WHY SING ANYWAY??

I had an interesting conversation with one of my young 12-year-old students recently. She told me that she was going to try out for the school talent show. I asked her what song she was going to use and she mentioned a song that I hadn't heard. I asked her why she wasn't going to use one of the songs she has been working on, or even use the song she sang in her recital. She said she had sung t

hose songs enough and was tired of them. So that opened up a whole new conversation about why we sing. Do we sing just to conquer a new song and then go on to the next challenge? Not necessarily. Basically, we sing for others. God has given us a talent to be shared and this is the way we should look at it.  We pick songs because they speak to us and when we share them, these songs speak to other people. Over the summer, this student learned the song "Hallelujah" and was asked to sing it at summer camp multiple times. She said she really got tired of singing that song, but I told her that was because people loved that song and wanted to hear her sing it again and again. She may as well keep that song on her list because she will probably be singing that song many, many more times in her lifetime. Our songs are "gifts" from us to others. I have sung one song over and over for the last 40 years because people love it. That song has become very precious to me. So, it just makes sense to "try out" for the talent show with a song that has communicated to others in the past, because it will continue to communicate. I hope she looks at her singing in a different light now and that she will continue to find songs bring joy to others.

SINGING WITH YOUR CHEST VOICE OR HEAD VOICE???

For my friends locally, I am posting a series of tips on our "head voice" and "chest voice." Last night in our music practice, our director was making a point about the sopranos using their lower voices so they could have more "power' in their voices.

The easiest way I can explain how to sing with our chest voice (especially for sopranos) is to ask you to sing like you speak. Just say the phrase "How are you today." Now, sing that phrase like you said it but sing it on just one note. If sopranos sing that like they normally would sing it, they would be talking like Julia Child. Remember her--the forerunner of the cooking shows on TV? Don't sing it like that. Just sing it in a natural talking tone. I will be putting a video on my page to demonstrate this. I don't want to overload you with too much information, but I teach that we all have a "chest voice" and a "head voice." You have probably heard of these terms. In between these two distinct voices, we have a "break" in our voice where we transition from one voice to another. I have exercises that I will put on my page to make that transition easier, but these exercises have to be practiced frequently to train your voice. So, please "like" my page and check back for more information. And, thanks for joining me.:)

THE SINGING SHOWS

There are many vocal contest on television now.   I ask my voice students to try to watch these contests. If they will pay close attention to what the judges are saying, I think they can learn something. My favorite show is The Voice. The judges are more helpful and informative on that show. I question some of the judges' expertise on the other shows. For the most part, though, these shows are looking for a particular style of singing and if you don't fit their style of choice, they will not choose you. And I notice that they like the people who sing loud and high. Even if one wins one of these contests, this person still has a long road ahead of them. I am sure it helps their career but they need to keep the momentum going after the glory of the win fades. What are your thoughts about these shows and which show is your favorite?

NEW STUDENT

I had an interesting day on Wednesday. I teach a family of 4 children ranging from ages 5 to 15. It is like an assembly line on Wednesday - next. I originally was teaching 3 of them piano and 1 of them voice. One of the 5 year-olds was not doing well with piano. That is a very young age anyway, and it doesn't always work. Well, her grandmother mentioned that she loved to sing, so I took her lesson time to try some singing instead of piano. Turns out she has great pitch for a young singer and now we are into singing lessons. I am really excited about seeing her potential and working with her. One never knows the future, but this may be the start of something great!

Good Singers Are Good Listeners

Did you know that good singers are also good listeners? In a choir or group, they listen for the harmonies of the other parts and try to blend well with them. They listen closely to each pitch so they wont go flat or sharp. They also listen to their instructor or coach when suggestions are made to improve. And they remember the instruction as they are singing. If someone has been singing incorrectly (such as not opening their mouth or their diction is incorrect), it takes practice to fix that, just as with any other bad habit. Many times, I say the same things over and over again to my students because they do not remember my past instructions or they are not concentrating.  So, try to concentrate and remember the suggestions you receive and put them to use.

THE VOICE

I have been enjoying all the music reality shows and one of my favorites is "The Voice."  It seems like more and more musicians already in the industry are trying out for it, so it will be that much harder for a novice with not much experience to make it.  But there are always surprises, right?  It has been interesting to see at least two vocal teachers and coaches try out recently and not get picked.  The first one I saw was an older female singer who was over 50.  I think her mistake was that she tried to do too many riffs and runs and it made her voice sound unstable.  The second one was a young male teacher and he made the mistake of doing Celo's most famous song and of course, it didn't measure up.  So that just goes to show you that these judges are looking for specific things when they are listening to a singer.  It seems they want energy, pretty much singing all the notes on pitch, powerful vocals, attitude, and hearing a good rendition of a tough song.  I hope you are paying close attention to the judges' comments and if you are serious about singing, it would help to take notes during these shows.  It is exciting for me to share my thoughts with my students and see them incorporate these thoughts into their music.

On Friday of this week, two of my students (Heather and Jennifer--two nurses in their 20's) are giving a concert at Elmcroft.  They will each be singing 7 solos and 3 duets.  They have developed into good singers and I know they will do a great job.  Most of their songs are the latest pop and country songs, so the residents probably will not know them.  But it will be good for the residents to listen to what is current.  Some of their songs are (and these would be good for any singers to work on)--

-  Blown Away
-  Safe and Sound
-  The House That Built Me
-  Warwick Avenue
-  A Broken Wing
-  Your Song
-  Jar Of Hearts
-  Skyscraper
-  Mercy
-  American Homey
-  Stay
-  Rumor Has It
-  Someone Like You
-  Leave The Pieces
-  If I Ain't Got You
-  Boondocks
-  Come Together

As you can see, this is a great variety of music.  It will give them the experience of singing a "gig" that they can do again in the future.  I can't wait for Friday!

MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC!!

Okay, so we are seeing lots of music contests on television lately.  I hope all you voice students are taking notes out there!  There is a wealth of information being given in each show.  Here is a list of factors you should be watching with each contestant:

-  The confidence they are displaying.
-  The talent of the singer.
-  The song choice.  This can make or break a singer.
-   Whether the singer is singing on pitch or not.
-   The energy the singer is showing.
-   The movements of the singer.
-   If the singer "connects" with their audience.  Eye contact is everything.
-   Is the singer believable?
-   Are they pronouncing their words and opening their mouths?  Do they have a pleasant look?

Listen closely to the judges and their critiques of each contestant.  This is valuable information.  Take  notes because you will forget very important factors.  These shows are  a gold mine of information, so pay close attention to everything they have to say.