Experiencing too much Vocal Fry? Solve it with breath flow! You may notice that when you arrive at the end of your sentences, the last word or syllable ends in Vocal Fry. Often, we unintentionally "give up" as the energy of the sentence wanes. Confident speakers, though, carry the momentum of the exhale PAST the end of the sentence! Say: "I have a cockatiel in Wyoming." Many people will notice some Vocal Fry toward the end of "Wyoming." Now try: "I have a cockatiel in Wyoming and one in Iowa." Notice that the Vocal Fry doesn't occur until “Iowa”. Practice blowing out a little extra air during the last word so that you don't hear a "crackle". While Vocal Fry can be an effective tool in singing and voiceover work, it doesn't need to be an everyday part of your speaking voice. Keep on flowing!
Every singer works on improving their RESONANCE. The Pharynx is the voice’s primary resonator. It’s divided into 3 sections. There’s the LaryngoPharynx (Larynx space), OroPharynx (Mouth space), and NasoPharynx (Nasal space). Lowering the LARYNX increases the darker Resonances of the voice. Raising the Larynx makes the sound brighter. Opening the MOUTH makes the sound appear stronger. A narrow or neutral mouth position increases Head Resonance and often the beauty of the tone. NASAL Resonance is added when the soft palate is lowered. This provides flexibility to the voice and assists with vocal “placement”. All these important Resonance adjustments take place in the 3 sections of the Pharynx. There’s so much great singing going on in the back of your mouth!
Could TENSION actually be the secret to relaxation? In fact, YES! A helpful way to eliminate tension is to contract a muscle group for 10 seconds or so and then release this contraction. Sustained contractions allow muscles to release in an exaggerated way. Take a minute to contract and release muscles in your feet and legs, then your abdomen, followed by your arms and shoulders, and finally your neck and head. Do you notice any difference? Do you feel looser? Is your awareness of muscle relaxation heightened? Functional muscle tension is necessary for maintaining optimal body alignment. Yet, unwanted muscular tension hinders optimal vocal production. So, make tension the victim of its own trap! Use TENSION for newfound vocal freedom!
Could TENSION actually be the secret to relaxation? In fact, YES! A helpful way to eliminate tension is to contract a muscle group for 10 seconds or so and then release this contraction. Sustained contractions allow muscles to release in an exaggerated way. Take a minute to contract and release muscles in your feet and legs, then your abdomen, followed by your arms and shoulders, and finally your neck and head. Do you notice any difference? Do you feel looser? Is your awareness of muscle relaxation heightened? Functional muscle tension is necessary for maintaining optimal body alignment. Yet, unwanted muscular tension hinders optimal vocal production. So, make tension the victim of its own trap! Use TENSION for newfound vocal freedom!
A True Artist is someone who never asks when they are going to be “DONE”. Or, when they are going to “MAKE IT”. Or, when they are going to be a “GREAT SINGER”. A True Artist is instead a LIFELONG LEARNER. Someone who isn’t seeking an ending point, but rather seeking the endless Joy that comes from learning about their body, craft, and soul. Even the most elite artists continue to take voice lessons, listen to new music, and develop their craft. Being a lifelong learner doesn't mean that you'll never be "good enough" or that you shouldn't set goals! It just means that your True Goal should be much bigger than any ONE goal. Let this take the pressure off of you so that you can develop an Artistry that fulfills and satisfies you... for LIFE!
Becoming a True Artist often feels more like FORGETTING the things that we’ve learned than it feels like remembering them. Often, we are more alive and expressive when we don’t over-think our singing and we simply “forget ourselves”. Of course, it takes a lot of practice, training, and hard work to get to this place. But, once you've arrived, difficult phrases and songs will roll right out of you without giving them a single thought. Your SOUL takes over and you become the messenger - a vessel and an open channel for your truest artistry. Don’t forget to work hard and be disciplined and thoughtful about your technique. But once the hard work is done and you are ready to perform - don’t forget to FORGET!
How are Vowel sounds made? Each Vowel has its own FORMANTS. Formants are resonances of the vocal tract. The pharynx creates the first Formant and the oral cavity creates the second Formant. The first and second Formant are called Vowel Formants because they are responsible for the way we hear the strength and color of each vowel. The configuration of the tongue, larynx, soft palate, jaw opening and pharynx determine the resonance of these Vowel Formants. As a result, there are endless ways that singers can articulate and modify vowels. However, our first goal is to produce consistently clear and understandable Vowel sounds throughout our vocal range. Once you’ve got your vowels all sounding like themselves, you can modify them for more strength and color. Or, in other words, you can FORM your FORMANTS!
Have you ever been asked to ACT your song more? Perhaps you resisted this because you didn’t want to come across in a phony way. If so, you were right to not want to “overact”. So much of the emotion is already taken care of by the music when we sing. So, the best way to ACT often doesn’t feel like “'acting” at all. In fact, the most truthful performances come from deep within ourselves. Find something in the song that relates directly to you. Then deliver the lyrics in a way that resonates with your life, your experiences, and your unique view of the world. Not only will this give you an irresistible authenticity, but also will instantly make any song your OWN.
"You are enough." You don't need to be someone else. You need to be YOU. No matter how much you prepare for an Audition, you can never be sure what the person on the other side of the table wants to see or hear. What you can be sure of is that you can give them YOU! To Audition at your best, stay true to who you are and to your own artistic choices. If a casting team wants to hire someone else, then there’s nothing you can do to change this. Your job is simply to show them YOU. Once you have mastered this simple, yet elusive skill of not being someone else, you’ll be amazed at how many times “YOU are enough” - both when you book the part and also when you don’t!
Why is it sometimes so hard to say “I Love You”? After all, those 3 little words are what we desperately long to hear. They have the power to heal us, to uplift us, and to make us whole. Today is Valentine’s Day. The day of Love. So, whether you’re alone or you’re with someone special - don’t forget that you always have love in your life as a singer. Don’t forget that the beauty you’ve been given. Don’t forget to take time to tell your voice what it longs to hear from you. Can you do it? Even if it’s hard? Can you say to your own voice: “I LOVE YOU.”? After all, You and your voice are a match made in Heaven.
Do you struggle with a vocal WOBBLE? A “wobble” is generally a Vibrato that is either too slow or that deviates from the fundamental pitch too far. Singers of all ages can develop wobbles, but it affects the aging voice even more. Luckily, there is hope! A wobble often is the result of singing too loudly, with too much force, with too much “weight”, or with an overly depressed larynx. Some solutions include practicing straight tone, experimenting with volume control exercises, and becoming skilled with a lighter and brighter tone quality. Agility exercises can also help to shed excessive wobbly weight and speed up the movement of the vocal folds. So, if things are WOBBLING for you - take heart! Some simple steps should STEADY your sound soon!
Selecting the right Musical Theatre audition songs can be DAUNTING. Where do you start? Well, first try choosing a few actors or actresses whose careers you admire. What roles have they performed? What songs have they sung in concerts? What concept albums have they recorded? There are a wealth of excellent and unique songs to find by using an established Musical Theatre star’s career as a starting point. For another easy place to start, check out the Internet Broadway Database (www.ibdb.com). It offers a comprehensive look at actors' and actress’ Broadway credits. With this resource, you’ll never run out of artists and shows to glean new song ideas from! Why not learn from the BEST?
One of the most important vocal skill-sets is Vowel CLARITY. It’s sometimes okay to change Vowels in singing. This is called “Vowel Modification”. However, our first goal must be to sing our vowels as accurately as possible before modifying them. For example, is your EE vowel as BRIGHT as it should be? Or is it slipping into something like an IH sound? Or, what about the OH vowel? Are you using your lips to form the vowel or is the tongue retracting backwards instead? The concept of Vowel Clarity has been around since the foundations of Vocal Technique and applies to all musical styles. If your vowels can all be sung accurately, then your voice is going to find a great balance of resonance, breath, registration, control, and CLARITY!
One of the most common places that singers hold vocal tension is under the CHIN. The Digastrics, the Mylohyoids, and the Geniohyoids are the major muscles located there. The main purpose of these muscles is for swallowing. However, they can also tighten during singing. Try placing a finger beneath your chin as you practice. You should not feel this area get tight or bulky, particularly as you move to higher notes. If it does tighten, you can either massage the muscles or hold them gently. If you still have problems, try some jaw and tongue stretches to free up the tension. All of these muscles are connected to the Larynx, so it’s very important to make sure they remain free at all times. But, if you do struggle with tension beneath your chin, don’t get discouraged! Keep your CHIN up
One of the most common places that singers hold vocal tension is under the CHIN. The Digastrics, the Mylohyoids, and the Geniohyoids are the major muscles located there. The main purpose of these muscles is for swallowing. However, they can also tighten during singing. Try placing a finger beneath your chin as you practice. You should not feel this area get tight or bulky, particularly as you move to higher notes. If it does tighten, you can either massage the muscles or hold them gently. If you still have problems, try some jaw and tongue stretches to free up the tension. All of these muscles are connected to the Larynx, so it’s very important to make sure they remain free at all times. But, if you do struggle with tension beneath your chin, don’t get discouraged! Keep your CHIN up
It’s time for a little Vocal LIMBO! “How low can you go” in your Head Voice and Falsetto? In popular music, it’s very common to hear singers singing HIGH in Chest Voice. Many singers mimic this aesthetic because it often sounds thrilling and exciting. Yet, it’s actually just as important to practice taking your Head Voice and Falsetto as LOW as you can take them as well. This may not be aesthetically pleasing to you. In fact, it usually sounds quite weak. However, doing this balances the voice in terms of vocal technique and also vocal health. Plus, it will assist you with developing the Mix and will give you more possibilities for stylistic nuances, dynamics, and dramatic choices. So practice the Vocal LIMBO, and find out: “How low can you go” in Head Voice and Falsetto!
Are your vocal folds AGILE? To increase agility, try practicing STACCATO exercises. Staccato refers to short notes sharply detached from one another (like “ha / ha / ha”). Regular practice of staccato exercises can help your vocal folds achieve greater flexibility as well as more speed. Remember to keep the neck muscles free and to watch out for extrinsic tension. Once you have worked a lot on staccato, try practicing scales that combine staccato and legato (longer, smoother notes) in variation for some real vocal acrobatics! This kind of practice will translate over to your songs in terms of better precision, accuracy, riffs, and control. So, try some staccato exercises… QUICK!
Have you ever seen singers singing with books in front of their ears? If you have, you may think they’ve lost their minds. Maybe all those intense breathing exercises finally sent them to the loony bin. Or, maybe this "old-school" vocal trick still WORKS! Try it! Grab two books or any two hard-surfaced objects. Press the spine of the books in front of your ears and begin singing. VOILA! You've instantly gained a more accurate idea of how you sound to other people. Your ears no longer can judge your internal resonance. Instead, they experience your sound as it appears to others. So grab those books and start cultivating a new relationship with your resonance! (WARNING: do not try this in public unless you’re ready to become one of those “singer types”).
Give your Larynx the credit that it deserves! Your Larynx is more than just a house where your vocal folds live. Different POSITIONS of the Larynx can be used in a healthy way to produce a vast variety of vocal sounds and styles. Keep an open mind and try out laryngeal coordinations that you might not be used to. Explore a LOW Larynx to discover strong, deep, and robust sounds. Try a HIGHER Larynx to experience some softer, brighter, and thinner sounds. As long as they're done with thoughtful and conscientious technique, different Larynx positions can greatly expand our vocal horizons. Give your amazing Larynx all the credit!
Ever feel your voice resonate in your EARS? If so, then something is actually going right! The ear canal is located near to the vocal tract. This is why you see an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor) when something is wrong with your voice. All these areas are interrelated. Often when singers sing high notes successfully, they report feeling the sound in their ears. This is no coincidence! High notes are usually felt resonating upwards in the head, forehead, cheeks, nose, and you guessed it… the EARS. So, next time you find yourself listening too hard to yourself while you sing - put your ears to good use instead! Feel your high notes in your EARS!
Riffs require great vocal FLEXIBILITY. So, how do you keep the POWER in your Riffs while maintaining agility and flexibility? One way is to take advantage of Nasal Resonance! If you pinch your nose with your thumb and index finger while Riffing, you’ll ideally feel a slight buzzing sensation near your nostrils and nose. Practice singing your Riffs with STRENGTH while also monitoring how they feel. If they feel buzzy, comfortable, and fluid, then begin taking your hand away mid-phrase. The sound will probably remain balanced as you remove your hand. All singers can have vocal agility and power simultaneously. And, Nasal Resonance will always be one of the best ways to BLEND the two qualities. For better Riffs - just follow your Nose!
How many decisions do you make in a day which directly affect how you present yourself to the world? "What should I wear?" "How should I do my hair?" Your personal style says a lot about how you hope people will perceive you. But what about how you use your SPEAKING voice? Are you a loud or soft speaker? Do you construct long sentences or use fewer words? How often do you gesticulate and how big are your gestures? Is your face very animated when you talk or is it more calm? Communication style is as important as appearance when making an impression. So, whether it's a big audition, a job interview, a date, or a friendly outing - be aware of how your voice affects your presence. To know YOU is to know your voice!
What is your vocal SIGNATURE? Just like signing your name, your vocal signature is unique to you. It’s not just your God-given resonance and physiology. It’s also the amalgamation of all your technical choices and stylistic nuances. We recognize singers by the tone of their voices, yes, but even MORE by their unique vocal signature. Sara Bareilles sings long, legato phrases interspersed with breathy qualities. Rihanna belts with sharp, clean sounds alternating with a little grit. Justin Bieber uses high, edgy sounds mixed with falsetto flair. What about your favorite singers? And what about your own vocal artistry? Constantly take note of the tools that make singing personal and exciting to you. Keep honing your own unique vocal SIGNATURE and you may one day find yourself being asked for your signature!
Be a Vocal ARTISTE! Put your vowels on a color spectrum! Think of the primary vowels (A, E, I, O, and U) as primary colors. We can make every shade of vowel in between those vowels, the same way we can find every shade of color in between the primary colors. Then, apply these colors to your singing. If an EE vowel feels too bright, try heading toward EH. Or, if an OO vowel feels too closed, try moving in the direction of OH. If your tongue weighs down the AH vowel, try brightening it with EH. What shades of vowels can you find that best enhance your vocal artistry? Get ready for your most colorful singing ever!
One of the best alignment exercises for singers is the “WALL SIT”. Find a nearby wall and place your back against it. Slowly slide your back down the wall until your thighs are parallel to the ground. Adjust your feet so that your knees are directly above your ankles. With your back and head against the wall - take a few breaths to make sure you’re comfortable and not rigid. From here, sing your vocal exercise or a song you are working on. You'll instantly feel that it's very difficult to “cheat”. Your neck is long and lithe. Your back is open and wide. Your chest and shoulders remain tall and calm. And, the best part is that you're breathing DEEP into the body. Try the Wall Sit in your practice and you'll notice some immediate improvements - without ever getting up!
Developing as a singer takes a lot of concentration on the intricate nuances of Vocal Technique. A great deal of mental focus is required for success. However, once in awhile, take a step back during your Technique practices. Let go of your conscious mind and any RIGID focus you've had. Practice SURRENDERING your voice. Feel the liberation as you lose yourself in the music. Enjoy the vibrations created by your own voice as you move from vowel to vowel. You might even try closing your eyes or moving your body ambiently in this process. You’ll be amazed at how some technical improvements can only be achieved by LETTING GO of focus and effort. Singing is a marvelous balance between thinking hard and not thinking at all!
Ask yourself an important question: “What does it mean to be a True Artist?” Your answer may dictate your future. Does it mean being famous? Does it mean making money? Does it mean supporting your colleagues? Does it mean loving your craft? Does it mean cherishing your vocal journey every single day of your life regardless of what people say? Does it mean finding your Joy? Or, something else? There’s nothing right or wrong about any question you ask or answer you give. Just remember, the True Artist that you dream to be, may become a REALITY. Dreams can come true. So, make sure that what your soul TRULY wants lines up with the kind of Artist that you desire to become. If you’re clear, you may look in the mirror one day and say - YES. This is exactly what I had hoped to do with my vocal gifts!
How is it POSSIBLE that one person can project their voice over a 60-piece orchestra? The Singer’s Formant! The “Singer’s Formant” is a set of specific resonance frequencies that allow classical singers to be heard over an orchestra. The human voice can be trained to amplify resonances that are not amplified by other instruments and that carry very well. Some of the keys to finding the Singer’s Formant include breath support, a lower larynx position, twang or squillo, and nasal resonance. Even if you’re not a classical singer, your voice will carry far better when your resonances have been trained to the fullest. This can even help the speaking voice carry over large crowds or far into the distance. So, do the IMPOSSIBLE! Use the Singer’s Formant!
Sometimes we’re not the STAR. Sometimes we perform in small groups, in choirs, as backup singers, or as a part of an ensemble in a musical. In these moments, it’s important to still give our ALL! It’s sometimes tempting to give less than our best because we think nobody will notice or that it doesn’t matter as much since we’re in a group. Yet, the reverse is true! The great Stanislavski once said, “There are no small parts, only small actors”. These wise words remind us that no matter what role we play in a performance situation, we ought to put forward our best work. This way of thinking will impact those who see and hear you perform far more than you’d think. Approaching every performance situation with full excellence cultivates a star mentality that will lead to solo and leading role opportunities! Be a star ALL the time! …even when you think nobody is watching…