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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…
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.…
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…
The human voice can be the most expressive instrument, but it can also be very boring! Distinct and unique musical phrasing is essential for a compelling performance. Musical phrasing creates a recognizable and unmistakable quality for a voice. It makes a singer sound better than just singing the words on a page. Do you know what makes a voice distinctly different…phrasing; how a singer SHAPES each line of the song. The combination of tone, pitch, dynamics, diction and more contribute…
All famous singers have a distinct and recognizable voice when they sing. This has to do with their own unique vocal style and sound. A singer molds his voice through practice to create their own signature singing voice. A real musical artist creates his or her own vocal style and image. To create your own unique singing voice is through practice. Work on your sound by mimicking different artist. Sing their songs and try to sing the way they do.…
There are three important elements that will create a real sense of emotion when you are singing or playing the piano. These elements work together to provoke feelings to the listening audience. They can bring a sense of urgency, sadness, happiness or fear in a matter of seconds. The three key elements are crescendos, tempo and quality of tone. Crescendos and decrescendos are all about the sound growing louder or getting softer, which is part of the dynamics of a…
How to naturally amplify your voice from the recent blog (Monday 11/15 “How To Naturally Amplify Your Voice”) discussed the chambers in your body that resonate sound. They are acoustic resonators for your voice along with the larynx and pharynx. Vocal articulators are also used to manipulate the sound as you resonate. All the sounds we make when we sing are the results of muscles contracting, air passing through the vocal tract, and articulators producing the words we sing. We…
We all know that the power for your voice comes from the diaphragm and breath support. But did you know that your vowel sounds and consonants play a very important role as well? Yes, they do! The vowel sounds start from the vibration of your vocal cords (folds) and the consonants are made by the exhaled air stream and they are formed by your mouth. What does that mean? Well, consonants can push out too much air, which will cause…
What are the basic fundamentals to a perfect vocal performance? There are four important components you need to master when you sing, in order to create a polished performance. The first component is having good posture. Stand up straight, reach both hands into the air above your head, now let the slowly come down to your sides. This is good posture…do not slouch. A hunched back or slouching shoulders does not provide proper support (read 8/25/20 blog “Proper Posture”). Good…
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. To sing a song with the same volume and intensity throughout the song will make the song…