Private Lessons

I have been in attendance to many private voice lessons through my life (especially these past 6 years). I have been both the teacher and the one being taught. Through personal experience, I have seen how much private voice lessons can help a singer.

So let's say you want to begin private lessons for the first time, or maybe you have had lessons for a long time but want to try a different teacher. Where do you go from there? When you are starting from square one, how do you find a vocal teacher? There are some good and reliable websites on the Internet that can help with this. Click here to look for music teachers in your area!

Another thing you can do to find a teacher is to ask around. If you hear a good vocal performance don't be shy and ask them if they or anyone they know is teaching and taking new students. You can also ask local teachers that are involved with music and theater for recommendations.

If you have more than one vocal coach option, there are some other things that should look for in picking one. Omega Bone gives some helpful tips about picking the right vocal coach in the following video clip.

Know the lingo!

To some people, singing "lingo" may sound like gibberish. They may not understand what certain words mean and so some words would sound odd to them. As a vocalist, it is important to know the terms that are used in the vocal world. Legato, falsetto, resonance, trill, A Capella, scoop, projection, etc. The list could go on and on. Kristina Seleshanko, who specializes in voice training and coaching, gives a list of helpful "Singing Terms" on her website. The list does not include all of the words used by vocalists, but it is a very good list of the basics. Click here to see the list.

There is much more to singing then how you sound in the shower or driving in your car alone. Don't be caught not understanding words and terms that are so commonly used in the vocal world. Know the lingo!

Take a look!

I was standing in small vocal room facing the piano where my voice teacher sat. We were practicing a song that I would be singing at the end of semester performance. About halfway through my lesson, my teacher stopped me. “Instead of facing this piano, let’s have you face the mirror,” he said. I turned to face a full length mirror on the wall to my left. Seeing myself as I sang helped me. I was able to see and catch myself physically doing things that I wanted to change. I noticed that I could drop my jaw more and not sway as much. Thank goodness I took a look!

When we watch ourselves in the mirror while we sing, we are seeing what the audience will see. In a way we are able to be both the audience and the performer. Doing this gives you power. You receive the power to make sure that the audience will see you do what you want them to see you do.

Watching yourself in the mirror may also open your eyes to things that you could do to improve you singing. For instance, you may notice that your diaphragm is not filling deeply because you see that your chest is rising with air as you breathe in instead of your stomach. Or, you may see that your eyes seem bored and dreary instead of alive and involved in the music. These are things that you may not have realized without actually watching what you do.

The next time you are practicing your vocals (hopefully that is soon), face a mirror and TAKE A LOOK!

DEFY GRAVITY

"It's time to try defying gravity, I think I'll try defying gravity, and you can't pull me down." This musical has inspired me throughout these past years. It has touched my heart. The name of this amazing Broadway musical is "Wicked."

Some of you have heard of it, some of you maybe not. For those of you who don't know, the plot is a story of Glinda the good witch and the wicked witch before they journeyed down their separate paths. Sounds kind of odd, right? I remember not being to interested in learning more about it when I first was told the main plot. Was I wrong or what! When I was a young teenager, I began overhearing my mom listening to the music and I fell in love. Since then, I have memorized all of the songs and have seen the musical in theatre three times (in NY city, Arizona, and LA)

The musical became personal when I performed "The Wizard and I" at a competition when I was 17. Much practice was put in and I was very devoted to doing my best. The final night of performance was a special night for me. The next year, I auditioned for a solo for that same song in my choir and was chosen. I was very happy to have the opportunity to sing that special song again.

As you can see, "Wicked" and the songs in it have had an impact on me. I have felt what this musical can give to people and I wanted to share it with you. Go to see this musical! If you won't be able to for a while, start with listening to the track. You will find yourself singing or humming the tunes throughout your day.

If you are interested in attending this life changing musical soon, click here to look into buying tickets. And if you are not interested, watch the following clip from Wicked and I am sure your interest will grow.

Larynx

What is the larynx? Take a big swallow. When you swallow, the larynx is the lump of cartilage in your neck that rises and falls. Did you feel it? Inside of the larynx resides the vocal cords. As you can imagine, the vocal cords are key to singing (hence their name). When air flies up from the diaphragm, the vocal cords try to resist opening until they no longer can. When the air forces them to open, they vibrate. The actual sound is made when those vibrations flow up and hit the cavities of the mouth, sinus, and head. That is how are "tone" is produced.


While you sing, the larynx needs to stay out of the way! It will rise and fall a little bit to adjust to pitch, but other than that, it should be inactive. When the larynx is out of the way, the vocal folds will be able to do what they need to do to produce nice sound. The throat should not feel as strained. If that is the case, you know that your larynx is not relaxed and out of the way.


The picture to the right is of the inside of the throat, both when the vocal cords are closed and when they are open. The picture below is a diagram that gives even more detail.


If we are aware of what is going on inside of us when we sing, we will be able to lengthen our abilities and greatly lessen our chances of injury. Love your larynx; take care of it.

Be Smart

Be an intelligent vocalist. What I mean is, know the history and facts behind vocal singing. Understand why vocal music is what it is today. Be aware of what is going on vocally in the world. The internet is a great source (if your source is credible) for learning more and educating yourself as a vocalist. There are also great vocal history books that can help as well. Click here if you are interested in buying a book to educate yourself with.

Another way to be an “intelligent vocalist” is to know the history behind specific songs that you sing. By understanding where the song came from, you can more fully feel the music and words as you sing. Search out the history behind what you will be performing. That is the least that you can do out of respect for the composer who wrote the song that you are about to use.

I actually got the idea for this post from my dance class as a matter of fact. I am a dancer as well and once my dance instructor said, “Be an intelligent dancer. Know your facts and history.” I believe that this applies for many different hobbies (football, writing etc.) The more aware we are, the more we will appreciate what it is we are involved in.

So, to put this all into a nutshell, be smart.

Nerves in the way?

The stage lights are shining brightly down. Every eye in the audience is focused on me. With microphone in hand, an odd feeling fills my stomach. Suddenly my hands start to get a bit shaky and my forehead becomes moist. "What is happening to me?" I may ask myself. The answer is NERVES.

It is common for vocalists to get nervous before a performance. In fact, a good amount of nerves will help the vocalist push themselves and do their best while performing. When nerves become a problem is when they get out of hand and begin to take control of the singer.

But how can a singer not let their nerves take charge? It seems as if the nerves are the boss right? Personally, what helps me the most when I want to lessen my nerves is when I phych myself up. I say things in my mind to myself like, "You totally got this" and "You own this song". I also always take deep breaths, filling the very bottom of my diaphram with fresh air. Those two hints are my favorites and have helped me do my best while singing solos.

Another helpful hint to calm nerves would be to BE PREPARED. By rehearsing many times beforehand, you gain a confidence that you can do it because you had heard yourself do it so many times beforehand. It is also good to visualize beforehand, yourself performing well.

Click here for some more tips about how to relax before singing.

Really take these tips to heart if you struggle with your nerves getting in the way of what you can do. And remember: sing to EXPRESS, not to IMPRESS.

Proper Posture

Don't cheat your voice and breath. How you stand while singing affects your voice a great deal. I have been taught to imagine that there is a string pulling you up at the top of your head. Two specific and very important factors of good singing posture is a straight back and an open neck. By doing these two key points, your diaphragm has more room to be filled with energy and air and your neck can be relaxed and long. Click here to watch a vocal professional teach more details about proper singing posture.

Jonathan Morgan Jenkins, in his 25th year of vocal coaching, gave this list of what you will look like on stage if you have poor posture:

1) You don't appear confident

2) You look depressed

3) You look ill

4) You look shy

On the other hand, he gave this list of what you will look like while performing with good posture.

1) You look confident

2) You look happy

3) You look healthy

So, as you can see, there are other positive factors to having good posture including the fact that you will be able to sing better. So why wouldn't you? If you are already set in some habits of bad posture and are learning to sing: start small. Begin by trying to straighten your back throughout the day, whether you are singing or not. This will get you into the habit. Good luck!

King of Pop

The "King of Pop" died on June 25, 2009. Michael Jackson was a very talented artist who led a controversial life. I am not going to focus on the parts of his life that may have been controversial. I am here to write on the kind of musician he was and the musical talents that he possessed.

He began singing publicly as the youngest member of the Jackson 5 and began his solo career in 1971. During his lifetime, Jackson was in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, he received 13 Grammy awards, he sung 13 number one singles, and sold over 750million records worldwide.

Micheal Jackson's vocal style changed throughout his life. As a young boy, while he sang with the Jackson Five, he sang with a high boy soprano tone. In the mid-seventies, he sang with a vocal "hiccup" in songs like "Shake Your Body." In an analysis, later in Jackson's life, it was found that "Jackson's feathery wood tone is extraordinarily beautiful." Even later, the Rolling Stone said that Jackson had found his "adult voice." As you can see, Micheal Jackson was always up for an opportunity to change and make his voice better.

If you are interested in buying any of Micheal Jackson's music, click here.

To tell you the truth, I was never a fan of the King of Pop. But as I have learned more about his life, in a musical sense, I am more and more impressed by him. What are your opinions on the musical life of Micheal Jackson? How did you feel upon finding out about his death?

The following video is of Jackson performing one of his BIGGEST hits of all time. THRILLER! The Thriller album still remains the best selling album of all time.

Our National Anthem

Being held captive on a rainy night, Francis Scott Key saw the large American Flag blowing in the wind. The sight of the triumphant American Flag flying above the fort was inspiring to him. He released his patriotic feelings on the back of a letter he had by writing a poem. The words of this poem continued on to become our countries most loved song: our national anthem.

Today is Independence day. As I thought about what I wanted to write about and express tonight, our National Anthem quickly entered my mind. There is something special about the feeling that fills the hearts of people as they rise together with hands feeling the beating of their hearts.

The American National Anthem is sung at the start of most large public events. It is always a privilege for singers when they are asked to sing our country's special song. When I have performed the National Anthem whether it is as a solo or with my choir, it is hard to keep a smile off of my face. When singing it, it is nice to think of unique twists to add to the classic tune. By doing this, the audience is kept on their toes and are more involved. Many professional singers have done a great job at this. Click here to hear some beautiful arrangements and unique twists sung by well-known musicians.

If you are a soloist and have not yet performed the National Anthem, sing it soon. The times that I have sung the Anthem are some of my most cherished performances.

I Will Always Love You

Whitney Houston. What an amazing and inspiring vocalist! Houston has always had a love for music. At age eleven, she became a member of a junior gospel choir. She was discovered by Arista Records when she began singing with her mom at night clubs in New York City. Her first album was released in 1985 and was a best-selling debut. From there she went on to do even bigger and better things in the music world.

Her vocals in her song "I Will Always Love You" have always amazed me. This heart-touching song has always been on my list of songs that I would like to perform. After this song was released, it quickly become one of the worlds best selling singles in history. Wow.

Click on this video to hear this amazing vocal selection being sung by Whitney Houston.

Out of breath?

When I first began singing, I would always run into the same problem no matter what song I was singing; I always ran out of breath. I would get to the end of a long phrase and feel as if my lungs were collapsing. I found out that my "running out of breath" problem was not permanent and that it could be fixed. From one of my vocal teachers I learned that there are a few different causes for running out of breath when it comes to singing. Two causes that come to mind are 'airy' singing and shallow breathing.

Airy breathing is when a person's singing voice sounds like their words are wrapped in layers of air. A few styles of music require this type of singing, but it needs to be used correctly. If it is used wrongly, 'airy' singing sounds frail and dull. This was not the problem that was causing me, personally, to run out of air. I was having trouble with how deep my breaths were going. So, I was dealing with the second cause: shallow breathing. How to change my breathing style was hard at first, but then I got used to it.

To get rid of shallow breathing, imagine that your diaphragm is a big balloon. Fill your "balloon" full of air. Then, as you sing, imagine that there is only one tiny hole at the top of the balloon that the air gets let out from. By imagining these things, your air will last much longer. I remember the first time that I tried this; it was an amazing change. Give it a try!

Carnegie Hall

The feeling that I felt as I stood on the Carnegie Hall stage in New York is indescribable. All that I could think about were the thousands of talented musicians (including some of my musical heroes) who had stood on that same stage. Looking into the audience, I felt a sense of accomplishment as I thought about what my choir and I had done to get there. Much work, stress, practicing, and heartfelt love for music took place on the journey to that moment.

Carnegie Hall was built in 1891 and is one of the most famous performance halls in the United States. It is well-known for its beauty, it's history, and it's acoustics. From personal experience, I truly can see why it is well-known for those things. Performances are constantly taking place at Carnegie Hall. More specifically, about 250 performances take place every season.



I would love to go back to New York someday and be enlightened by watching a performance take place in that magnificent Hall. I would highly recommend the same for you as well. Let's put in on our "bucket lists." Ticket prices range from about $100-$650, depending on where you sit and what performance it is. For a listing of Carnegie Halls event calender, click here.

Whether you go next month or in 15 years, enjoy your life-changing trip to Carnegie Hall in New York City. Maybe I will see you there!

Breath in... Breath out

Where am I going to breath while singing a song? How do I remember when or when not to breath? Personally, I keep track of where I breath by creating a "breathing map" I am able remember more easily when and how large or small those breaths are. You are probably wondering what a "breathing map" is? A breathing map is made by marking in the sheet music exactly where to breath. The breathing spots can be marked with any mark that will help you the most. I prefer to use a breath mark ( ' ), but there are many options. Shelley Kristen, from the "Complete Singing Voice Lesson Series," teaches her students to use a "B" to indicate a big breath or a "b" to mean a small/quick breath. She gives a very good lesson in the following video on Breathing Maps.

I also am a fan of vocal books that give helpful breathing information that I can read while singing at the piano or standing at a music stand. There are many great vocal books out there that can help with breathing techniques. Some examples would be,

Vocal Coach Jamie Vendera's breathing guide

Cost: $17.95

Click here for more information

Berklee Workshops "Vocal Technique"

Cost: $19.95

Click here for more information

To Hear or Not To Hear

My husband is never afraid to sing along with the radio, sing loudly in church, or sing "Good Morning Beautiful" to me as I open my eyes in the morning. I absolutely LOVE his singing voice. He can always bring a smile to my face when his vocal cords make music. After reading these past few sentences about how much I love my husband's voice, you will be surprised to find out that he is tone deaf. Using his voice to match a note being played, whether it is on the piano or on the radio, is a very difficult task for him. As his wife, the sound of his off-key singing voice is beautiful music to my ears. But, at the same time, someone in my position may wonder, "Is it possible for my husband to learn to sing on tune?" The answer is YES. With training, even the most off-key singer can learn to sing in tune.

A person wanting to learn to sing well would begin with "ear training." To someone inexperienced, "ear training" may sound like a silly phrase, but they would be pleased to know that that "silly phrase" could change their singing voices for the better. When doing ear training with beginners, start with the basics. For example, play two different notes on the piano (one at a time) and ask which note was higher and which was lower. Once they can identify that successfully, ask them if the notes are close together or far apart. From there, you can go up in difficultly and ask them to identify octaves, dissonance, major/minor chords etc.

Even though my husbands voice is beautiful to me, I would love to teach him technique and do ear training with him. We have already talked about it, and he is willing. I am connecting a picture of my husband to this blog so that you will recognize him when he is a famous vocalist, well-known for his perfect pitch.

Procrastination

Procrastination. As far as life goes, procrastination is a negative thing. I am a collage student and have learned the pros of doing things on time and being prepared. I have also learned what it feels like to walk into a class not prepared. Bad feeling. This concept applies to singing as well. If the voice is well trained, it can reach heights that it could not otherwise reach. From personal experience, I know that my nerves are calmed when I am on stage to sing if I am prepared. If the voice has not had practice, it cannot do well on the spot.

Style of the Month! Jazz!

Every month I would like to dedicate a blog post to a specific style of vocal music. For May I want to write about Jazz. The neat thing about Jazz is that you don't need much technique or an amazing vocal range to sing it. Jazz is all about using the unique qualities of your voice and making the Jazz songs your own. I think of Jazz as a personal style that can be felt close to the heart. It is kind of like an extension of your speaking voice.

Microphones are especially important when singing Jazz. With a microphone, Jazz singers can whisper or sing in a breathy way and still be heard by a large audience. Using these kinds of techniques add much to Jazz and like I said earlier, make it more personal. Jazz singers should become comfortable with singing into microphones because microphones are a very beneficial tool to use with Jazz.

When singing or listening to Jazz, I tend to find my body moving with the beat. I love the beat! Jazz music has a unique sort of swing to it. For example, in a Jazz song in 4/4 time, the emphasized beats are beats 2 and 4. With so much attention put on these "off beats", the song is able to attain that swingin' and jazzy sound. One classic jazz singer is Frank Sinatra. I am sure you know of this well known star. In his song "Come Fly with Me", you can really hear and feel the "swing". Listen to this great Jazz song. You will notice that you begin to move and maybe even snap your fingers to the beat. It is hard not to!

Breakthrough Treatment That Saves Vocal Cords

He has saved the voices of singers like Aerosmith, Cher, and Julie Andrews. He is known worldwide and is the director of the Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation at Massachusetts General Hospital. His name is Dr. Steven Zeitels. By using an advanced laser, Dr. Zeitels saves voices and lives by skillfully using radiation.

In a recent case, one of Israel's most popular comic actors, Sefi Rivlin, had developed a severe case of vocal cord cancer. By losing his voice, he would be losing his career and wouldn't be able to talk and sing with his family: the things that he most enjoyed in his life. While searching for help, Rivlin heard about a new radical procedure done by Dr. Zeitels to save vocal cords filled with cancer. Wanting so badly to keep his voice, Rivlin decided to try the procedure. In 2006 his throat was so full of cancer that his vocal cords could not be seen by doctors. But today, Rivlin is cancer free. "I see no evidence of cancer. The dysplasia is mostly resolved," Zeitels said. Some may wonder how the laser doesn't hurt the vocal cords themselves. Dr. Zeitels explains, "For vocal cords to vibrate, they need to be soft and pliable, very similar to a child's skin or an infant's skin. This laser is absorbed by hemoglobin and blood and only heats the tumor, which is why the pliability is basically preserved."

This is truly an amazing procedure that has saved lives and voices. To watch a news clip from ABC news on this story click here.

It is such a comfort to know that there is now technology that can help us save something that helps to make us who we are: our voices.

The Crucial Step

The runner stretches her legs before her competitive race. The football player awakes his muscles as the crowd gathers in the stands. The arms of the tennis player are exercised to gain needed muscle for her matches.

Preparing beforehand for big events like these is needed so that injury doesn't occur. Some athletes may think that this is an obvious bit of information, but other individuals may not be as knowledgeable. Just like athletes, singers (whether experienced or new) must grasp the importance of warming their voices before singing. This is a crucial step, and its benefits greatly outweigh the time it takes to do so. By warming up, the diaphragm and vocal cords become ready to create and support the sounds that singing requires.


So, what are some beneficial warm-ups for vocalists to perform before singing? Dr. Titze from the National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS) has some answers. Dr. Titze gave five of his favorite vocal warm-ups for singers (trilling, two-octave pitch glides etc.) on the NCVS website here.

Just like runners need to warm their muscles and stretch before running, vocalists need to warm-up their voices before singing. Never forget that crucial step.

Let the Music Begin!

Some believe that singing is simple and basic. Others may say that the voice is not an instrument and that it requires little effort. Anyone who takes the time to study about the singing voice would find that those beliefs are wrong. As an instrument, the voice needs training and practice. It can constantly improve. Vocal music can become life changing if it is given the chance. Through personal experience, I know that that is true. As a young girl, standing on a small stage, I sang my first solo. That day, something special happened. A seed was planted inside me. That seed was my love for music and it has grown and blossomed as life has continued on. Music has been a major factor of shaping who I am today.
With this blog, I wish to share my love for vocal music, give helpful hints to my fellow singers, keep others updated on vocal news, and much more! Let the music begin!