Singing

Starting Your Child On Singing Classes

Starting Your Child On Singing Classes

 

A lot of people will tell you that the right age is around 5 or 6 years old, when your kids are already receptive to structured teaching, like singing classes. But some children, although ready for formal teaching, are still not physically ready for some demanding training sessions.

 

The decision then is really different for every child. As a parent, you will be the one to make that decision for your own child. Here are a few pointers to help you make the choice:

 

  • Emotional readiness

Singing classes are easy, for us adults. But for kids, this may be harder than their classroom tasks. More important than being physically capable, your child’s ability to face frustrations should be considered very well. Make sure your child is ready to take momentary defeats and difficulties, and be able to bounce back and try it all over again.

 

  • Physical readiness

For one, your child should be able to hold their breath when they need to, sometimes for more than a few seconds. They must be physical developed that they already have good lung power and control. Although it may seem like they have good lung power when you hear them scream, it is different when they are trying to use that for singing.

 

Singing demands a lot of energy on the part of the child. Sure, this can be developed over time, but this is usually the part where frustration starts, so it will be good that he has a head start on their strength.

 

  • Focus and interest

Do not force your child to take the lessons if he doesn’t want to. Even though it is eventually your decision, the child’s genuine interest in singing will make the entire course enjoyable and productive.

 

The child’s ability to focus on a single task for extended periods of time is also critical to the endeavor. This characteristic will be greatly tested during actual lessons, and when he practices at home. Ability to focus on a task lessens the chances of the child quitting on the lessons.

 

As a parent, you also have critical roles and duties with regards to your child’s singing. Do not let your child take the class, and then just sit back and simply watch. Your job does not end in bringing him to class and picking him up after.

 

  • Share their interest

It doesn’t matter if you have no musical skills of your own. What is more important is that your child sees that you genuinely are as excited as they are. Encourage them to sing in front of you what they learned that day, and sing along with them. This helps them along especially during difficult lessons.

 

  • Be their gentle critic

Observe and listen closely to how they are progressing, and point out where you think they can improve on. You may not be a professional musician, and you are not their instructor, but they look up to you, and you’ll be surprised that they will value and heed your advice.

 

Watching your child sing is a very rewarding experience. Make sure their learning experience does not end with their singing classes. Your involvement and participation in their learning is a lot more valuable than you think.

Broadway Singing Lessons for a Broadway Career

Broadway Singing Lessons for a Broadway Career

 

Broadway Singing requires you to be very versatile with a number of talents to your credit. Though a Broadway career is often the stuff of dreams, very few people really make it because they neglect one aspect or the other that goes into the making of a good Broadway actor or actress. There are no specific Broadway singing tutorials, so you will have to take a bunch of different classes in order to achieve all the qualifications required.

Take music lessons

This is obviously the beginning and the basis of a Broadway singing career. Broadway is very versatile so training your voice to be capable of different music styles is very important. Voice lessons to training your voice are essential. Even after you land a role, you will have to continue with these lessons, so get into the habit of working on your voice right from the beginning.

Learn an instrument

Having knowledge about an instrument will enhance the odds of your landing a role in Broadway. The piano is the most commonly used instrument in Broadway,             but instruments such as violin, oboe, clarinet, drums and flute are also not unwelcome. Learn whatever you are passionate about and continue training in it. Learn to combine your instrument skills with your voice skills for best effect.

Take dance lessons

Dancing is as important as singing and music to a Broadway singing career. You never know which role will require you to dance a little on stage. Many Broadway shows include a little bit of dancing, so it is good to have basic knowledge of dancing. The most useful forms of dances are tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop.

Train in gymnastics

It is not enough to have musical skills for a long-term career in Broadway. It is also essential to have skills like gymnastics, which can help you get some roles. Apart from this, regularly working out with yoga and aerobics will keep you fit. This also enhances your voice and keeps your body flexible enough to take up new roles with new requirements.

Take acting lessons

Broadway singing is as much about acting as about singing. Broadway demands a degree in acting, so you need to get started on working on your acting at the same time as you start your Broadway singing lessons. Most roles require the main lead to act and act well, so this is actually an essential part of preparing for a Broadway career.

Familiarise yourself with theatre

Without some basic knowledge of theatre, it is almost impossible to get into the world. Broadway singing is a close knit community and only someone who is really passionate about theatre would stand a chance of being admitted to the inner circle. You might start building up your theatrical résumé before you apply for a Broadway role, so you would have some experience to show.

Network

And last, but not the least, network regularly and mingle with the Broadway crowd as much as you can. Attend theatre events and other occasions on a regular basis. Keep in contact with the people you meet there. You never know who might be your ticket for starring in a Broadway role!

In conclusion, Broadway singing teachers are varied in their skills and you need to learn all these skills from different teachers for the best possible results. You need to be versatile and hard working if you want to consider a career in Broadway.

Opera Singing Lessons For Children

Opera Singing Lessons For Children

 

We have seen and applauded child prodigies when it comes to the opera. One of the most difficult singing techniques, the opera requires the singer to understand the structure of music, the narrative of the opera, and even acting. With all this in mind, it is important to realize that when it comes to training children by good opera singing teachers, the utmost care must be exercised.

Training the voice

The right age to start opera singing lessons is during the late teens, after the voice breaks. Younger children can ruin their voices if they start singing opera at an earlier age since it puts pressure on the larynx when they try to use adult tones. Opera singing can also be learned later in life if there is enough sustained interest. The important thing is to not learn bad habits in singing when young, because it can be difficult to unlearn at a later stage when you go in for intense opera training. This is why you need a good teacher to help you train your voice and gradually transform from a natural child voice to a more adult voice.

Piano and violin lessons

Before starting opera lessons, it makes sense that the child is grounded in the basics of music. Learning instruments such as the piano or violin will help them understand the structure of music and how to adapt their singing later. Understanding the music you want to sing about is essential before starting opera tutorials. Opera is a complicated musical form, and your child will need to be thoroughly familiar with concepts such as rhythm reading, chord recognition, scales and other basic musical concepts before they are ready for opera training.

Language lessons

The best operas are written in Italian, French, German, and Russian, a budding opera singer would do well to at least learn the basics of these languages. It helps improve the quality of your child’s singing when they understand what they are singing. Without this knowledge, remember that they are only making noises and can never bring out the emotions required for good opera singing. Learning these languages will also help the child in developing their pronunciations and help them remember long epics.

Acting skills

For succeeding at the opera, it is important for your child to also learn some good acting. Opera singing is basically telling a story and your child must learn to develop their emotion delivery while singing. Showing anger, love, heartbreak, sadness and other emotions through facial expression, emphasizing on the right words and developing the right tone of voice is essential if you want your child to become a professional opera singer. Without this ability, the singing has no value and might even end up sounding robotic.

Lessons in different areas can help develop your child’s opera singing ability, but there are other factors that need to be understood. First, no amount of lessons or teaching will help if the child does not have the talent or the interest to develop their talent. Moreover, opera singing lessons need your child to put in a lot of hard work in order to gain any success. If your child is not ready to put in this effort of their own accord, you need to motivate them gently. Otherwise, wait until they are older to make this decision for themselves. The main way to help them develop interest is to make sure they get a teacher who makes learning fun.

How to Recruit Good Singing Teachers for Home Lessons

How to Recruit Good Singing Teachers for Home Lessons

 

Many students prefer to hire teachers for teaching singing at home. This is especially true of young children whose parents want to keep an eye on their progress in lessons and are willing to pay for the privilege. Students with busy schedules are also interested in home singing classes which would save them traveling time.

But before hiring a teacher whom you can trust to welcome to your home, you need to ensure that they meet some basic qualifications. Though one person cannot possess all the below qualities, it is up to the student to consider which ones are important to them and where they are willing to compromise. Below are some of the things that should be considered before hiring a singing teacher.

  • Choosing a teacher with the required educational qualifications is a good idea. A teacher with a degree in music, singing or voice training would be well versed in different singing techniques themselves and would be able to help the student learn everything. This is considered important by most people since a degree in the specific field is really the first qualification criterion.
  • Even better would be a teacher’s certification in addition to the formal degree. This enables the teacher to relate to students positively and impart their own knowledge by following the different educational methods that are considered successful. The student will also be able to confirm that the teacher applying has the required knowledge to put him or her at ease.
  • Apart from formal certifications, teachers who have experience with dealing with students should be better able to find different ways of teaching if the first method of explanation or demonstration does not work out. A teacher’s training qualification is quite handy to ascertain that the person being hired is cut out to be a teacher and can help the student learn well.
  • When students work with singing teachers who have performing experience, they learn more. They understand the pressure and nuances of giving a performance and will be able to hone the student to deal with the expectations. One needs to be highly qualified as a singer first before becoming a teacher. A teacher without experience will not be able to impart much value to singing lessons.
  • For some students, this is the most important factor when hiring a teacher to give lessons in singing. Busy schedules, unforgiving bosses and attention-seeking children need to be accommodated while sketching out a schedule for some people. Teachers who are willing to work around such problems are a welcome addition.
  • Some teachers are more compatible with children while others are comfortable teaching older students. Some are good with beginners while others only like giving voice lessons to students who are already well versed in the basics. It is important to hire a teacher who is able to work with the student on a one-to-one basis and this can only come with some compatibility between the two.

References are a good way to know if the singing teachers have experience in teaching and how successful they have been in their past ventures. Following up on these references is useful because it enables the student to discuss the nuances of the teacher’s previous experiences and decide whether they can work well together or not.

How Pop Singing Lessons Could Help You Prepare For Singing Contests (Part 2 of 2)

How Pop Singing Lessons Could Help You Prepare For Singing Contests (Part 2 of 2)

 

If you were to conduct a survey among a group of professional pop singers, there is a high probability that majority have joined singing contests. Building confidence is one of the best takeaways from a singing contest experience. Pop singing classes are not all about vocal techniques. It also provides you with the proper training how to sing with confidence.

Whether you’re auditioning or in the midst an actual contest, confidence is one of the most crucial factors that would define your performance.  Here are some pointers on how you could psyche yourself-up to get that competitive edge:

  1. Hydrate your throat area.  Have a room-temperature bottled water with you, as you wait your turn.  Contestants often dread the ‘waiting time’.  This is usually the time when ‘nerves’ come and attack.  Anxiety causes your throat to dry –a big ‘no-no’ during singing. Take a sip of water from time to time to keep you hydrated.
  1. Refrain from eating one hour before your performance.  It may leave you feeling bloated.  Or some foods may dry up your throat or may cause stomach upset.  However, do not starve yourself. Do eat right and just enough to sustain and keep those hunger pangs at bay until show time.
  1. No caffeine and carbonated drinks before the show.  Coffee or tea causes throat dryness.  While carbonated drinks will bloat your stomach. And you don’t want to let out an embarrassing burp in the middle of a performance, right?
  1. Dress and carry yourself like star.  Dressing-up with style and individuality for a performance shows professionalism and confidence.  Not over the top fashion and attitude.  A true-to-yourself sense of style would bring out the star within you.
  1. Stick to the contest piece that you practiced during your pop singing classes.A last minute song change could possibly ruin your chance of rendering your best performance.
  1. Just in case, come prepared with 1 or 2 more pieces.  You can never tell how a live contest show would turn out. Or if judges would want to hear and find out more of what you’re capable of.  Show them you’re not a one-trick pony.
  1. Make eye contact.  A lot of contestants fall into the bad habit of singing with their eyes closed.  You are not singing to yourself. You sing to connect, communicate, and tell your audience a story.
  1. Don’t get paralyzed when you make a mistake. Just keep singing.  Shrug it off. Redeem yourself and ‘wow’ them with the rest of the song.  Who knows, they may not have noticed it after all.  Sometimes, judges and audiences forgive such hiccups.  It may show your vulnerability, sincerity of emotions, and maturity as a performer.
  1. Enjoy the moment.  Savor the attention and the spotlight.  This could give you a confidence boost and calm your nerves.

Investing time and effort to practice for a contest is must.   It may be hours, days, weeks, months, or even years of training with pop singing teachers, prior to the competition.  Yet it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.  You still have to be on your toes and do some prep-ups just a few ticks away before and during the competition.

How Pop Singing Lessons Could Help You Prepare For Singing Contests (Part 1 of 2)

How Pop Singing Lessons Could Help You Prepare For Singing Contests (Part 1 of 2)

Reality singing contests shows dominate prime TV these days. It not only becomes an avenue for aspiring singers to show-off their singing talents or validate the skills learned from years of pop singing lessons. It has become a ticket to stardom, and not to mention, win cash and valuable prizes too.

Stage fright, nerves, and butterflies in your stomach — even the pros get that. No matter how talented you are, these may get the better of you during the competition.

Here are some best pre-competition practices on how to prepare for the big day:

Find a competition that is appropriate for you. Competitions are usually categorized according to age, music genre or singing style. On TV, American Idol is looking for ‘the total package’. While The Voice, focuses mainly on ‘the voice’, especially during the blind auditions. Before you compete, it is good to check the battleground if it matches your skill and style.

Study contest rules. In any competition, you have to abide by the rules. No matter how good you are, a violation could ruin your chance to succeed. Understand and pay attention to contest mechanics details.

Pick the right song. Judges often say that song choice could make or break your performance.

• Pick a song within your range. During your pop singing lessons, you may have been determined your vocal tone and pitch. The song should be within your comfortable range.

• You can go out of your comfort zone when it comes to style, but make smart choices. Take calculated risks.

• Do not sing an ‘over sung’ song. But if you do, do not sing it exactly how others do it, or mimic the original artist. You have to put your personal imprint in the song. The judges need to hear ‘your voice’.

• Make sure that your song choices highlight the best in your vocal ability.

Memorize song lyrics. Forgetting and fumbling through the lyrics of the song doesn’t only make you look bad. It could throw off your entire performance. It also shows lack of preparation on your part.

Integrate moves and gestures into your performance. Dance moves and gestures add life and flavour to your rendition. It could also emphasize and add sincerity to your emotions. But don’t go overboard. Too much dancing could zap out your energy or leave you out of breath. Unnecessary gestures could make you look cheesy.

Prepare spiels. Judges or hosts will not only ask you to sing, but to answer some questions about yourself or your song. Be prepared for this. Think of an honest answer or a funny or heart-warming anecdote that could make them remember you.

Evaluate and critique yourself by way of the following:

• Practice in front of a mirror

• Record your song. Play it back and listen so you could identify areas you need to improve on.

• Video tape yourself. From there you could see how you move, bad habits or distracting mannerisms.

Your pop singing lessons could give you a head start on how to prep-up for competitions. The key is to prepare. Win or lose, you would always gain something from the experience.

A Survival Guide to Classical Singing Lessons

A Survival Guide to Classical Singing Lessons

So you think you got what it takes to make it to the world of classical music?  You’ve got the voice, the talent, and the passion. You have the dream.  You believe in your vision to achieve.  But will you survive?  Taking classical singing lessons is definitely a significant step.  It will arm you with various survival skills. Yes,  there a lot of bloodthirsty hopefuls out there as well.  They’re willing to work as hard as you do.  Their dreams are as big as yours.  And yes, they have the same struggles as you do.

So how can you make the most out of your classical singing lessons to give you a competitive edge?  Here are some great survival tips:

 

  1. Sing daily. Sing every single day. ‘Singing is my life’ is not merely a figure of speech.  For a classical singer, it is a part of almost all of their breathing and waking hours. Who knows, they might still be singing in their sleep.  The act of daily and even long hours of practice is a big component of your progress and success.

 

  1. Get a teacher. You may be born with immense talent.  You may have been singing classical songs as soon as you got out of your mother’s belly.  However, without proper training and motivation from a teacher you might be led astray or pick-up wrong habits.  Classical singing teachers are backed-up by years of experience. Enrich your talent with discipline, motivation, and inspiration.  It really pays to listen and learn from a teacher.

 

  1. Practice singing without a microphone.  Classical singing requires vocal strength and power.  Classical singers usually sing in theatre or concert halls.  You have to train your vocal muscles and cords to project your voice clearly over large spaces.

 

  1. Look good and presentable.  We have often heard the expression ‘a total package’ when industry professionals describe a performer.  Subtly, they are saying that looks do matter in the business.  This also holds true in the classical music industry.  So might as well go with the flow.  The fat lady who sings no longer a stereotype for classical singers.   Make an effort to make yourself look good.  Wow them from inside and out.

 

  1. Avoid competitions.  Singing competitions are now sprouting like mushrooms.  Some say this is an easy way to achieve fame and fortune.  There are several pros and cons to joining a competition, especially those on TV.  With the rise of social media, opinions and comparisons circulate around cyberspace very quickly.  If you are still a budding classical singer, the social media banter may be detrimental on your progress.  Before entering a competition, build your identity, solidify your confidence and maturity.
  2. Enjoy and love singing.  Here’s an inspirational quote about how your love for singing could take your progress in leaps and bounds. Art critic, social thinker and philanthropist John Ruskins says: “When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.”

 

Classical singing lessons will arm you with techniques to survive.  More importantly it will nurture your seeds of love for singing.  Live it, love it, and the world will see and love you for it.

Opera Singing Lessons’ Tips to Prepare You for Auditions

Opera Singing Lessons’ Tips to Prepare You for Auditions

You’ve always dreamed of becoming an opera singer.  You feel this is your calling.  You are determined to make this your destiny.  Yet you know that this never comes easy.  You spent years taking opera singing lessons to prepare you for this — the auditions.  Before any other opera star got his/her moment to shine, they had to go through the dreaded auditions.

Singing per se is not enough.  Here are some tips on how to prepare for an opera audition:

  1. Song Choice.  Your song choice should be suited for your age. More importantly, consider the role you are auditioning for.  Your song should be able to convey the emotion that is very close to the character’s temperament.

 

  1. Sing from the heart.  You’ve heard this a million times on TV reality singing shows. Judges will always look for your connection to the song, how you deliver, and how the audience responds to it.

 

  1. Sing and speak the language.  Most opera songs are written in a foreign language.  You’ve got to sing it as if you were speaking the words.  Go the extra mile of learning the correct way of enunciating the words.

 

  1. Easy on the gestures.  Body language is part and parcel of a performance.  Gestures may stress on the expression of emotions.  It can accentuate the attribute of the character.  But these movements should be an extension of what needs to be expressed from within.  Thus, don’t overdo it.  Use it where it is essential.  Be natural.

 

  1. Research and study voraciously.  It’s true, your opera singing lessons have prepared you for battle.  Yet, think of the war.  Opera is a culture, a lifestyle in itself.  Read poetry and savor the rhythm of its language.  Look at paintings that depict settings similar to the plots of an opera.  Watch foreign films.  Taste the romance of French and Italian languages.  Let it roll on your mouth and tongue.

 

  1. Find mentors.  Your opera teacher has definitely taught you a lot.  However, it pays to expand your horizons and learn from others as well.  Seek mentors for various aspects of your performance.  Someone can be your language, acting, or dancing coach.  Or someone could be your style and image guru.   All these learnings could greatly contribute not only to your audition, but to your long-term career journey as well.

 

  1. Be inspired by role models.  For sure, you have your share of opera heroes.  The person or even character that makes you say and sigh, “someday I’m going to be like her / him”.  Their own journeys and learnings on the way to the top can provide you the motivation and the inspiration to keep pushing forward.

 

  1. Rest your mind, body, and voice.  You are a hard worker.  You push your limits, but your body, mind, and especially your voice can only take so much.  Give it time to rest, recharge, and heal. Pamper it from time to time. It is your instrument. Give it some TLC.

 

Failing an audition is not the end of the road. If there’s one thing that you learn from opera singing lessons, it is resilience. Yes, you have it in you to move forward and say ‘next!’.

The Challenges of Broadway Singing Lessons and Beyond

The Challenges of Broadway Singing Lessons and Beyond

As the song goes…”they say the neon lights are bright on Broadway…” The shows’ casts razzle and dazzle onstage with their song, dance, and acting routines. With the myriad of talent and versatility, a Broadway performer is an epitome of a star. Yet these ‘stars’ were not born brilliant. It takes years of rigorous training and practice. One of the important steps they go through is taking-up Broadway singing lessons.

A Broadway performer should not be complacent. Natural talent is not the ‘be all and end all’ to make it. What does it take to be a Broadway star? How does a star earn its brilliance? Prepare yourself for these challenges ahead:

Stand-out versatility. A Broadway performer should be armed with a triple threat and more. Singing. Dancing. Acting. Yes, there are a multitude of aspiring Broadway stars who can do that. There are specific roles to fill in a Broadway show. There are certain nuances of a character that you are required to execute. For instance, in the Broadway production of “Spiderman: Turn-Off The Dark”, the dance routine includes a lot of acrobatics. In “Once”, the lead characters have to know how to play a musical instrument. What’s your edge? How would you fit in and fill-in?

Regular vocal coaching. A number of Broadway stars have pursued college degrees in performing arts. However, being cast in Broadway show requires you to go back to basics — Broadway singing lessons. The casts are still closely monitored and supervised by a vocal coach. From the lead star to the chorus line, everyone is under the watchful eye of a coach.

Watch what you eat and drink. Subjecting performers to a healthy diet is necessary. Your body should be fit inside and out. Your body’s energy level should be at its peak majority of the time. Dance routines require strength, grace, flexibility and endurance. Singing requires healthy vocal cords. You should have a checklist of food and drink musts and must-not’s that could affect your overall performance

Yoga training. The body should have a proper balance between work and rest. Performers pump-out energy during a performance. Yet there should be a time for rest, relaxation, and re-charge. With the burst of energy that it releases, muscles become tense and constricted. The body should open-up to absorb in-flow of renewed energy. With this, Broadway coaches recommend the discipline of yoga. Annie Piper (anniepiper.com), faculty member for NYU and the Yale School of Drama, says, “I believe yoga augments vocal training, it opens up the body and the musculature and the breath.”

Working 6 to 8 hours before show time. In a Broadway show, an actor’s work does not start at show time and end at curtain call. Six to eight hours are dedicated for training, classes, individual practices, and show rehearsals. Performers go on voice lessons, dancing classes, yoga training, and other specific skills training that could supplement their performances.
When the sound of applause fades and the lights on the Broadway marquee is switched off, how do Broadway stars shine and keep their brilliance? Training. Learning. Be it Broadway singing lessons, ballet, tap dancing, or acting workshops — the polishing should never stop.

You will never go wrong when you take up Broadway singing lessons because of the many advantages you can gain from it- physically, mentally and socially. The physical discipline alone should motivate you to really try this out. Mental toughness comes along with this and can help you out with fighting off stress and depression. You also gain a lot of friends and connections as you go through the lessons and try out performances. So what are you waiting for? Go and enrol now!

The Ten Commandments of Pop Singing Lessons to Prevent Vocal Damage

The Ten Commandments of Pop Singing Lessons to Prevent Vocal Damage

Pop singers could possibly be one of the busiest people on earth.  Their voices take so much beating from the backbreaking pace of rehearsals, tours, and performances.   Yet the main culprits that cause vocal breakdown are bad lifestyle habits and improper singing techniques.  Pop singing lessons are essential for aspiring singers.  It could steer you toward the right directions.

Your voice is your main instrument.  Once damaged, it is irreplaceable.  It is not something that you could buy from a music store.  Caring and protecting your voice require you to follow certain rules.  Here are ‘10 Commandments’ to keep your voice safe and sound:

  • Thou shalt not get into the habit of clearing your throat or coughing all the time.  Doing so habitually could cause bumps and scratches on your vocal chords.  If you feel the urge for an ‘ahem’, swallow slowly and take a sip of water instead.
  • Thou shalt not yell or scream. Excitement and sudden burst of emotions in concerts or sporting events could make you shout at the top of your lungs.  The release could be great but could give you vocal strain or laryngitis.
  • Thou shalt not sing at a pitch too high beyond your vocal range.  Pop or rock songs often have soaring tones.  Ask for guidance and correct vocal exercises from a pop singing teacher who could gradually help you reach those notes .  It is good to push your limits at times, but do it with the proper technique.
  • Thou shalt not take antihistamines before singing. Some medications like antihistamines could cause dryness in the throat area. Taking a glass of water could keep your allergies at bay for the moment and hydrate your throat.
  • Thou shalt not drink coffee, tea, alcohol, chocolate and dairy drinks.  These are main causes of dryness and mucus around your throat.
  • Remember to get plenty of rest when you have colds or laryngitis.  Give your body the chance to recuperate.  Your voice is prone to get permanently damaged when it is in a vulnerable situation.
  • Thou shalt not put stress on your jaw while singing. Keep calm while singing.  Putting your jaw on a tight clench could cause vocal nodes and laryngitis.
  • Thou shalt not smoke.  Smoking and singing should not mix.  It damages every part in your body essential for singing — your vocal cords, throat, and lungs.
  • Thou shalt not sleep with fan or air condition air directly blowing into your face. This also causes throat dryness, making your voice scratchy.
  • Get a full 8-hour sleep at night.  Your overall body resistance could take a toll due to sleep deprivation. It makes you prone to catching viruses and infection.  Also, lack of sleep could make your voice sound hoarse.

You could avoid the deadly sins that could ruin your voice by keeping these tips in voice lessons a heavenly experience.

Taking care of your voice is not only good practice but also healthy and wise. You will not only have an investment on which you can source your material needs you will also have a future free from vocal illness and injury. When taking voice lessons, be sure to listen to what your teacher has to say about home remedies to sore throats. There is always the possibility that you would injure yourself when practicing continuously with your singing. It is important to know the do’s and don’ts when taking voice lessons so you can avoid damaging your vocal cords and your opportunity for a successful music career in pop singing. So enrol now and start a new and exciting adventure.

THE VIBRATO: How It Helps In Classical Singing Lessons

THE VIBRATO:  HOW IT HELPS IN CLASSICAL SINGING LESSONS

You may have observed that singers use a handful of singing techniques during a performance.  Now let’s pull out one of their tricks out of the hat and analyze it – let’s discuss the vibrato.  This vocal technique is particularly associated with or used in classical singing lessons.   Although pop and jazz singers have also used the vibrato in certain portions of their songs.

 

What Is A Vibrato?

According to Wikipedia, a vibrato ’is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch.’  Other techniques associated with a vibrato include ‘fluctuations of a pitch’, ‘a warble’, ‘a wobble’ or ‘a tremolo-like effect.’  When you hear a singer’s voice slightly changing pitch while sustaining a certain note at a particular part of a song, he/she is singing with a vibrato.  This pitch fluctuation sounds like a very faint tremble of the voice.

 

The Vibrato Effect

A song becomes truly meaningful to a listener when it is sung with emotion. A singer can express emotions through the ebbs and flows of his voice.  The vibrato is a way of enunciating emotions through the sound and tone of the voice. The vibrato produces a warm and calming effect.  It enriches and enhances certain parts of a song.

 

More Vibrato = Better Singer?

Students of classical singing lessons have somehow imbibed this belief that a classical singer should extensively use the vibrato. Singers of other genres also fall into the trap, believing a vibrato would make your voice sound better.  Hence, you think it makes you a better singer.  As a result, vocalists do a vibrato overkill.  In the use of the vibrato, ‘less is more.’  The vibrato effect works best when it is only applied to particular parts of the song to enhance its overall sound.  Too much vibrato could override the real essence and emotion of the voice and the song.

 

How Does Vibrato Happen?

A vibrato happens naturally as a result of strong foundation and proper execution of vocal breathing techniques. The development of a vibrato goes hand-in-hand with good and healthy voice development. In classical singing or even for other contemporary music genres, you may want to learn the techniques of executing a good vibrato.

However, the focal point of the lesson is always about solidifying your vocal placement, tone, and power.  Proper body posture and alignment, relaxation, and breath control all have to be in place.   When all these are present, a vibrato naturally comes out of your voice. Somehow, you also instinctively apply it to specific parts of the song as the emotion calls for it.  The result is a sincere and polished performance.

 

Using the Vibrato

In singing, you always want to make a good impression.  You add those ‘whistles and bells.’ thinking of it as a way to level-up your performance.  You may have the tendency to think that learning the vibrato is the be-all and end-all of classical singing lessons. Such is not the case.  Get to the core of your vocal power. Tap into your emotions. Release. Let it go, let it flow.  The fruit of this discipline is a sweet, flowing and effortless vibrato.

It is very easy to damage one’s vocal chords. Unless you are taking classical singing lessons, it would be wise to keep your vibrato to a minimum when singing classical music to avoid mistakes. If you are planning on being a professional singer, it would be best to take up formal lessons. When you choose to study classical singing, your teachers will definitely give you all the things you need to know in order to effectively and safely use the vibrato.

Singing Out Of Tune? Break the Habit through Voice Lessons

Singing Out Of Tune? Break the Habit through Voice Lessons

In a singing contest, you usually hear judges say — “you’re flat, or pitchy, or you need to fix your intonation.”   That golden ticket would continue to elude you if you don’t get some serious vocal work-ups and workouts.  In voice lessons, singing in tune is always the first order of the day.  Pitch problems mostly emanate from bad singing habits.  And yes, they could be corrected with proper direction and exercises.  Here are some bad singing habits to get rid of and vocal exercises you could perform to make you hit those notes and sing in tune.

 

Bad Singing Habits to Break

  1. Improper Breathing

Your voice teachers could not stress enough the importance of   ‘breathing from your belly, singing with your diaphragm.’   Going against this will not give you enough air supply to sustain your voice.  Hence, your voice buckles down and misses the right notes.

 

  1. Improper Posture and Position    

Improper posture may block air passages.  Proper posture gives you the space for breath flow and control.  It is best to stand up, slightly feet apart, and keep your shoulders and neck relaxed. Proper blood flow is essential to enable your voice to shine true.

 

  1. Muscle Tension  
    • In singing high notes, singers tend to strain their neck too high.  This actually has the opposite effect. There is a tendency to go out of tune because it makes singing more difficult. The sound of your voice is constricted and could possibly damage your vocal cords. You should instead, just slightly lift up your chin and flash a smile to relax your facial muscles.
    • Your mouth, jaw, tongue, and throat should be relaxed.  Nerves tighten up your mouth and jaw.  Let them loose.  Your throat should be expanded and your tongue should be flat.  Again, this would allow you to gain better control of air flowing in and out of your body as you sing.

 

  1. Using Too Much Vocal Force  

Most students of voice lessons immediately want to achieve vocal power.  Thus, your mindset is to stretch and push the limits of your voice.  You sing loudly and belt out.  Over-singing is detrimental to your efforts.  It forces the notes until it breaks and goes out of tune.  Instead, start singing softly until you get the right pitch.  It is easier to achieve precision if you have more control of your breath and tone. Increase volume and power gradually.

 

  1.   Power over Passion

It should be the other way around.  Passion in your singing should come through.  If you feel connected to the song, the feeling helps in empowering your voice with the proper pitch and intonation.  Go with the flow of your emotions.
You may have a good voice tone or possess fierce belting power.  However, if your tune falls short or overshoots, or goes in wayward directions, it is really disastrous.  But fret not.  It happens to all singers, even the pros.  Taking singing lessons with an experienced teacher could definitely help pinpoint these bad singing habits.  They can fine tune your pitch problems.  All you need is an open mind, a positive disposition, and a sense of cool confidence that you can hit it.

It will be well to remember that something worth doing is worth doing well. Singing is one of these things. Doing it well means investing time, effort and even money to achieve your highest goals. Enrol in singing lessons and let our teachers guide you in being in tune effortlessly. This could actually be accomplished in just a few weeks when accompanied by discipline, persistence and practice. So what are you waiting for? Go and enrol now!