Laryngitis. A true vocal killer. Just about everyone has experienced it at some point. But, do you know what it is? Laryngitis is the inflammation of the larynx and, thus, the vocal folds. It can cause hoarseness, sore throat, coughing, and pain when you swallow. It can also feel like it takes much more energy than usual to speak, let alone sing. Colds, flus, infections, and allergies can cause this swelling. However, Laryngitis can also be caused by vocal abuse or very poor vocal technique. Talking or singing too loudly or harshly for long time periods can sometimes be the source. So, if you notice a DRASTIC change in your voice after an overly aggressive vocal session - give it a rest. If you suspect you have Laryngitis, check with your doctor to see whether it’s caused by illness. The good news is that Laryngitis will definitely heal! Just be patient and conscientious if it comes your way!
How many times have you started singing a song you love, only to discover you don't actually know the words? It's easy to listen to songs and enjoy the tune without really paying attention to the lyrics. Yet, lyrics are essential to a song's success. How do the song’s words communicate a story or a feeling? From a technical perspective, how do the consonants and vowels in each word establish style and texture? Do the breaths within the song change the meaning of the phrases and sentences? Lyrics give singers countless opportunities to communicate and express themselves. Your musicality, technique, and acting will all benefit from awareness of how the lyrics complement the music. So, next time you listen - or sing along - give the words the attention they deserve!
"Know Thyself." It’s not just good advice for life, but it’s also the best way to take care of your vocal HEALTH. Voice teachers and vocal doctors are very knowledgeable and can help you learn a great deal about your voice. At the end of the day, though, the only person who truly knows how your voice is doing is YOU. Pay attention to how you feel when you're singing at your best. Notice what feels different when you are tired, under the weather, or when you have done too much vocally. Keep track of activities that make you feel better or worse. The more you actively monitor your vocal health, the better you will be at keeping your voice in tip-top shape and also at knowing when to seek assistance. “Know Thy Voice!”
Why is it so common for people to RUN OUT of breath - even in the middle of everyday conversation, during an interview, or business presentation? Chances are, they haven't coordinated their breathing system with their voice! For better coordination, take a full breath into the low rib cage, low abdominals, and the back. Keep in mind that it’s more about the DEPTH of the breath than the QUANTITY. Next, speak boldly and with friendly conviction as though your sound emerges from this deep place. Be sure to take breaks on punctuation to reestablish this coordination. Focusing on this will slow the rate of speech and convey even more CONFIDENCE. Remember - we speak on an exhale, so make sure your inhales prepare you to never RUN OUT of great things to say!
Do you ever feel like it’s TOO LATE to learn something new? Put that thought away! Certainly some things are easier to learn at certain times, like when we’re very young or in particular life circumstances. But, it’s ALWAYS the right time to keep learning! As an artist, your craft continues to evolve as long as you use it. And, you can forever make progress on developing your voice (both your physical voice and your artistic voice) and discovering new things about it. The same way that our relationships with other people develop and grow over time, so does your relationship with your art. So, cherish, protect, and honor the lifelong relationship with the voice you've been given. It’s NEVER too late to become a better and happier artist!
Do you keep an Audition JOURNAL? If not, try it out! Take notes on everything! Start with the FACTS of the Audition. Where were you? Who did you Audition for? What time? What did you sing? What were you wearing? Next, list the PHYSICAL aspects. How much did you sleep the night before? What did you eat for breakfast? How much water did you drink? Did you stretch or workout? Did you warm up? Finally, describe the EMOTIONAL aspects. What was your mood like that day? How did you feel during your Audition? After your Audition? Did anything put you “in your head”? Did you learn or GROW in any way? After several Auditions, you'll start noticing patterns - both good and bad. In a few short months, you’ll go to Auditions with more self-awareness and confidence than you've ever had! Harness your JOURNAL power for unprecedented success!
Do you want to take your Riffing and Scatting to the next level? Try a TRANSCRIPTION! Instrumentalists very often learn entire instrumental solos from the great improvisers and soloists. When these solos are written out, they are called Transcriptions. Musicians such as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and John Coltrane are examples of pioneers and masters of improvisation. Start by choosing a solo that sparks your interest from a master soloist or vocalist that you love. Then, take the time to learn the notes and rhythms very precisely. Once you have done this, choose one vowel (Like “OO”) and sing the improvisation. This exercise is a great way to awaken your voice to both rhythmic and melodic ideas that you may not otherwise encounter in songs. It's time to take your Riffing to VIRTUOSIC heights by singing note-for-note with the greats!
Singing is Joyful. Yet, sadly it often has FEAR surrounding it. Do you sing more quietly because you’re scared of someone hearing and judging you? Do you avoid telling people you sing? Do you constantly say negative things to yourself about your own voice? If so, fear might be one of your biggest vocal challenges. But consider replacing fear with JOY! “I have a wonderful gift to share.” “I make good vocal choices and I'm kind to my singing voice.” “I draw inner strength, confidence, and bravery from my vocal life.” And most importantly: “I trust myself”. These thoughts can help you before auditions, performances, and other situations that scare you. Singing doesn’t have to be a fearful noise. Let it be a Joyful one!
What’s the key to success in the Music Industry? YOU. As an aspiring artist, you must understand who YOU are before prospering in the field. Don’t let the industry compromise what makes you special. There will always be a multitude of great artists out there. Yet, your originality is what keeps you grounded and sets you apart. Your productivity, your preparation, and your perseverance are completely up to YOU. Are you writing new music? Are you studying? Do you know what you’re saying as an artist? Are you staying true to your heart, your uniqueness, and your Joy? The more specific you can be about your own gifts and goals, the more ready you are for success. No artist in history has ever had everything go according to plan. So, take control over the one thing in the Music Industry that you can control: YOU!
Your Larynx is an amazing energy converting machine! Air pressure beneath the Larynx and vocal folds creates aerodynamic POWER. The Larynx then amazingly converts this aerodynamic power into acoustic power by causing vocal fold VIBRATION. Even more amazing is the way acoustic power travels through the space above it. The RESONANCE of the head can either enhance or diminish the quality of the vocal fold vibration. So, this power conversion doesn't just happen one way, but many ways! As singers, we study vocal technique, breath, and resonance to make this energy conversion as efficient as possible. This leads to more sound, clearer sounds, freer sounds, and limitless vocal possibilities. All this and more - just because your larynx is literally an amazing well-oiled vocal machine!
When you listen to a singer, do you listen? Or, do you REALLY listen? Critical listening is an invaluable skill for a growing singer. You can learn so much about stylistic nuances, performance choices, and vocal technique by listening very intelligently to what a singer is doing each and every moment. Which notes are breathy and which are compressed? When do they Belt or use Head Voice, Mix, or Chest Voice? Does the singer ever use Vocal Fry or other textures? What is the dramatic intention or acting choice? What about vibrato or straight tone? Next time you listen to your favorite singer: start... stop... replay... then replay again and again. It’s one thing to be a fan. It’s another thing to be an artist. Artists REALLY listen.
DIET can play a crucial role in the longevity of our vocal folds. Our eating habits may contribute to LaryngoPharyngeal Reflux (LPR), which is one of the worst problems for vocal health. LPR is often referred to as “silent reflux” because its symptoms are less conspicuous than traditional heartburn. LPR can have very damaging effects on the voice as it often goes undiagnosed. Tips to avoid LPR include staying well-hydrated and avoiding excess consumption of spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, and extremely fatty foods. While this may sound daunting, the key is MODERATION! Maintaining an intentional diet, workout plan, and positive lifestyle will not only promote physical and psychological well-being, but will foster freedom from LPR and a healthy voice as well!
Studies have shown that breathing through the NOSE has many benefits - it FILTERS bacteria from the air, ASSISTS with good circulation, SLOWS the breathing rate, and IMPROVES overall lung volume. In addition, inhalations through the nose before vocalizing usually encourage Nasal Resonance to be maintained throughout the sung phrase. The only downside to Nasal Breathing is that sometimes the breaths are too slow for inhales during songs that contain quick phrases. In these instances, a DUAL nose and mouth breath is optimal. So, go ahead and take a nice, clean, and smooth breath in through the nose before you sing... whenever you've got the time!
Inspiration can come from many different places. So often as singers, we look to other singers for such inspiration. And rightly so! However, there are many other avenues we can explore to further our vocal, musical, and artistic growth. To start, we can listen to INSTRUMENTAL music. By listening to the greatest musicians we learn phrasing, dynamics, and other stylistic and expressive tools. Another avenue to explore is VISUAL art. By viewing drawings, paintings, and sculptures from the greatest artists, we learn continuity, focus, and attention to detail. Or, why not read or see a DRAMATIC work? There’s a lot to learn about storytelling, truthful communication, and emotion. Whether it be instrumental, visual, acting, writing, dance or any other artform - improve your vocal artistry by learning about great art of ALL kinds!
You’ve probably heard a number of different opinions on LARYNX POSITION during singing. Modern voice teachers often lead away from the idea of a lower larynx, encouraging singers to keep it neutral or reap the stylistic benefits of raising it. On the other hand, traditional teachers are often appalled at the idea of a high larynx and prefer a low larynx at all costs. Who is right? Both! The ability to manipulate your larynx position is among the most important aspects of vocal versatility. Just remember - when lowering the larynx, think of relaxing your throat open, instead of pushing and forcing your larynx down. And when allowing it to sit higher, make sure it's not because you're straining for higher pitches. Rather, make it an intentional choice for style or acoustics. It's your instrument. Why not do it all?
Any live singer knows - MONITORS are a must! Whether it’s a speaker or an in-ear, it’s essential that you can hear yourself. Sometimes you’ll be in a concert hall with perfect acoustics. But, quite often venues like outdoor weddings, hotels, or cafes won’t have ideal sound setups. This causes many singers to push or strain to hear themselves clearly. Or, they have pitch problems due to lack of auditory feedback. So, make the Sound Engineer your best friend! If there’s no engineer present, then try your best to arrange a setup where the vocals and instruments are audible to both the audience and the performers onstage. You often must take it upon yourself to do a sound check prior to the performance. But, this extra planning will spare you much frustration and will let the audience HEAR YOU at your BEST!
Some people complain of their speaking voices TIRING out very quickly. On the other hand, there are other people that can speak all day long and never seem to wear out. Want to be one of the healthy ones? Then, use VARIETY! One big reason for vocal fatigue is doing everything the SAME. Perhaps the pitch is monotone. Or, maybe the voice is predominantly in one register like vocal fry or Chest Voice. It might be that the volume is always at one level. Or, perhaps the resonance is consistently very dark or bright. By varying the pitch, registration, volume, and resonance, you will keep your voice spry and HAPPY. Plus, your voice will be more interesting, engaging, and attractive. Variety is indeed the spice of long vocal LIFE
Have you ever felt like you can’t inhale DEEPLY? Try a Resistance Breath! First, create a tiny opening at your lips like drinking through a straw. Second, place your finger in front of your lips. Third, inhale the air. Be sure to make it somewhat difficult to take in the air. The sound should be a bit noisy (like slurping a milkshake through a straw) and should take a while (10 to 20 seconds). For added awareness, place a hand on your abdomen or on your ribcage. Notice what happens as you draw in the breath. See how far you can expand the ribcage and how much you can allow the abdomen to relax. This tool is used by athletes, people with breathing disorders, and…. you guessed it… SINGERS!
There comes a moment in your singing studies when your Artistic Voice speaks up and confesses HOW and WHAT it likes to sing. Perhaps it's not a loud voice or a dramatic moment. But, one day in the midst of all the coaching, the critique, and the crafting - you’ll begin to listen to this Voice. It is yours and yours alone. It guides your unique musical taste and artistic values. It shapes your stylistic choices, repertoire, and stage presence. It tells you exactly what kind of performer you were destined to become and what you want to give to the world through song. All of us start off as the product of someone else’s Artistic Voice. And we can be grateful for this. But, when you finally listen to your OWN Artistic Voice, without judgment, you’ll discover the kind of singer you are meant to be.
Should you be SELECTIVE in your Auditions? Well, that actually depends on where you are in your career. Artists just starting out can benefit from Auditioning for any and all things they MIGHT be right for. Who knows? You may think you're wrong for a project, but end up singing and performing in a piece that you never dreamed of! Plus, when you’re starting out, your Auditioning will need lots of PRACTICE. However, as your career develops, it’s important that you become more selective. Make sure that you’re only auditioning for projects that you're truly right for and that you would WANT to do. This helps you build your “brand” as a performer and assures that you won’t be wasting anyone’s time by turning down projects that you book. Take a moment to consider how selective you need to be at this point in your career when it comes to your Auditions!