Singing Techniques - Faulty Thinking equals Faulty Singing

Good singers, fine golfers, chess players and race car drivers all share an all important technique. It's what sets them apart from the mediocre…and just what is that technique? Read on.

How good are you at thinking ahead? In these days of ADD, ADHD, AZZLXMDD, and all the rest it seems we all have an excuse for having a short attention span. But how short is short? Can you remember 3 words, or a 2-note melody? Or a sound you just heard? If your answer is "yes", you are well on your way to becoming an excellent singer.

When a pro golfer is standing there "addressing the ball" (getting ready to hit it), it seems logical that they are thinking about their swing, or their follow-through, or perhaps, imagining where they want the ball to land. But when you ask a pro, their answer will probably be something like "I'm actually hitting the ball in my mind. I'm living through the entire process, even to knowing exactly where the ball will land." And they don't actually hit the ball until they've "seen" the ball land in their mind.

Having "lived" the entire process immediately before, all they have to do is to relive it in the physical world. They just copy what they have just done.

Fortunately the singer doesn't have to "live" the entire song before singing it, but he does need to think or hear the sound before he sings it.. Creating, or hearing even a few notes or a phrase before singing them will, like the pro golfer, more definitely assure better singing. Then, the trick is to keep thinking or hearing the next phrase, and the next. Just stay a phrase or a few notes ahead in your thinking.

Have you ever been driving, not thinking about driving at all, and then something unexpected happens and you immediately respond. The thing is…you really have been thinking ahead, planning for whatever might go wrong. You've just been doing this for so long that you aren't even aware that you're doing it.

Chances are, you're very good at thinking ahead while you're driving, or riding a bicycle, playing chess or tennis. Apply this to your singing and you'll be amazed at the response. THINK IT BEFORE YOU SING IT.

Singing Instruction - Vocal Quality and High Range: How Important Are They?

"I'll never be accepted as a good singer. My range is limited, and my quality sucks".

I've heard too many versions of this lament from singers who have the potential to go far with their singing. And it could be true…if they want to sing opera or lead roles in musical theatre.

But, singing pop, rock and country well requires different abilities than just having a good voice. In fact, many well-known singers in these genres have poor technique and singing abilities. (When have you heard Bob Dillon praised for his beautiful tone quality or impeccable pitch?)

I'm not saying that you shouldn't strive for a great singing voice, only that too much importance is placed here, when there are other just as important, or more important elements to consider.

• Having a personality that draws the audience's attention and respect. It may be hard to swallow, but a performer with a relatively poor singing voice, but with shining charisma is more likely to win the hearts of the average audience.

• Possessing the ability to communicate feelings and emotions freely and honestly. Too many singers refuse to accept the fact that singing is communication. Vocal quality helps with that, but places second when compared with communication skills. If you have an out-going personality, and the charisma to draw people to you, you possess the most important element in the singing of pop, rock and country music.

• Being brave. meeting the normal fears of being judged by others. Understand that you are always going to be judged by others, some of whom do not like anything you do. Go to karaoke clubs and get up and sing. Learn one song well and start with that. The beautiful thing about singing karaoke is that people don't care if you are less than good. They appreciate you because you are brave enough to do it. Of course, as you improve, you will receive more appreciation.

Singing Techniques -Is Your Singing Voice Too Harsh and Husky?

If you or your friends are feeling that your singing sound is irritating and hard to listen to because it's too husky or harsh, or it's muffled and words hard to understand, you are probably singing down too low in your throat.

There are three basic places we can "feel" our voice: In the throat, in the nose and in the head. (Don't confuse this with the vocal registers, the chest voice, the middle voice, the head voice, the whistle register, etc.) "Feeling" the voice has to do with resonance, or vocal quality. (Bright, dull, nasal, harsh, etc.)

Try sing "Happy Birthday", making the sound way down in the throat. This should sound something like Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Hey, I'm Rocky." This is husky or throaty sound. It's muffled, doesn't carry well, and it's very damaging to the vocal cords.

Now, sing "Happy Birthday' again, only this time, sing it like an old time country singer. You want to try for an extremely nasal and pinched sound. This sound is very irritating to listen to when done by most singers.

Now, sing the song again, this time "thinking" or feeling your sound lightly vibrating in your forehead or in your cheekbones. This should be the sound you work toward in your exercises. It's bright, full and carries well. This feeling is often described as singing "into the mask."

The best singers use all of these sounds, according to the song they are singing, and their creative ideas. What you want to avoid is having to sing in the nose or the throat just because that's the only way you know how to sing.

Breathy, husky, throaty, thin, nasal…all of these qualities are useful at various times. Practice them to expand your sound-posibilities, but try not to get stuck in the throat sound or the nasal sound.

Singing Tips _ You Probably Talk Too Much

I've been working with professionals who use their voices as an importantl part of their daily routine for a lot of years…salesmen, singers, actors, lawyers, teachers, TV and movie personalities and many others; and I'm constantly amazed to find that most of these people do not know how to use their vocal instrument correctly, so it never gets tired or wears out no matter how often or how long they have to use it. And many of these students carry degrees from major universities, or have studied with reputable singing and speech teachers.

Tom, a TV anchorman was referred to me by his speech therapist because he was in danger of losing his highly lucrative position due to constant hoarseness. When I asked him what his university professors taught him about speaking with good vocal quality, he said: "I was told to "project my voice....to speak deeply from the diaphragm". Really? That's all? Here is a guy who holds two full degrees in speech and theatre from a major university, and he knows little or nothing about how to protect his voice from serious damage.

Singing and speech both require the use of the exact same physical equipment: the vocal chords, and lungs, diaphragm and other breathing muscles, plus the resonators. And… both singing and speech are communicated by the exact same elements of vowels, pitch, emphasis, or volume, and durations.

So, as a singer, you need to be very aware of how you are using your speaking voice. Let's face it, even though you consider yourself a "singer," you still use your speaking voice so much more. Most of the time you are a "speaker" who sings…not the other way around – and you may be damaging your singing voice when you speak.

THE SAME PHYSICAL EQUIPMENT WHICH MAKES THE SINGING VOICE ALSO MAKES THE SPEAKING VOICE. The only basic difference between speaking and singing is in the use of pitch and sustained vowels. Learn to speak well and your singing will greatly improve. Sessions one and two of my complete comprehensive course, THE SINGER'S BIBLE, will set you on the right track to good vocal quality, singing or speaking.

Hey, I've got a FREE ebook on singing techniques ready for you to download. Check it out at my website (profile)

Have fun!!

Al

Some Thoughts on Auditioning

Gonna ramble a little about auditioning. I get a lot of questions about this, so I've had time to think about it. Here goes:

Ok. So you've decided to audition for American Idol, or the local talent show, or the local Karaoke talent search. What's going to give you that big step up and put you ahead of the other singers and performers? What are the judges looking for in their first place winner?

First you need to realize that the visual impression you make is every bit as important as the quality of your singing. Having a terrific singing voice will not, by itself, win you that first place position, unless you happen to be a Josh Groban or Celine Dion) and even they spend much time working on their presentations.

Of course you need to practice and perfect your songs. Memorize them FAR in advance of the audition so there's no chance of your forgetting lyrics or melody. Record them, and listen – not just for bad notes, but also listen as if you were hearing this singer for the first time on the radio. Do you like them? Would you go out and buy their album? Do they "speak" to you with their emotion and style? Perform your audition before some friends.

Just as much time (if not more) should be spent working on your performance as on the song itself. Practice exactly where you want to move during the song. Use the entire stage area, even if it is only 6 feet, to "tell your story" Practice your expressions and body movements so that they become an equal part of your song, along with your voice quality. Leave nothing to chance. Rehearse it all. If you are singing in a karaoke contest, memorize the song. Get away from the lyric screen.

What you wear needs to coordinate with what you are singing without being overly obvious. (If you are wearing shorts and sandals while singing "You Raise Me Up" your outfit will prove detrimental to the overall power and effect.

So, there are my ideas. What do you have to add?