i-bands.net [READ ONLY MODE] :: View topic - The A2Z of Singing from Vocal Coaches: Part Two

synthdude · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:11 pm Post subject:

<b>The Z2Z of Singing: Part Two</b>

A = Athlete-- Singers need to train their body like an athlete. Your body is your instrument. Put a priority on: 1) taking care of your body -- rest, food and warming up to sing, and 2) building and maintaining your instrument.

B = Breathing-- Knowing how to breathe in singing is a basic technique. A diaphragmatic approach is important here. Use your back muscles for support. Fill up air into your rib cage and back but not into your throat. This creates a baseline support level called holding up. Then take smaller breaths for phrases as
you need them.

C = Control -- control in singing is a combination of techniques. Breath control, resonance, pitch, placement, holding up and being able to ride the air are all elements of control. Like riding a bike, it's the balance of all of these things that contribute to effortless singing.

D = Drop Your Jaw -- Relaxing and dropping the jaw in (pop) singing is the key to reaching notes effortlessly, making range transitions and supporting the ends of your range.

E = Eat for Energy -- Proteins are essential for maintaining energy in singing. Singing takes energy. Many performers lose energy halfway through a set and then end up efforting, pushing and stressing their vocal chords.

F = Fatigue -- Fight fatigue. As a singer, this is a huge enemy. Fatigue will sap you of technique and have you working against yourself. Many singers strain their vocal chords, push their range, get hoarse, and get a variety of other problems when they get tired. The antidote is rest and self-care.

G = Get out there-- The best way to create your own style as a singer is to do it. If you're a beginner, work with nurturing people (and a coach). You can play coffeehouses, open mikes, sing with friends, but just get started.

H = Hydration - Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water (no lemon). It takes energy and lubrication to sing.

I = Initiate -- Look for opportunities to sing. They are out there. Be like a tiger, watch for opportunities and do the work to be able to take them.

J = Jaw -- Relax your jaw. Called a Dumb Duh, it will feel unnatural to keep your jaw loose and dropped but it is the best way to get a smooth sound and not effort in singing. It also allows you to get exact placement of pitch and replicate it.

K = Keep Your Eye on the Ball -- Don't get discouraged if your voice isn't where you'd like it to be. It takes time to develop your instrument. Singing is a complex performing art and everyone who's successful has done the work at some time or another. Keep going and you'll keep growing.

L = Less is More -- Strive to do justice to the song and your interpretation of it. Just deliver the message. Vocal gymnastics is not a prerequisite for doing a great vocal performance.

M = Mouth sounds -- Using mouth sounds such as a creek or a cry, give your voice more resonance and presence. In your chest voice, knowing how to use mouth sounds properly is critical -- especially in getting to record quality. Many singers mistakenly put their sound in their nose. Practice putting the sound in your mouth by placing it all the way in your nose and then forcing the sound into your mouth. FEEL the difference. Your body can assist you with correct placement.

N = Not Efforting -- This is a concept of using your body as an instrument. Not efforting involves holding up (standing straight, having a support of air in your body), doing a proper placement of pitches, dropping your jaw, riding the air up and over, and relaxing into the groove.

O = Open Stance -- An open stance to the audience is: holding up, standing straight, shoulders down, head and jaw relaxed, head straight forward, eyes open -- focused on a point, arms relaxed and wide. Watch Bono, Jagger, Aretha to get the idea.

P = Placement -- Knowing (not guessing) where pitches are placed is critical to being in control as a singer. You can actually have your body help you in remembering where pitches are placed. If you are on stage and can't hear/have no monitors etc..., knowing placement will allow you to stay on pitch no matter what
happens around you.

Q = Quit Pushing -- Feeling powerful in singing and being powerful in singing are two entirely different things. While efforting -- pushing chest, singing louder to hit pitches, creating and pushing sound from the throat -- may feel powerful, it actually sounds worse. It's easy to go off pitch, sound strident (even painful), hurt your voice, crack etc... when you sing in this way.

R = Riding the Air -- Riding the air is a concept and a set of actions that are extremely helpful for singers. Riding the air means holding up the air in your body so that you are supported, then sending/directing the sound up and over in a line to a point (imagine) across the room. Part of this is a mental image, part is a body muscle memory stance and the last part is mouth placement (riding along the palate).

S = Sing, Sing, Sing -- Sing everyday. If you aren't in a group, sing in the car, take classes, and most importantly, do vocal exercises. They will maintain your instrument (and build it) as you look for a steady singing gig.

T = Take feedback and direction. Be teachable. Sometimes other people can guide us when we don't know the way. Sometimes other people are dead wrong. Trust your intuition. Learn who to trust and then take what you like and leave the rest.

V = Vocal Exercises -- Vocal exercises are critical to maintaining and building your instrument. Do NOT underestimate them. They warm up your vocal chords in ways just singing a song cannot and will not. Lip rolls are a good way to start any warm up routine and can be done on a variety of scales.

W = Warm Up -- This is critical to a great performance -- you must warm up your muscles. A rule of thumb is to do at least 20 minutes of vocal exercises and 40 minutes of singing. If you perform a lot, it could take less time. If you perform infrequently, warm up longer. Otherwise you warm up on your audience or, worse, you find congestion, range weakness or other problems on stage rather than in the privacy of your home -- where you can work to overcome them. If you're sick or tired or very congested, having enough warm up time allows you to make good decisions on song selection and the actual set list.

X = X Factor -- Once you've got some solid vocal technique, let your personality and spirit shine through. Your voice is the window to your soul and vision; your technique needs to support your vision, not overtake it. If you are technically in control and have clear intent, even a single word can move listeners to tears.

Y = You are the Messenger -- If you're on stage or in the studio and you have to be perfect, it never works. Focus on communicating the song, sharing that experience with the audience. It's easy to make mistakes when it's all about us (how great or not we are).

Z = Get in the Zone -- Singing is a mental, spiritual, emotional and physical pursuit. It takes preparation, focus and energy! Prepare mentally for a performance. Take time to get quiet and focused before you sing. Warm up and visualize yourself giving a great performance.