Daily Vocal Tips

Presented by New York Vocal Coaching

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3

Friday

February

Are you starting to get ANNOYED at one passage, one phrase, or even one note that’s causing you trouble? Switch up your routine! If you’ve practiced that pesky passage a lot on its own, then try singing the song all the way through. Let it be imperfect for a little bit and have some fun. Even if it's unfinished, you can still perform it beautifully. If you still feel frustrated, take a few days off from it or take it out of your repertoire book for a while. Otherwise, you may end up stuck in a rut where you always associate a great song with feelings of frustration and defeat. Great songs can take time. Don’t let any song that you love become condemned as a source of unhappiness! It may still be a JOY one day soon!

2

Thursday

February

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!

1

Wednesday

February

We usually think of our ears as information RECEIVERS. But, really they GIVE just as much information to the voice as they get. Your ears and voice are part of the same neurological loop. So, changing what you hear changes how you sound. In fact, the voice can only produce what the ears can hear! This is known as the Tomatis Effect, named for Dr. Alfred Tomatis, a pioneer in music therapy who showed how the ear "builds, organizes, and nourishes the nervous system.” How does this apply to you? Incredible singers HEAR incredible singers! To be a top-notch vocalist, it's critical to seek out the vocalists who are pushing the boundaries of vocal limits. Instead of your ears always listening to your VOICE, it's time for your voice to listen to your EARS!

31

Tuesday

January

Do you need help learning to do Vibrato? Here’s a helping HAND! Start by singing a single pitch on any vowel. Then, move that pitch up and down on a small interval such as a half step. Move your hand up and down as you move between the pitches. It might be slow at first, but see how quickly you can move between the notes. To speed up, rather than try to move your voice, move your hand quickly instead. Due to kinesthetics, Vibrato will often begin to appear almost like magic as it replicates the hand’s motion. Remember, Vibrato isn’t as complex as many people think. Nor does it always come naturally. Sometimes it just needs a helping HAND!

30

Monday

January

We all have days when we don’t feel 100%, but we still go to work and get things done. The voice is exactly the same. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, it just doesn’t feel at its best. Does that mean we should hide away and make no sound? Not at all! Professional performers sing through allergies, colds, and plain old bad days all the time. The secret is recognizing the limits of your voice while maintaining healthy technique when something feels a little different. Perhaps that high note just isn’t going to sound as clear as usual. Maybe a long sustained note won’t make it quite as far. That’s okay! A day where you're not at 100% is an opportunity to bring your vocal technique to 200%!

27

Friday

January

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!

26

Thursday

January

Feel like you’re not getting enough AIR? Try invoking the “Rule of 12 Breaths”! While sitting down, breathe 3 times into your ribs with arms over your head. Then clasp your hands behind your back, push them down and breathe 3 times across your chest. Next wrap your hands around yourself in a hug and breathe into your back 3 times. Finally, roll down and place your elbows on your knees. Again, breathe 3 times and feel the expansion in your lower back, belly, and pelvis. After 12 breaths, you should feel a great expansion of breath all over your body! Any time your breathing is feeling shallow, just remember the “Rule of 12 Breaths”. You’ll be breathing much more efficiently without even having to get up!

25

Wednesday

January

Feel like you’re not getting enough AIR? Try invoking the “Rule of 12 Breaths”! While sitting down, breathe 3 times into your ribs with arms over your head. Then clasp your hands behind your back, push them down and breathe 3 times across your chest. Next wrap your hands around yourself in a hug and breathe into your back 3 times. Finally, roll down and place your elbows on your knees. Again, breathe 3 times and feel the expansion in your lower back, belly, and pelvis. After 12 breaths, you should feel a great expansion of breath all over your body! Any time your breathing is feeling shallow, just remember the “Rule of 12 Breaths”. You’ll be breathing much more efficiently without even having to get up!

24

Tuesday

January

Any TRACHEA fans out there? Well, fun fact! It has been shown in studies that a deep breath will often cause what is known as “Tracheal Pull”! This is a chain reaction that occurs when the diaphragm flattens out during a large inhalation. As the diaphragm flattens downward, it pulls the lungs, the trachea (windpipe), and the larynx downward as well. They are all connected! The common benefits of Tracheal Pull for singers include a lowering of the larynx and a loosening of the vocal folds. So, Tracheal Pull can be a very effective strategy for singers wishing to explore deeper and looser sounds in their voices. All you’ve got to do is breathe DEEPLY and also remain aware that your breaths are truly interconnected to the opening of your throat. Isn’t it time you became a FAN of your Trachea?

23

Monday

January

Feel like you’re not getting enough AIR? Try invoking the “Rule of 12 Breaths”! While sitting down, breathe 3 times into your ribs with arms over your head. Then clasp your hands behind your back, push them down and breathe 3 times across your chest. Next wrap your hands around yourself in a hug and breathe into your back 3 times. Finally, roll down and place your elbows on your knees. Again, breathe 3 times and feel the expansion in your lower back, belly, and pelvis. After 12 breaths, you should feel a great expansion of breath all over your body! Any time your breathing is feeling shallow, just remember the “Rule of 12 Breaths”. You’ll be breathing much more efficiently without even having to get up!

20

Friday

January

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!

19

Thursday

January

How often do you COMPLIMENT other singers? It’s easy to get wrapped up in competition and trying to make a name for yourself as an artist. But, true Artists appreciate all the beauty around them - even if it’s being made by someone else. As Artists, we should be able to genuinely appreciate the work of others without having to compare it to our own. Even when we’re comparing ourselves to other voices as a learning tool, we still need to be able to step back and simply ENJOY other singers! Valuing and encouraging fellow vocalists will keep you focused on singing as an art instead of a contest. With this approach, every singer truly wins!

18

Wednesday

January

“What nice Velar-Pharyngeal Control you have!” Wait. WHAT?! That’s the technical term for Nasal Resonance. It can give you greater flexibility, volume, and clarity while also making singing more effortless. Try pinching your nose and singing in three different ways. 1. With a LOT of buzz in your nose. 2. With NO buzz. 3. With a moderate amount of buzz. With each of these variations, try taking the pinch away and producing the same sound you achieved with the pinch. Remember, a sound that passes through the nose won’t necessarily be perceived as "nasal"! Instead, having control over the amount of Nasal Resonance you use will help boost various harmonics in your voice. Now THAT’s nice Velar-Pharyngeal Control!

17

Tuesday

January

Have you considered the ACTING values of your song? It’s easy to go through the motions while singing. However, in order to make a true connection with your audience, you must understand the dramatic nuances of your song. Musical aspects come first of course - the melody, rhythm, and stylistic choices. But, consider the CIRCUMSTANCES next. WHO are you singing to? What do you WANT in the song? WHERE does the song take place? What are the specific BEATS (or changes of thought) that the character has throughout the song? What do those unfamiliar words MEAN? If you hang onto both the musical and acting aspects of your songs, then you’ll be thrilled when your audience hangs onto your every word!

16

Monday

January

Practice makes perfect! Right? Well, for singing perhaps it’s better to say, “Perfect practice makes skillful singers”. When practicing, focus on targeting a SPECIFIC skill and ensure that you are doing so in a healthy way and an intentional way. Just imagine if every day you practiced increasing your range and you strained and tensed your muscles to hit the high notes. You would actually be practicing BAD habits that may lead to vocal problems in the future. So, the next time you practice, focus on healthy technique and specific new skillsets - make THOSE your habits! While we may never be perfect singers, we can become “perfect” practicers!

13

Friday

January

Remember your ROOTS! Why did you start singing? Were you inspired by a performance as a child? Was there an album you played on "repeat" as a teen? Maybe a certain vocalist left you in awe? No matter the reason, it’s important to reflect on what drew you to singing. It’s quite easy amidst constant practicing, rehearsing, auditioning, and performing to lose sight of your JOY. Yet, Joy will help you conquer the technical, musical, and performance challenges we sometimes face. To give the gift of voice to others, you must occasionally allow yourself to be blessed by the voices that inspired you. Think back and listen back to those who originally led you to singing. This practice will heal you when you’re feeling broken and energize you when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Remember your ROOTS and reach for the SKY!

12

Thursday

January

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!

11

Wednesday

January

Are ALLERGIES affecting your voice? Common symptoms of allergies are coughing, a runny nose, and congestion. This congestion can change or limit the way we use our vocal resonators - particularly Nasal Resonance. One solution to this problem is the use of a Neti Pot to keep the nasal cavity clean and clear. Another solution can be allergy medications. However, many allergy medications are antihistamines that have a drying effect on the mouth, throat, and vocal folds. So, the best solution possible is to learn what triggers your allergies and to avoid those circumstances whenever possible. Consult a doctor to learn what those triggers are for you. And, work with your Voice Teacher to make sure that your technique can carry you through any allergy issues you may have!

10

Tuesday

January

Everyone knows that certain songs are unfailing crowd-pleasers. You sing one line and the whole room joins you. It’s helpful to have songs like this in your repertoire to pull out on a whim. However, don’t limit yourself to crowd favorites! It’s ideal to be able to perform not only sure-fire hits, but lesser known melodies as well. When you sing a piece that's unfamiliar to the listener, they won’t be distracted by wanting to join in and can focus their attention on the singing itself! Your audiences will become even more interested in your performances simply due to the VARIETY of your repertoire alone. You may also introduce them to a new artist or style of music in the process. This is a crowd-pleaser in itself!

9

Monday

January

Take your SINGING VITAMINS! Do you sometimes feel how, no matter how often you stretch, you’re still tense? The solution could be as simple as vitamins! A deficiency in Vitamin D and Magnesium has been shown to contribute to myoskeletal tension in the body. This includes the Larynx! It can be difficult to obtain sufficient amounts of these nutrients from dietary sources alone. And sadly, unless you live along the equator, your chances of absorbing enough Vitamin D from the sun are slim. Magnesium and Vitamin D are processed more efficiently when taken together. So, consider taking a supplement of each or a multivitamin. Continue your usual strategies to reduce vocal tension, but a daily dose of these critical nutrients could be just what your body needs!

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