Tongue tension equals soft palate tension, equals… throat tension! It happens when you use the wrong end of the tongue too much! The tongue is said by some to be the strongest muscle in the body for it’s size. It is literally connected by the hyoid bone to the top of your larynx. Tensing the… Read More » about Taming Tongue Tension
Vocal Technique
Vocal Control For Studio Singing
A large part of vocal training involves learning vocal control. Without vocal control, any vocal recording will suffer dreadfully. With it, you can do things you can only dream about without it. Another problem with lack of control is that if you are singing with any degree of power, you are going to experience a… Read More » about Vocal Control For Studio Singing
Vocal Training: Should We Train the Intellect or the Senses?
There is a point and counterpoint dancing among teachers of voice. Some say it’s best to teach the intellect, using facts, logic, the left brain, so to speak. Others say the way to go is to teach the sensory system… with imagery and subjective “feeling” of concepts. Like many, I think the answer lies in… Read More » about Vocal Training: Should We Train the Intellect or the Senses?
Vocal Training: Change Habits, Then Strengthen Weaknesses
It’s so much fun – for both of us – when a student comes to me for the first Power, Path & Performance vocal lesson. There is such an amazing leap in vocal ability that can be made by some simple changes I can suggest from watching a student do “their thing”. The first plateau… Read More » about Vocal Training: Change Habits, Then Strengthen Weaknesses
Vocal Range… What It Is, How Much Of It You Need To Sing Great
How can you increase your vocal range? It’s a question I hear all the time. Many times, this question is uninformed. There’s no need to sing in whistle register if you’re not doing Maria Carey style vocal runs, or singing the part of “Tony The Tiger” in those commercials. Why people have contests over this… Read More » about Vocal Range… What It Is, How Much Of It You Need To Sing Great
Singing The Whole Line: The Slinky Principle
As a vocal coach I use the Slinky in my vocal lessons to demonstrate several things… here’s another. Put a Slinky in your hands and play with it for a moment. Now, think of the left hand as the “set up” of the line. If you don’t have that end in your hand, the Slinky… Read More » about Singing The Whole Line: The Slinky Principle
The Path Through An Open Throat: The Slinky Concept
Whether you are singing soft jazz, southern rock, a pop anthem, a country ballad or a screaming metal song, if you have a tight throat you… …will not have control of your voice (because your breath is overpowering) …will not have the best sound you can make (because of limited vocal resonance) …will not be… Read More » about The Path Through An Open Throat: The Slinky Concept
What Key Do You Sing In? Why That’s A Dumb Question
When somebody asks, “what key you sing in?” What do you say? The best response is a question of your own: What key do I sing WHAT in? Let me explain: There is no “right key” for you to sing EVERY song in! The key you sing best in depends on the melody of the… Read More » about What Key Do You Sing In? Why That’s A Dumb Question
Choir Singing: Does Your Choir Know How To Control Vocal Volume?
I got a great question about controlling choir singing volume from a caring choir director named Tim Ingersoll. With his permission, I’ll share our discussion: “Hi Judy … There is a perception I’ve formed over the years that I’m hoping you’ll either confirm the correctness of, or point me down a different path. That perception… Read More » about Choir Singing: Does Your Choir Know How To Control Vocal Volume?
Vocal Training: Why Your Audience Shouldn’t Hear It
I got a very interesting comment about over-trained singers at a vocal forum on The Modern Vocalist.com: “What I strive for: no two voices are the same. It’s that unique strong signature characteristic that separates people who can sing from people who become icons in music. Take Sting for example… not the greatest vocalist, but… Read More » about Vocal Training: Why Your Audience Shouldn’t Hear It