low notes nearest and high notes farthest away. You can move one hand back to your side as you descend and move it away from your body as you ascend the scan. Well, that's one thing to try out.
The arpeggio is another helpful exercise. Sing do-mi-so-do-so-mi-do on a vowel sound, such as "oo", "ee", or "ah". Start each new arpeggio a half-step lower than the last.
Adding a lower range will take time and effort too, just like any other singing technique. If you are patient and persistent, you will see positive results.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Best Tips For Dealing With Singing Nerves
Each one of us gets worried. No matter what your job is or where your ambitions aim in life, there is something out there that makes you nervous - it's perfectly natural. But, when nerves come into play for a singer, we both know what takes place. You either conquer them and blow away your audience, or you submerge on stage.
For most singers, the mere thought of singing can bring up a raucous, uncontrollable queasiness. But, don't worry - you're not alone. Millions of singers, such as some of the world's most talented have conquered nerves in the past, and the techniques they've used are standing by, waiting for you to use them.
1. Practice in Front of People - Like all things, the easiest way to improve is to practice. In particular, you need to find prospects to perform in front of live people. They don't even have to pay attention to you - simply be in the room.
2. Get a Regular Gig to Minimize the "Shock" - The succeeding step is to find a gig - one where your character, or even a pay check is based on your singing. This might be with a band, or as a lounge singer, or just as community service in a old age home.
3. Look Beyond the Audience - Do not focus on your audience so intensely. There are a million techniques to defer attention from the audience. You can look above their heads, practice with your eyes closed, or even think of them naked.
4. Practice Positive Self Talk - It goes by several names; NLP, self-hypnosis, positive self-talk, meditation. The notion, however, is the same. By focusing on yourself and repeatedly providing positive response, you convince your mind to be more confident.
5. Eat a Healthy Meal - Here's a nice, easy piece of advice that works for anyone. Sit down and eat a good, nutritious meal before you sing. Certain foods, especially whole organic foods, will provide a boost of serotonin to make you happier and more confident. Bananas and other fresh fruits are fantastic for this.
For most singers, the mere thought of singing can bring up a raucous, uncontrollable queasiness. But, don't worry - you're not alone. Millions of singers, such as some of the world's most talented have conquered nerves in the past, and the techniques they've used are standing by, waiting for you to use them.
1. Practice in Front of People - Like all things, the easiest way to improve is to practice. In particular, you need to find prospects to perform in front of live people. They don't even have to pay attention to you - simply be in the room.
2. Get a Regular Gig to Minimize the "Shock" - The succeeding step is to find a gig - one where your character, or even a pay check is based on your singing. This might be with a band, or as a lounge singer, or just as community service in a old age home.
3. Look Beyond the Audience - Do not focus on your audience so intensely. There are a million techniques to defer attention from the audience. You can look above their heads, practice with your eyes closed, or even think of them naked.
4. Practice Positive Self Talk - It goes by several names; NLP, self-hypnosis, positive self-talk, meditation. The notion, however, is the same. By focusing on yourself and repeatedly providing positive response, you convince your mind to be more confident.
5. Eat a Healthy Meal - Here's a nice, easy piece of advice that works for anyone. Sit down and eat a good, nutritious meal before you sing. Certain foods, especially whole organic foods, will provide a boost of serotonin to make you happier and more confident. Bananas and other fresh fruits are fantastic for this.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Get Yourself Recorded
I'll take a stab in the dark here and say that your ultimate dream is to be recorded. Even just a home recorded demo would be necessary to show your friends and family that you're on your way to fulfilling those dreams.
Self-Recording
The technology is available and easy to use. Most computers have good enough power to record and edit audio, and the media we use can switch it easily. If this is your path, either because of a lack of funds or because you're a do-it-yourself, you'll need to have a few things.
1. A Microphone - A simple microphone isn't enough when recording top quality audio. You need a committed input device that dampens background noise. Some microphones come with built in sound dampeners.
2. Software for Recording - The input device only captures the audio. You also need software that will record, assess, and allow you to edit the audio.
3. Recording Space - In conclusion, you need somewhere quiet and private to record. While most recording artists have a sound room in their homes, you do not, and contrary to popular belief, a bathroom is not best. So, find the smallest room you can and minimize any peripheral noise.
Professional Recording Sessions
The other option, which is becoming less common but still carries a great deal of weight, is being professionally recorded. This route calls for that you first find a good producer. A producer will be the medium between you and the recorded audio. He or she will take charge of the equipment and mix your demo.
Be Prepared
Keep something in mind when prepping your demo - recording executives are more fascinated in quality than length. They want to listen to a handful of good songs that show you are a talented writer and artist, not an epic album. The quality of your recording only needs to be sufficient to get your foot in the door.
And fortunately, home recording devices do just that. So, if you're short on money or simply don't want to take care of the hassle of a studio recording, look into a home recording. You'll have a quicker, more personal demo and you'll have far more time and more money to spend writing powerful, evocative songs.
Self-Recording
The technology is available and easy to use. Most computers have good enough power to record and edit audio, and the media we use can switch it easily. If this is your path, either because of a lack of funds or because you're a do-it-yourself, you'll need to have a few things.
1. A Microphone - A simple microphone isn't enough when recording top quality audio. You need a committed input device that dampens background noise. Some microphones come with built in sound dampeners.
2. Software for Recording - The input device only captures the audio. You also need software that will record, assess, and allow you to edit the audio.
3. Recording Space - In conclusion, you need somewhere quiet and private to record. While most recording artists have a sound room in their homes, you do not, and contrary to popular belief, a bathroom is not best. So, find the smallest room you can and minimize any peripheral noise.
Professional Recording Sessions
The other option, which is becoming less common but still carries a great deal of weight, is being professionally recorded. This route calls for that you first find a good producer. A producer will be the medium between you and the recorded audio. He or she will take charge of the equipment and mix your demo.
Be Prepared
Keep something in mind when prepping your demo - recording executives are more fascinated in quality than length. They want to listen to a handful of good songs that show you are a talented writer and artist, not an epic album. The quality of your recording only needs to be sufficient to get your foot in the door.
And fortunately, home recording devices do just that. So, if you're short on money or simply don't want to take care of the hassle of a studio recording, look into a home recording. You'll have a quicker, more personal demo and you'll have far more time and more money to spend writing powerful, evocative songs.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Writing Catchy Songs: Best Guides
Are you a songwriter striving to find inspiration? Maybe you've written some original tunes, but you'd like to produce something more marketable.
To sell more records, you have to write catchy songs - the types of songs that get jammed in people's heads and keep them tapping their feet and singing along. Here are some tips you can apply to write catchier songs:
Keep It Real
Many musicians write about situations and emotions they have experienced personally. It's that potential to relate that sets popular songs apart from mediocre ones. If individuals can take your song and use it to their own lives, you'll have a possible hit on your hands.
Many of us had money problems at some point in life. Others have battled with various addictions. Break-ups, unrequited love, and passion to let go and party are other instances that most people can relate to.
Many of us had money problems at some point in life. Others have struggled with various addictions. Break-ups, unrequited love, and passion to let go and party are other situations that most people can compare to.
Catchy Lyrics
You don't have to be a lyrical genius to write a catchy song. In fact, some of the most popular songs in history have fairly simple lyrics. The key is to use words and phrases many people understand and can relate to.
Rhyming is some other device that can make your songs catchier. Most popular songs contain verses with perfect or imperfect rhymes. Don't be afraid to use a thesaurus to find new words.
Try to avoid using ultra-trendy phrases that you've got soon go out of style. Consider how dated some music appears these days. You want your making to be timeless and not waste away in obscurity until it comes back someday as a cheesy retro tune.
Catchy Music
If you listen to the music in famous songs on how to sing gospel songs, you'll discover a catchy bass line, drum beat, or guitar riff that makes people desire to move along to the music. Catchy music can take a song from good to great.
To write catchy music, you'll need to have an understanding of basic chord progressions and rhythms. If you're beginning from scratch, think about using sound mixing software or self-study manualsto help you learn.
Listen to a few well-written songs in various genres. What prominent about the music? Try to emulate the concepts without directly copying the chords and beats. Take the best parts and use them as inspiration for your own music.
Sing-Along Choruses
The chorus is the element of your song that many people will sing together with. You need to write something so catchy that people will recall it. Make it rhyme if at all possible, and aim for a large target audience.
Write your chorus in a key that most people can sing along with. If the chorus is too high or too low, people will struggle to sing it - or sing it badly.
Make the words and concepts as universal as possible. Don't use excessive profanity, or people may possibly be embarrassed to sing along in public! A good chorus can summarize the song's message in a few catchy lines.
Repetition makes songs remain in people's minds, but it can be overdone. Repeat your chorus several times, but make sure the other verses are distinct enough to make the song fascinating.
Songwriting and how to sing gospel is a procedure, and sometimes it can be tough. Just keep writing down your ideas and listening to good music for inspiration, and soon you'll have a great new song that people will really like to sing along with.
To sell more records, you have to write catchy songs - the types of songs that get jammed in people's heads and keep them tapping their feet and singing along. Here are some tips you can apply to write catchier songs:
Keep It Real
Many musicians write about situations and emotions they have experienced personally. It's that potential to relate that sets popular songs apart from mediocre ones. If individuals can take your song and use it to their own lives, you'll have a possible hit on your hands.
Many of us had money problems at some point in life. Others have battled with various addictions. Break-ups, unrequited love, and passion to let go and party are other instances that most people can relate to.
Many of us had money problems at some point in life. Others have struggled with various addictions. Break-ups, unrequited love, and passion to let go and party are other situations that most people can compare to.
Catchy Lyrics
You don't have to be a lyrical genius to write a catchy song. In fact, some of the most popular songs in history have fairly simple lyrics. The key is to use words and phrases many people understand and can relate to.
Rhyming is some other device that can make your songs catchier. Most popular songs contain verses with perfect or imperfect rhymes. Don't be afraid to use a thesaurus to find new words.
Try to avoid using ultra-trendy phrases that you've got soon go out of style. Consider how dated some music appears these days. You want your making to be timeless and not waste away in obscurity until it comes back someday as a cheesy retro tune.
Catchy Music
If you listen to the music in famous songs on how to sing gospel songs, you'll discover a catchy bass line, drum beat, or guitar riff that makes people desire to move along to the music. Catchy music can take a song from good to great.
To write catchy music, you'll need to have an understanding of basic chord progressions and rhythms. If you're beginning from scratch, think about using sound mixing software or self-study manualsto help you learn.
Listen to a few well-written songs in various genres. What prominent about the music? Try to emulate the concepts without directly copying the chords and beats. Take the best parts and use them as inspiration for your own music.
Sing-Along Choruses
The chorus is the element of your song that many people will sing together with. You need to write something so catchy that people will recall it. Make it rhyme if at all possible, and aim for a large target audience.
Write your chorus in a key that most people can sing along with. If the chorus is too high or too low, people will struggle to sing it - or sing it badly.
Make the words and concepts as universal as possible. Don't use excessive profanity, or people may possibly be embarrassed to sing along in public! A good chorus can summarize the song's message in a few catchy lines.
Repetition makes songs remain in people's minds, but it can be overdone. Repeat your chorus several times, but make sure the other verses are distinct enough to make the song fascinating.
Songwriting and how to sing gospel is a procedure, and sometimes it can be tough. Just keep writing down your ideas and listening to good music for inspiration, and soon you'll have a great new song that people will really like to sing along with.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Pros And Cons Of Singing In Harmony
Lead singers get a lot of attention, but they are rarely the only singers in a band. Backup vocalists give depth and richness to the song by harmonizing with the lead singer. Some songs were meant to be sung completely in harmony.
If you're having trouble harmonizing, there are some steps you can consider to mix your voice with others:
Start with the Basics
Before you learn to sing with others, you must learn to sing on your own. Start by learning to sing the C chromatic range. You will quickly learn to identify your natural vocal range and expand it.
Breath control is one more essential part of singing. Learn to breathe deeply in a way that fills your lungs and makes your stomach enlarge when you inhale. You can even increase your lung capacity by drawing deep breaths and holding them for significantly longer periods of time.
Learn to Match Pitch
Next, play a scale on a piano or use a virtual tuner to play notes. Sing along with each note and try to match your pitch to the note. This is a vital lesson for anyone who desires to sing harmony.
With some exercise, you will learn to recognize proper pitch by ear and understand when you're on pitch or off. Keep your vocal chords warmed up and relaxed to avoid tensing up and throwing off your pitch.
Practice All the Parts
When you're getting ready to harmonize with other singers, it helps to know their parts as well as your own. Practice singing the lead vocals and the various parts of the harmony. When you know how the other singers will sound, you can take steps to match your voice to theirs.
Learn to use right enunciation and to inhale without whispering. You want your voice to mix smoothly with the other vocalists, so avoid harsh or sibilant sounds by simply skipping complex letters, like 's'.
Strive for Balance
When harmonizing, you don't need to stand out from the audience. Control your volume to keep it on par with the other singers. Don't add elements of your own stylistic tones or over sing your part, because it will only take away from the harmony.
Keep in mind, you and the other harmonizers are a team. Your voices should blend to form a complex but stunning sound, with no individual voice grabbing more than its share of attention.
Record Your Practices
Many vocalists like to record their practice sessions and play them back to hear for problem areas. Record yourself as you attempt to accommodate with musical notes and other people's voices.
Practice often, and continue to record and play back your sessions. After a week or so, you will hear an improvement. Harmonizing will come easier, and it will feel more natural.
Train Your Ear
When people harmonize in perfect pitch, their voices resonate with each other. Try to match your pitch and volume to someone else voice and you will hear this effect. It happens when voices blend perfectly.
You can prepare yourself to listen for this resonance, and to listen for argumentation that suggests aggravated harmonizing. It takes practice, but getting able to harmonize by ear is very nice reward for your efforts.
Get an Audio Training Course
Many singers need someone to help them learn harmony. There is no shame in seeking the guidance of a professional voice coach, though the cost of private lessons can be prohibitive.
If you're having trouble harmonizing, there are some steps you can consider to mix your voice with others:
Start with the Basics
Before you learn to sing with others, you must learn to sing on your own. Start by learning to sing the C chromatic range. You will quickly learn to identify your natural vocal range and expand it.
Breath control is one more essential part of singing. Learn to breathe deeply in a way that fills your lungs and makes your stomach enlarge when you inhale. You can even increase your lung capacity by drawing deep breaths and holding them for significantly longer periods of time.
Learn to Match Pitch
Next, play a scale on a piano or use a virtual tuner to play notes. Sing along with each note and try to match your pitch to the note. This is a vital lesson for anyone who desires to sing harmony.
With some exercise, you will learn to recognize proper pitch by ear and understand when you're on pitch or off. Keep your vocal chords warmed up and relaxed to avoid tensing up and throwing off your pitch.
Practice All the Parts
When you're getting ready to harmonize with other singers, it helps to know their parts as well as your own. Practice singing the lead vocals and the various parts of the harmony. When you know how the other singers will sound, you can take steps to match your voice to theirs.
Learn to use right enunciation and to inhale without whispering. You want your voice to mix smoothly with the other vocalists, so avoid harsh or sibilant sounds by simply skipping complex letters, like 's'.
Strive for Balance
When harmonizing, you don't need to stand out from the audience. Control your volume to keep it on par with the other singers. Don't add elements of your own stylistic tones or over sing your part, because it will only take away from the harmony.
Keep in mind, you and the other harmonizers are a team. Your voices should blend to form a complex but stunning sound, with no individual voice grabbing more than its share of attention.
Record Your Practices
Many vocalists like to record their practice sessions and play them back to hear for problem areas. Record yourself as you attempt to accommodate with musical notes and other people's voices.
Practice often, and continue to record and play back your sessions. After a week or so, you will hear an improvement. Harmonizing will come easier, and it will feel more natural.
Train Your Ear
When people harmonize in perfect pitch, their voices resonate with each other. Try to match your pitch and volume to someone else voice and you will hear this effect. It happens when voices blend perfectly.
You can prepare yourself to listen for this resonance, and to listen for argumentation that suggests aggravated harmonizing. It takes practice, but getting able to harmonize by ear is very nice reward for your efforts.
Get an Audio Training Course
Many singers need someone to help them learn harmony. There is no shame in seeking the guidance of a professional voice coach, though the cost of private lessons can be prohibitive.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Exercises: Sing 'On Key'
One of several earliest lessons you'll get after proper breathing and posture is how to "sing on key". Originally, all but the most musically gifted singers won't have the normal "ear" for music that lets them to hear when they are on or off key.
Before You Start
Before you do anything, you must make certain your body has been carefully taught how to plan for singing. It's like essentials in sport. Without the ability to mindlessly dribble the basketball, a player will never learn how to crossover or pass.
Matching Pitch
For most of us, it's just only practice. With enough time singing and listening to your notes, you should manage to develop a strong, regular singing voice on key.
First off, you'll need an instrument. This will offer the reference you need to know notes and sing along with them. Whether you know how to read music or not, you should learn the way to play a few basic scales on a piano or guitar to help with this.
Now, hold a note for a couple of seconds and try to match your voice to the note. At the start, you may not be able to recognize or match them together. To help, get a recorder and start recording each of these sessions. For each note, you should record for at least 1 minute.
Good Practice
Regrettably, there are no secrets to obtaining best pitch. It's all about practice. However, there are certain orders in which to practice. I recommend starting with a simple note, such as C or E and functioning your way up and down the scale from there.
If your voice cannot hit the note you start with, reduce the octave by at least one so you are comfortable. Later, you can work on prolonging your range, but for now focus only on getting the notes you are comfortable with correct.
In time, with enough practice and steady use of that voice recorder, you should have the ability to pinpoint the right note almost instantly, remaining on key during no matter of who is playing the music or what octave it is in.
Before You Start
Before you do anything, you must make certain your body has been carefully taught how to plan for singing. It's like essentials in sport. Without the ability to mindlessly dribble the basketball, a player will never learn how to crossover or pass.
Matching Pitch
For most of us, it's just only practice. With enough time singing and listening to your notes, you should manage to develop a strong, regular singing voice on key.
First off, you'll need an instrument. This will offer the reference you need to know notes and sing along with them. Whether you know how to read music or not, you should learn the way to play a few basic scales on a piano or guitar to help with this.
Now, hold a note for a couple of seconds and try to match your voice to the note. At the start, you may not be able to recognize or match them together. To help, get a recorder and start recording each of these sessions. For each note, you should record for at least 1 minute.
Good Practice
Regrettably, there are no secrets to obtaining best pitch. It's all about practice. However, there are certain orders in which to practice. I recommend starting with a simple note, such as C or E and functioning your way up and down the scale from there.
If your voice cannot hit the note you start with, reduce the octave by at least one so you are comfortable. Later, you can work on prolonging your range, but for now focus only on getting the notes you are comfortable with correct.
In time, with enough practice and steady use of that voice recorder, you should have the ability to pinpoint the right note almost instantly, remaining on key during no matter of who is playing the music or what octave it is in.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Advice For Stage Fright
It has happened to every professional performer at least once. You're out there singing, it's wonderful, and then your mind goes blank and you can't recall the rest of the words. Or you have a closet malfunction--your trousers zipper is open or the hem of your dress gets damaged. Suddenly, rather of the performance of your dreams, it's a nightmare!
Perhaps you're a brand new performer and that hasn't happened to you yet, but you've seen it happen to others, even the best, and you're frightened it will happen to you. Or you're fearful the audience won't like you.
Have yourself in good health. Eat a nutritious diet and get plenty of sleep in the days leading up to a big performance. Drink lots of water to keep yourself well hydrated. Avoid negative thoughts such as "what if they don't like me?" Focus on the fact that you love to sing and you love the matter that you're performing.
On performance day, indulge yourself a little bit if you can. When you show up at the venue, check that the stage and all equipment are put together the way they're going to be.
Immediately before you perform, as you're waiting in the wings or the green room, have a few moments to focus on your entrance and set your mood. Relax, take a deep breath, and tell yourself that you've worked hard to make for this, you've eagerly predicted it, and that you can do it.
When you get on the stage, bow slightly to comprehend welcoming applause. As your accompanist takes her place, look downward and focus on the start of your song. As she begins the introduction, slowly raise your gaze to horizontal, as if you are watching a carpet lay open from your feet to the back of the hall.
As you sing, envision the meaning of the song to help the audience get into it. What you "see", they will see. Sing the song just as you have sung it hundreds of times before in practice. You know you can do it.
In the unusual event that something does go wrong, try to stay calm. If it's a simple issue like mixing up the words or singing verses in the wrong order, it's very possible that nobody but you and your accompanist will know the distinction. Keep going as if nothing happened. As for wardrobe malfunctions, unless it's a intemperate one the chances are that few people will notice.
After the performance, breathe a sigh of settlement and pat yourself on the back. You did it! Even if everything didn't go exactly as planned, you handled it with grace and fulfillment. Enjoy your well-earned applause.
If you weren't content with your performance, immediately afterward is not the time to dwell on it. Discuss it with your teacher at your subsequent lesson and learn what you can do to improve for next time.
With time and experience you will get better and become more comfy with performing.
Perhaps you're a brand new performer and that hasn't happened to you yet, but you've seen it happen to others, even the best, and you're frightened it will happen to you. Or you're fearful the audience won't like you.
Have yourself in good health. Eat a nutritious diet and get plenty of sleep in the days leading up to a big performance. Drink lots of water to keep yourself well hydrated. Avoid negative thoughts such as "what if they don't like me?" Focus on the fact that you love to sing and you love the matter that you're performing.
On performance day, indulge yourself a little bit if you can. When you show up at the venue, check that the stage and all equipment are put together the way they're going to be.
Immediately before you perform, as you're waiting in the wings or the green room, have a few moments to focus on your entrance and set your mood. Relax, take a deep breath, and tell yourself that you've worked hard to make for this, you've eagerly predicted it, and that you can do it.
When you get on the stage, bow slightly to comprehend welcoming applause. As your accompanist takes her place, look downward and focus on the start of your song. As she begins the introduction, slowly raise your gaze to horizontal, as if you are watching a carpet lay open from your feet to the back of the hall.
As you sing, envision the meaning of the song to help the audience get into it. What you "see", they will see. Sing the song just as you have sung it hundreds of times before in practice. You know you can do it.
In the unusual event that something does go wrong, try to stay calm. If it's a simple issue like mixing up the words or singing verses in the wrong order, it's very possible that nobody but you and your accompanist will know the distinction. Keep going as if nothing happened. As for wardrobe malfunctions, unless it's a intemperate one the chances are that few people will notice.
After the performance, breathe a sigh of settlement and pat yourself on the back. You did it! Even if everything didn't go exactly as planned, you handled it with grace and fulfillment. Enjoy your well-earned applause.
If you weren't content with your performance, immediately afterward is not the time to dwell on it. Discuss it with your teacher at your subsequent lesson and learn what you can do to improve for next time.
With time and experience you will get better and become more comfy with performing.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Best Guides If Your Singing Voice Is Getting Worse
Being a singer, you're always trying to find ways to improve your voice. But what about if your voice is getting poorer, and you're not sure what to do about that?
Diminished vocal quality can have several causes, from sickness to surgery. Here are several tips for getting through the rough times and getting your vocal quality back as quickly as possible:
Tip 1: Identify the Root Cause
Identifying the cause of your worsening voice is the first step toward treating the problem. If it's something obvious, similar to a recent tonsillectomy or a raging sinus infection, you'll need to recover before your voice is recovered to its former glory.
Sometimes voices change normally because of age. For instance, boys who sing soprano usually find that they can't reach those high notes after puberty. Older men and women find it more difficult to hit the top of their vocal scales as well.
Several individuals lose vocal quality and control after they quit smoking, but most consider that it is a worthy trade since they can re-learn the skills they've lost.
If your singing voice has become worse due to age, don't lose hope. Merely teach yourself to sing in a different, lower key. Your might find that your voice is especially rich and melodic singing lower notes.
If your voice is off because of a medical condition, curing the underlying cause will likely help you obtain your old voice back.
Tip 2: Get a Doctor's Advice
If you can't find out the root cause, or if you think you have an injury or disease, seek a doctor's recommendation. Ear, nose and throat specialists are particularly helpful.
The doctor will look at your previous medical history and your recent symptoms to form an analysis and treatment plan. Don't wait a long time; some problems don't get better on their own, so early identification means faster recovery.
Tip 3: Take It Easy
You wouldn't try to run a marathon if you had a chest cold. If your vocal chords need some time off, give them a break! Often just resting them for a few days is all it takes to recover from an illness or a strain.
Avoid circumstances that require you to talk loudly or for a long time. Also, get plenty of good quality sleep. Our bodies do most of their healing as we sleep. Without adequate rest, you might extend your condition.
Sometimes complete vocal rest may be important for a week or more. Don't talk at all during this phase. Converse by typing, writing, texting, or whispering. Try not to interact your vocal chords at all. It will be a challenge, but this technique frequently works when others don't.
Tip 4: Stay Hydrated
Hydration is crucial for singers, and it's especially significant when you're recovering from an ailment or injury. It will keep your pipes lubed and help you recover quicker. If you're on medication, good hydration will help your body approach the drugs more effectively.
For a sore throat, try sipping warm decaffeinated tea with honey and a bit of lemon. It tastes good, helps you re-hydrate, and coats your throat.
Good nourishment is essential, too. In order to cure, our bodies need plenty of high-quality food. Get a lot of whole grain carbs, fruits and vegetables during your recovery phase.
Most vocal adjustments can be overcome by curing the root problem or changing your singing style. Take good care of yourself and get the advice of a health or musical professional, and you'll be back in singing shape until you know it!
Diminished vocal quality can have several causes, from sickness to surgery. Here are several tips for getting through the rough times and getting your vocal quality back as quickly as possible:
Tip 1: Identify the Root Cause
Identifying the cause of your worsening voice is the first step toward treating the problem. If it's something obvious, similar to a recent tonsillectomy or a raging sinus infection, you'll need to recover before your voice is recovered to its former glory.
Sometimes voices change normally because of age. For instance, boys who sing soprano usually find that they can't reach those high notes after puberty. Older men and women find it more difficult to hit the top of their vocal scales as well.
Several individuals lose vocal quality and control after they quit smoking, but most consider that it is a worthy trade since they can re-learn the skills they've lost.
If your singing voice has become worse due to age, don't lose hope. Merely teach yourself to sing in a different, lower key. Your might find that your voice is especially rich and melodic singing lower notes.
If your voice is off because of a medical condition, curing the underlying cause will likely help you obtain your old voice back.
Tip 2: Get a Doctor's Advice
If you can't find out the root cause, or if you think you have an injury or disease, seek a doctor's recommendation. Ear, nose and throat specialists are particularly helpful.
The doctor will look at your previous medical history and your recent symptoms to form an analysis and treatment plan. Don't wait a long time; some problems don't get better on their own, so early identification means faster recovery.
Tip 3: Take It Easy
You wouldn't try to run a marathon if you had a chest cold. If your vocal chords need some time off, give them a break! Often just resting them for a few days is all it takes to recover from an illness or a strain.
Avoid circumstances that require you to talk loudly or for a long time. Also, get plenty of good quality sleep. Our bodies do most of their healing as we sleep. Without adequate rest, you might extend your condition.
Sometimes complete vocal rest may be important for a week or more. Don't talk at all during this phase. Converse by typing, writing, texting, or whispering. Try not to interact your vocal chords at all. It will be a challenge, but this technique frequently works when others don't.
Tip 4: Stay Hydrated
Hydration is crucial for singers, and it's especially significant when you're recovering from an ailment or injury. It will keep your pipes lubed and help you recover quicker. If you're on medication, good hydration will help your body approach the drugs more effectively.
For a sore throat, try sipping warm decaffeinated tea with honey and a bit of lemon. It tastes good, helps you re-hydrate, and coats your throat.
Good nourishment is essential, too. In order to cure, our bodies need plenty of high-quality food. Get a lot of whole grain carbs, fruits and vegetables during your recovery phase.
Most vocal adjustments can be overcome by curing the root problem or changing your singing style. Take good care of yourself and get the advice of a health or musical professional, and you'll be back in singing shape until you know it!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Head Voice: Best Tips
All singers have a vocal scale that's determined by age, genetics, and training. There is some extent in each singer's assortment where they switch from their more powerful chest voice to their airier head voice.
Some singers have rather weak head voice. This is especially true of new singers who haven't be trained how to put the most power behind their head voice. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips for giving your head voice better tone and richness:
Tip 1: Find a Realistic Head Voice Range
Everyone's head voice has an upper restrict. You desire to sing as high as you can with no switching to falsetto. Discovering the normal breaks in your voice will help you sing with a better head voice.
Pay attention to how your throat seems when you sing. Your first break happens when the notes you sing end vibrating deep in your throat and start resonating at the top of your throat or back of the soft palate. This signs a switch to head voice.
Now keep on singing higher. The notes will continue to resonate in your mouth. With one hand on your vocal chords, you will experience the vibrating end when you reach falsetto scale. Revert to lower notes inside your head voice range.
Tip 2: Find Your Middle Voice
Your head voice sounds the worst when you first cross over your vocal break. To do the transition smoother, you need to improve your mixed, or middle voice.
The middle voice integrates the chest and head voices to take you smoothly over those problematic 'break' notes. The only way to develop it is through regular practice.
Try singing the notes right away surrounding your vocal break, using a little less chest voice and a little more head voice. After one or two days, you will find that the two vocal modes have started to meet somewhere in the middle.
Tip 3: Don't Force the Notes
If you sing high notes in your head voice, don't compel them out; you'll sound whiny or screechy. Instead, change your breath and volume to see the best tone.
High notes typically don't require as much air as you'd think. Actually, excessive air exhaled too briskly can give you a too-sharp tone. Try taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly as you exhale the high notes.
Since high notes bring, you shouldn't need to put as much volume behind them as you do lower notes. If you have to yell to reach the top of your scale, go back and practice increasing your vocal scale.
Tip 4: Stay Loose
Tension of any kind can truly affect the way your notes sound. If you're too tighten, your head voice notes might screech out in an unbecoming way.
Body tension and vocal strain are closely related, so spend some time extending your body and relaxing before you perform. If you're anxious about your performance, try doing yoga or another enjoyable activity that eases the mind.
Stretch your arms, shoulders, upper and lower back. Do head rolls and shoulder shrugs to get the tension out of those areas. Side-bends and toe-touches are also good exercises for loosening up.
Keep your vocal chords loose and flexible by warming up before every practice and performance. The more you use them, the better they will sound, particularly when you're singing in your head voice.
Tip 5: Protect Your Health
Sick singers certainly not sound their best, but colds and sinus infections affect your head voice possibly more than your chest voice. Keep your head clear to prevent a crackly, nasal-sounding head voice.
Drink plenty of water, and avoid caffeine and dairy products on the day of your performance. Caffeine can cause tension and dehydration, while dairy can cause too much phlegm production.
With these tricks up your protector, you'll soon develop a smooth, mellow head voice that's delightful to listen!
Some singers have rather weak head voice. This is especially true of new singers who haven't be trained how to put the most power behind their head voice. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips for giving your head voice better tone and richness:
Tip 1: Find a Realistic Head Voice Range
Everyone's head voice has an upper restrict. You desire to sing as high as you can with no switching to falsetto. Discovering the normal breaks in your voice will help you sing with a better head voice.
Pay attention to how your throat seems when you sing. Your first break happens when the notes you sing end vibrating deep in your throat and start resonating at the top of your throat or back of the soft palate. This signs a switch to head voice.
Now keep on singing higher. The notes will continue to resonate in your mouth. With one hand on your vocal chords, you will experience the vibrating end when you reach falsetto scale. Revert to lower notes inside your head voice range.
Tip 2: Find Your Middle Voice
Your head voice sounds the worst when you first cross over your vocal break. To do the transition smoother, you need to improve your mixed, or middle voice.
The middle voice integrates the chest and head voices to take you smoothly over those problematic 'break' notes. The only way to develop it is through regular practice.
Try singing the notes right away surrounding your vocal break, using a little less chest voice and a little more head voice. After one or two days, you will find that the two vocal modes have started to meet somewhere in the middle.
Tip 3: Don't Force the Notes
If you sing high notes in your head voice, don't compel them out; you'll sound whiny or screechy. Instead, change your breath and volume to see the best tone.
High notes typically don't require as much air as you'd think. Actually, excessive air exhaled too briskly can give you a too-sharp tone. Try taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly as you exhale the high notes.
Since high notes bring, you shouldn't need to put as much volume behind them as you do lower notes. If you have to yell to reach the top of your scale, go back and practice increasing your vocal scale.
Tip 4: Stay Loose
Tension of any kind can truly affect the way your notes sound. If you're too tighten, your head voice notes might screech out in an unbecoming way.
Body tension and vocal strain are closely related, so spend some time extending your body and relaxing before you perform. If you're anxious about your performance, try doing yoga or another enjoyable activity that eases the mind.
Stretch your arms, shoulders, upper and lower back. Do head rolls and shoulder shrugs to get the tension out of those areas. Side-bends and toe-touches are also good exercises for loosening up.
Keep your vocal chords loose and flexible by warming up before every practice and performance. The more you use them, the better they will sound, particularly when you're singing in your head voice.
Tip 5: Protect Your Health
Sick singers certainly not sound their best, but colds and sinus infections affect your head voice possibly more than your chest voice. Keep your head clear to prevent a crackly, nasal-sounding head voice.
Drink plenty of water, and avoid caffeine and dairy products on the day of your performance. Caffeine can cause tension and dehydration, while dairy can cause too much phlegm production.
With these tricks up your protector, you'll soon develop a smooth, mellow head voice that's delightful to listen!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Secrets To Singing Gospel
Regardless of if it is in church every Sunday or on TV, Gospel choirs are on the list of spectacular collections of singers we witness. It's amazing what these talented singers are able to do with their voices. As a result a lot of people assume they'll never know how to sing like that.
Although, here's the truth - it's quite probable. No, not everyone has the musical chops or range to sing in a gospel choir, but if you practice, look for the right group of people and treat your body right, it very well may be in your future.
Preparing for Gospel Music
The important thing you have to know is that gospel music is difficult. It takes plenty of range, an extreme emotional investment and a physical dedication that not every singer can make.
Most people will pull their stomach in when they breathe, taking the air into their chest. However, you want the strength to emerged beneath your lungs. If you don't already breathe like this, practice walking close to this way, taking deep breaths and holding them in.
Don't simply listen though, watch. You should watch out for skilled gospel artists in action. Watch how they move, how they respire and how they hold themselves. Stance is incredibly important for a singer, and much more so for a gospel singer. To hold the breath you necessitate, your body must be upright.
Practicing
The easiest way to practice gospel is with a group of other singers. Contingent upon your church, it may be tough to obtain a spot in a practicing choir. Instead, you can find people on the Internet who want to practice. The goal is to seek out a good group of singers that you can get along with.
Harmonizing in a group can be hard, especially if you're new to gospel music. To stay away from a steep learning curve, practice colliding with the right notes on your own before you meet up with your group. This can be done with a piano and a recorder.
If you're definitely serious about singing gospel, you can do it. It takes practice and devotion and a group of men and women willing to work with you every step of the way, but with the right technique, you can belt out classics like "O Happy Day" sooner than you feel.
Although, here's the truth - it's quite probable. No, not everyone has the musical chops or range to sing in a gospel choir, but if you practice, look for the right group of people and treat your body right, it very well may be in your future.
Preparing for Gospel Music
The important thing you have to know is that gospel music is difficult. It takes plenty of range, an extreme emotional investment and a physical dedication that not every singer can make.
Most people will pull their stomach in when they breathe, taking the air into their chest. However, you want the strength to emerged beneath your lungs. If you don't already breathe like this, practice walking close to this way, taking deep breaths and holding them in.
Don't simply listen though, watch. You should watch out for skilled gospel artists in action. Watch how they move, how they respire and how they hold themselves. Stance is incredibly important for a singer, and much more so for a gospel singer. To hold the breath you necessitate, your body must be upright.
Practicing
The easiest way to practice gospel is with a group of other singers. Contingent upon your church, it may be tough to obtain a spot in a practicing choir. Instead, you can find people on the Internet who want to practice. The goal is to seek out a good group of singers that you can get along with.
Harmonizing in a group can be hard, especially if you're new to gospel music. To stay away from a steep learning curve, practice colliding with the right notes on your own before you meet up with your group. This can be done with a piano and a recorder.
If you're definitely serious about singing gospel, you can do it. It takes practice and devotion and a group of men and women willing to work with you every step of the way, but with the right technique, you can belt out classics like "O Happy Day" sooner than you feel.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Things To Consider In Singing Voice Deteriorating
When you overuse or exploit your voice you can trigger big problems. Laryngitis, a hoarse voice, and other singing complications will be the consequence of straining your vocal chords.
Why does this happen? The vocal folds vibrate whenever you sing. They also resonate when you talk. Therefore, they are almost constantly in use.
To heal, the vocal folds should not hit against every single. This means remaining silent - no singing, no talking.
There are best ways to sing that help you avoid vocal difficulties. There are also indications that your voice is in problem.
To prevent deterioration:
*Warm up your vocal chords prior to every practice and performance.
*Practice using correct singing techniques and tend not to overstress your vocal chords.
*Do not over - practice.
*Use proper vocal techniques. Ensure that your mouth is wide open.
Oddly, a common cause of vocal problems in singers does not come from singing. The deterioration can come from speaking incorrectly.
Everyone has a best pitch for speaking. When you do not use this pitch you can wreck your vocal chords.
This is mainly a problem for female singers. A soprano's conversing pitch can be low - C/D below middle C. Because they are speaking so low it is producing a discrepancy with their singing.
This can hinder with singing up high. To fix the problem the soprano will need to learn to improve her speaking pitch.
You should find your communicating pitch and utilize it whenever you talk. If you have a hoarse voice or a brassy voice you are probably speaking too low. Using the proper pitch gives you a sharp voice.
To find your speaking pitch hum up your range until your voice is clear. This point is very close to your speaking pitch.
Regardless of the reason for your deteriorating voice - laryngitis, speaking off pitch, poor technique, TMJ, the problem must be repaired.
As a singer your voice is your instrument - protect it and use it well!
Why does this happen? The vocal folds vibrate whenever you sing. They also resonate when you talk. Therefore, they are almost constantly in use.
To heal, the vocal folds should not hit against every single. This means remaining silent - no singing, no talking.
There are best ways to sing that help you avoid vocal difficulties. There are also indications that your voice is in problem.
To prevent deterioration:
*Warm up your vocal chords prior to every practice and performance.
*Practice using correct singing techniques and tend not to overstress your vocal chords.
*Do not over - practice.
*Use proper vocal techniques. Ensure that your mouth is wide open.
Oddly, a common cause of vocal problems in singers does not come from singing. The deterioration can come from speaking incorrectly.
Everyone has a best pitch for speaking. When you do not use this pitch you can wreck your vocal chords.
This is mainly a problem for female singers. A soprano's conversing pitch can be low - C/D below middle C. Because they are speaking so low it is producing a discrepancy with their singing.
This can hinder with singing up high. To fix the problem the soprano will need to learn to improve her speaking pitch.
You should find your communicating pitch and utilize it whenever you talk. If you have a hoarse voice or a brassy voice you are probably speaking too low. Using the proper pitch gives you a sharp voice.
To find your speaking pitch hum up your range until your voice is clear. This point is very close to your speaking pitch.
Regardless of the reason for your deteriorating voice - laryngitis, speaking off pitch, poor technique, TMJ, the problem must be repaired.
As a singer your voice is your instrument - protect it and use it well!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Guides In Singing The Best Key
Suppose you sing with a wide range of different instruments and accompanists, you should find yourself singing the same song in several distinct keys at different times. So, what's the best key to sing in?
The certain answer is, it depends. It hinges on your voice type. It varies on the type of instruments that are accompanying you. It relies upon on the skills of the instrumentalists. It depends on the song. You get the picture. If you're singing with a group you may not have a choice of key.
Several singers simply buy a piece of sheet music and sing the song in whatever key it's written in. Or sing it in the key utilized by the original recording artist. Or whatever key the accompanist is ready to play it in. None of those keys might be right for you!
Another possibility for getting a song transposed is to contact the music department of your local college or university. Pupils in music theory and composition classes usually need to do transpositions as part of their work. Perhaps one of them would be able and willing to transpose your song and use it like a class assignment.
To pick the right key for your song, first sing it a cappella and away from a piano. Then head over to the piano and determine the note you started on, what the highest and lowest notes are, and the note you ended on. From that you (or your accompanist) should be able to determine what key you sang immediately. That is most likely your best key for that song.
If that comes about to be the key it's written in, fine. If not, find the song transposed. It might also be useful to have versions of the song in several different keys. For example, if your ideal key to sing a song is F#, that is an incredibly difficult key for most instrumentalists. G major and F major are much easier for both guitarists and pianists, and only a half step above or below F#.
It's helpful to be able to sing constant song in several different keys. You may have an ideal key, but one or two others that are also satisfactory so that you can lodge instrumentalists when needed. Happy transposing!
The certain answer is, it depends. It hinges on your voice type. It varies on the type of instruments that are accompanying you. It relies upon on the skills of the instrumentalists. It depends on the song. You get the picture. If you're singing with a group you may not have a choice of key.
Several singers simply buy a piece of sheet music and sing the song in whatever key it's written in. Or sing it in the key utilized by the original recording artist. Or whatever key the accompanist is ready to play it in. None of those keys might be right for you!
Another possibility for getting a song transposed is to contact the music department of your local college or university. Pupils in music theory and composition classes usually need to do transpositions as part of their work. Perhaps one of them would be able and willing to transpose your song and use it like a class assignment.
To pick the right key for your song, first sing it a cappella and away from a piano. Then head over to the piano and determine the note you started on, what the highest and lowest notes are, and the note you ended on. From that you (or your accompanist) should be able to determine what key you sang immediately. That is most likely your best key for that song.
If that comes about to be the key it's written in, fine. If not, find the song transposed. It might also be useful to have versions of the song in several different keys. For example, if your ideal key to sing a song is F#, that is an incredibly difficult key for most instrumentalists. G major and F major are much easier for both guitarists and pianists, and only a half step above or below F#.
It's helpful to be able to sing constant song in several different keys. You may have an ideal key, but one or two others that are also satisfactory so that you can lodge instrumentalists when needed. Happy transposing!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
How To Sing 'On Key'
One of several earliest lessons you'll get after proper breathing and posture is how to "sing on key". At the beginning, all but the most musically gifted singers won't have the normal "ear" for music that allows them to hear when they are on or off key.How to Sing and Play Guitar
Before You Start
Before you do anything, you must assure your body has been carefully taught how to prepare for singing. It's like basics in sport. Without the ability to mindlessly dribble the basketball, a player will never learn how to crossover or pass.
Matching Pitch
For most people, it's just only practice. With adequate time singing and listening to your notes, you should be able to develop a strong, persistent singing voice on key.
First off, you'll need an instrument. This will offer the reference you need to understand notes and sing along with them. Whether you know how to read music or not, you should learn how to play a few basic scales on a piano or guitar to help with this.
Now, hold a note for one or two seconds and try to match your voice to the note. At the start, you may not be able to recognize or match them together. To help, get a recorder and start recording each of these sessions. For each note, you should record for at least 1 minute.
Good Practice
Miserably, there are no secrets to obtaining great pitch. It's all about practice. However, there are certain orders in which to practice. I recommend starting with a simple note, such as C or E and working your way up and down the scale from there.
If your voice cannot reach the note you start with, reduce the octave by at least one so you are contented. Later, you can work on stretching your range, but for now focus only on getting the notes you are comfortable with correct.
After a while, with enough practice and steady use of that voice recorder, you should have the capacity to pinpoint the right note almost immediately, remaining on key throughout no matter of who is playing the music or what octave it is in.
Before You Start
Before you do anything, you must assure your body has been carefully taught how to prepare for singing. It's like basics in sport. Without the ability to mindlessly dribble the basketball, a player will never learn how to crossover or pass.
Matching Pitch
For most people, it's just only practice. With adequate time singing and listening to your notes, you should be able to develop a strong, persistent singing voice on key.
First off, you'll need an instrument. This will offer the reference you need to understand notes and sing along with them. Whether you know how to read music or not, you should learn how to play a few basic scales on a piano or guitar to help with this.
Now, hold a note for one or two seconds and try to match your voice to the note. At the start, you may not be able to recognize or match them together. To help, get a recorder and start recording each of these sessions. For each note, you should record for at least 1 minute.
Good Practice
Miserably, there are no secrets to obtaining great pitch. It's all about practice. However, there are certain orders in which to practice. I recommend starting with a simple note, such as C or E and working your way up and down the scale from there.
If your voice cannot reach the note you start with, reduce the octave by at least one so you are contented. Later, you can work on stretching your range, but for now focus only on getting the notes you are comfortable with correct.
After a while, with enough practice and steady use of that voice recorder, you should have the capacity to pinpoint the right note almost immediately, remaining on key throughout no matter of who is playing the music or what octave it is in.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tips In Writing Songs Better
Possibly you wrote one great song or maybe you only aspire to put your pen to paper. In each case, the crush of writers prevent and the constant perfectionism that any good musician imbues in his work is having it next to impossibly difficult to get that next song out.
And, unfortunately, there are no easy tips for writing better songs. However, with a little coaching and a close eye for what you do best, we can polish and shine your writing to get the very best out of your pen.
Learning to Think Within
The most significant challenge I see in songwriters that get back is that they're dwelling on everything outside of them. They're taken on the idea of making it big and getting rich. They're worried about anxious band mates. They're fretting about what their family will come up with their songs.
Show Don't Tell
At its core, song writing is poetry, and all good poetry has one thing of the same interests - it shows rather than telling. If you write a lyric just like "She broke my heart and now I'm lost," your listeners will take away only what you say - a bland image without any depth.
Start Writing Every Day
One of the big mistakes for a lot of song writers is that they make note of one verse, pass it along to their friends and family and get distressed if it's not gold. Even the world's best songwriters waste hours and hours working on every single song they write.
Know Your Genre
As a final point, don't be reluctant to do a little research. I'm not saying to duplicate other artists or rewrite old songs, but listen to countless music. The world's most creative song writers all got their stimulation from somewhere.
Song writing is an art form and like all art forms it entails time and practice to master. However, by reaching within yourself and making use the influences you've gathered over time, you should have the ability to tap a much greater source - one that songwriters have been using for centuries.
And, unfortunately, there are no easy tips for writing better songs. However, with a little coaching and a close eye for what you do best, we can polish and shine your writing to get the very best out of your pen.
Learning to Think Within
The most significant challenge I see in songwriters that get back is that they're dwelling on everything outside of them. They're taken on the idea of making it big and getting rich. They're worried about anxious band mates. They're fretting about what their family will come up with their songs.
Show Don't Tell
At its core, song writing is poetry, and all good poetry has one thing of the same interests - it shows rather than telling. If you write a lyric just like "She broke my heart and now I'm lost," your listeners will take away only what you say - a bland image without any depth.
Start Writing Every Day
One of the big mistakes for a lot of song writers is that they make note of one verse, pass it along to their friends and family and get distressed if it's not gold. Even the world's best songwriters waste hours and hours working on every single song they write.
Know Your Genre
As a final point, don't be reluctant to do a little research. I'm not saying to duplicate other artists or rewrite old songs, but listen to countless music. The world's most creative song writers all got their stimulation from somewhere.
Song writing is an art form and like all art forms it entails time and practice to master. However, by reaching within yourself and making use the influences you've gathered over time, you should have the ability to tap a much greater source - one that songwriters have been using for centuries.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Ways To Increase Vocal Range
Adding high notes is what mostly discussed in articles that talks about how to increase vocal range and ignoring altos and basses. Lower voices, this one's for you! By using your chest voice, we'll explore some ways to add some more low notes on your voice.How To Sing
When you talk, most of us uses the chest voice. In fact, your speaking voice can teach you a lot about your singing voice. The way you use your speaking voice can either help or hinder your singing voice.
Let us explore your speaking voice for starter. Laugh, cry, yawn, sign etc are your various non-speech sounds. Try voicing it out. If you have a piano or pitch pipe available, find the nearest pitch to the sounds you made. Now speak a few monosyllables: uh-huh, mm-hmm, aha. Once again, using the piano or pitch pipe, speak a few monosyllables and match the pitch you produce.
Now speak a few simple sentences, such as "my name is_____" or "I love to sing". Once again, find the matching pitch. Ideally, the pitch should be the same for speaking as it is for monosyllables or non-speech sounds, but many people try to speak at a lower pitch than is natural for their voice. Doing this is not recommended and is not healthy thing to do.
Continue exploring your voice by speaking monosyllables at various pitch levels on a piano. Without sounding gravelly, try and find the lowest pitch you can speak. The gravelly sound is called "vocal fry" and is not healthy to sustain. Your ideal speaking pitch should be about four to five steps above your vocal fry level.
Next, speak sentences or read a paragraph aloud. Experiment with higher speaking pitches to see how high you can go. As you do the exercise, feel you voice and note where it is most comfortable and where you start to hear and feel strain.
When using your "chest voice", you will feel vibration (resonance) in your chest when producing tones in that pitch range. With you thumb and fingers resting on your collarbones, put your hand gently on your upper chest. Do a yawn-slide (exhale on the syllable "hee" or "hoo" while sliding from the top of your range to the bottom). As you slide down into your chest voice, you should feel the vibration from your hand.
You must know that the resonance is happening in your throat and mouth although it may feels like it's occurring in your chest. The vibration you feel is the result of air moving from your lungs and across your vocal folds.
The fifth slide is the simple low-range singing exercise. Starting in the comfortable middle part of your range, use the buzz (puckered lips vibrating as air is expelled) or a syllable such as "vaw" to sing the starting pitch and slide down five steps. That would be 'so->do', or G-C inf you're doing it in the key of C Major. The slide should be smooth, not bumpy or creaky. Start each repetition a half-step below the previous one.
If you feel bumpy or creaky sensations as you descend the scale, you're probably holding some tension. Pause and do some face and neck relaxation exercises. Gently massage your face and throat, then try again. Close your mouth slightly from its starting position as you descend the scale.
Next, using again the buzz or "vax", sing an octave scale up and back down. As you go up the scale, allow your jaw to drop and your mouth to open a bit wider, then reverse that as you come back down. It may be helpful to imagine your tone on a path leading away from yourself, with low notes nearest and high notes farthest away. You can move one hand back to your side as you descend and move it away from your body as you ascend the scan. Well, that's one thing to try out.
The arpeggio is another helpful exercise. Sing do-mi-so-do-so-mi-do on a vowel sound, such as "oo", "ee", or "ah". Start each new arpeggio a half-step lower than the last.
As with any singing technique, adding to your lower range will take time and effort. If you are patient and persistent, you will see positive results.
When you talk, most of us uses the chest voice. In fact, your speaking voice can teach you a lot about your singing voice. The way you use your speaking voice can either help or hinder your singing voice.
Let us explore your speaking voice for starter. Laugh, cry, yawn, sign etc are your various non-speech sounds. Try voicing it out. If you have a piano or pitch pipe available, find the nearest pitch to the sounds you made. Now speak a few monosyllables: uh-huh, mm-hmm, aha. Once again, using the piano or pitch pipe, speak a few monosyllables and match the pitch you produce.
Now speak a few simple sentences, such as "my name is_____" or "I love to sing". Once again, find the matching pitch. Ideally, the pitch should be the same for speaking as it is for monosyllables or non-speech sounds, but many people try to speak at a lower pitch than is natural for their voice. Doing this is not recommended and is not healthy thing to do.
Continue exploring your voice by speaking monosyllables at various pitch levels on a piano. Without sounding gravelly, try and find the lowest pitch you can speak. The gravelly sound is called "vocal fry" and is not healthy to sustain. Your ideal speaking pitch should be about four to five steps above your vocal fry level.
Next, speak sentences or read a paragraph aloud. Experiment with higher speaking pitches to see how high you can go. As you do the exercise, feel you voice and note where it is most comfortable and where you start to hear and feel strain.
When using your "chest voice", you will feel vibration (resonance) in your chest when producing tones in that pitch range. With you thumb and fingers resting on your collarbones, put your hand gently on your upper chest. Do a yawn-slide (exhale on the syllable "hee" or "hoo" while sliding from the top of your range to the bottom). As you slide down into your chest voice, you should feel the vibration from your hand.
You must know that the resonance is happening in your throat and mouth although it may feels like it's occurring in your chest. The vibration you feel is the result of air moving from your lungs and across your vocal folds.
The fifth slide is the simple low-range singing exercise. Starting in the comfortable middle part of your range, use the buzz (puckered lips vibrating as air is expelled) or a syllable such as "vaw" to sing the starting pitch and slide down five steps. That would be 'so->do', or G-C inf you're doing it in the key of C Major. The slide should be smooth, not bumpy or creaky. Start each repetition a half-step below the previous one.
If you feel bumpy or creaky sensations as you descend the scale, you're probably holding some tension. Pause and do some face and neck relaxation exercises. Gently massage your face and throat, then try again. Close your mouth slightly from its starting position as you descend the scale.
Next, using again the buzz or "vax", sing an octave scale up and back down. As you go up the scale, allow your jaw to drop and your mouth to open a bit wider, then reverse that as you come back down. It may be helpful to imagine your tone on a path leading away from yourself, with low notes nearest and high notes farthest away. You can move one hand back to your side as you descend and move it away from your body as you ascend the scan. Well, that's one thing to try out.
The arpeggio is another helpful exercise. Sing do-mi-so-do-so-mi-do on a vowel sound, such as "oo", "ee", or "ah". Start each new arpeggio a half-step lower than the last.
As with any singing technique, adding to your lower range will take time and effort. If you are patient and persistent, you will see positive results.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
5 Ways To Extend Your Vocal Range
From the moment we pass the puberty inception and our voices upwind, we think that we've peaked. Whatever vocal range you have is it, right? Not so fast. I know you think you know your vocal scale, but keep analyzing because I have five points that can help you use unrealized prospect.Sing Gospel
Warm Up Daily
Warming up is a course of action many singers certainly not fully know or use. With no proper coaching, naturally talented singers will simply go out and belt their verses each night, not thinking of the consequences, or not enough opportunities.
Find Your Range and Measure Results
Finding your vocal scale can be done in many ways. The easiest way is to practice with a piano, fitting pitch until you attain your upper limit. Alternately, you can record it and measure it against trials on the Internet. Once you discover your vocal range, the goal will be to persistently check it for transformations.
Start Exercising Your Voice on a Daily Basis
Work with the highest octave that feels relaxing. As soon as you have mastered easy notes, begin working with chords. As you extend your range, you will eventually be able to rise part way into the next octave, if not the full way.
Learn to Breathe and Stand Properly
Proper posture facilitates all singing. So, stand straight, shoulders back and head high. You have to create the space to draw breath, while priming your muscles for best use. Remember, singing is a physical exercise that makes use of dozens of small muscles.
Record and Analyze Your Voice
We've already commenced recording, so now it's time to sit and listen. You learn already that your voice sounds different to you than it does to others, so this will help you analyze whether you actually hit the note you're aiming for or are hearing something different.
Thus, start practicing. Start learning the expansion of your voice every day. Don't pressure yourself and don't push your body over its limits, but work at the upper limits of your range every day and you'll quickly find yourself pursuing a whole new level of singing.
Warm Up Daily
Warming up is a course of action many singers certainly not fully know or use. With no proper coaching, naturally talented singers will simply go out and belt their verses each night, not thinking of the consequences, or not enough opportunities.
Find Your Range and Measure Results
Finding your vocal scale can be done in many ways. The easiest way is to practice with a piano, fitting pitch until you attain your upper limit. Alternately, you can record it and measure it against trials on the Internet. Once you discover your vocal range, the goal will be to persistently check it for transformations.
Start Exercising Your Voice on a Daily Basis
Work with the highest octave that feels relaxing. As soon as you have mastered easy notes, begin working with chords. As you extend your range, you will eventually be able to rise part way into the next octave, if not the full way.
Learn to Breathe and Stand Properly
Proper posture facilitates all singing. So, stand straight, shoulders back and head high. You have to create the space to draw breath, while priming your muscles for best use. Remember, singing is a physical exercise that makes use of dozens of small muscles.
Record and Analyze Your Voice
We've already commenced recording, so now it's time to sit and listen. You learn already that your voice sounds different to you than it does to others, so this will help you analyze whether you actually hit the note you're aiming for or are hearing something different.
Thus, start practicing. Start learning the expansion of your voice every day. Don't pressure yourself and don't push your body over its limits, but work at the upper limits of your range every day and you'll quickly find yourself pursuing a whole new level of singing.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Techniques To Increase Vocal Range
Adding high notes is what mostly discussed in articles that talks about how to increase vocal range and ignoring altos and basses. This article will mostly focus on lower voices. By using your chest voice, we'll explore some ways to add some more low notes on your voice.
When you talk, most of us uses the chest voice. In fact, your speaking voice can teach you a lot about your singing voice. You can either help or hinder your singing voice just by the way you use your speaking voice.
Let us explore your speaking voice for starter. Laugh, cry, yawn, sign etc are your various non-speech sounds. Try voicing it out. If you have a piano or pitch pipe available, find the nearest pitch to the sounds you made. Now speak a few monosyllables: uh-huh, mm-hmm, aha. Once again, using the piano or pitch pipe, speak a few monosyllables and match the pitch you produce.
After the non-speech sounds, try a few simple sentences like "I am ___ years old." or "I love to sing". Once again, find the matching pitch. Ideally, the pitch should be the same for speaking as it is for monosyllables or non-speech sounds, but many people try to speak at a lower pitch than is natural for their voice. Doing this is not recommended and is not healthy thing to do.
Continue exploring your voice by speaking monosyllables at various pitch levels on a piano. Without sounding gravelly, try and find the lowest pitch you can speak. The gravelly sound is called "vocal fry" and is not healthy to sustain. Four or five steps above your vocal fry level should be your ideal speaking pitch.
After that, try reading a paragraph or speak some sentences. Experiment with higher speaking pitches to see how high you can go. Along the way, note where your voice is most comfortable and where you start to hear and feel strain.
You will feel vibration or resonance in your chest when you use your 'chest voice'. This is when you produce tones in that pitch range. Place your hand lightly on your upper chest, with your thumb and fingers resting on your collarbones. Do a yawn-slide (exhale on the syllable "hee" or "hoo" while sliding from the top of your range to the bottom). Your hand should feel vibration as you slide down into your chest voice.
You must know that the resonance is happening in your throat and mouth although it may feels like it's occurring in your chest. The vibration you feel is the result of air moving from your lungs and across your vocal folds.
The fifth slide is the simple low-range singing exercise. Use the buzz (that's the puckered lips vibrating as air is expelled) or a syllable such as "vaw", while in the comfortable middle part of your range and sing the starting pitch and slide down five steps. In the key of C major it would be G-C, so-do. The slide should be smooth, not bumpy or creaky. Start each repetition a half-step below the previous one.
You are probably holding some tension if you feel bumpy or creaky sensation when you descend the scale. You stop for a while and do some relaxation exercises for your face and neck. Try doing it again after gently massaging your face and throat. Close your mouth slightly from its starting position as you descend the scale.
Next, sing an octave scale up and back down, again using the buzz or "vaw". Allow your jaw to drop and your mouth to open a bit wider as you go up the scale, then reverse that as you come back down. It may be helpful to imagine your tone on a path leading away from yourself, with low notes nearest and high notes farthest away. Perhaps even move one hand away from your body as you ascend the scale and back to your side as you descend.
The arpeggio is another helpful exercise. Sing do-mi-so-do-so-mi-do on a vowel sound, such as "oo", "ee", or "ah". Start each new arpeggio a half-step lower than the last.
As with any singing technique, adding to your lower range will take time and effort. If you are patient and persistent, you will see positive results.
When you talk, most of us uses the chest voice. In fact, your speaking voice can teach you a lot about your singing voice. You can either help or hinder your singing voice just by the way you use your speaking voice.
Let us explore your speaking voice for starter. Laugh, cry, yawn, sign etc are your various non-speech sounds. Try voicing it out. If you have a piano or pitch pipe available, find the nearest pitch to the sounds you made. Now speak a few monosyllables: uh-huh, mm-hmm, aha. Once again, using the piano or pitch pipe, speak a few monosyllables and match the pitch you produce.
After the non-speech sounds, try a few simple sentences like "I am ___ years old." or "I love to sing". Once again, find the matching pitch. Ideally, the pitch should be the same for speaking as it is for monosyllables or non-speech sounds, but many people try to speak at a lower pitch than is natural for their voice. Doing this is not recommended and is not healthy thing to do.
Continue exploring your voice by speaking monosyllables at various pitch levels on a piano. Without sounding gravelly, try and find the lowest pitch you can speak. The gravelly sound is called "vocal fry" and is not healthy to sustain. Four or five steps above your vocal fry level should be your ideal speaking pitch.
After that, try reading a paragraph or speak some sentences. Experiment with higher speaking pitches to see how high you can go. Along the way, note where your voice is most comfortable and where you start to hear and feel strain.
You will feel vibration or resonance in your chest when you use your 'chest voice'. This is when you produce tones in that pitch range. Place your hand lightly on your upper chest, with your thumb and fingers resting on your collarbones. Do a yawn-slide (exhale on the syllable "hee" or "hoo" while sliding from the top of your range to the bottom). Your hand should feel vibration as you slide down into your chest voice.
You must know that the resonance is happening in your throat and mouth although it may feels like it's occurring in your chest. The vibration you feel is the result of air moving from your lungs and across your vocal folds.
The fifth slide is the simple low-range singing exercise. Use the buzz (that's the puckered lips vibrating as air is expelled) or a syllable such as "vaw", while in the comfortable middle part of your range and sing the starting pitch and slide down five steps. In the key of C major it would be G-C, so-do. The slide should be smooth, not bumpy or creaky. Start each repetition a half-step below the previous one.
You are probably holding some tension if you feel bumpy or creaky sensation when you descend the scale. You stop for a while and do some relaxation exercises for your face and neck. Try doing it again after gently massaging your face and throat. Close your mouth slightly from its starting position as you descend the scale.
Next, sing an octave scale up and back down, again using the buzz or "vaw". Allow your jaw to drop and your mouth to open a bit wider as you go up the scale, then reverse that as you come back down. It may be helpful to imagine your tone on a path leading away from yourself, with low notes nearest and high notes farthest away. Perhaps even move one hand away from your body as you ascend the scale and back to your side as you descend.
The arpeggio is another helpful exercise. Sing do-mi-so-do-so-mi-do on a vowel sound, such as "oo", "ee", or "ah". Start each new arpeggio a half-step lower than the last.
As with any singing technique, adding to your lower range will take time and effort. If you are patient and persistent, you will see positive results.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Amazing Benefits Free Online Singing Lesson
Many people are thinking if those free online coaching can really help them with their singing. Yes, they can! When striving to improve your singing, there are countless things you need to know. If you're having a difficulty with your singing, there are free lessons in the internet that are as effective but affordable if not free training tool.
Pitch, amplitude, keys and some others are singing terms and there are many people who sing recreationally do not know what these words are. Although it's great to sign for enjoyment, there will likely come a time when you will want to know more about the technical aspects so you can improve.
Not being able to find the top of the range or brought in the voice, or blank spots in the song brought by skips in the voice are some of the most common singing hurdles. Some more problems that singers have is hitting the right key, constantly miss the beat or singing with nasal tones.
Taking coaching is for everyone who wants to sing. Even experienced and professional singers never stop learning, because the voice must be regularly fine tuned. Getting the voice to where a person want it to be will be normally challenging specially for a beginner.
A Wide Range of Topics
Free online singing courses can help you to:
* Learn warm-up exercises to stretch the neck, back, and abdomen muscles
* Learn warm-up exercises for the vocal cords
* Develop good posture
* Develop good breathing practices
* Learn how sound is produced
* Learn essential terms like pitch, intervals, scales, and time
* Learn sight singing techniques
* Add expression to your music
* Control your larynx to produce high quality sound
* Learn to articulate
* Gain confidence to sing on stage
* Learn songwriting skills
* Learn to sing while strumming a guitar
The above list is by far just a few of the topics that you can learn in a great free singing courses. There are more concepts, broad range of exercises and practices that most successful singers participate in.
It's unfortunate that many people thinks that singing courses are only for those with full-time singing careers, plus they believe that these training are expensive. Neither is true. With today's technology and internet, gone are the days that private singing coaches are the only choice. Now you can take singing training at the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Others enjoy singing at local places and events and want to do the best job possible. If you want to sing professionally, singing lessons are almost mandatory. At some point, you will have achieved as much as possible without help.
It's unfortunate that many people thinks that singing training are only for those with full-time singing careers, plus they believe that these coaching are expensive. Neither is true. There may have been a time when private singing coaches were the only choice, but the Internet has made it possible for anyone to take singing lessons from the comfort and privacy of home.
People have many different reasons why they enroll themselves in a music coaching. They want to know everything they can about singing and one common reason for this is hobby.
Free online singing training offer an easy, economical way to benefit from physical and vocal techniques. You can find new ideas, tips, suggestions, and motivation to help you pursue your singing goals.
Worthwhile Advices from Experts
When experts are freely want to give you advice, why not take it? The Internet has allowed widespread access to the professional expertise that once was reserved only for the very wealthy or famous. There are many reputable singing instructors willing to share what they have learned at no cost to you.
Give free online singing lessons a try. You are guaranteed to learn something!
Pitch, amplitude, keys and some others are singing terms and there are many people who sing recreationally do not know what these words are. Although it's great to sign for enjoyment, there will likely come a time when you will want to know more about the technical aspects so you can improve.
Not being able to find the top of the range or brought in the voice, or blank spots in the song brought by skips in the voice are some of the most common singing hurdles. Some more problems that singers have is hitting the right key, constantly miss the beat or singing with nasal tones.
Taking coaching is for everyone who wants to sing. Even experienced and professional singers never stop learning, because the voice must be regularly fine tuned. Getting the voice to where a person want it to be will be normally challenging specially for a beginner.
A Wide Range of Topics
Free online singing courses can help you to:
* Learn warm-up exercises to stretch the neck, back, and abdomen muscles
* Learn warm-up exercises for the vocal cords
* Develop good posture
* Develop good breathing practices
* Learn how sound is produced
* Learn essential terms like pitch, intervals, scales, and time
* Learn sight singing techniques
* Add expression to your music
* Control your larynx to produce high quality sound
* Learn to articulate
* Gain confidence to sing on stage
* Learn songwriting skills
* Learn to sing while strumming a guitar
The above list is by far just a few of the topics that you can learn in a great free singing courses. There are more concepts, broad range of exercises and practices that most successful singers participate in.
It's unfortunate that many people thinks that singing courses are only for those with full-time singing careers, plus they believe that these training are expensive. Neither is true. With today's technology and internet, gone are the days that private singing coaches are the only choice. Now you can take singing training at the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Others enjoy singing at local places and events and want to do the best job possible. If you want to sing professionally, singing lessons are almost mandatory. At some point, you will have achieved as much as possible without help.
It's unfortunate that many people thinks that singing training are only for those with full-time singing careers, plus they believe that these coaching are expensive. Neither is true. There may have been a time when private singing coaches were the only choice, but the Internet has made it possible for anyone to take singing lessons from the comfort and privacy of home.
People have many different reasons why they enroll themselves in a music coaching. They want to know everything they can about singing and one common reason for this is hobby.
Free online singing training offer an easy, economical way to benefit from physical and vocal techniques. You can find new ideas, tips, suggestions, and motivation to help you pursue your singing goals.
Worthwhile Advices from Experts
When experts are freely want to give you advice, why not take it? The Internet has allowed widespread access to the professional expertise that once was reserved only for the very wealthy or famous. There are many reputable singing instructors willing to share what they have learned at no cost to you.
Give free online singing lessons a try. You are guaranteed to learn something!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Your Guide In Developing A Falsetto Voice
So you want to improve your falsetto voice. If you are male, fine. If you're female, you don't have to except you are going to play a character role in a musical theater production.
Simply what is falsetto? Falsetto is a genuine, breathy tone on high notes. Come up with it as pure head voice, without some vibration or chest sound at all. An example most people have heard is a boy soprano. Women can achieve the sound without much complexity once they learn to use their upper vibrancy. So, ladies, you don't have to read any further if you don't need to.
Falsetto is so designated because it was once believed to be created by the false vocal collapses of the larynx. Modern laryngoscopy portrayed that it is in fact produced by the true vocal folds. When singing in falsetto the vocal folds are thinned, extended, and elongated so that they vibrate only at the margins. They do not fully close, which provides the breathy quality.
It is impossible to control dynamic changes (softness and loudness) on sustained notes when singing falsetto, because of the ineffective use of the vocal folds. Falsetto can be valuable when you're learning to use your head voice and upper resonance, but as soon as you have learned that you should use it most of the time instead of falsetto.
If after reading the above mentioned you're still concluded to develop falsetto, here is how to do it.
Begin with a good warm-up routine, and make certain you're using great posture and breath support. Try to counterfeit the sound of a boy soprano. Listen to some recordings to have the idea of the tone you're attempting to produce.
Go for a pitch in the upper part of your scale. On a hum, drop from your starting pitch up a fifth and back down: do so. Keep your tone light and hoot. Try similar pitches on "nee" and "nah". Then, move up a half-step and repeat the fifth slide up and down, again on the hum, "nee", and "nah". Keep on moving upward as far as you can without pressure.
All through the exercises, keep your face and mouth relaxed and free of tension.
If you desire to sing the high range with power and dynamics and you're not a natural tenor, you may bemore comfortable to have the song transposed to a lower key. If you can't develop the range without falsetto, maybe you just shouldn't be singing that range.
Falsetto can be used occasionally for artistic effect in a few songs, but it's not healthy to form a habit of it.
Simply what is falsetto? Falsetto is a genuine, breathy tone on high notes. Come up with it as pure head voice, without some vibration or chest sound at all. An example most people have heard is a boy soprano. Women can achieve the sound without much complexity once they learn to use their upper vibrancy. So, ladies, you don't have to read any further if you don't need to.
Falsetto is so designated because it was once believed to be created by the false vocal collapses of the larynx. Modern laryngoscopy portrayed that it is in fact produced by the true vocal folds. When singing in falsetto the vocal folds are thinned, extended, and elongated so that they vibrate only at the margins. They do not fully close, which provides the breathy quality.
It is impossible to control dynamic changes (softness and loudness) on sustained notes when singing falsetto, because of the ineffective use of the vocal folds. Falsetto can be valuable when you're learning to use your head voice and upper resonance, but as soon as you have learned that you should use it most of the time instead of falsetto.
If after reading the above mentioned you're still concluded to develop falsetto, here is how to do it.
Begin with a good warm-up routine, and make certain you're using great posture and breath support. Try to counterfeit the sound of a boy soprano. Listen to some recordings to have the idea of the tone you're attempting to produce.
Go for a pitch in the upper part of your scale. On a hum, drop from your starting pitch up a fifth and back down: do so. Keep your tone light and hoot. Try similar pitches on "nee" and "nah". Then, move up a half-step and repeat the fifth slide up and down, again on the hum, "nee", and "nah". Keep on moving upward as far as you can without pressure.
All through the exercises, keep your face and mouth relaxed and free of tension.
If you desire to sing the high range with power and dynamics and you're not a natural tenor, you may bemore comfortable to have the song transposed to a lower key. If you can't develop the range without falsetto, maybe you just shouldn't be singing that range.
Falsetto can be used occasionally for artistic effect in a few songs, but it's not healthy to form a habit of it.
Monday, September 20, 2010
How To Sing For Longer: Best Things To Know
Many communities put performances of Handel's Messiah at Christmastime. It's a wonderful work, but intimidating for instrumentalists and singers alike. The music is hard, but the most tricky aspect of a Messiah performance is that it's just so darned LONG! Two-and-a-half hours long! To get by way of it you need the endurance of a long-distance runner.Expand Your Vocal Range
If you're a member of a group that is planning for a lengthy performance such as Messiah, you should commence working on developing your endurance well ahead of the performance date. If you don't presently have an exercise and fitness routine, this would be the right time to start one. Aerobic exercise will help build your endurance; it will also help improve your breath support.
Be especially careful to stay away from getting a cold or other respiratory infection. Recuperation from illness can really sap your endurance. Wash your hands often. If required, carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with you and use it often. If you do get a cold, don't try to over-sing while you're getting over it. Save your voice for the performance.
Breath support is vital to vocal endurance. Here's a fantastic exercise to build endurance. You breathe in and out to a steady (mental) count: inhale-2-3-4-exhale-2-3-4. Slowly increase the count. When you can perfectly do that to 7 or 8, add a hold phase: in-2-3-4-hold-2-3-4-out-2-3-4. Again, gradually raise the count. Watch yourself in a mirror to make sure you obtain and maintain good expansion.
Ensure you're using good vocal technique. If you haven't had a voice lesson for some time, schedule a "tune-up" lesson to check and review, and ensure you're doing everything the proper way. Tell your teacher what you're planning for so she can give you certain advice.
As the performance date approaches, you should presently be observing in rehearsal that your endurance is creating. In the week right away before the performance, make sure you get plenty of sleep so you are well-rested. If you're tired at the start of the performance, you'll be depleted at the end of it.
Keep yourself well-hydrated. Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily. Carry a water bottle with you to rehearsals and sip from it as often as you can. Miserably you can't do that during the performance, but if there's an intermission you can sip some water then.
WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!! If you're going to be standing for most of three hours you need shoes that support your feet without pinching. For men this commonly isn't a problem. Ladies, it is probable to find dress shoes that are comfortable and supportive. Choose flats or heels no higher than about an inch.
In the course of the performance itself, stand with erect but relaxed stance. DON'T lock your knees--you will fatigue much faster if you do. Lastly, let yourself enjoy the great music--you've worked hard to make for it. Sing as if the composer were in the audience--if you challenge!
Maybe you'll have one of those very rare transcendent performances, where everybody, performers and audience alike, is carried to a higher plane of existence for that space of time. When dozens of people work together toward a similar goal, and everything comes together and works, that's a sight of what Heaven might be like.
If you're a member of a group that is planning for a lengthy performance such as Messiah, you should commence working on developing your endurance well ahead of the performance date. If you don't presently have an exercise and fitness routine, this would be the right time to start one. Aerobic exercise will help build your endurance; it will also help improve your breath support.
Be especially careful to stay away from getting a cold or other respiratory infection. Recuperation from illness can really sap your endurance. Wash your hands often. If required, carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with you and use it often. If you do get a cold, don't try to over-sing while you're getting over it. Save your voice for the performance.
Breath support is vital to vocal endurance. Here's a fantastic exercise to build endurance. You breathe in and out to a steady (mental) count: inhale-2-3-4-exhale-2-3-4. Slowly increase the count. When you can perfectly do that to 7 or 8, add a hold phase: in-2-3-4-hold-2-3-4-out-2-3-4. Again, gradually raise the count. Watch yourself in a mirror to make sure you obtain and maintain good expansion.
Ensure you're using good vocal technique. If you haven't had a voice lesson for some time, schedule a "tune-up" lesson to check and review, and ensure you're doing everything the proper way. Tell your teacher what you're planning for so she can give you certain advice.
As the performance date approaches, you should presently be observing in rehearsal that your endurance is creating. In the week right away before the performance, make sure you get plenty of sleep so you are well-rested. If you're tired at the start of the performance, you'll be depleted at the end of it.
Keep yourself well-hydrated. Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily. Carry a water bottle with you to rehearsals and sip from it as often as you can. Miserably you can't do that during the performance, but if there's an intermission you can sip some water then.
WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!! If you're going to be standing for most of three hours you need shoes that support your feet without pinching. For men this commonly isn't a problem. Ladies, it is probable to find dress shoes that are comfortable and supportive. Choose flats or heels no higher than about an inch.
In the course of the performance itself, stand with erect but relaxed stance. DON'T lock your knees--you will fatigue much faster if you do. Lastly, let yourself enjoy the great music--you've worked hard to make for it. Sing as if the composer were in the audience--if you challenge!
Maybe you'll have one of those very rare transcendent performances, where everybody, performers and audience alike, is carried to a higher plane of existence for that space of time. When dozens of people work together toward a similar goal, and everything comes together and works, that's a sight of what Heaven might be like.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Disadvantages Of Singing Lessons Online
If you can't find a local voice teacher (or can't afford their fees), online singing lessons online may be a convenient and economical option for you.
If you have a guideline or criteria in finding an in-person teacher, you should also use that in searching for an online singing course. First, define your goals. What style or genre of music do you want to sing? Will you be singing with or without microphones? Where will you be singing--church, bars/nightclubs, or with a musical theater?
There is a wide variety of online courses available. Your choice will depend on what you want to learn. With vocal techniques, some programs offer comprehensive education in music theory and history. Others focus more specifically on performance aspects, such as tone placement and resonance, stage presence, and emotional interpretation of songs.
An important thing worth considering is whether or not to use microphones and electronic amplifications. Some courses don't teach you how to project your voice without it. If you can sing and project without a microphone, it's not difficult to adjust to using one. The opposite, however, is not true. If you don't know how to project and the sound system fails, you have a problem!
The best online courses cost about the same as ten to twelve in-person lessons. They explains the principles and rational of the exercises demonstrated in the audio file which is included in the package. The package includes both guided audio lessons and text materials by the way. Email support is offered in some service. Two of the best programs are Singing Is Easy by Yvonne DeBandi and Singorama by Emily Mander.
The first few lessons should teach you the fundamentals of posture and breath support as well as how the human voice works and how to improve it. You will also learn a variety of warm-up exercises.
If you're eager to get to the fun stuff, you may be tempted to skip the "boring" parts, like the breathing exercises. That's not a good plan--you'll only be shortchanging yourself, and you won't get your money's worth from the course. Professional athletes can't play at their best if they skip the fundamentals, and it's the same concept with singing.
You're pretty much on your own with an online program. There are no pressures, no deadline and your only accountability is to yourself. This can be a good thing if you work well without close supervision or if you're honest to yourself. But when you run into problems, it can be a real challenge.
The main problem with all online singing courses is lack of support. The teacher can suggest alternate exercises for you if a particular one doesn't work for you.. that is, if you have an in-person lessons. That isn't possible with online singing lessons.
One more thing, with regards to feedback, you wont get immediate feedback on your progress or techniques. Because our ears are located so near our vocal tract, we hear our own voice transmitted through our skull and sinuses, not through air as a microphone or listener would receive it.
Make an audio recording of yourself and play it back. That's one way, if not the only way to hear yourself as others do. Buy doing this, you can compare the audio examples in the lessons with your sound. The only issue is that it can be difficult to objectively judge your own voice.
You will get greater benefit out of singing lessons online if you are honest with yourself about the areas that you need to improve.
If you have a guideline or criteria in finding an in-person teacher, you should also use that in searching for an online singing course. First, define your goals. What style or genre of music do you want to sing? Will you be singing with or without microphones? Where will you be singing--church, bars/nightclubs, or with a musical theater?
There is a wide variety of online courses available. Your choice will depend on what you want to learn. With vocal techniques, some programs offer comprehensive education in music theory and history. Others focus more specifically on performance aspects, such as tone placement and resonance, stage presence, and emotional interpretation of songs.
An important thing worth considering is whether or not to use microphones and electronic amplifications. Some courses don't teach you how to project your voice without it. If you can sing and project without a microphone, it's not difficult to adjust to using one. The opposite, however, is not true. If you don't know how to project and the sound system fails, you have a problem!
The best online courses cost about the same as ten to twelve in-person lessons. They explains the principles and rational of the exercises demonstrated in the audio file which is included in the package. The package includes both guided audio lessons and text materials by the way. Email support is offered in some service. Two of the best programs are Singing Is Easy by Yvonne DeBandi and Singorama by Emily Mander.
The first few lessons should teach you the fundamentals of posture and breath support as well as how the human voice works and how to improve it. You will also learn a variety of warm-up exercises.
If you're eager to get to the fun stuff, you may be tempted to skip the "boring" parts, like the breathing exercises. That's not a good plan--you'll only be shortchanging yourself, and you won't get your money's worth from the course. Professional athletes can't play at their best if they skip the fundamentals, and it's the same concept with singing.
You're pretty much on your own with an online program. There are no pressures, no deadline and your only accountability is to yourself. This can be a good thing if you work well without close supervision or if you're honest to yourself. But when you run into problems, it can be a real challenge.
The main problem with all online singing courses is lack of support. The teacher can suggest alternate exercises for you if a particular one doesn't work for you.. that is, if you have an in-person lessons. That isn't possible with online singing lessons.
One more thing, with regards to feedback, you wont get immediate feedback on your progress or techniques. Because our ears are located so near our vocal tract, we hear our own voice transmitted through our skull and sinuses, not through air as a microphone or listener would receive it.
Make an audio recording of yourself and play it back. That's one way, if not the only way to hear yourself as others do. Buy doing this, you can compare the audio examples in the lessons with your sound. The only issue is that it can be difficult to objectively judge your own voice.
You will get greater benefit out of singing lessons online if you are honest with yourself about the areas that you need to improve.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tips On How To Sing Better
Keeping the tension out of your larynx, that's one way to learn how to sing better and one of the most effective. More commonly called the voice box, the larynx is actually like a small box that holds the vocal cords. Made of cartilage, it is surrounded and supported by muscles.
The larynx plays an important role in the tones you produce while singing. Below is the process of creating a sound:
* You decide to sing and the brain prepares the vocal cords * The vocal folds start to fold shut * Air rises up from the lungs * The air forces itself against the vocal folds, causing them to vibrate
If you look at a picture of the larynx, you will see the trachea tube running up to the vocal cords contained in the larynx, and above that the epiglottis. The air that rises up and forces the vocal folds to vibrate is called subglottic pressure.
You can easily feel your larynx by laying a finger gently at the base of your throat. The larynx will move down when you yawn and up when you swallow. The lower position of the larynx indicates the throat is in an open position. This means there is unrestricted air flow, which is good for creating solid, rich sounding tones.
Producing the Best Tones
The subglottic pressure and the position of the larynx can both directly affect your singing. You need to manage the flow of air to the vocal cords and keep your larynx in the lower or central position in order to learn how to sing better.
But when the vocal flaps may close completely as subglottic pressure is formed caused by the larynx being tense. When that happens, the flaps will burst open when the pressure becomes high enough. An odd, almost like a clicking noise may be the resulting sound instead of a tone. This is called a glottal attack.
When you begin to sing, the onset of tone resulting from the vibrating vocal folds is called the attack. Its name sounds more vicious than it really is; you don't actually want pressure attacking your vocal cords, but you do want air flowing smoothly.
To produce the best tones, keep in mind that:
* Repeated glottal attacks can damage vocal cords * Improper posture can lead to vocal cords not closing properly and allowing air to escape * A larynx that is pushed upward will result in a nasal sounding tone * Tense muscles around the larynx will cause the vocal cords to function improperly, leading to a poor tone * Singers who sound breathy have too much air flowing through the vocal cords
As you can see, the quality of tones that you produce is largely because of the larynx.
Keeping Control
A simple thing like positioning your head can affect the ability of the vocal cords to open and close properly. We don't usually think of our vocal cords as something we can control, but that's the closest thing we can do. That is just one of the reasons why you should also focus on good posture.
To keep your larynx in the down position, hold your head up straight so your neck is in line with your spine. Relax your jaw, it should not be tense. Tightening of the vocals cords will result if the tightening of the muscles around the larynx happen.
Learning how to sing better involves a lot more than just forming notes. Good singers understand how the body's components work in unison, and that includes the larynx.
The larynx plays an important role in the tones you produce while singing. Below is the process of creating a sound:
* You decide to sing and the brain prepares the vocal cords * The vocal folds start to fold shut * Air rises up from the lungs * The air forces itself against the vocal folds, causing them to vibrate
If you look at a picture of the larynx, you will see the trachea tube running up to the vocal cords contained in the larynx, and above that the epiglottis. The air that rises up and forces the vocal folds to vibrate is called subglottic pressure.
You can easily feel your larynx by laying a finger gently at the base of your throat. The larynx will move down when you yawn and up when you swallow. The lower position of the larynx indicates the throat is in an open position. This means there is unrestricted air flow, which is good for creating solid, rich sounding tones.
Producing the Best Tones
The subglottic pressure and the position of the larynx can both directly affect your singing. You need to manage the flow of air to the vocal cords and keep your larynx in the lower or central position in order to learn how to sing better.
But when the vocal flaps may close completely as subglottic pressure is formed caused by the larynx being tense. When that happens, the flaps will burst open when the pressure becomes high enough. An odd, almost like a clicking noise may be the resulting sound instead of a tone. This is called a glottal attack.
When you begin to sing, the onset of tone resulting from the vibrating vocal folds is called the attack. Its name sounds more vicious than it really is; you don't actually want pressure attacking your vocal cords, but you do want air flowing smoothly.
To produce the best tones, keep in mind that:
* Repeated glottal attacks can damage vocal cords * Improper posture can lead to vocal cords not closing properly and allowing air to escape * A larynx that is pushed upward will result in a nasal sounding tone * Tense muscles around the larynx will cause the vocal cords to function improperly, leading to a poor tone * Singers who sound breathy have too much air flowing through the vocal cords
As you can see, the quality of tones that you produce is largely because of the larynx.
Keeping Control
A simple thing like positioning your head can affect the ability of the vocal cords to open and close properly. We don't usually think of our vocal cords as something we can control, but that's the closest thing we can do. That is just one of the reasons why you should also focus on good posture.
To keep your larynx in the down position, hold your head up straight so your neck is in line with your spine. Relax your jaw, it should not be tense. Tightening of the vocals cords will result if the tightening of the muscles around the larynx happen.
Learning how to sing better involves a lot more than just forming notes. Good singers understand how the body's components work in unison, and that includes the larynx.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Best Guide In Reducing The Impact Of Stage Fright
Stage fear is the bane of performers everywhere. Even very experienced and talented persons can fall prey to fear, turning potentially fun singing experiences into terrible and traumatic ordeals.
Here are a few tips for reducing the impact of stage fright before, during, and after the presentation.
Before the Performance
First, do your vocal warm-ups. You won't have the ability to sing with confidence if you know your voice is going to sound croaky. Drink enough water and go through your range until your chords are relaxed.
Do some exercises to ease muscle tension. Try head rolls, shoulder shrugs, side bends, and toe-touches. Consider a time when you had plenty of fun while singing. Concentrate on how you felt at that time.
Keep away from caffeine or other stimulants. You might think they benefit you up, but they actually make you more uncomfortable. If you feel sluggish, eat some sugar or do some physical exercises to get your blood running.
If you sing with a band, have the members together before the performance. They can offer you support or make you laugh and forget your fear.
Stand before a mirror and make the goofiest you can face. Whatever you do on stage, you won't look worse than that! Give yourself authorization to laugh at yourself, and don't worry regarding looking foolish.
When it's time to go the stage, mentally pack your fear into a box and leave it underlying. Start your performance without intuitive baggage, and just exit there and have a great time. Your fun will be infectious!
During the Performance
Once you're on stage, recognize that you may possibly get nervous again and just roll with it. Your nerves will start to subside once you start singing. Try to stand tall and avoid looking anxious, because your body language will affect your esteem level.
It often helps to look at the audience as one person rather than waves of many faces. If you talk to the audience, take action like you're speaking to one person. It makes an intimate atmosphere for the individuals, and shrinks your idea of the audience size.
You can use eye contact to struggle nerves, too. Pick out a few welcoming faces and concentrate on them while you sing. If you prefer not to make direct eye contact, focus on the back of the room, just above people's heads.
If you make a mistake, handle it like a professional and just keep going. Even the best entertainers can trip, miss a note, or forget the words. What sets them apart is how they handle these situations.
Keep in mind, the audience wants to see you do perfectly. They are cheering for you, not laughing at you. Relax and have fun, and they will pay you with applause.
After the Performance
After you've done, you will probably feel aroused and more than a little comforted. You might even feel regretful that it's over. Try to focus on this feeling and remember it the next time you feel nervous about taking the stage.
Then go back and remember how you felt when you were struggling with nervousness before the performance. Was all of that emotional energy extremely necessary? Next time, try to channel it into something more productive, like warming up and getting a good time.
Stage fright can strike at any time, even if you've performed several times before. Don't let it end you from singing your very best. With these tricks up your sleeve, you'll be able to abandon the nerves and sing your heart out!
Here are a few tips for reducing the impact of stage fright before, during, and after the presentation.
Before the Performance
First, do your vocal warm-ups. You won't have the ability to sing with confidence if you know your voice is going to sound croaky. Drink enough water and go through your range until your chords are relaxed.
Do some exercises to ease muscle tension. Try head rolls, shoulder shrugs, side bends, and toe-touches. Consider a time when you had plenty of fun while singing. Concentrate on how you felt at that time.
Keep away from caffeine or other stimulants. You might think they benefit you up, but they actually make you more uncomfortable. If you feel sluggish, eat some sugar or do some physical exercises to get your blood running.
If you sing with a band, have the members together before the performance. They can offer you support or make you laugh and forget your fear.
Stand before a mirror and make the goofiest you can face. Whatever you do on stage, you won't look worse than that! Give yourself authorization to laugh at yourself, and don't worry regarding looking foolish.
When it's time to go the stage, mentally pack your fear into a box and leave it underlying. Start your performance without intuitive baggage, and just exit there and have a great time. Your fun will be infectious!
During the Performance
Once you're on stage, recognize that you may possibly get nervous again and just roll with it. Your nerves will start to subside once you start singing. Try to stand tall and avoid looking anxious, because your body language will affect your esteem level.
It often helps to look at the audience as one person rather than waves of many faces. If you talk to the audience, take action like you're speaking to one person. It makes an intimate atmosphere for the individuals, and shrinks your idea of the audience size.
You can use eye contact to struggle nerves, too. Pick out a few welcoming faces and concentrate on them while you sing. If you prefer not to make direct eye contact, focus on the back of the room, just above people's heads.
If you make a mistake, handle it like a professional and just keep going. Even the best entertainers can trip, miss a note, or forget the words. What sets them apart is how they handle these situations.
Keep in mind, the audience wants to see you do perfectly. They are cheering for you, not laughing at you. Relax and have fun, and they will pay you with applause.
After the Performance
After you've done, you will probably feel aroused and more than a little comforted. You might even feel regretful that it's over. Try to focus on this feeling and remember it the next time you feel nervous about taking the stage.
Then go back and remember how you felt when you were struggling with nervousness before the performance. Was all of that emotional energy extremely necessary? Next time, try to channel it into something more productive, like warming up and getting a good time.
Stage fright can strike at any time, even if you've performed several times before. Don't let it end you from singing your very best. With these tricks up your sleeve, you'll be able to abandon the nerves and sing your heart out!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Guides In Vocal Health Care Essentials
Being a singer, your voice is your instrument. Of course, you need to keep it in good condition if you want to give good performances. You wouldn't play music on a rusty flute, and you shouldn't sing with unfit pipes.
Sadly, there are many aspects that can damage a singer's vocal health. Here are a few steps you can take to stay your pipes feeling and sounding their best:
Avoid Smoke
Besides its obvious health hazards, smoking can cause shifts in a person's voice. In some very specific cases, such as shrieking heavy metal high notes, smoking is credited with increasing vocal range.
In the vast majority of cases, smoking essentially lowers the voice and makes it very difficult to reach high notes with good tone and volume control. The smoke also dehydrates your vocal chords, reducing their flexibility.
Smoking has also been linked to throat, mouth, and lung cancer. Secondhand smoke might be hard to avoid if you play in clubs, but you can however protect your pipes by certainly not inhaling your own smoke.
Stay Hydrated
Ever wonder why singers keep a bottle of water close at hand? Your vocal chords need moisture in order to function at their best. Proper hydration keeps them nimble and allows you to strike a variety of notes quickly and smoothly.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day, and sip water within songs and during breaks when you perform. If you need a little flavor variety, any non-carbonated, decaffeinated beverage will do. Lukewarm is best.
Do Your Warm-Ups
Regular warm-ups are important to your vocal health. The same as you wouldn't work out without extending your muscles, you shouldn't try to handle a song without stretching your pipes.
Start by singing all the notes on the C chromatic scale, from bottom to top and back again. Then do a similar thing using the yawning method. Open your mouth and create one long note that flows by means of the notes without pausing (like a yawn that increases in pitch).
Know When to Stop
Occasionally your vocal chords just need a break. If you commence to feel any sort of pain or tension when you sing or ingest, give your pipes some recovery time.
Some touring vocalists try to speak as little as feasible between concerts. They prevent loud environments where they would be forced to shout, such as crowded bars or parties. This preserves their voices for those stressful performances.
Your vocal stamina will increase with time and practice. At first, you might need a break after just several songs. Stay hydrated and don't force notes; sing what is comfortable, and stop when you need to.
Support Your Immune System
Colds and sinus infections are the bane of singers everywhere. It's difficult to sound musical when your head is unventilated and your throat is sore, and who feels like being charismatic when they're running a fever?
Siding off seasonal ills by practicing good hygiene, drinking plenty of water, and eating an adequate amount of healthy foods. Sleep at least 8 hours a night to keep your body strong, and take a daily multivitamin.
Allergies deteriorate the immune system, so if you're an allergy victim, getting that problem under control can keep you healthier all year long. If you ever think that you have a throat virus or injury, seek health care attention.
It takes a little effort to maintain your pipes, but that's real of any instrument. Keep your body healthy and keep your vocal chords warmed up, and you shouldn't have any difficulties maintaining optimal vocal health.
Sadly, there are many aspects that can damage a singer's vocal health. Here are a few steps you can take to stay your pipes feeling and sounding their best:
Avoid Smoke
Besides its obvious health hazards, smoking can cause shifts in a person's voice. In some very specific cases, such as shrieking heavy metal high notes, smoking is credited with increasing vocal range.
In the vast majority of cases, smoking essentially lowers the voice and makes it very difficult to reach high notes with good tone and volume control. The smoke also dehydrates your vocal chords, reducing their flexibility.
Smoking has also been linked to throat, mouth, and lung cancer. Secondhand smoke might be hard to avoid if you play in clubs, but you can however protect your pipes by certainly not inhaling your own smoke.
Stay Hydrated
Ever wonder why singers keep a bottle of water close at hand? Your vocal chords need moisture in order to function at their best. Proper hydration keeps them nimble and allows you to strike a variety of notes quickly and smoothly.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day, and sip water within songs and during breaks when you perform. If you need a little flavor variety, any non-carbonated, decaffeinated beverage will do. Lukewarm is best.
Do Your Warm-Ups
Regular warm-ups are important to your vocal health. The same as you wouldn't work out without extending your muscles, you shouldn't try to handle a song without stretching your pipes.
Start by singing all the notes on the C chromatic scale, from bottom to top and back again. Then do a similar thing using the yawning method. Open your mouth and create one long note that flows by means of the notes without pausing (like a yawn that increases in pitch).
Know When to Stop
Occasionally your vocal chords just need a break. If you commence to feel any sort of pain or tension when you sing or ingest, give your pipes some recovery time.
Some touring vocalists try to speak as little as feasible between concerts. They prevent loud environments where they would be forced to shout, such as crowded bars or parties. This preserves their voices for those stressful performances.
Your vocal stamina will increase with time and practice. At first, you might need a break after just several songs. Stay hydrated and don't force notes; sing what is comfortable, and stop when you need to.
Support Your Immune System
Colds and sinus infections are the bane of singers everywhere. It's difficult to sound musical when your head is unventilated and your throat is sore, and who feels like being charismatic when they're running a fever?
Siding off seasonal ills by practicing good hygiene, drinking plenty of water, and eating an adequate amount of healthy foods. Sleep at least 8 hours a night to keep your body strong, and take a daily multivitamin.
Allergies deteriorate the immune system, so if you're an allergy victim, getting that problem under control can keep you healthier all year long. If you ever think that you have a throat virus or injury, seek health care attention.
It takes a little effort to maintain your pipes, but that's real of any instrument. Keep your body healthy and keep your vocal chords warmed up, and you shouldn't have any difficulties maintaining optimal vocal health.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
How To Turbocharge Your Singing Stamina
Is your vocal performance struggling because you can't hold long notes? To impress your audience, you need to be ready to keep long notes with quality and control.
Luckily, you can master to hold those notes by transitioning the way you breathe and the way you sing. Here are five helpful tips for turbocharging your singing stamina:
Tip 1: Identify Your Diaphragm
Your diaphragm offers singing support, helping you belt out tunes with power and stamina. To identify it, consider of the muscle in your stomach that heaves when you enjoy a good laugh.
Another way to identify your diaphragm is to exhale as hard as you can, or shout, "HA!" The muscle that squeezes hardest is your diaphragm. It is found just under your ribcage.
On long notes, you should be using enough breath to connect your diaphragm. Practice interacting your diaphragm by dinging shorter, lower notes. Once you deem comfortable doing this, proceed to longer, higher notes.
Tip 2: Control Your Breathing
Take a deep breath before long notes, but don't fill your lungs completely. If you do, they might respond by rushing to push out the air. This will hamper with the quality of your singing.
Rather, breathe just deeply sufficient to expand your stomach a bit. Distribute the air conservatively as you sing the note. Let your vocal chords perform the work, with some support from your diaphragm.
You will know that you don't have to use a lot of breath to sustain a long note. Ration it out, and your notes will last much longer.
Tip 3: Practice Good Posture
It's tough to hold a note when you're all hunched over. When you sing a hard note, be sure to stand up straight and expand your chest. That will help you project the note and keep your breathing under control.
Also, avoid locking your knees when you perform. Keeping your knees locked can hamper blood flow and make you feel light-headed. Rather, stand with your shoulders and hips in line, with your knees a little bit bent.
Practice singing a most liked song with good position and without, and compare the class of the sound and the ease with which you can sing the notes. Prospects are you'll hear a big difference when you use good posture.
The top goal is to stand up straight and tall without tensing your shoulders. If your body is soft, your vocal chords could comply with suit, making it much tougher to hold a long note.
Tip 4: Use the Trill Technique
This one looks a bit funny, so you might want to do it privately. Basically, learn to trill your lips until they resonate like a tiny motor. This can take some practice, but is a powerful breath control approach.
The amount of breath pressure it uses to gently trill your lips is about the same amount of breath pressure you will use to hold long notes when you sing. With some exercise, you can learn to use the minimum amount of breath mandatory.
Trilling itself is difficult for many people, but don't give up! Go online to find trainings on lip trilling and voice development.
Tip 5: Start Soft
Long notes take work, so start slow by singing them softly. Once you have the feel for it, try gradually increasing your volume and breath pressure. You can also try holding a note in your regular speaking tone.
Do this every day, getting a little longer and a little louder every day. To measure your development, time yourself when you begin, and time yourself after seven days of practice. You will find and hear a difference!
Luckily, you can master to hold those notes by transitioning the way you breathe and the way you sing. Here are five helpful tips for turbocharging your singing stamina:
Tip 1: Identify Your Diaphragm
Your diaphragm offers singing support, helping you belt out tunes with power and stamina. To identify it, consider of the muscle in your stomach that heaves when you enjoy a good laugh.
Another way to identify your diaphragm is to exhale as hard as you can, or shout, "HA!" The muscle that squeezes hardest is your diaphragm. It is found just under your ribcage.
On long notes, you should be using enough breath to connect your diaphragm. Practice interacting your diaphragm by dinging shorter, lower notes. Once you deem comfortable doing this, proceed to longer, higher notes.
Tip 2: Control Your Breathing
Take a deep breath before long notes, but don't fill your lungs completely. If you do, they might respond by rushing to push out the air. This will hamper with the quality of your singing.
Rather, breathe just deeply sufficient to expand your stomach a bit. Distribute the air conservatively as you sing the note. Let your vocal chords perform the work, with some support from your diaphragm.
You will know that you don't have to use a lot of breath to sustain a long note. Ration it out, and your notes will last much longer.
Tip 3: Practice Good Posture
It's tough to hold a note when you're all hunched over. When you sing a hard note, be sure to stand up straight and expand your chest. That will help you project the note and keep your breathing under control.
Also, avoid locking your knees when you perform. Keeping your knees locked can hamper blood flow and make you feel light-headed. Rather, stand with your shoulders and hips in line, with your knees a little bit bent.
Practice singing a most liked song with good position and without, and compare the class of the sound and the ease with which you can sing the notes. Prospects are you'll hear a big difference when you use good posture.
The top goal is to stand up straight and tall without tensing your shoulders. If your body is soft, your vocal chords could comply with suit, making it much tougher to hold a long note.
Tip 4: Use the Trill Technique
This one looks a bit funny, so you might want to do it privately. Basically, learn to trill your lips until they resonate like a tiny motor. This can take some practice, but is a powerful breath control approach.
The amount of breath pressure it uses to gently trill your lips is about the same amount of breath pressure you will use to hold long notes when you sing. With some exercise, you can learn to use the minimum amount of breath mandatory.
Trilling itself is difficult for many people, but don't give up! Go online to find trainings on lip trilling and voice development.
Tip 5: Start Soft
Long notes take work, so start slow by singing them softly. Once you have the feel for it, try gradually increasing your volume and breath pressure. You can also try holding a note in your regular speaking tone.
Do this every day, getting a little longer and a little louder every day. To measure your development, time yourself when you begin, and time yourself after seven days of practice. You will find and hear a difference!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Tips To Sing Higher
If you've been following our blog posts, you've probably expanded your vocal range and now wants to sing higher. You've probably find that you cannot sustain those high notes even though you've worked so hard. Or if you're singing a piece that has a lot of high notes (as opposed to simply hitting one and coming back down), your voice may get very fatigued.
For both scenarios, tessitura is the problem and not just range. Tessitura is your comfortable range, in which you can sing the notes consistently, on-pitch, and without strain. The term is also used to describe the average pitch range of a song or choral part.
Let's site and example. Let's say that the tessitura of a number of mezzo-soprano is just an octave to half an octave below the "A" above the middle "C" to the second "A" above middle "C" but they can sing an occasional high C at the extreme of their range. If they're trying to sing a piece in which the tessitura is from high G to high C, they will experience vocal strain and fatigue.
You run the risk of straining your voice even though you are able to sing higher than your natural tessitura. You can choose songs within the range of your tessitura. The key then, is to know where that is, know your own tessitura.
So, is it possible to raise your tessitura? Again, Yes, but it takes work. The key is breath support, combined with upper resonance. If you try to sing higher notes from your throat without adequate breath support, the result is vocal strain. Over an extended period of time, you could cause lasting damage.
To sing higher notes takes more breath energy that to sing lower ones. You need to use all of your breath muscles--diaphragm, abdominal, spinals, and intercostals--and fully expand your midsection with each inhalation. As you exhale, keep everything expanded except your abdominal, which will control the rate of breath flow.
Once you are breathing properly, focus on your upper resonance, or "head voice". Imagine the sound coming from your forehead and the top of your head and think of the tone as being vertical rather than horizontal. You can compare to like riding an elevator, with your breath as the mechanism that makes the elevator ascend.
You should feel the vibration in your sinuses and the roof of your mouth (soft palate). Your mouth should be horizontally narrow but vertically tall inside. One voice teacher tells her students to imagine trying to swallow something unpleasant, opening the throat enough so that whatever it is won't touch the sides.
Don't try to force anything out from your tone, keep it light. Start with the yawn-slide or the vocal siren. For the yawn-slide, inhale and open your mouth as if to yawn, then exhale on "hoo" or "hee", starting at the top of your range and sliding rapidly all the way to the bottom. Try to start each successive one a bit higher.
The vocal siren is similar, except that it starts at the bottom of your range and goes up. Do it on a hum. As your breath support gets stronger, do the siren up and down several times on the same breath.
Another good exercise is the rapidly ascending and descending five-tone scale. Start in the middle of your range and use either the buzz (also called lip roll or bubble lips) or a vowel sound, such as "oo" or "ah". The pattern is do-re-mi-fa-so-fa-mi-re-do. Start the second pattern a half-step above the first and continue in that manner. Be sure to use good breath support.
Don't worry too much, you can raise your tessitura and sing higher notes more comfortably and easily with a little time and effort. Just be patient, persistent, and realistic.
For both scenarios, tessitura is the problem and not just range. Tessitura is your comfortable range, in which you can sing the notes consistently, on-pitch, and without strain. The term is also used to describe the average pitch range of a song or choral part.
Let's site and example. Let's say that the tessitura of a number of mezzo-soprano is just an octave to half an octave below the "A" above the middle "C" to the second "A" above middle "C" but they can sing an occasional high C at the extreme of their range. If they're trying to sing a piece in which the tessitura is from high G to high C, they will experience vocal strain and fatigue.
You run the risk of straining your voice even though you are able to sing higher than your natural tessitura. You can choose songs within the range of your tessitura. The key then, is to know where that is, know your own tessitura.
So, is it possible to raise your tessitura? Again, Yes, but it takes work. The key is breath support, combined with upper resonance. If you try to sing higher notes from your throat without adequate breath support, the result is vocal strain. Over an extended period of time, you could cause lasting damage.
To sing higher notes takes more breath energy that to sing lower ones. You need to use all of your breath muscles--diaphragm, abdominal, spinals, and intercostals--and fully expand your midsection with each inhalation. As you exhale, keep everything expanded except your abdominal, which will control the rate of breath flow.
Once you are breathing properly, focus on your upper resonance, or "head voice". Imagine the sound coming from your forehead and the top of your head and think of the tone as being vertical rather than horizontal. You can compare to like riding an elevator, with your breath as the mechanism that makes the elevator ascend.
You should feel the vibration in your sinuses and the roof of your mouth (soft palate). Your mouth should be horizontally narrow but vertically tall inside. One voice teacher tells her students to imagine trying to swallow something unpleasant, opening the throat enough so that whatever it is won't touch the sides.
Don't try to force anything out from your tone, keep it light. Start with the yawn-slide or the vocal siren. For the yawn-slide, inhale and open your mouth as if to yawn, then exhale on "hoo" or "hee", starting at the top of your range and sliding rapidly all the way to the bottom. Try to start each successive one a bit higher.
The vocal siren is similar, except that it starts at the bottom of your range and goes up. Do it on a hum. As your breath support gets stronger, do the siren up and down several times on the same breath.
Another good exercise is the rapidly ascending and descending five-tone scale. Start in the middle of your range and use either the buzz (also called lip roll or bubble lips) or a vowel sound, such as "oo" or "ah". The pattern is do-re-mi-fa-so-fa-mi-re-do. Start the second pattern a half-step above the first and continue in that manner. Be sure to use good breath support.
Don't worry too much, you can raise your tessitura and sing higher notes more comfortably and easily with a little time and effort. Just be patient, persistent, and realistic.
Monday, September 6, 2010
How To Learn To Sing Backup Vocals
A lot of old songs have more interesting backup vocals compared to songs that are new today. Listen to songs of Diana Ross and the Jackson 5, you will notice that there are very interesting backup vocals in it that are almost a song when sung alone.
Another interesting backup vocals is the group like the Four Seasons and Frankie Valli. Try to listen to their song and you can hear that there is a different song beneath the melody that these lead singers is singing.
The secret to learning to sing backup vocals is for you to be able to hear the voice in your own head and try not to be distracted by the other melody of the song. It may a take a lot of practice, and you can do this best if you live or get near more often with singers, where you are not singing with anyone but still holding your own. Try finding one or two people, and let the other play the guitar or let's say a pian, this way you can be able to learn to sing backup much more easier. It takes a lot of practice to master backup vocals because it can get confusing sometimes, and being able to backup is a very nice skill. Learning to sing backup vocals is a very challenging task and at the same time a rewarding one.
Below are steps on how to start learning to sing backup vocals:
* First try to synchronize beginnings and endings of words with the lead singer. You should observe proper pronunciation to create a smoother blend. Pick your note from a chord either from a piano or a guitar.
* Observe proper posture, because this will help you control things that are related to notes, including the tone, proper breathing technique, pitches and sound the of the mic.
* Practice singing along with a lead singer (all this in your mind), and take note all the time, so that you can match the impact of the lead singer when backing harmony comes into the picture. This can help you to tune in to the emotion of the lead singer.
* If you are required to sing note within the harmony, sing throughout leading up even if it does not go over the preceding chords.
* Always bear in mind that you are supporting the lead singer. And that you are a supporting instrument. Play with tone and timbre to create the underpinning without trampling all over the lead singer.
With the right tools and technique in learning to sing there is no doubt that you can learn to sing backup vocals fast and easy. Combined with a lot patience, perseverance, determination and your love for music, i'm pretty sure you will make it big in the music industry.
Just follow the steps and techniques given and i am sure that you will learn to sing backup vocals in no time. Have with a lof of patience and determination and you'll go a long way.
Another interesting backup vocals is the group like the Four Seasons and Frankie Valli. Try to listen to their song and you can hear that there is a different song beneath the melody that these lead singers is singing.
The secret to learning to sing backup vocals is for you to be able to hear the voice in your own head and try not to be distracted by the other melody of the song. It may a take a lot of practice, and you can do this best if you live or get near more often with singers, where you are not singing with anyone but still holding your own. Try finding one or two people, and let the other play the guitar or let's say a pian, this way you can be able to learn to sing backup much more easier. It takes a lot of practice to master backup vocals because it can get confusing sometimes, and being able to backup is a very nice skill. Learning to sing backup vocals is a very challenging task and at the same time a rewarding one.
Below are steps on how to start learning to sing backup vocals:
* First try to synchronize beginnings and endings of words with the lead singer. You should observe proper pronunciation to create a smoother blend. Pick your note from a chord either from a piano or a guitar.
* Observe proper posture, because this will help you control things that are related to notes, including the tone, proper breathing technique, pitches and sound the of the mic.
* Practice singing along with a lead singer (all this in your mind), and take note all the time, so that you can match the impact of the lead singer when backing harmony comes into the picture. This can help you to tune in to the emotion of the lead singer.
* If you are required to sing note within the harmony, sing throughout leading up even if it does not go over the preceding chords.
* Always bear in mind that you are supporting the lead singer. And that you are a supporting instrument. Play with tone and timbre to create the underpinning without trampling all over the lead singer.
With the right tools and technique in learning to sing there is no doubt that you can learn to sing backup vocals fast and easy. Combined with a lot patience, perseverance, determination and your love for music, i'm pretty sure you will make it big in the music industry.
Just follow the steps and techniques given and i am sure that you will learn to sing backup vocals in no time. Have with a lof of patience and determination and you'll go a long way.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Free Online Singing Lessons
Many people are gifted with natural singing ability, but whether you want to become a professional entertainer, a casual performer, or sing for fun, it is important to learn how protect your best asset and to increase it's potential.This free online singing lessons will help you!
What You need to do:
- A Tape Recorder and Microphone.
- Writing Materials.
- Something to sing with - Use one of your favorite singles/backing track/midi file.
- Record yourself singing along to a song.
- Listen back to your recording.
- Take notes on the following points:
- Are you in Tune with the music? - your notes should match the song.
- Is your voice weak or strong? - shouting is NOT Singing!!
- Are you breathing correctly? - you should not be short of breath
- Do you struggle to reach the notes - pick an easy song to start with!
- Are you gasping for air between phrases - learn to breath in the "rests" between phrases
- Record yourself again with another song
- Listen to the difference in your practice recordings as you progress.
Keep updating for some tips on singing basics!
What You need to do:
- A Tape Recorder and Microphone.
- Writing Materials.
- Something to sing with - Use one of your favorite singles/backing track/midi file.
- Record yourself singing along to a song.
- Listen back to your recording.
- Take notes on the following points:
- Are you in Tune with the music? - your notes should match the song.
- Is your voice weak or strong? - shouting is NOT Singing!!
- Are you breathing correctly? - you should not be short of breath
- Do you struggle to reach the notes - pick an easy song to start with!
- Are you gasping for air between phrases - learn to breath in the "rests" between phrases
- Record yourself again with another song
- Listen to the difference in your practice recordings as you progress.
Keep updating for some tips on singing basics!
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