“Two is better than one!” This goes for singing as well. Have a friend that loves to sing? Try practicing with them! We usually only think about practicing alone or with a vocal coach, but having another set of friendly ears can be helpful and inspirational. In addition to singing your favorite duets, you can give each other feedback and learn from one another's strengths. Plan to meet at least once a month and keep each other positive and accountable. Record your sessions so you can document your mutual progress from month to month. So go ahead - set a date, create a song list for both of you, and get started with vocal growth x 2!
Climb to the top of your voice - EVERY DAY! Many singers that Belt, Mix, and sing contemporary music just adore singing in the low, middle, and upper-middle parts of their range. This is natural because contemporary vocal styles are written in this part of the voice. However, it’s tempting to practice those registers exclusively and thus neglect Head Voice (female), Falsetto (male), and Flageolet. The upper ranges of your voice promote vocal flexibility, health, longevity, and agility. Plus, they will actually make your lower and middle range BETTER. So, even if it’s not something your style calls for, be sure to stretch out your voice consistently. Once you come down from the stratosphere, your voice will feel like it’s walking on clouds!
Have you ever sung from your THIRD EYE? The “Third Eye” is located in the middle of the forehead, slightly above the eyebrows. For thousands of years awareness of this spot has been a way to DEEPEN our consciousness, CONNECT to our souls, and FOCUS our minds. Singers have also long noticed a connection to this place. Higher notes are often felt in the Third Eye because the need for Head and Nasal resonance increases. When you observe elite singers in action, you will often notice that there is intense energy and focus between the eyebrows - even without lifting or tensing them. So, start seeing through new eyes and singing from new places! Guiding your sound toward your Third Eye will help add FOCUS to your voice, your mind, and your soul!
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!
One of the most common places that singers hold vocal tension is under the CHIN. The Digastrics, the Mylohyoids, and the Geniohyoids are the major muscles located there. The main purpose of these muscles is for swallowing. However, they can also tighten during singing. Try placing a finger beneath your chin as you practice. You should not feel this area get tight or bulky, particularly as you move to higher notes. If it does tighten, you can either massage the muscles or hold them gently. If you still have problems, try some jaw and tongue stretches to free up the tension. All of these muscles are connected to the Larynx, so it’s very important to make sure they remain free at all times. But, if you do struggle with tension beneath your chin, don’t get discouraged! Keep your CHIN up!
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!
When learning to Riff, it’s easy to think that it’s all about fast moving notes. Yet, there are actually many other nuanced changes that occur during Riffs. Changing between VOCAL REGISTERS during a Riff is an example of this. A great way to practice this difficult and subtle vocal skill is to try yodeling exercises! Move back and forth between Chest Voice and Falsetto/Head Voice while singing an “EE” vowel on a 1-6-1-6-1 interval. Master this exercise at a slow tempo and then increase the speed. Soon the yodel skill will become so natural for you that you can easily incorporate it into your Riffs. Being able to change registers while Riffing will add a new ear-catching dimension to your Riffs!
Did you know that pianos are technically not “in tune”? According to the laws of Acoustics, the intervals that we know and love - octaves, fifths, thirds, etc. - should all be a little closer together than they are. Instruments used to be tuned this way in the past. But, because the mathematics of acoustics are based on one particular “root” note, you would only be able to play your instrument in the key of that root note without everything sounding strange. In the 18th century, the music community decided to shift to an equal tempered or well-tempered scale, compromising each interval a little bit so that musicians could play in any key without re-tuning their whole instrument. So, if you’re struggling with your tuning while you sing, just remember that the piano is too!
Have you ever been asked to ACT your song more? Perhaps you resisted this because you didn’t want to come across in a phony way. If so, you were right to not want to “overact”. So much of the emotion is already taken care of by the music when we sing. So, the best way to ACT often doesn’t feel like “'acting” at all. In fact, some of the most truthful performances come from deep within ourselves. One strategy is to find something in the song that relates directly to you. Then deliver the lyrics in a way that resonates with your life, your experiences, and your unique view of the world. Not only will this give you an irresistible authenticity, but it also will instantly make any song your OWN.
Your RIBS and your BELLY are the keys to great breathing for singing and life. However, many singers hold a lot of tension in these areas without even realizing it. Are your ribs not expanding properly when you take a breath? Then try some side stretches! Reach your arms to the sky and then reach them from side-to-side while breathing the ribcage open. Is your belly tight when you inhale or are your abs overly developed? Then try a backbend or a nice Cobra pose! As you lengthen your abdominal region, breathe open your belly. These stretches not only feel fantastic, but they also help your breathing to become everything you want it to be - deep, effortless, and natural!
Ask yourself an important question: “What does it mean to be a True Artist?” Your answer may dictate your future. Does it mean being famous? Does it mean making money? Does it mean supporting your colleagues? Does it mean loving your craft? Does it mean cherishing your vocal journey every single day of your life regardless of what people say? Does it mean finding your Joy? Or, something else? There’s nothing right or wrong about any question you ask or answer you give. Just remember, the True Artist that you dream to be, may become a REALITY. Dreams can come true. So, make sure that what your soul TRULY wants lines up with the kind of Artist that you desire to become. If you’re clear, you may look in the mirror one day and say - YES. This is exactly what I had hoped to do with my vocal gifts!