I wanted to add this information today for Nav’s benefit – Two specific tips for loosening the jaw: 1. Let the jaw open like a monkey wrench, not like pliers. Put your knuckle between your molars on one side and try to sing like that until the jaw loosens. 2. Let the jaw move SLOWLY… Read More » about Loosening a tight jaw: two specific tips
All Things Vocal Blog & Podcast
Ways to mend a pesky vocal break – part 2
This is a continuation of my post series on the subject of vocal breaks. I had a great question emailed (thanks, Nav!) to me today about the jaw’s function in singing. Oddly enough, incorrect jaw actions are among the things that will cause and/or exacerbate a vocal break. Vocal register breaks, as indicated in my… Read More » about Ways to mend a pesky vocal break – part 2
Ways to mend a pesky vocal break – part 1
Pesky, dreaded, dratted vocal breaks. At one point, I had one of the worst. Here is the problem as defined by Wikipedea, …The frequency of vibration of the vocal folds is determined by their length, tension, and mass. As pitch rises, the vocal folds are lengthened, tension increases, and their thickness decreases. In other words,… Read More » about Ways to mend a pesky vocal break – part 1
Pop Quiz… Got vocal issues?
Time…It’s time for me to do an inventory on my focus in this blog. It takes time to write each post and time for you to read it. To keep it worth our time, I’d like to increase its usefulness to you. And I’d like to ask you to take a few moments of your… Read More » about Pop Quiz… Got vocal issues?
Jingle singing
I got a recent comment on this blog asking me to talk about jingle singing. Thanks very much for the comment and here goes… What’s the difference between jingle singing and session singing? Jingle singers are a sub-field of session singers, which is just an abbreviated term for “recording session singers”. Session singers includes background… Read More » about Jingle singing
Chronic breathiness or hoarseness? Suspect vocal damage!
I was eating lunch when my one of my new students’ mother called. “Hello”, I said. “Well, you were right”, she said. Sadly, I had guessed I would be right. It wasn’t the first time I’d correctly suspected vocal damage. She had taken her little actress daughter to the doctor after my suggestion at her… Read More » about Chronic breathiness or hoarseness? Suspect vocal damage!
Vocal Aerobics- the importance of physical exercise
I have a new understanding to offer you for the phrase “Move it or Lose it!” Think of the word “it” as meaning “voice”. If you sing according to Power, Path & Performance principles, you’ll notice you don’t get vocally tired. You’ll also notice that you do get physically tired! That’s because singing correctly will… Read More » about Vocal Aerobics- the importance of physical exercise
Balancing strength in vocal muscle sets
If you, like so many popular genre singers, have trouble straining in your upper chest My contemporary (non-classical) students have found astounding vocal improvement by using exercises I give them to strengthen their head voice. That’s because of the need to balance the muscle groups that work the head and chest voices… and if one… Read More » about Balancing strength in vocal muscle sets
Tips on writing music
Ok.. got some great comments on writing lyrics; so on to the next part of the songwriting equasion: here are some tips on writing the music. The Music – should have a memorable melody. should have structured patterns of rhythm. These structures can be more free-form, however it takes experience and study of patterned music… Read More » about Tips on writing music
More on lyric tips for songwriters
Wow, I got some great comments on my last post about writing lyrics. Before going on to writing music, I’d like to post on my commenters’ thoughts about lyrics. Leigh Ann, you ask about my favorite song lyrics and songwriters: There are so many truly great songs now… I can’t think of all but some… Read More » about More on lyric tips for songwriters