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There seems to be some confusion amongst singers with regards to certain vocal terminology. The term vocal range refers to the distance between the highest and lowest pitches that a singer is able to sing. Vocal register refers to vocal fold (vocal cord) function and the resulting sound quality. While there are general sets of notes for each register according to voice type, there’s plenty of overlap! Research by vocal pedagogues revealed that the vocal folds are capable of producing distinct vibratory patterns. Thus…
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When you sing, intonation refers to the WAY your voice rises and falls as you sing. If you were telling a story and got to a scary part, you may raise you pitch higher and no one does it exactly alike. As you tell the story your voice will become softer or louder depending on words. It’s the same with singing. The accuracy of your pitch (hitting the note or notes) is also part of it. The rise and fall…
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Professional singers really work hard to maintain a healthy singing voice in order to sing on a daily basis. Here are the ten commandments to maintain a health singing voice and a problem-free vocals. Thou Shall Have a Daily Vocal Warm-Up Routine Thou Shall Eat Healthy and Drink Plenty of Water Thou Shall Get Enough Sleep Thou Shall Be Careful About What You Drink Thou Shall Not Consume Dairy Products or Sweets Before an Upcoming Performance Thou Shall Have a…
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Singing is a primal and healthy activity for every human being. Music is a wonderful release; taking you to another place, just like reading a book. So, whether it is learning to sing or play the piano better, you want to put your heart and soul into your activity. So many singers will hold back when they sing. Professional singing require energy and pouring out the emotions and feelings inside you. It’s like pouring water out of a cup, it…
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There are many different ways to describe emphasis on a note. The emphasis can be placed on a word being sung or a note being played on the piano. It seems minor, but the impact of this particular technique will really make a difference in the sound of the performance. In voice lessons you learn about a “Hard Onset” which is attacking the note or putting emphasis in particular places in the lyrics, or to start a song. When playing…
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Everyone is different, our experiences, emotional makeup, perceptions, upbringing, sensitivity and much more. Even if you grow up in the same household, no one is exactly alike. You may have experienced the same things growing up, but each child will have their own interpretation of things that have happened. As an artist you bring to a song all that is you, whether It’s your voice or playing piano, no one can replicate your inner experiences that will come out as…
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BREATHING: I’m asked this question often “How do I increase my breath and diaphragm support”? Breathing is so natural and automatic to us; it’s the same with singing. If you were having a conversation with a family member, have you ever thought “should I take a big breath here,” no, you naturally breath in enough air to say something. You subconsciously breath in enough air, it happens naturally; it’s the controlled release that needs to be worked on. Breathing exercises…
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Whether it is singing or playing the piano, using good technique is a skillful way of executing a song. Technique deals with the concept of tone, musicality and expression in your performance. To sing with emotion and lack technique can result in an unstable sound creating cracks and lack of control. When you learn to sing the correct way, your voice becomes stronger, you will also have vocal control and gain the freedom to express a song exactly the way…
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There are a few different reasons why voice problems occur. Vocal cord problems include various symptoms and are mostly caused by abuse and misuse of the singing voice. Overuse of the voice, such as singing incorrectly will cause strain and over time will create vocal cord dysfunction. The singer’s silent assassin is acid reflux (reflux laryngitis, gastroesophageal reflux) basically any type of acid reflux which is stomach acid frequently flowing back into the tube which connects the mouth and stomach.…
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The holiday season can be a very stressful time with more traffic, crowds and shopping. Singing or playing the holiday songs on the piano impacts our brain function and our behavior. Voice lessons, piano lessons, or music in general can reduce stress, reduce pain, and reduce symptoms of depressions. Music also improves cognitive function (the way our brain makes connections to remember new things and our reasoning through logic), motor skills, spatial-temporal learning (problem solving) and neurogenesis (brains ability to…
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