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What does it mean to have vocal control when you are singing? Vocal control is having the ability to sustain notes without wavering, the ability to move from low to high smoothly, pitch control, controlling the dynamics (loudness and softness), belting, vibrato. The key to all of this is breath and diaphragm support. Vocal control is powered by breath and the muscles you use to support the exhale. Let’s begin with breath, air pressure and diaphragm support which are the…

Every hit song needs a hit voice to sing the song. To have a hit voice takes work trying to cultivate that distinct and different sound. There are many factors that go into creating your own sound. It doesn’t just happen it takes time along with trial and error. Any music lover can recognize the distinct voice of Christina Aguilera, Barbara Streisand, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston or Billy Joel. Creating a distinct voice involves tone, delivery, emotion, sentiment, style and…

No matter what you do, you should always be original, be yourself. Whether singing a song, playing the piano or any other instrument, put your stamp on the song. Being original is being true to yourself and not conforming to what is expected. To be original takes innovation, you need to bring something different to the table that others do not. Never deviate, or give up on what you are passionate about. The music industry if a tough business and…

The different styles of singing are used in many genres of music. My last blog discussed speech, sob, twang and falsetto singing styles. Today we will look at the singing styles of opera, belting and mixed voice. Opera singing is an art form that is used to tell a story through music and singing. Opera singers do not use microphones to amplify their voices. They learn how to amplify their voice natural with acoustic resonance. The oral cavity acts as…

There are different styles of singing which are used to create a specific type of sound. The categories are sob, twang, falsetto, speech, opera, belting and mixed voice. These different singing styles are used in all genres of music. The sob singing style is a softer, darker quality of sound. It is associated with crying or mourning. The sob style is produced with a lowered larynx. The vocal cords thin out and release compression. The sounds echo the sound of…

The crescendo is when a singer or pianist gradually increases the volume (getting louder) and decrescendo, also known as diminuendo (diminishing), is the exact opposite, you gradually get softer. Crescendo is an Italian word which translates to “grow louder.” Crescendo and decrescendo are also part of the dynamics in a song. Music rarely stays at a consistent measure of sound (volume) throughout a song. An orchestra may start the first movement in forte (which is loud) and decrease in volume…

The arrangement of a song can be simplistic or complicated. But there are some facts that make a song appealing. The predictable repetition of verses and chorus are loved by all. Not all great songs follow this recipe, but many do! Many artists like the Beatles found that ascending and descending chords are very appealing to the masses. Songs like Lady Madonna, Hello Goodbye, and I Am The Walrus have predictable ascending and descending chords that appeal to the brain…

The Complete Vocal Technique (CVT) is another singing method created by Catherine Sadolin in 1992. Ms. Sadolin is a voice researcher from Copenhagen, she is also a singer. She began her own research with the anatomy and physiology of the singing voice. She also learned how to create the vocal sound of her favorite singers. As a child, Catherine suffered from asthma and was advised to take singing lessons to help manage her breathing. She was confused by the conflicting…

Speech Level Singing or SLS was created to help singers move through vocal registers without a break or disconnect in their singing. The lip trills (Bubble) and the tongue trills (R Roll) are designed to help a singer through the breaks. This method allows the voice to keep a consistent sound throughout the vocal range. It is a “speech level” sound. Speech Level Singing or SLS is the patented technique pioneered by Seth Riggs. Seth is a classically educated vocal…

Estill Voice Training is a vocal method designed by Josephine Estill in 1988. Josephine was a singer, voice specialist and conducted years of voice research. She also enjoyed a career as a singer on the radio and as a soloist. In 1972, Jo was hired as a voice teacher at the Upstate Medical Center, which had an Otolaryngology Department which studies the ears, nose and throat (ENT). Jo became fascinated with the science of the voice and began her own…