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Every singer wants that smooth transition from one register to another. When you sing and move into the next register, the throat has a tendency to close up causing a disconnect in the voice. It can be embarrassing. There are two natural transition points where you will experience a register shift in your singing voice. The first one is called primo passaggio and the second one is the secondo passaggio. The first register shift is between the chest and middle…
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In music every note can be identified by letter name, the first seven letters of the alphabet: A – B – C – D – E – F – G; it’s that simple. There are 8 C’s on a piano, so from one C to the next highest C is called an octave. These notes are used universally so musicians can communicate with each other. To understand what each note sound like, we are going to start with middle…
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Voices are as distinct as a person’s face. Every voice is uniquely different and no voice is exactly alike. A singer should use their own vocal acoustic cavities in the vocal tract to amplify the voice. You want to create a bigger sound when transmitting from inside your mouth to the listening ear. A singer should use the natural acoustic properties of their voice to sing louder and create more resonance in a performance. Have you ever noticed the way…
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Throughout the years of working with many talent artists. I’ve learned a very important lessons, never underestimate a person’s abilities. I’ve had clients come in longing to be a great singer and I thought maybe they could be an okay singer, but it’s a long shot. There have been a few people who had such a strong desire and belief that they could really be a great singer. I’m sad to say that in my mind, I did not see…
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If you’ve been playing the basic chords, now it’s time to take it to the next level and play like a pro by using inversions. Inversions allow you to create more variations of sound by changing the order of the notes being played. Let’s begin with an easy chord, the C chord. The chord C chord in root position with C, E, G (and C is the root). Now, let’s put the same three notes in a different order (inversion…
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The mark of a weak singer is lack of control with your breath which creates weakness and feebleness in the voice. To strengthen your breath support is easy to do. Having a solid support system when you sing lets you produce clear and solid notes without any wavering. It’s not about inhaling enough air, it’s about controlling the air as you release it to sing. That’s all it is, controlling the release of air. This does involve all the muscles…
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There are five important things to do when you are preparing to sing. Whether it’s a gig, choir, theater or just a singing lesson. You want your vocal cords and muscles in your throat to be in tip top shape! Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. This gives the air a chance to warm up and moisturize before hitting your larynx and lungs. Do not lose body heat. 70-80% of body heat-loss happens through the neck…
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There is nothing more exciting than a state of “flow” when you are singing or playing the piano. This happens when your inspiration and hard work align. Playing or singing the right notes can make or break your performance. Do you make the same mistakes in a song? Hit the wrong notes it that specific place over and over? Whether it’s singing through a section of notes that move from one register to another or playing a few measures in…
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One of the most important characteristics of a singer is vocal control and the ability to listen to yourself and sing “on pitch” (singing right on the note)! A good voice embodies fine technique, which requires you to sing notes with good pitch, not singing a little higher (sharp) or lower (flat). If you have ever heard someone sing and thought, they can’t sing. That’s because they are not on the note, they are flat or sharp. From time to…
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Singing and accompanying yourself by playing piano time takes practice. It can be hard because you are multitasking, doing both at the same time. The key is to understand the chords you are playing on the piano. There are many ways you can do it. The simplest way to come up with your own version is by pulling up the chord on Ultimate Guitar Chords or another website that will give you the chords for the song. Make sure it…
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