Breath is the power source for the voice. Not having enough breath or not having control of breath for singing or speaking can cause all kinds of vocal problems, including: running out of breath (can’t finish phrases well) not having enough volume (weak, quiet voice) strained or fatigued voice (from overblowing cords and/or tightening throat)… Read More » about Voices with Breathing Problems? Check These Areas
Vocal Technique
Think You Can’t Sing Again? Think Twice
If we sing long enough, most of us come upon a time where something stops us from singing. It can be an illness, trauma, personal or family priority or other life situation that causes us to set music aside. Then we wake up one morning with that ache of the soul that misses singing. And… Read More » about Think You Can’t Sing Again? Think Twice
What Singers Can Learn From Master Musicians
Well, actually singers can learn lots of things from master musicians, but I want to highlight this one today: The secret of the light-just-right touch. Great musicians know that pressure matters, for instance… When drummers hit drums too hard, they lose tone from their drums. They end up sounding oddly smaller with more attack than… Read More » about What Singers Can Learn From Master Musicians
Raising Pitch: The Inner Smile vs The Grimace
The very first professional vocal technique I learned was from the leader of my first staff jingle singing group. His name was Dick Gregory, a kind person and experienced singer. Jingle singing requires surgically accurate precision in everything… pitch, tone, phrasing, rhythm, entrances and cutoffs. Hired on because I could do most of these things… Read More » about Raising Pitch: The Inner Smile vs The Grimace
Singers, Speakers: Three Worst Vocal Habits
The three worst things you can do when singing or speaking are: Tightening your ribcage Tightening your throat Communicating to more than one heart (hint: it’s the heart to whom your lyric or words are directed. The bad news: most people get these areas wrong habitually, The good news: changing them can make an instant… Read More » about Singers, Speakers: Three Worst Vocal Habits
Finding Your Voice: Matching Voices
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
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
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!
5 Tips for Breathing in the Vocal Booth
How you breathe in the vocal booth will determine your degree of vocal control- affecting pitch, tone, volume, vocal licks and your susceptibility to vocal strain. As is true for all singing, breath during vocal recording includes three areas… Read More » about 5 Tips for Breathing in the Vocal Booth