05.12.08
Posted in Uncategorized, Practicing, Write-In Questions at 3:55 am by Administrator
“I really enjoy singing, but my friends all call me ‘tone-deaf.’ Is there any hope for me to get better?”
- Christian H.
Christian,
Although the term ‘tone deaf’ is thrown around with the assumption that improvement is impossible, I simply don’t agree. The ability to ‘stay on pitch‘ or ‘match pitch‘ has more to do with listening and distinguishing a note than it does with the action of vocally reproducing it. We are language-based creatures and we learn to speak through imitation. Eventually we learn to imitate other noises, such as animal sounds, in such cases, even ‘tone deaf’ people do just fine reproducing sounds.
The key to improving your ability to match pitch, or sing the same note that you hear, is learning to listen closely, forming a clear mental image of the note you are about to sing. This is a discipline, and it’s best to start with some simple exercises:
1) At a piano keyboard, play various notes that are higher and lower than one another (notes on the left are lower, notes on the right are higher). Just listen to the notes and get used to what a higher note sounds like compared to a lower one. Have someone else play notes - two at a time - and try to determine (without looking at the notes they’re playing on the keyboard) whether the second note they play is higher or lower than the first.
2) Next, try to match a pitch that you play on the keyboard. Play the note three times, slowly, leaving space between the times to play it. Listen to the note, try to imagine what it sounds like. Then, when you play the note a fourth time, try to sing the same pitch. If you’re not sure whether you’re matching the pitch or not, try sliding your voice up and down and see if it seems to “match” with the piano pitch anywhere.
Eventually, after a bit of practice training your ear you should be better able to determine and reproduce a pitch. Just remember, even the best singer will go off pitch sometimes if he/she stops listening and thinking about what note they are about to sing.
Most of all, Christian, don’t be discouraged. Keep training your ear and enjoying to sing!
~ Rebeqa
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04.21.08
Posted in Uncategorized, Performer Resources, Practicing, Write-In Questions at 5:13 am by Administrator
“Sometimes when I am singing in front of people I find that I become short of breath and can’t make it to the end of phrases that I otherwise had no problem with. Is there any advice you can give me to make this stop happening?”
- Michelle S.
Michelle,
Even for experienced performers, maintaining technique in front of an audience is a whole ‘nother bag of tricks than practicing by ourselves. There are two factors that are most likely affecting your ability to sustain a held note:
1. Nervous Tension. The anxiety of being on stage is the same as any other anxiety - it ignites our “fight or flight” instinct. One side effect of this is that our legs and stomach become tense, inhibiting diaphragmatic breathing. Next time you’re in front of an audience, be aware of any tension in your body - from your feet to the top of your head. Believe it or not, the entire body is actually connected (!gasp! No?!), and tension anywhere will migrate to other parts and cause problems for you. Also, when you reach the end of the breath, make sure you’re not contracting your sternum downward (as though you were doing a stomach-crunch). This collapses your lungs and can trap a little bit of air that you do have and make it unusable. Instead, keep your sternum lifted and focus on allowing the lower abdomen and pelvic floor press the air out (this will feel anti-instinct, but just try it a few times, I think you’ll be surprised).
2. Distractions. Most singers prefer to practice in an environment that allows them to focus. Unfortunately, the center of the spotlight is not such a place. On stage we’re worried about our balance, not tripping on instrument cords, and keeping the energy level up. It’s very important that you practice your technique enough that when you’re on stage it comes naturally. Then, focus on disciplining yourself to constantly monitor your technique, making sure it’s still intact throughout your performance. Check that your shoulders are relaxed, that your throat is open, that your posture is supporting the breath.
As you get more comfortable on stage you’ll find that tension will decrease and the normal distractions will fade into the background. Until then, try to relax and keep up the practicing!
~ Rebeqa
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04.20.08
Posted in Uncategorized, Vocal Health, Write-In Questions at 2:50 am by Administrator
“I recently went to a rock concert and woke up with a scratchy voice. Are there any tricks of the trade to help avoid this? - Chris R.
Chris,
To avoid “morning after” voice - or that scratchy, hoarse throwback from a long, loud night - there are steps you can take before, during, and after the vocal strain is going to happen.
Before: If you know you’re going to have a long, loud night, make sure that you hydrate that day. Also, take it easy on dehydrating agents such as caffeine, overly salty foods, and alcohol.
During: Of course, there’s a good chance you may be drinking alcohol throughout a long evening, so make sure you’re keeping up on your water as well. Also, during the event be aware of how loudly you’re speaking, singing, or cheering. Loud venues bring out The Lombard Effect, or an unconscious increase of vocal volume to compete with surrounding noise (this is also why people listening to music with headphones on, tend to yell when they talk.) The best thing to do is to enjoy the evening with no yelling or screaming. But we all know that a really great concert can make us scream ourselves silly, despite our best vocal intentions. So, if you must be loud, keep your breath supported and don’t max out your voice - keep it at 80% volume or less.
After: If you still find your voice scratchy the next morning, drink plenty of water, opt for herbal tea instead of coffee (caffeine dehydrates, remember), and take a hot shower and breathe deeply in the steam. Also, while you’re in the steam, do about 10 minutes of gentle humming through your range to warm up your voice. You should be sounding better after this, but if you’re still hoarse and breathy it means your vocal cords are probably swollen and you should really avoid singing, speaking or whispering for a few hours. In the meantime, keep that water and hot, herbal tea within reach - hydration and vocal rest (and a nap if you can get it) are your best bet for feel better soon.
Best of luck at the next concert, Chris!
~ Rebeqa
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02.18.08
Posted in Uncategorized, Performer Resources, Practicing, Write-In Questions at 7:38 am by Administrator
“What are some good exercises for me to do to keep my voice in shape when I’m not taking lessons?” - April S.
April,
I like the phrase “keep my voice in shape.” Many people forget that singing is a physical discipline and that our singing mechanisms can “get out of shape” just as much as the rest of us can. When you are between voice teachers, the two things you want to keep up are:
1. Muscle-memory for healthy breathing technique. Try to concentrate on your breathing for 10 minutes a day (I often practice mine when I’m waiting for the bus or waiting in line for coffee, etc.) Remember to keep your shoulders and neck relaxed as you expand low, into your abdomen. Pay attention to how your body expands, you may even feel it into your mid-back. Then exhale a slow, controlled breath, feeling your abdomen pull in - bellybutton toward spine. Focus on the breath - be deliberate and controlled.
2. Familiarity with your singing techniques. Whether it’s hitting high notes cleanly, or belting out a Broadway song with volume and power, you have probably worked on techniques with your voice teacher before. One part of keeping a technique “in shape” is staying familiar with how it feels to do it. Get a CD of vocal exercises (see my blog, The Importance of Personal Practice, for a link to a recommended practice CD.) As you use the CD focus on one technique per exercise. For example: just work on relaxing on the high notes, or focus only on keeping your throat open. Focusing on one technique keeps practice time streamlined and will help avoid frustration or boredom.
~ Rebeqa
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01.05.08
Posted in Uncategorized, Practicing, Write-In Questions at 10:07 am by Administrator
“Is it important for me to practice on my own, outside of lessons?” - Virginia W.
Virginia,
Singing is a physical discipline as much as yoga or swimming. As with yoga or swimming, practicing for an hour, once a week will yield some improvement, but ridiculously less than if practicing, say 30 minutes a day. Much of singing practice is about retraining muscles and breathing patterns. So, basically our practice time of 30 minutes has the mammoth job of fighting the other 23.5 hours a day that we “practice” our bad breathing habits.
Also, singing is a collection of techniques that must be practiced in order to sing the range, rhythm and notes that we need to. Imagine how capable a pianist would be if he knew the notes to a piece of music, but never practiced moving his fingers as needed to play it. The outcome would be a lot of wrong notes and sloppy rhythm - which makes for bad music.
So, Virginia, I suggest starting with four, 15 minute practice sessions a week. If you take voice lessons, ask your teacher to recommendation a practice CD. If you do not take voice lessons, and you are a beginning singer, I suggest checking out Lisa Houston’s practice CD, Lisa Houston Voice Studio Practice Session 1 (available on CD Baby).
Above all, be consistent and enjoy the results of your hard work!
Rebeqa
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