When seeking new song material for your Repertoire, don’t just search based on your musical and stylistic preferences. Instead, search also by what stands out to you LYRICALLY. Songs can be altered to suit many different styles in more ways than are initially obvious. If you find songs with lyrics that are meaningful, powerful, and personal to you, then your chances of eventually creating a magical performance increase exponentially. So, in selecting new songs, don’t just consider the SOUND - consider the special part of yourself that you would like to share with us!
Today is the day to give THANKS! Have you ever stopped to think about what a beautiful gift the voice is? Through speaking and singing, the voice allows us to communicate with others, express our true selves, and create an INFINITE number of glorious sounds. The best part about this is that the voice is a gift freely given! You were born with it! This Thanksgiving, alongside the other blessings in your life, don't forget to be thankful for your voice! Use it today to tell your loved ones that you love them and are grateful for them. Or, maybe sing a song of Thanks for all the goodness in your life. All of us at NYVC are so blessed to be a part of your vocal journey. Make A THANKFUL Noise!
TRAVEL can wreak havoc on the voice. Sleep schedules change, we end up sitting for long periods of time, and the temperature and humidity can vary wildly. Make sure to treat your voice well as you navigate these variables! Warm up gently in the morning if you switch time zones to avoid pushing your voice later in the day. Stay hydrated in new climates and especially on planes, which are notorious for drying us out. Find opportunities to stand up and walk every hour or two, and if that isn't possible, engage your muscles and stretch a bit while you sit. Keep your body active, your diet clean, and your vocal folds limber. If you do, your voice will travel in style!
In the middle of a performance your voice is feeling TENSE. What to do? Well, you can’t stop to ask the audience if you can do some vocal relaxation exercises! So, Step 1: Don't PANIC. Panic only creates more tension. Step 2: Get grounded in your BODY and connect to your BREATH. Step 3: Communicate the LYRIC. The audience probably won’t notice your tension, but they'll notice if you stop connecting with them. Step 4: Use more Head Voice and Nasal Resonance to keep your vocal folds FLEXIBLE. Step 5: After the performance, journal about what caused the tension and make improvements for next time! Even elite PROS have onstage tension. But, navigating it in the moment sets the best apart!
Ever feel frustrated trying to decide which Vocal Register you're in? Is it "Head Voice” or "Falsetto"? "Chest Voice" or "Mix"? All of these terms are helpful, but also can be very confusing! Instead of getting stuck on figuring out how to correctly NAME the registers, be open to the idea of INFINITE registers! There are actually an unlimited number of tone qualities that can be achieved by combining different percentages of each register. Experiment with bringing a little more “Chest” into that ”Head Voice”, for example. By freeing yourself of the need for EXACT labels, you can explore nuances of Vocal Registration without overthinking it!
The singing voice is ONE-OF-A-KIND! What differentiates the vocal instrument from other musical instruments is our ability to tune and shape our RESONATORS! Altering the vocal tract can be done for purposes of dynamics, style, timbre, or efficiency on any given note or vowel. We can actively change the shape of our resonators by opening/closing the jaw, rounding/spreading the lips, lowering/raising the larynx, lowering/raising the soft palate, or by positioning the tongue in many ways. Mastering these resonance alterations is the very thing that can make your voice stand out and become ONE-OF-A-KIND!
"This song sits right on my BREAK!" You may feel like you have only TWO options when a particular musical phrase lies at the top of your Chest Voice. One - you could PUSH through it. Or Two - you could LIGHTEN it up. Rarely will "push" be the answer. So, what happens if you let your voice lighten? The stress on your vocal folds diminishes, the volume lowers, and overall tension relents. Lightening up may not sound like you want initially. You'll probably even CRACK all the way to Head Voice many times in the process. However, if you consistently practice lightening as you sing higher, you'll eventually coordinate your voice and no longer fear the BREAK!
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.
Adjusting your Larynx position can be quite jarring to the soul! It sometimes feels like you aren’t yourself anymore. Or, that your voice isn’t YOUR voice anymore. If you’re having trouble accessing new skills or stepping outside your comfort zone, then embrace the RIDICULOUS by imitating character voices! Need a higher Larynx? Sing like a cartoon baby, a tiny mouse, or someone on fast forward mode. Need a lower Larynx? Pretend you’re a giant, a sad or dopey character, someone moving in slow motion, or even Darth Vader. Embracing the silly and the comical gives you the security to explore the extremes of your vocal abilities and discover new vocal abilities that you never knew you had! LUKE... I AM YOUR LARYNX…
Have you FOUND YOUR SOUND? Many singers doubt whether they have found “their voice” or “their style”. In reality, though, “your sound” is as simple as the CHOICES you make. As an exercise, pick a common song with a simple melody. Start by singing the song as plainly as you can. Then, change it up! Experiment with all the stylistic tools out there: dynamics, sustains, rhythm changes, word emphases, melodic alterations, riffs, vibrato, straight tone, texture changes, and others. Before you know it, you’ll be making choices that are 100% original and discovering a sound that is truly your own! Once you know you can CHOOSE it, you’ll never LOSE it!
Get TOUCHY FEELY… with your Larynx! Many times we are afraid to touch our Larynxes and their surrounding muscles. We’ve been taught this is a sacred forbidden vocal area that must never be touched or even thought about. Poor Larynx. As it turns out, a gentle touch may be just what it has longed for! For guys, the Larynx is your “Adam’s Apple”. For ladies, it’s still in the same spot just much tinier. But, you will easily find it! Often, it can be difficult to know whether or not the Larynx is rising, lowering, or staying put. However, placing a finger or two lightly on your Larynx will instantly reveal to you how it’s behaving as you practice your singing. We never want to hold the Larynx in place or force it anywhere while we sing. Yet, as a tool for gaining the finest insights into our vocal technique... get TOUCHY FEELY!
Why do Voice Teachers say that it’s bad to breathe with a HIGH Breath? (A breath that lifts the shoulders and collarbone). First of all, this kind of breathing usually causes us to have too MUCH air. With all that air in the tank, we are very likely to PUSH. Second, many neck and larynx muscles connect to the collarbone. With the collarbone lifted, there is a high likelihood that those muscles will become engaged. Third, a High Breath is difficult to control. Good singing requires a small, steady stream of air. It is challenging to regulate the exhalation with the upper body lifted. What goes up wants to come down! So, let your deep abdominals, your lower rib cage, and your lower back take your inhalations. Breathe LOW and you will hit the HEIGHTS!
Why do Voice Teachers say that it’s bad to breathe with a HIGH Breath? (A breath that lifts the shoulders and collarbone). First of all, this kind of breathing usually causes us to have too MUCH air. With all that air in the tank, we are very likely to PUSH. Second, many neck and larynx muscles connect to the collarbone. With the collarbone lifted, there is a high likelihood that those muscles will become engaged. Third, a High Breath is difficult to control. Good singing requires a small, steady stream of air. It is challenging to regulate the exhalation with the upper body lifted. What goes up wants to come down! So, let your deep abdominals, your lower rib cage, and your lower back take your inhalations. Breathe LOW and you will hit the HEIGHTS!
Practicing your Mix Voice? Well then - PUCKER UP! Not for kissing, but for Vocal MASTERY! There are two main exits for air when we exhale to sing: the mouth and the nose. Breath will exit where there is the least resistance. That’s why the “Beltiest” and often "pushiest" sounds happen when the mouth is WIDE open. Rounding your lips during some vocal exercises causes less breath to be forced out. This creates a pathway of air upwards and inwards, which assists Head Resonance and Nasal Resonance. Utilizing more Resonance provides freedom for high notes, allows for greater volume control, and creates a more professional tone quality. So… practice puckering up! And blow a KISS to your Mix voice!
Looking to increase your Nasal Resonance? First, identify what it feels like to use Nasal Resonance. For many, vibrations are felt in the front of the face, around the nose, and under the eyes. This can be most easily felt while singing “MM”. Sing “MM” on ascending and descending pitches and experience these vibrations. Then, see if you can feel these same sensations while producing your vowels! Try singing “MM-AH”, slowly changing from the “MM” to the “AH” while continuing to keep the sensation towards the front of your face. You should be able to achieve this quite quickly and enjoy its benefits immediately. Increasing Nasal Resonance will greatly improve the quality and FLEXIBILITY of your voice!
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!
What do all successful singers have in common? They are all FAILURES! It’s true! Anybody who has reached a high level in their craft or in the industry has found a way to be comfortable with failing. This doesn’t mean that they enjoy it or that it’s fun. But, it means they understand that failure is actually the best way to succeed. This is true when we learn, when we audition, and when we perform. Learning to sing requires us to experiment with a whole lot of "ugly" sounds that are necessary to make the "pretty" ones. Auditioning takes a whole lot of NOs before you get a YES. Performing involves a lot of hit-or-miss risks before you develop the bravery to know that you can do anything. So, stop thinking of how to be successful as a singer. Start FAILING like the pros!
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!
Did you know that when you sing a note, you’re actually singing MANY notes all at once? It’s true! The note you sing is called the "Fundamental Frequency". It’s the lowest note present in the sound. But, there are many other higher notes present that are called “Overtones”. Depending on how we shape our vocal tract (jaw, tongue, soft palate, lips, and larynx), certain Overtones become boosted and others become dampened. Vocal tone and timbre is largely affected by which Overtones are brought forth. Modifying vowels and making thoughtful adjustments to your vocal tract is how to achieve a clearer, louder, or more aesthetically pleasing sound. Imagine the infinite notes you can sing without ever changing pitch!
Have you had an absolutely fantastic performance where you just NAILED it? It's exhilarating, full of nuance, and seems to happen effortlessly! Have you ever then tried to repeat that performance? Chances are, the second time around it was far less satisfying and felt a bit forced. Remember - even when we sing the same songs or say the same words- there are no two performances that are exactly alike. This is actually the Joy of performing. But to stay consistent, try to repeat the actions that led to the successful performance. Pay attention to your impulses. Stay emotionally available. Dare to thrive in the present moment. There will never be two that are the same, but you'll soon find your best performances happening more often than ever!
How does the DISCIPLINE of practicing become the ART of performing? When preparing and rehearsing, it's all about "taking in." You must read, study, memorize, and shape every nuance of your material. You create the through-line and the journey of your character from start to finish. But, when it's time to perform, a fundamental CHANGE must take place. "Taking in" must turn into "letting go!". Before you walk on stage to perform, don’t think about all the beats you want to hit and moments you want to create. Don’t set your mind on what's going to happen (much of that is out of your control). Instead, tell yourself, "I've done the work. I have everything I need." Set your mind on trusting yourself and letting go. The moment you do this is the moment when your craft becomes your ART!
Want to give a truly AUTHENTIC performance? Then avoid falling into the trap of trying to act out EMOTIONS while singing. Don’t attempt to be "happy" or "sad" (or any other emotion) because you feel that it’s a happy or sad song. In real life, our emotions are revealed to us and to others as a result of our CIRCUMSTANCES. Instead of focusing on which emotion to act out, try to identify a few elements of circumstances in your song lyrics. These elements include: the immediate problem that needs fixing (aka the “crisis”), what you want (your “objective”), who you want it from (your “other”), and what you will do to reach your objective (your “action”). If you focus on these elements, the emotions will often reveal themselves, allowing you to deliver a believable and truly authentic performance!
Have you ever tried practicing your songs AMBIENTLY? While doing the dishes? While taking a walk or jog in the park? While laying in bed? While drawing a picture? If you haven’t, you might want to. Especially before a big audition or performance. We're so used to singing and practicing with 100% razor sharp focus - our technique, our placement, and our posture. We even think of our acting choices, our objectives, and our scene partner. But, while these things might result in a stellar performance, they don’t help us to be “NATURALS”. There are performers who seem like they could just fall out of bed and be right on point. Almost like they are “at home” on stage. This quality can actually be practiced and rehearsed! That is, through AMBIENT practice. Think it’s not “practice time”? Think again!
Practice your voice 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!
HEAR what you FEEL! At NYVC, we always encourage our students to record their Voice Lessons. Listening back to these recordings is an important part of understanding how what you FEEL connects to what your listeners HEAR. When you’re practicing at home, recording is an important discipline as well. Especially if you’re developing a new skill or rehearsing a song. Once you’ve finished a song or exercise, listen back objectively and evaluate what you heard. This will help you progress faster and will make you a better self-teacher. As a bonus, when you’re listening to other singers, you'll naturally begin to understand the mechanics behind how they make their sounds as well. HEAR what you FEEL!
BOO! No, that’s not a new vocal exercise! That’s all of us at NYVC wishing you a Happy Halloween!!! Let Halloween be a reminder to enjoy, celebrate, and explore your CREATIVITY! Singing and performing ask us to embody different characters and various aspects of our Inner Being. So, as you live inside your Halloween character - consider the connection that this has to your vocal life. What if your performances felt as enjoyable, entertaining, and effortless as playing a Halloween character? The truth is, your biggest performances shouldn’t feel much different than the freedom you feel on this holiday. It’s so easy - it’s SCARY!
Everyone knows that if you want to make it in the Music Industry, you’ve got to have CONNECTIONS! But, for most of us, that seems very discouraging. We don’t have an uncle who is the President of Sony Records or a cousin who won a Grammy. Yet, we can still take heart! “Connections” are not always these obvious examples. In fact, they RARELY are. Connections will happen to you naturally if you are dedicated to your craft and respectful to everyone in the industry. Your colleagues, your teachers, the people you meet at auditions - all of them can become Connections. The stage manager, the sound person, the custodian - also Connections. You truly never know who will be the one to open a huge door for your career. Remember - Connections aren’t something you HAVE, they are something you MAKE. That’s why it’s called “making CONNECTIONS!”
Do you remember your BEST audition? Probably what comes to mind is the time that you booked the big part. Or, the time that someone said something nice about your work. Or, the time that you sang your song "perfectly". Those certainly are great auditions. But, they are not your BEST auditions. Your best auditions are the ones when you woke up at 4:30AM just to be seen. The ones where you patted yourself on the back when nobody else would. The ones where you came SO close, didn’t get what you wanted, and still decided to not quit performing. Because THOSE auditions are the ones that give you the guts, the grind, and the grit of a true professional performer. If you can learn to make those your BEST auditions… well, then, nobody can stop you.
"Not all who wander are lost!" In fact, this is the key to finding your voice! Singing is less like walking down a straight road and more like WANDERING through a beautiful expansive park. We must wander around on many different paths - sometimes looping backward - sometimes going off in a totally unexpected direction - sometimes veering from the path and having to climb back on. The more you wander and get lost, the more you learn your way around. Your voice is not a destination at the end of some narrow path you force yourself to walk upon. You are already in the park. You just have to learn your way around more. Thinking this way will free you from rigid mindsets and will make your practicing a “walk in the park”!
"Treat others how you want to be treated." Definitely. But, do you treat YOURSELF the way you treat others? Among aspiring artists, the quality of SELF-compassion can be especially neglected. Maybe you rehearsed a song 1000 times perfectly, but then felt like you blew it on audition day. What is your reaction? Instead of dwelling on your shortcomings or beating yourself up - imagine what you would say to someone else in that situation. Chances are, you would tell them that it’s going to be OKAY! There’s often a discrepancy between what we’re capable of and how we actually perform when the pressure’s on. The best way to bridge this gap is to reduce the unneeded pressure - which is often SELF-induced. Learn to be kind to YOURSELF just like you would be kind to other artists!