People sing for different reasons, all are valid. Karaoke singing, cover band singing, choir singing, background studio singing… all these involve the singer needing to sound like someone else, or blend with other voices. To do this very well, vocal techniques need to be finely honed to adjust and match tone, rhythm, diction inflection, cutoffs… Read More » about Finding Your Voice: Matching Voices
All Things Vocal Blog & Podcast
Song Critiques: Can Too Many Cooks Spoil Song?
Working with singers who are also songwriters, I am frequently asked what I think about song critiques. Here is what I tell them: Critiques of songs can either help the writer turn a mediocre tune into hit song… or they can absolutely kill the song, derail and shut down the voice of the writer. Where… Read More » about Song Critiques: Can Too Many Cooks Spoil Song?
Singing In The Studio? You’ll Like This
Dear blog friends… I usually reserve “All Things Vocal” blog for giving you actionable articles on the voice. In future I’ll be adding video and audio to some of my posts. However, I’ve decided to do something rare and announce the new price on my multimedia professional guide “Singing In The Studio” first on this… Read More » about Singing In The Studio? You’ll Like This
Digging Deep for Songwriting Gold
Real songwriting, like real singing, is not for the squeamish. Got a great question about the sometimes perilous activity of digging deep for songwriting gold from a very dear friend. He is a singer/songwriter who is also an Army veteran of the recent Middle East wars. I have noticed a bit of a trend with… Read More » about Digging Deep for Songwriting Gold
Speaking with Vocal Fry: Danger!!
Fry a turkey – not your voice! Vocal fry in the speaking voice, or what I like to call ‘falling on gravel’, is one of the sneakiest and pernicious causes of vocal fatigue I find. If you don’t talk much, maybe this doesn’t turn into that much of a problem, but most people find themselves… Read More » about Speaking with Vocal Fry: Danger!!
Singing And Playing Guitar… Breath Issues
Singers who play guitar sometimes have breath issues. Most of the time, especially if the singer has been playing for a while, they typically sing better with the instrument than without. However, sometimes it’s the opposite. Singers are all so interestingly unique! I just got a great email inquiry about this: Andrea wrote… I had… Read More » about Singing And Playing Guitar… Breath Issues
Numb/Lifeless Singing: 9 Causes and Cures
So you’ve either noticed or been told that you have a numb or lifeless singing voice. Getting to the root (the why) is the only way to change this ineffective, boring vocal performance into a voice that is understood at an emotional level. The top 9 reasons I see in vocal coaching for numb/ lifeless… Read More » about Numb/Lifeless Singing: 9 Causes and Cures
Gift Ideas for Singers, Songwriters, Musicians and Speakers 2011
For those who find this old post: please go to my UPDATED gift list on the new post.
Talking On The Phone Can Hurt Your Voice!
Did you know that talking on the phone for any extended length of time can sabotage your singing voice? Yep, it’s absolutely true. Why? No one can see you. Therefore, you don’t use the same kind of facial and body language that you would if communicating visually. Here’s the typical phone talker: Your face upper face… Read More » about Talking On The Phone Can Hurt Your Voice!
Resting My Voice
Yep, this is me… riding all the way to sand! Hi sweet blog reading friends… Just didn’t want you to think I’d forgotten you. Boogie-boarding on my vacation took over… and except for the occasional (pulled) scream of delight when catching the perfect wave, I rested my voice for a week, literally and figuratively…. Read More » about Resting My Voice