Listening too closely to ourselves can lead to timid or restricted sounds. One trick to combat this tendency is “CALL HANDS”. Place both hands at the corners of your lips, firmly against your face, with no space between fingers - just like the gesture we use when calling across a distance. Try singing your songs or exercises with Call Hands in place. What do you notice? Does it change the way you perceive your sound? Does the volume seem different? Is the tone altered in some way? Did it change the sensations or enhance how you feel the vibrations? With Call Hands in place, sound has further to travel to reach the ears. This usually leads to less judgment and timidity. Use this trick to stop listening and judging. Instead, start FEELING how great your voice really is!
ALCOHOL. You may know that it has some not-so-great effects on the voice, particularly the night before a big performance. But not all drinks are created equal! If you find yourself in a situation where drinking simply can’t be avoided, opt for white wine. Wine is generally less harsh on the vocal apparatus than beer or hard liquor. Red wine, though high in antioxidants, contains tannins that can irritate the soft tissue in the vocal tract. If you do choose to indulge, remember to compensate with extra water to counteract your drink’s diuretic effects. Keep in mind that all forms of alcohol contribute to dehydration and acid reflux. But, with moderation and care, you should be able to enjoy a drink or two without ever worrying about your voice!
Want to learn a new breathing trick for singing? Then ask your DOG! “Panting” is a fun and easy way to perfect your inhale. Yep, panting - breathing in and out 3 or 4 times in quick succession - like your favorite pooch. First of all, this alleviates excess breath pressure by limiting the amount of air you’re able to take in. Try it before you sing a phrase and note how much LIGHTER your singing feels. Secondly, it primes and PREPARES the breathing muscles. Panting for singing is like a gentle sprint for a runner - a great warm up for the task ahead. Lastly, it helps the body to LET GO! Great singing requires your body to move air freely, and panting practices just that. So, do your breathing a favor and practice your puppy pant! You CAN teach an old voice new tricks!
Have you ever seen singers move their JAW when they sing Riffs? Interestingly, this can be both a bad thing OR a good thing. It just depends on the circumstances. For most singing, jaw movement that corresponds with pitch movement is a very bad habit. This can happen during vibrato, during Riffs, or just when moving from note to note. Very GOOD vocal technique happens when the vocal folds are solely responsible for pitch adjustments. So, the first step to Riffs and vocal agility is to move the notes WITHOUT moving the jaw. On the other hand, more advanced Riffers sometimes use their jaws for a stylistic rearticulation of Riff notes. This is a sort of vocal “sound effect” that adds an extra accent detail to complex Riffs. Rule of thumb: don’t use your jaw to Riff. (But, there may come a day when it’s okay!)
Want to really do your Vocal HOMEWORK? Then keep an Observation Journal! All aspiring artists must be very focussed to have a career in the Music Industry. This means disciplined practicing, studying with skilled instructors, and performing regularly. But, an often overlooked aspect is becoming a studious OBSERVER of music and the performing arts. Attend live performances and take notes on what other singers did that worked or didn’t work. Listen to great recordings or watch live videos and notate the specific technical, stylistic, and dramatic choices that top artists have made. Keep an Observation Journal of your studies. It’s one thing to be a FAN. It’s another thing to be a PRO. By consciously studying the Arts in this way, your own artistry will grow by leaps and bounds!
“What the heck does the LARYNX have to do with Musical Style? Isn't Style determined by tone, rhythm, musical choices, articulation, resonance, and performance values?” Yes! But you also must master your Larynx! Try singing a song phrase with a High Larynx, then a Neutral Larynx, and finally a Low Larynx. You’ll probably notice how dramatically and quickly the sound changes! Different genres of music call for different Larynx positions. A slightly raised Larynx is common in pop or rock music. A Neutral Larynx is often used for folk or musical theatre singing. A slightly lowered Larynx is native to classical and traditional sounds. To be a versatile singer, you should get comfortable with the full spectrum of what your Larynx can do. Once you've figured this out, you're already on your way towards creating diverse and stylistically-appropriate sounds!
To improve your stylistic potential, try listening to music in other languages. Since you won’t be distracted by the lyrics of the song, you’ll be more likely to notice the intricacies of the sound. Listen to the melody and see if you can guess the emotion behind the song. Try dissecting the singer’s vocal technique. What types of resonance are they using? How would you describe their vocal registration? Is their vocal quality compressed or decompressed? Are they using a higher or lower larynx position? Analyzing voices in this way will enable you to have a better understanding of stylistic and technical nuances! Styles of singing differ so drastically around the world that listening to foreign artists will inspire new possibilities in your own vocal style!
Maybe it's time to get out there! Are you eager to start performing as a soloist or in a band, but unsure of how to transition from singing in the shower or karaoke to gigging professionally? One great starting place is to attend Open Mic Nights! They are often held at restaurants, taverns, churches, or performance venues and allow singers and musicians to get onstage and perform together. Some are rather informal, while others are highly organized and require scheduling a time slot to get up and sing. Not only can these settings provide great performance practice with a live audience, but they’re also an ideal way to network with other singers and musicians. Maybe it’s time to get out there!
You’ve got TWO Options. Option 1 - hold back the breath with the VOCAL FOLDS. Option 2 - hold back the breath with the 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!
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!
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!
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!
Atten…TION! Standing at attention with “perfect” posture can conjure images of rigid, tight muscles constricted in a frozen state - not the ideal conditions for singing. Great singing requires “tension” to be sure, but tension that’s supple and ready to move. Imagine your singing posture NOT as a "set" position, but instead as a combination of energies moving in opposing directions. For instance, let your spine have an upward momentum out of the crown of your head AND a downward motion into the floor. Or, keep your ribcage and abdomen expansive AND free to move inward. Keeping your posture at ease AND intentionally in motion will help keep your singing free and agile. Don’t let your posture command a tension… Let it command Attention!
Do you have EXPECTATIONS about what your voice should sound like or what it should be able to do? It’s very easy to focus on our end goals and then get discouraged when we don’t sound like our expectations. While setting long-term goals is very important to vocal success, you’ll move a lot faster if you live in THIS vocal moment. Establish a vocal journey where each step of your process is as valuable to you as your final product. Set small achievable goals and focus on these much more than your final goals. Take time to celebrate your successes and appreciate the progress you’ve already made. Give thanks for the voice you have TODAY. Because, no matter where you go on your journey - there will never be another voice like it!
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!
“He’s got a big voice!” “She sounds so powerful!” Think of the biggest, strongest, fullest voice you’ve ever heard. Now consider this: the human Larynx is roughly the size of a golf ball, and even smaller sometimes. The vocal folds of an adult are 18 to 23 millimeters long - not even one inch! It’s a wonder something so small can produce a huge range of sounds of all kinds: singing, laughing, shouting, crying, cheering, beat boxing, etc. So MIGHTY is the little Larynx that it can produce sounds that can be heard over an entire orchestra. So, the next time you're feeling small and defeated as a singer - remember that the most fantastic feats are often accomplished by the littlest heroes. And the unlikeliest underdog, the strongest sounds, and the greatest victories are already inside you!
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!
Breathing can be both voluntary AND involuntary. We breathe all the time without thinking. Yet, we can also breathe in a conscious and controlled fashion. Apply this truth while you sing. Use your breath voluntarily when you need to take a good deep breath before singing a long phrase. Consciously resist and control your exhale through engaged and energized Breath Support. On the other hand, use your breath more involuntarily when you feel that you’re pushing your voice. Try letting your exhale happen more naturally. If you happen to run out of air, just let your inhale happen on its own. Celebrate your body’s ability to relax and do the work for you. Or, celebrate your ability to consciously take control over your breathing system!
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!”
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…