Archive for the ‘From The Heart of Chris Beatty’ Category
|CAN YOU TEACH ME TO SING?
Tuesday, February 14th, 2012
Every few weeks I get asked that question so I thought I’d respond to it here.
NOW, WHAT ABOUT SINGING? Here are the elements that need to be working well and working together in order for you to sing with good quality, accuracy and consistency.
- THE DESIRE AND WILLINGNESS to open your mouth in front of others and sing. Seem obvious? I work with some singers who have enormous desire and passion but are literally terrified to sing in public, which is rather limiting. Why this fear? They don’t know what will come out under real-life pressure.
- THE MECHANICS of posture, breathing, tone and expression are all part of what makes a singer effective. If any of those areas are weak, you will lose quality and consistency.
- A MUSICAL EAR (ear, brain, larynx connection) is a must. Without it you won’t have good pitch center (be on the right note), dynamics (loud, soft) and phrasing (what you “do” with the phrase). With decent training, someone with reasonable pitch accuracy can usually develop a good musical ear, but it takes time.
- THE DESIRE TO COMMUNICATE A MESSAGE is what separates those who just “sing” from those who “CONNECT” with the audience, which is the ultimate goal. That means analyzing the message (lyrics and musical style) and coming up with a game plan that includes expression, gestures, meaningful dynamics, phrasing and more. It’s a real effort, that when done well comes off as easy and natural. That’s what allows the listener to relax and take it in, rather than nervously wondering if you will hit the high notes.
Now, it’s time to list your strengths as well as the areas that need some work. Then, make the time to get the tools necessary to turn those weaknesses into strengths. It may be one of the most satisfying things you ever do.
If you need guidance regarding which tools will serve you best explore the vocalcoach.com web site or email me at chris@vocalcoach.com We are here to help you be your best and get the most enjoyment out of singing possible.
Tags: chris beatty, chris beatty vocalcoach.com, coaching voice, performance training, singing lessons, vocal training, voice lessons
Posted in From The Heart of Chris Beatty, Singing and Voice Lessons, Soloist, Songwriting, Teaching Teens To Sing, The Senior Voice, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Singing Turns Your Breath Into Music
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
I just saw a great cartoon from the old Family Circus series. The older brother is holding a trumpet and educating his younger sibling. He says,
“When you blow through here it turns your breath into music.”
That’s EXACTLY how a child would summarize the workings of a trumpet. He doesn’t need to know all the details. Someone else has taken care of that, and it works.
Well, guess what? In many ways we should think of our voices the same way. You move air from the lungs up through the mouth and it turns it into music. In fact, when performing, that’s about all you have room in your brain to think about. The rest of your attention should be on being an expressive communicator to the listener.
Don’t get me wrong. I am fully aware of all the mechanical and acoustical events going on as well as the preparation it takes to become a good singer. I’m just reminding us all that it’s easy to over-think the whole vocal process to the point of sounding and looking like a vocal robot.
Learning the mechanics in order to not have to think about the mechanics is the goal, and it is a process. But oh the joy of being able to just stand there and let your mind, body and spirit turn moving breath into a powerful and clear message.
Remember, it’s easy:
“When you blow through here it turns your breath into music.”
Have an amazing week, and let me know how Vocal Coach can help you do what you do, better.
Tags: blog.vocalcoach.com, chris beatty, chris beatty vocalcoach.com, singing lessons, vocal coach, vocal training
Posted in Breathing, From The Heart of Chris Beatty, Teaching Kids To Sing, Tone, Uncategorized | No Comments »
DISTANCE LEARNING FROM VOCAL COACH
Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
VOCAL COACHING USING LONG OR SHORT DISTANCE LEARNING IS CONVENIENT, LESS EXPENSIVE AND REALLY GETS THE JOB DONE!
What a fun time we live in when it comes to distance learning. Some of our students travel half way across the country for one-on-one, in person coaching in our Brentwood TN studio. Many, however, are traveling only a few feet to their laptops, desktops or iPads. The really amazing thing about live, distance learning is how affordable, yet powerful it is. I see and hear you; you see and hear me. That combination can accomplish a lot in a short time at a very minimal cost.
Here are some examples from the last month that I know you will enjoy hearing about:
- A singer-songwriter and physician from the East Coast needed help preparing for a recording project. We worked through diction and tone exercises as well as interpretation and phrasing. We got the job done using Skype, and now he’s ordered our Singer Series to continue the process.
- A singer-songwriter and United Nations delegate had some serious vocal challenges that we got a handle on in just a few hours in our Brentwood studio. Finding the free, natural tone quality and establishing efficient breathing (actually using less breath) were on our agenda.
- A teen worship leader needed direction to free up his maturing voice. He got more comfortable with the mechanics of singing and started to experience a more free transition between registers. All this with webcams and the free program Skype.
- A twenty-something worship leader and church soloist asked for coaching to help him “own” a particular song. After discussing the real message of the song we used such tools as lip-syncing, exaggerating diction and stabilizing posture to bring out the best vocal sound. Inspiration plus thorough preparation is always the best combination.
- In a few weeks I’ll be working with a touring artist who just had throat surgery. He and is having a challenging recovery and needs a little help making sure he is using the instrument the right way. This is just one of the many instances where the right coaching can help save a voice and a career.
- One of our students (who is a well-known singer) just called while on tour. He was having a difficult time getting over some vocal issues. Because we are on the same page as teacher and student we were able to accomplish much just over the phone.
There is nothing more satisfying and rewarding to me than watching singers overcome obstacles and be all they can be in every way. I’ve been seeing this for many years and it never stops touching my heart. That’s what Vocal Coach is all about.
Is it YOUR TIME for some personal training?
If you have questions about Vocal Coach Distance Learning or any of our Vocal Coach products please let me know in one of the following ways:
- Email me at chris@vocalcoach.com
- Call our NEW OFFICE PHONE NUMBER: 615-649-8067.
- Go to the Vocal Coach Web Site and check out Personal Lessons and the Vocal Coach Store.
Hope to hear from you soon, and maybe even see you.
Chris Beatty
Tags: blog.vocalcoach.com, chris and carole beatty, good foundations, performance training, singing lessons, vocalcoach.com, voice lessons, worship leader
Posted in Choir Directors, Duets to Groups, From The Heart of Chris Beatty, Singing and Voice Lessons, Soloist, Teaching Teens To Sing, Uncategorized | No Comments »
EVER EXPERIENCE FEAR OR INSECURITY WHEN YOU SING?
Friday, May 20th, 2011
Both fear and insecurity can cause unsteady breathing, stressed tone quality, inaccurate pitch and more.
If this is you, here are some solutions to set you free:
INEXPERIENCE. If mere inexperience is the cause, the solution will be found in developing and owning good vocal technique and performance skills. This can be accomplished by finding a local, qualified teacher and coach, or taking advantage of Vocal Coach Online Training. Online training is the personal, powerful, convenient and cost effective way to get the training you need.
SHYNESS. If you are a shy person by nature, you may need additional coaching to further reinforce mechanics of not only the voice, but also of expression and gestures. These will have to be exaggerated. Rehearsing with props and in front of a video camera or mirror is especially helpful. If you don’t naturally know how to be expressive in front of a crowd consider using the Complete Performance CD. It’s a powerful tool.
PITCH ISSUES. If you have pitch issues, and know it, dig in with a sensitive, experienced teacher and conquer this ear-training issue. This is a nonnegotiable skill for singers. If, after reasonable time you don’t see much progress get a second opinion. If you are still not able to get from pitch center to pitch center accurately, you may have to confront the possibility that singing in public is not for you. Even then, as long as you’re not holding a microphone, sing on, and enjoy. Note: We can do an effective evaluation of pitch issues with a single Online Session using Skype or iChat. Just visit Personal Training on our site.
UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. If your own expectations are a bit too idealistic, based more on dreams than honest feedback and careful training, it may be time to reevaluate and recalculate. You should know that the stories behind most successful singers include a lot about very hard work. That doesn’t mean singing 8 hours a day, but It does mean learning how to use the tools of singing properly. This includes your vocal mechanism, accurate pitch, an understanding of tone quality, expression and gesture and more. Good singers don’t just happen any more than good athletes do. It’s always about inspiration plus . . . preparation. One, without the other, will always leave you lacking.
THE GOOD NEWS is that you don’t need to be stuck with bad vocal habits or even a lack of knowing where you really stand. Step out, reach out and enjoy the voice you have. Vocal Coach is here to serve your vocal needs.
P.S. You can now download PDF files for the leadsheets (notes & lyrics) for our most popular CD’s for only $2.99 each. Just check the CD in the Vocal Coach Store.
Tags: chris beatty, performance coaching, Pitch, singing lessons, vocal training, vocalcoach.com
Posted in Choir Directors, From The Heart of Chris Beatty, Kids and Teens, Performance, Tone, Uncategorized | No Comments »
WHEN YOU SING IS YOUR BRAIN PART OF THE MIX?
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
BACKGROUND
As a young singer, in a very musical home, I was constantly being mentored in the things of voice and music without even knowing it. I thought it normal to hear one’s mother playing the piano, or giving a voice lesson in our living room. I remember hiding behind the couch and just listening, intrigued by what I was hearing.
I also didn’t think anything of it when my mother would fly to New York for one of my uncle, Samuel Barber’s premiers, whether for the opening of the new Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center or with the New York Philharmonic. I knew my family loved and respected good music, but had yet to fully understand the impact it would have on my life.
It wasn’t until I was under the gifted leadership of my high school choir director Eric Jensen, that I began to grasp the brain-ear-larynx connection. Once that happened, I was quick to start experimenting with vocal sounds based on what I had been exposed to in my childhood. Step two happened in college under the no-nonsense guidance of my technique teacher, Dr. Harvey Ringle, and my coach, Fredrick Schauwecker. They would only settle for complete freedom in the vocal mechanism no matter what style was being sung. They knew my potential and never let me off the hook of accurate and free singing.
The next big revelation of how the voice works occurred when I was 19. I started singing with the Chicago Symphony Chorus under director Margaret Hillis, one of the most relentless, non-compromising director/conductors imaginable. Every note, every phrase, all dynamics and balanced blend had to be there all the time. Our rehearsals were exhausting, but always fruitful.
As I look back I now see that my DNA and family set the stage for my vocal passion. But, it wasn’t until by brain, ears, larynx, respiratory system and articulators got on the same page that I really got it.
APPLICATION IN YOUR SINGING
As much as I’m sure you enjoyed reading about my background, you’re probably asking yourself, “What does this mean to me?” Here’s the answer:
1. Let this be a wake-up call to never just sing without engaging your mind. It is true that good singing should become automatic, but that only becomes reality after many hours of focusing on all the parts, then putting them together one piece at a time. As the muscle and mental memories become strong, you don’t need to think about the details; however, you always need to be vocally aware. Always.
2. Do the musical and physical work of intelligent singing. Challenge your mind and ear as you work to perfect pitch center, phrasing and dynamics, diction and expression and the all-important posture, breathing and tone. Never stop evaluating, improving and getting feedback from qualified, neutral sources. Remember: Those who do the smartest preparation get the lucky breaks.
BACH TO ROCK AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
In my teens and early 20’s I had the advantage of being invited to NYC for amazing rehearsals and performances by some of the best singers in the world. Seeing their seriousness and focus impressed me. As I ventured out and sang pop shows in Las Vegas (not something the musicians in my family had ever done) I realized the same focus and excellence was also there. I sang family shows with amazing bands and singers. Now, I’m part of a church whose lead singers can literally sing any style. They have the ability to read printed arrangements or create “head arrangements” on the spot. This is not something you find in the average church. I know that living in the Nashville area and having a congregation of 7,500 doesn’t hurt, but the point is this: Excellence can exist anywhere there are singers willing to receive instruction and discipline their craft.
SUMMARY
If you want to be an excellent singer don’t just sing. Make sure your brain isn’t M.I.A. Use the full resources available, whether it’s through private study, the Vocal Coach CD’s or live Online coaching. Do something. You owe it to your voice and your audience.
Tags: chris beatty, chris beatty vocalcoach.com, good foundations, use your brain when you sing, vocal training, voice lessons, voice training
Posted in Choir Directors, From The Heart of Chris Beatty, Singing and Voice Lessons, Soloist, Speaking Tips | 1 Comment »
“Most Wanted” List from Vocal Coach Chris Beatty
Tuesday, January 11th, 2011
Tell me about your vocal “Most Wanted” list. That’s a list of those things you most want to have happen with your singing in 2011.
Let’s set the stage with these thoughts:
1. By definition, a good singer is a good communicator in song, using whatever styles or genres he or she chooses and can relate to.
2. To be improving one’s singing skills means the singer must be increasing in technical skill and musical knowledge.
3. Increasing these skills and knowledge take planning and effort. It doesn’t just happen because you want it to.
None of the above points are rocket science, but they are necessary reminders to most of us because, it’s easy to settle into a rut of mediocrity or even fear regarding how far we can go as singers.
The Good News
The good news is that based on many years of teaching (technique) and coaching (interpretation/expression) singers, I know you can be better. Even the most accomplished singer can always learn more. If you’re an average singer, you haven’t even approached your range, agility, stamina and expression potential. My students range from beginners to professional touring artists and university professors, and they all have this in common: Every single one has areas in which they can grow, and that’s exactly what they’re looking for. Is that what you are looking for?
If You’re Ready, Put it in Motion
1. Believe in your heart that you can become a better singer this year. Do you believe in the power of prayer? The use it. Ask God to help you be consistent and maximize your gifts. He won’t do the work for you, and you certainly can’t do His part, but the combination is unbeatable.
2. Take realistic baby steps that will allow you to measure your progress.
3. Schedule your time. Get out your calendar right now and schedule some times to work on your “Most Wanted” list. That should include planning what resources you will use (Vocal Coach material, local voice class or personal training etc). Remember: If it’s not reflected in your calendar and/or checkbook it’s probably not very high on your priority list.
4. Create a self-challenge. Most of us know what our areas of weakness are without having to ask anyone else. Begin your list. The top of your “Vocal Most Wanted” list will read something like this: Schedule and keep vocal training appointments.
5. Take advantage of free resources like the Ten Steps to Better Breathing for Singers and the free Enhance Your Worship page. Also, remember that, to make searching easy, all the Vocal Coach Blogs are categorized by topic.
6. Get some feedback. At some point you are going to want outside feedback and direction. Some easy forms include using a mirror or video camera to keep an eye on posture and expression. Next is using a video camera, web cam or even iPhone to record some of your singing. There is nothing quite as honest as a recording. I also suggest playing it back for a neutral source who will give you honest input.
7. Schedule an Online Vocal Coach Session. Having a two-way video/audio session using Skype is easy and inexpensive. All you need is a computer with webcam and microphone (or mic/headset) which most newer computers come with. Spending 45 minutes with me Online can give you the feedback you need to keep you on track in your practicing, as well as challenge you with new, targeted exercises.
I hope these suggestions and tips will help you create and use your vocal “Most Wanted” list. I look forward to your feedback.
Tags: blog.vocalcoach.com, breathing technique for singers, chris beatty, chris beatty vocalcoach.com, singing lessons
Posted in Choir Directors, Duets to Groups, From The Heart of Chris Beatty, Soloist, Tips Tailored for You, Worship Team | 1 Comment »
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
When I say, “The best things in life are free,” I really mean it. To me, BEST means those parts of life that are fulfilling, refreshing, excellent and . . . life-giving. And, these are things you can’t buy with a credit card or cash.
Refreshing to the eyes, and free.
Sounds. The sound of wind in the trees. Rain falling on your roof or into a lake. Ocean waves, large or small, or the magical sound of a child laughing. The voice of someone you love speaking encouraging words, meaning them. And speaking of the voice, remember how God made the voice to work and it makes spoken words all the more special: Breath is released, travels through the wind pipe, sets up vibrations in the larynx that is then amplified in the chambers of the mouth and head. Then the lips, tongue and teeth shape that sound into understandable words. This is all free. Amazing.
Sights. A sunrise, sunset and even a heavy storm moving in (assuming you’re in a safe place, of course). A flower or insect you’ve never seen before and even those you’re familiar with. To be able to see, and just think about these things is a free gift.
Smells. Each season of the year has it’s own smells as different trees and plants take their turn at bringing forth their scents. That doesn’t even include the smells of foods, but someone did have to buy and cook those so technically they’re not free.
Feelings. Here’s where it becomes harder to define, yet it’s just as real as sounds and smells. The feeling of knowing you are loved, of knowing you’re doing the right thing and of peace amidst a complicated world. Those feelings are measurable and there’s nothing surreal about them.
The Cross. For me, I have to add to that list the peace and security I feel because of what Jesus did on the Cross for me. It’s the ultimate free gift, though a price was paid. A price I will never forget as I live with the free benefits every day.
What’s your “Best things in life are free” story? I’d love to hear it. Just let me know at chris@vocalcoach.com.
P.S. Free Webinar! Next Monday, November 8th I’ll be the guest on a free Online Webinar with well-known songwriter, producer and clinician Mark Condon. This free event is for singers, choir directors and worship leaders of all levels. A great place to listen, learn and ask your questions. Click here to sign up and remember: Save Monday, Nov 8th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 8:00 Central and 6:00 on the West Coast.
Tags: chris beatty, chris beatty vocalcoach.com, finding peace.
Posted in From the Coach, From The Heart of Chris Beatty, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
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