You’ve probably heard a number of different opinions on LARYNX POSITION during singing. Modern voice teachers often lead away from the idea of a lower larynx, encouraging singers to keep it neutral or reap the stylistic benefits of raising it. On the other hand, traditional teachers are often appalled at the idea of a high larynx and prefer a low larynx at all costs. Who is right? Both! The ability to manipulate your larynx position is among the most important aspects of vocal versatility. Just remember - when lowering the larynx, think of relaxing your throat open, instead of pushing and forcing your larynx down. And when allowing it to sit higher, make sure it's not because you're straining for higher pitches. Rather, make it an intentional choice for style or acoustics. It's your instrument. Why not do it all?
Any live singer knows - MONITORS are a must! Whether it’s a speaker or an in-ear, it’s essential that you can hear yourself. Sometimes you’ll be in a concert hall with perfect acoustics. But, quite often venues like outdoor weddings, hotels, or cafes won’t have ideal sound setups. This causes many singers to push or strain to hear themselves clearly. Or, they have pitch problems due to lack of auditory feedback. So, make the Sound Engineer your best friend! If there’s no engineer present, then try your best to arrange a setup where the vocals and instruments are audible to both the audience and the performers onstage. You often must take it upon yourself to do a sound check prior to the performance. But, this extra planning will spare you much frustration and will let the audience HEAR YOU at your BEST!
Some people complain of their speaking voices TIRING out very quickly. On the other hand, there are other people that can speak all day long and never seem to wear out. Want to be one of the healthy ones? Then, use VARIETY! One big reason for vocal fatigue is doing everything the SAME. Perhaps the pitch is monotone. Or, maybe the voice is predominantly in one register like vocal fry or Chest Voice. It might be that the volume is always at one level. Or, perhaps the resonance is consistently very dark or bright. By varying the pitch, registration, volume, and resonance, you will keep your voice spry and HAPPY. Plus, your voice will be more interesting, engaging, and attractive. Variety is indeed the spice of long vocal LIFE
Have you ever felt like you can’t inhale DEEPLY? Try a Resistance Breath! First, create a tiny opening at your lips like drinking through a straw. Second, place your finger in front of your lips. Third, inhale the air. Be sure to make it somewhat difficult to take in the air. The sound should be a bit noisy (like slurping a milkshake through a straw) and should take a while (10 to 20 seconds). For added awareness, place a hand on your abdomen or on your ribcage. Notice what happens as you draw in the breath. See how far you can expand the ribcage and how much you can allow the abdomen to relax. This tool is used by athletes, people with breathing disorders, and…. you guessed it… SINGERS!
There comes a moment in your singing studies when your Artistic Voice speaks up and confesses HOW and WHAT it likes to sing. Perhaps it's not a loud voice or a dramatic moment. But, one day in the midst of all the coaching, the critique, and the crafting - you’ll begin to listen to this Voice. It is yours and yours alone. It guides your unique musical taste and artistic values. It shapes your stylistic choices, repertoire, and stage presence. It tells you exactly what kind of performer you were destined to become and what you want to give to the world through song. All of us start off as the product of someone else’s Artistic Voice. And we can be grateful for this. But, when you finally listen to your OWN Artistic Voice, without judgment, you’ll discover the kind of singer you are meant to be.
Should you be SELECTIVE in your Auditions? Well, that actually depends on where you are in your career. Artists just starting out can benefit from Auditioning for any and all things they MIGHT be right for. Who knows? You may think you're wrong for a project, but end up singing and performing in a piece that you never dreamed of! Plus, when you’re starting out, your Auditioning will need lots of PRACTICE. However, as your career develops, it’s important that you become more selective. Make sure that you’re only auditioning for projects that you're truly right for and that you would WANT to do. This helps you build your “brand” as a performer and assures that you won’t be wasting anyone’s time by turning down projects that you book. Take a moment to consider how selective you need to be at this point in your career when it comes to your Auditions!
“SHHH!!! I’m Riffing!” One of the best tactics for getting your Riffs precise and clean is to rehearse them QUIETLY. When we sing loudly, our entire voice mechanism works a little harder. The vocal folds are thicker and typically more compressed. We use a little more air pressure and the muscles that stabilize the voice also are more engaged. These conditions are NOT ideal for successful and agile Riffing. So, for practice purposes, try reducing your volume. The vocal folds will be thinner, the air pressure will diminish, and the musculature will relax – PERFECT Riffing conditions! Once you’ve learned your Riffs quietly and incrementally (oh, so slowly!), then you can increase your volume closer to where you’d like it!
Establish a good Audition Routine! The warm-ups you sing, the amount of sleep you get, and even your diet can affect how you feel when you get your moment in the Audition room. Changing your routine can be jarring, even if the changes are positive. If you begin most mornings with a cup of coffee and a quick 5-minute warm-up, then singing for 30 minutes and eating an omelet may make your audition later that day feel strange. It’s important for auditions to feel “clinical”. In other words, they shouldn't feel like life or death. The greatest success comes when auditions are just "another day at the office". So, find a routine that you like and stick with it. If your current routine doesn’t make you feel great, then establish one that works. Hopefully, booking the job becomes as routine as another day at the office!
Singing and weight lifting - what’s the connection? Weight lifting is great for the body. It can build strength, coordination, and improve overall health. Yet, it can be tough on the voice without proper breathing technique. Holding your breath as you lift is known as the VALSALVA Maneuver. This turns the body into a lever, helping you to lift heavy weight. However, it also increases subglottic pressure (breath pressure below the vocal cords) to excess. It can also lead to neck tension, very squeezed vocal cords, and even exertion headaches in some cases. To avoid the Valsalva Maneuver, consciously EXHALE during physical exertion. Try a SS, SH, or FF sound to keep the breath flowing as you push through your workout. Swell your muscles and not your vocal cords!
When we inhale for singing, our attention is usually focused on the expansion of the abs, ribs and lower back. And rightly so! These are the most important elements of good breathing. However, have you ever focused on any part of your body ABOVE your shoulders as you breathe? If not, you might try it! The shape of your mouth, jaw, lips, tongue and soft palate all influence the way that breath enters AND exits your body. For example, if you are about to sing in your Falsetto register or high in your range, try breathing in on a lip-rounded “OO” vowel. This will configure your vocal tract in such a way that is optimal for singing your highest notes! Keep working to make sure that your breath support (or resistance of the breath) emerges from deep in your body. But as you do - don't forget about what's up TOP!
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!
If you’re looking to get cast, sometimes it’s best to go right to the SOURCE! Casting Directors often teach and coach performers on the side. So, if you know anyone in the casting industry through previous work, you can often hire them as a private coach for especially important auditions. If you don’t know any Casting Directors, many of them offer classes so that you can get to know them. In addition to your vocal and acting training, booking a session with a professional Casting Director can give you an entirely new perspective on your work. It will also give you insights into the entertainment industry that you may not have thought of before. Not only will this provide inspiration for your upcoming auditions, but it will put you on the radar of another industry professional!
Riffs, runs, melismas, grace notes, arpeggios. All of these things require vocal AGILITY. But, Agility goes far beyond just fast moving notes. In fact, it has many other benefits for the voice. When you practice your Agility, you are also practicing your high notes, your vibrato, and your lighter vocal registers. Why is this true? Think about it. If your vocal folds can move fast from note to note, then they clearly do not have a lot of tension on them. This lack of tension and freedom of movement is the very same thing required for vibrato, high notes, and lighter vocal registration. So, make sure you are practicing some Agility exercises in your daily workout. It’s MORE than just moving fast!
What does it mean to make ACTIVE Acting Choices in a song? It means seeking what you can PLAY, before seeking what you can FEEL. Take the song “Yesterday” by The Beatles. “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now it looks as though they’re here to stay”. It might be very tempting to seek a sad or nostalgic feeling about how things were “yesterday”. This might be “emotional”, but it gives you absolutely nothing to act. Instead, what if you looked for “yesterday” as a way to keep believing for tomorrow? What if it were a way to keep your love alive? What if it were a way to convince your love to reconsider? These choices would give you a lot of ACTIVE things to play as a singer. Approach your songwork seeking for what you can act now! If you don't, you'll be onstage awkwardly searching for some emotion that happened "yesterday".
Most days we may not REMEMBER that singing is a gift. Singing is a beautiful form of expression which we are free to take part in however we please. We are so accustomed to this right that we sometimes forget that many sacrifices have been made for our freedom. This includes the right to sing Joyfully! Here in the USA, Memorial Day is the day where we remember those who gave their lives so that we might have a voice. When making a Joyful Noise today, remember to sing a song of thanks as well! You might take your moment of silence for those who have passed. But, expressing gratitude in song might also be the perfect way to remember those who fought for such a precious gift! Have a blessed Memorial Day!
True or False: Singers should sing with TENSION. Before you answer - consider what Tension is. Tension is the state of being stretched to tautness. It’s the stress from elongation of an elastic band. It’s the amount of energy needed to create potential. Sound familiar? As we sing, we stretch and tense our vocal folds in opposition to the flow of breath. So, it’s TRUE! We need Tension to sing! Without Tension we couldn’t even breathe! Anytime your lower abdominal muscles contract to expel air, you’re creating helpful Tension in the body. Of course we want to avoid unhelpful Tensions in the neck, larynx, and jaw. But, being a relaxed singer doesn’t mean being a FLACCID singer. Seek after a flexible, buoyant, energetic, and dynamic vocal TENSION!
To develop your personal singing style, turn to your natural ACCENT! Different languages and dialects vary not just in vocabulary, but also in word stresses, inflections, and speaking attitudes. Southern American accents often linger on long vowels longer than standard American accents. Spanish vowels are brighter and farther forward than Russian vowels. Most Italian consonants have a lighter touch than the throatier sounds in German or Hebrew. Some cultures encourage louder speaking than others, while some regions use faster talking speeds. How do your natural tendencies make certain songs easier or more challenging? How can your accent make your approach to songs unique? Start considering how your ACCENT can inform your vocal style!
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!
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!
Are you an ADVENTUROUS singer? Or, do you stick to what you’re already good at? It's certainly important to know what styles suit your voice. However, it's also important to step outside the box. After all, how can we realize the amazing possibilities of our voices without taking some risks? Start stretching your musical ears and tastes by finding a few songs that aren't in your typical style. Even if they are not “your thing”, try to truly COMMIT to them. You may not end up ever performing, recording, or auditioning with these songs, but your skills as an artist will be stretched and developed. Open your ears and soul to the ADVENTURE of working on styles that are outside of your everyday vocal life!