|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
| Words
of Inspiration |
 |
To
be nobody but myself
-- in a world which
is doing its best,
night and day, to
make you everybody
else -- means to fight
the hardest battle
which any human being
can fight and never
stop fighting . .
. e.e. Cummings |
|
This
thing we call failure
is not the falling
down, but the staying
down . . . Mary Pickford |
|
Singing
is the ultimate do-it-yourself
activity. No one can
do it for you and
no one can make you
feel good about the
discouraging days.
No one will get you
to work on it tomorrow.
Singing is your job.
It's a test of will.
But if you find this
will, you will also
find the voice of
your dreams . . .
Jeffrey Allen |
|
Fate
is being kind to me.
Fate doesn't want
me to be too famous
too young . . . Duke
Ellington |
|
Learn
from your very first
steps to listen to,
understand, and love
the bitter truth about
yourself. Find out
who can tell you that
truth. Talk of your
art only with them
and let them scold
you to their heart's
content . . . Constantin
Stanislavsky |
|
|
| Practice/Rehearsal
Tips |
|
Where
you practice can be
as important to your
vocal workout as how
much you practice.
Make sure you practice
in a place where you
feel free to sing
out -- without worry
as to who might be
listening. |
|
Singing
at gigs, recording
sessions or band rehearsals
should not be considered
practice. You must
also make time for
yourself to sing without
the pressure of having
to sound good. Give
yourself the luxury
of taking chances
and making mistakes
during your own, private
workout. |
|
When
you practice, do so
slowly and give yourself
the time to relax
before your workout
-- don't rush! Haste
is the #1 enemy of
meaningful vocalizing. |
|
If
you vocalize for a
half and hour everyday,
you'll be surprised
at how much more ready
to sing you'll always
be. |
|
Always
train yourself to
be able to sing one
or two notes higher
than required in your
performances. This
insurance will allow
you to relax on stage. |
|
|
| Physical
Tips |
|
The
muscles used for sit-ups
or leg lifts are the
same used to support
(or press) air through
the cords to bring
forth a singer's sound.
Some of these exercises,
on a regular basis,
add power to your
overall tone. |
|
Your
jaw should drop --
as it does when you
yawn -- whenever holding
a note in your upper
range. |
|
If
you have to cough
or clear your throat,
do so gently. These
actions are like sandpaper
to your vocal cords. |
|
Eat
and sleep properly
-- and ideally --
exercise daily. All
of these things will
enable your body to
achieve a state of
relaxation and vocal-cord
readiness and will
benefit your singing
more than you'd think. |
|
Maintain
a high level of water
in your body. The
old adage eight glasses
a day... helps keep
your vocal cords lubricated
and conditioned. |
|
|
| Breathing
Tips |
|
The
significance of the
diaphragm as a muscle
of breath support
is over-emphasized
by most music singing
schools and teachers.
The diaphragm has
two jobs: it furnishes
the power for inhalation
and then controls
tone support. |
|
When
you take a breath
for singing -- to
open the throat --
add a yawning feeling
as you're about to
produce the tone (the
beginning of a yawn,
to be exact). |
|
Be
sure the shoulders
do not raise when
taking a breath. |
|
If
you can hear your
inhalation, you're
taking in too much
air or your stomach
is tense. Be sure
your stomach is relaxed
before, and as, you
inhale. |
|
Always
inhale gently when
singing. Heavy gasping
of air will tighten
your throat. |
|
|
| Essential
Tips |
|
Posture
is the foundation.
Be sure your posture
is erect when singing
-- not a military
stance, but comfortably
upright. This positions
you for maximum support. |
|
Always
imagine the sound
that you want to make
and then sing it --
using all resources
available -- your
entire physical being,
emotions, psyche and
spirit. |
|
A
tight jaw is bad for
good singing. Do whatever
is necessary to relieve
your jaw, neck and
shoulders of tension
before you sing. |
|
Don't
smoke. Smoking puts
at risk the entire
mechanism you're going
to stake your claim
to a vocal career
upon. |
|
Don't
try to imitate another
singer's voice. Discover
your own, unique,
vocal identity. |
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| Copyright 2005 Jeffrey
Allen's Vocal Arts Center, All Rights Reserved |
|
| |
|
