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Your vocal cords (also called vocal folds) are two bands of muscle that sit horizontally inside your voice box which is your larynx. When you sing breathing in, your vocal cords open. As you exhale while singing, a resistance of air flow is created by the vocal cords coming together creating sound. As they resist the air flow your vocal cords will vibrate producing the sound waves for your voice. Air pressure from the resistance is converted into sound waves.…
It’s important to understand your voice when you sing. There are three basic elements to produce sound when you are singing: air supply, vibration and resonance. The amount of air-flow and pressure passing through the larynx will determine the strength and loudness of a voice. The air pressure is converted into vibration, which is called phonation. As the air passes through the vocal tract, the air pressure causes vibration which creates the sound when you sing. You shape your tone…
What brings music to life? Dynamics, they are the variations of loudness and softness between notes and phrases in a song. Dynamics offer, a singer or pianist (musician) a way to show expression and feeling in a song. Using a variation of loudness and softness in music builds a song a brings it to life! Otherwise, your music will fall flat and lifeless. When you sing a song or play a song on the piano, using dynamics will make a…
To sing or play like a pro you must have the ability to “keep time” accurately and to synchronize (play at the same time) with other instruments and singers. A steady tempo, whether you are singing or playing piano, is one of the easiest ways to tell an amateur from a professional. An audience has the ability to feel the beat while listening to music. So much so, that any deviations from the rhythm are immediately noticed and can give…
Your vocal cords (folds) are two bands of muscle tissue. The bands come together and vibrate to create sound when you sing. How do you damage your vocal cords? There are many ways singers can damage their vocal cords. As you might imagine, too much yelling is the most common way to damage your vocal cords. Whether it’s a Super Bowl game, rock concert, or maybe a bad temper, chronic screaming will strain your vocal cords and cause damage over…
Technique is a skillful way of executing a song, whether it is singing or playing the piano. Technique deals with the concept of tone, musicality and expression in your performance. Proper vocal technique allows singers to produce a warm, rich sound that is conducive to achieving a good vocal performance. Your posture, breathing, keeping an open throat, dropping your jaw, open your mouth (approx. 2 fingers from top teeth to bottom teeth) and shoulders back (don’t slouch. All of these…
Music creates a soul for the universe. Music with emotion creates wings for the mind and flight to the imagination. For a singer or pianist to put emotion into a song being performed gives life to the song ad touches the audience. To put emotion into your singing or playing piano, you must feel the emotion yourself. Whether it’s joy, sadness, longing, pain or love; you must feel it in order to release it to others. For a singer or…
The tone of your singing voice is referring to the quality of the sound. Your tone impacts every aspect of your singing. The specific qualities and colors (warm, dark, bright, harsh) of the sound differ from one singer to another. Every singer has their own unique tone (or timbre), depending on the shape of your vocal tract and sinus. This is why siblings and family members blend well when they sing together. They all have similar physical structure and tone.…
Sight-reading is the practice of reading and playing the notes in a song on the piano or any other instrument. Vocal sight-reading describes the ability of a singer who can read and sing the music at first sight. Sight-reading is also called prima vista, which means “at first sight” in Italian. Whether you are a singer or pianist, it is important to develop your musical ear while you are learning to sight-read. All talented and accomplished musicians have an amazing…
What makes one voice sound different from another? If you ever sang in a school or church choir, you know there are different categories or types singers such as bass, tenor, alto and soprano. How to figure out what your voice type is depends on you range. We will discuss the main types of vocal ranges. FINDING YOUR RANGE Using a piano, find the lowest and highest notes you can sing. On the piano (or keyboard) your first (on the…