THINK for a moment - about what kind of posture you believe a singer should have. Probably a few things come to your mind - a chest and sternum that are tall and confident. A long and lithe back of the neck. Flexible knees and hips with feet planted squarely into the floor. A ribcage that is open and pliable with breath. A jaw that is free to move. Now that you’ve THOUGHT of what a singer with ideal posture looks like, it’s time to remember one of the keys to perfect posture. That is, that posture isn’t something that we DO or something that we HOLD. It also should never be a big LABOR or a lot of WORK. Instead, great posture can be done with just a THOUGHT. So, next time you’re losing it, all you need to do is ... THINK for a moment!
Have you ever gone to a restaurant and filled up on salad and bread? The same can happen in your singing practice! While warming up is always recommended, be careful not to get carried away. This is especially true before an audition or big performance! If you’re feeling nervous, the temptation to overdo it may increase. As with all things, moderation is key. Warm-ups are built to PREPARE your performance, not replace it. Once your voice feels "warm" - that is to say, you can navigate the different registers of the voice with relative ease - turn your mind and voice to the performance itself. Faith in yourself and your soulful readiness are more important than warming up! So, make sure that you save room for the main course!
From fry to falsetto, fantastic singers at the forefront of their vocal style employ a multitude of vocal tricks to excite their fans. But, the one stylistic element that is always present, regardless of style, is the use of TENSION and RELEASE. You hear it when a singer breaks their voice, or quickly releases the tension of chest voice into head voice. You hear it when a singer increases the compression in one word, only to release it on the next word. You hear it when a verse is relatively soft when compared to the more intense chorus. You even hear it on an emotional and dramatic level between song lyrics and phrases. The Tension/Release concept is present in every aspect of really great performances, both technical and emotional. So, don’t be tense about style! Just use tension and release to free up all kinds of new possibilities!
Practice makes permanent! That even goes for your NERVES too! When we rehearse, we practice what we plan to do in performance. If we rehearse being NERVOUS about our high notes, we’ll be nervous about our high notes in the audition room. Yet, if we rehearse at our bravest, we stand a far better chance of being BRAVE in the audition room. Practice singing with your entire being, acting with no hesitations, and unleashing your imagination into your performance. Be mindful to not rehearse negativity, self-doubt, fear, and self-criticism. In time, you will take your best and most-castable self into every audition. After all, you PRACTICED!
PANEL: “Why did you choose this song?” SINGER: “Because it speaks to me!” We all enjoy singing songs that we love. However, to maximize our chances in an audition, we must consider other factors. Does your song show off your RANGE, style, or have that 'Money Note’? Does your song have LYRICS that you can connect to and play as an actor? Finally, does your song fit within your casting TYPE? You may sing “Bring Him Home” beautifully. However, if you’re in your 20's, then it's probably not going to work! It’s important to choose songs that allow the casting panel to imagine you in parts that you could currently be cast in. Even if this particular audition doesn’t work out, their minds might be racing with other parts you can play. Choose material that gives them every chance to see who you are. SINGER: “Why did I get the part?” PANEL: “Because you spoke to us!”
Singing is a SPORT! When you work on your technique - it’s like hitting the GYM. Great technique exercises are designed to work specific muscle groups and coordinations that make you a seasoned vocal athlete. When you work on your songs - that’s like playing the SPORT itself. Each song and style will have particular rules and obstacles for you to learn and overcome to have success. When you go to perform or audition - that’s GAME DAY! Show up in uniform feeling good about how hard you’ve worked “off the field”. Leave your nerves, self-doubt, and insecurity back in the locker room. Take in your game-face and your confident, winning attitude knowing that your sweating days are already behind you. Go get 'em Champ! Singing is a SPORT!
The LYRICS are the obvious way to find out what a song is about, what action you should be playing, or who you are singing to. However, what many singers forget is that the ACCOMPANIMENT gives clues too! Often the composer offers extra insight into the character and acting through the music. The next time you're listening to a song - listen to the Accompaniment exclusively. See if you can find the emotional journey of the character via the music. Ask yourself: how does the Accompaniment enhance the journey? What do the rhythm, dynamics, harmonies, and flow tell you? Chances are - it’s A LOT. Next time you're singing a song, take the time to listen to how every part of the song works together to tell a story. Your performances will be richer, more honest, and more exciting!
Do you ever feel uninspired, not in the mood for practicing, and discouraged about your vocal abilities? Not to worry! Every singer goes through these emotions at one time or another. It is very normal to feel this way when you are passionate and eager to develop your instrument. If you feel this way, try practicing the MENTAL elements of singing instead of the technical elements. Take 5-10 minutes to execute this very different kind of vocal goal. Take calm, slow breaths. Let your mind become clear and settled. Then, MEDITATE on your voice. What does a great high note feel like? What is your favorite memory as a singer? Why do you love singing and practicing? What will it feel like to accomplish your dreams? What tensions in your jaw, larynx, tongue, or soul need to be released? Sometimes the best vocal practice is SILENT.
Struggling with tension on a difficult phrase of a song? Try looking at the BIG PICTURE! We often get hung up on all the little parts of a difficult phrase: so many words, so many notes, so many leaps... It can feel very overwhelming! Try shifting your focus to the full ARC instead. What is the contour or shape of the phrase from start to finish? Does it end higher or lower than where it began? What is the meaning of the full sentence you are singing? Following BIGGER ideas in your mind while you sing helps you flow through the little details that are often much easier than they seem when focusing full attention on them. So if you have a scary, tension-creating phrase - try stepping back and looking at the BIG PICTURE!
Is there a difference between Listening and Hearing? Absolutely! Hearing is the PASSIVE way we listen to a sound, while Listening is the ACTIVE way. Both skills are needed in order to master our singing. When we work on our vocal technique or perform, it’s actually important to NOT listen to ourselves too carefully. To do so often tightens the body and the breathing system and causes us to be overly critical of ourselves. Instead we want to FEEL the sound while Hearing ourselves more ambiently. The time to Listen is after the fact. Play back recordings of your lessons, practices, and performances. This is the best time to analyze and understand if your technique is translating. Your ears are an amazing tool! Just understand when it’s time to Hear and when it's time to Listen!
The Larynx is the home of the AMAZING Vocal Folds! The Vocal Folds create sound when they are set into vibration by our breath. The top layer of the Vocal Folds provides them with structure. The deeper layers are set into vibration hundreds and even thousands of times per second as they vibrate. Depending on vocal fold tension, air flow, and resonance, the vocal folds collide with varying amounts of force. As singers, our goal is to help the Vocal Folds collide with minimal force for every vocal task - even things like belting. Your Vocal Folds will vibrate many hundreds of millions and even BILLIONS of times in your life. So, keep them healthy by avoiding squeezy strain, pushy breathing, and spready mouths as a necessity. If you do, your Vocal Folds will continue to be amazing always!
Have you ever wondered how your voice would sound in a style that is completely FOREIGN to you? A rock song for a classical singer? A country song when your heart is for R&B? Maybe even a duet between a vocal “odd couple”? Truthfully, this is VERY good for your technique. But, it’s even better for your musicality. Luciano Pavarotti paired with Bono from U2?! Tony Bennett paired with Lady Gaga?! You’d think these mismatches wouldn’t work. But, instead they are matches made in vocal heaven! Collaborate with your colleagues of very different genres. Or, at the very least, don’t shy away from listening to and experimenting with sounds that just aren’t “you”. They say that artists must “steal from the best”. But, why not just try “hanging out” with a new crowd?
You’ve got TWO Options. Option 1 - hold back the breath with the VOCAL FOLDS. Option 2 - hold back the breath with BODY. When we take an inhalation into our ribs and belly, we’ve taken an ideal singing breath. From there, though, the difficulty often begins. Sending air too forcefully towards the vocal folds causes tension and strain. With Option 1, the vocal folds and the larynx will have to hold back this air. With Option 2, the muscles of the torso create resistance so that the air doesn’t exit the body too quickly. This assures that the vocal folds receive their small, steady stream of air. “Breath Support” like this allows them to vibrate freely and naturally without bearing the brunt of the breath’s force. Efficient airflow leads to great control of your voice. From there, you won’t just have TWO Options. You'll have INFINITE Options!
Practice your singing SMARTER, not LONGER! A lot of times we skip our vocal practice because we think we don’t have enough time. But, we can actually get a lot done in a short amount of time if we’re very focused. Try isolating a challenging musical phrase and working very specifically. Think about how your breathing affects the phrase. Make any necessary adjustments to your larynx position. Consider whether you are squeezing your vocal folds or allowing them to phonate freely. Ask yourself if there are modifications that need to be made to the jaw, the tongue, or the resonance. It only takes 10-15 minutes to practice this way. After only a week or 2 of these SMART practice sessions, you'll see just how much progress you can make in a truly SHORT time!
Imagine you’re at work and the boss walks in. What happens? You PERK up (unless you’ve been caught sleeping)! Your body knows that you're about to communicate and so it responds appropriately. This "PERK" is actually your body's natural alignment. Your ribs widen, your sternum lifts, and your spine and neck lengthen. This allows space in the abdomen for the diaphragm to move down and naturally opens the vocal tract as well. You look better, you sound better, and you breathe better. That’s a lot of perks for something as simple as a PERK. So, the next time you're trying to find good posture, don't overthink it... just PERK UP!
Just like our bodies, our vocal anatomy changes with every passing year. We all know about the vocal changes that happen in our teen years. But, did you know a male’s larynx doesn’t even finish growing until his late 20s? Female larynxes and vocal folds also experience changes that correspond with fluctuating hormone levels. Male and female vocal folds continue to change throughout middle age. This slightly alters the sound of both the speaking and singing voice. Not being able to produce the exact same sound you did 10 years ago can either be frustrating or freeing. Many singers get better and better as they age and their voices mature like a fine wine! There are even singers that sing very well into their 80s and 90s! To do this though, you must embrace your ever-changing voice and sing with the instrument and body you have TODAY!
Need to make a last-minute demo recording for an audition or an agent? This is becoming a VERY common request these days. So, don’t let technology and environment spoil your chances at success! After you’ve prepared your audition, carefully consider the device you're using and the acoustics of the room. Are you using a phone, camera, computer, or microphone? Any of them can work. But, make sure they capture your sound in the most advantageous way. Are you recording in a kitchen, bathroom, studio, or practice room? All spaces will have different acoustics and will feature your voice in different ways. Don’t rush these acoustic details in your excitement to submit your audition. Instead, experiment until you find which combinations make you sound best. Let acoustics work FOR you, not against you!