How do your notes END? The way we finish a phrase is called an OFFSET. Offsets can often affect the rest of the phrase more than we think. Are you holding the note as long as it’s supposed to be held? Are you holding it TOO long? Notice the qualities of your Offset. Does the note get softer and fade out? Maybe you flip registers or your vowels get rounder as you reach the end of your phrase. Alternatively, maybe the notes get cut off sharply with a little kick of breath. All of these qualities are just fine if used in the right contexts. However, if you find yourself struggling with a particular song or phrase, pay attention to how the phrase ends. The problem may be hiding there. As a wise man once said - all’s well that ENDS well!
SCATTING is vocal improv that uses nonsense syllables that imitate a Jazz instrument. You get to focus on noise, melody, and tone only! How freeing! Start by listening to great Scatters like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Kurt Elling for inspiration. Then, try singing along with melodies, but without singing the words. Instead use syllables like "SKI", "DO", “BEEP”, and “WAH” - all sounds that imitate Jazz instruments. Once you’ve mastered Scatting with the melody, try Scatting along with the instrumental parts. Let your vocals imitate the melody, rhythm, and tone of the instrumental solos. With practice, you'll eventually start creating your own Scat solos! Remember - Scat singing is NOT about perfection. It's about getting into the groove and being creative. So, don't let Scat singing scare you or make you feel silly. Instead, start SCOODOOTIN' your way to Scatting success!
One of the greatest secrets to becoming a professional artist is this: “Don’t always wait for someone ELSE to give you a job.” While auditioning is an excellent chance to hone your skills and to work in the industry, it shouldn’t be your only avenue to success. You must think like an entrepreneur and create your OWN opportunities too. Find collaborators - writers, designers, directors, musicians, composers, people with the same gumption as you - and go make something happen! It’s important to branch out and not just surround yourself with other performers. Create something new and you can add “Producer” to your resume too!
Out with the OLD and in with the NEW! It’s time to look through your Repertoire book! Do the songs still suit you? Many songs will be keepers, but others you must not be afraid to part ways with. As human beings, we are constantly changing and evolving - mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A big part of our growth is being able to let go of our past so that we can open up to our future. Ask yourself whether your current Repertoire is in alignment with the current YOU. Is it suitable for your current vocal technique and range? Does it have an emotional life that you connect to? Does it satisfy your artistic soul? Don’t be scared of change - be excited about the artist you are evolving into! And let your Repertoire reflect that!
Are you having difficulty developing a free Vibrato? There are a few factors that might be contributing to this. Using too much breath to force the sound out might slow the rate of the Vibrato down. Having too much compression or squeezing the vocal folds too tightly also might slow the Vibrato or potentially even stop it all together. Lastly, any larynx, neck, and jaw tension can contribute to the vocal folds not being able to make the quick and free pitch changes that Vibrato requires. Focus on keeping your breath controlled, your vocal folds gently compressed, and your larynx and related muscles free of tension. If you do, you might be amazed at the movin’ and shakin’ you can accomplish!
Open up your mouth wide and SING! Sounds like decent advice. But, it’s not. Wide-mouthed singing looks big and dramatic and gives us the feeling that we're using our full efforts. However, it actually encourages poor vocal technique and creates unsustainable vocal situations. Hugely opening your mouth runs the risk of pushing too much air, volume, and strength to achieve pitch. Not only are these habits unreliable, but they can lead to vocal fatigue and damage. Imagine being on a tightrope. You wouldn't want to run or skip across the rope unless you felt comfortable balancing while you walked. In the same way, master your songs with your mouth in a natural and neutral position first. Later, when your technique is solid, you can explore the nuances - and the visual dramatics - of opening your mouth as wide as you wish!
Sustaining beautiful and powerful notes in the MIX can be quite a challenge for many singers. This is mainly because this coordination requires a very delicate combination of Compression and Airflow. It’s helpful to ease your way into this skill through effective vocal exercises. Begin by using sounds that promote light Compression such as “GUUG” on a 5-3-1 interval. Once you’re comfortable with this exercise, try repeating the top note multiple times, such as 5-5-5-5-5-3-1 to develop sustains. Ensure that you’re using proper Breath Support techniques that promote a gentle flow of air and minimal physical tension. Practicing with the right exercises creates the circumstances for being able to hold and sustain glorious high notes in your Mix!
An “ONSET” is a vocal term that refers to the beginning of a vocal phrase or sung sound. A common habit of singers is to start vowels with a harsh Onset, known as a “glottal onset” or “glottal attack”. This is not wrong or harmful in itself. The problem is doing it too often or too harshly. The first step in changing this is to become aware that it’s a habit. Record yourself and listen to your phrases that begin with vowels. If harsh Onsets are a problem, try placing a gentle inaudible “H” in front of the word or phrase. This begins your vocalization in a much smoother way. There are times when you might choose a harsh glottal attack as a stylistic device, like in a rock song where you’re seeking an edgier sound. Even still, you’ll benefit from knowing how to do a balanced Onset, as you’ll be able to finely tune your vocal fold compression and breath!
Happy 4th of July to all of our USA singers! Did you know that the tune for the American National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was originally written for a British gentlemen’s club called the Anacreontic Society? The melody has a range of an octave and one fifth. That’s a pretty big range for many singers to navigate! If you're having trouble hitting those high notes at the end, be sure you're starting the first phrase in a very low range for your voice. There's a long way to go before you reach the top! But, never forget that all great nations and all great singers start in low and humble places before they reach their greatest heights! This Independence Day, let freedom (and your voice) RING!