Posts Tagged ‘singing lessons’
« Older Entries | Newer Entries »SOME QUICK TIPS FROM VOCAL COACH CHRIS BEATTY
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
EXTREME HEAT CAN = DRY THROAT?
Dressed for HOT weather
Dressed for HOT weather
Much of the country is experiencing extreme heat. We had a heat index of 110 yesterday in Nashville which is very, very unusual. The good news for Carole and me is that we don’t have to leave the home/office/studio. The bad news is that with the air conditioner on much of the day the air is almost dangerously dry. Dry skin, dry contact lenses and, if we’re not careful, dry throat. The one and only solution is a substantial increase in water intake. So, give thanks for air conditioning, and, at the same time recognize the need to super-hydrate.
DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
We singers are notorious about nervously wondering if the voice will “be there for us” every time. Why is this? Because, for most of us there have been times when all did not go . . . perfectly.
The solution is twofold. First, don’t waste time worrying about it. Worrying doesn’t accomplish anything. In fact, the stress caused by worrying is likely to make things worse by making you less confident, drying out your throat due to increased adrenaline and, if you are a Christ-Follower you are clearly told NOT to be anxious and worry. It will interfere with what God has for you. Just check out Matthew 6:25-27 and Philippians 4:6-7.
Second, take action and train with a goal of being the best, most consistent singers and communicator you can be. I often say that singers are vocal athletes, and really good athletes never stop training. They know that bad habits can and will creep in to your technique and the only way to avoid that is by continuing to get meaningful feedback, being honest with that feedback and being proactive in making changes.
THE GOOD NEWS FOR SINGERS is that you can incorporate many aspects of your vocal training into normal, daily life. Violin players and professional basketball players don’t have it so easy. They have to have an instrument or basketball.
How does this translate to singers? Simply by practicing and reinforcing the following:
- Upright, balanced posture whether sitting or standing.
- Breathing that goes low and doesn’t require heaving of the chest.
- Speaking with a resonant tone quality whether you are using a soft or loud volume.
- Articulating every word clearly when talking to a friend, on the phone or teaching.
By turning your everyday voice technique into a nonstop training session you will be building a muscle memory base that can transfer right into your singing.
LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE. Email chris@vocalcoach.com
Tags: blog.vocalcoach.com, chris beatty, performance stress, singing lessons, vocal training, vocalcoach.com
Posted in Soloist, Speaking Tips, Uncategorized, Vocal Health, Worship Team | 4 Comments »
Training Children’s Voices is Important & Now Is The Time
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011
Please Click Here: Chris Beatty on Training Children’s Voices
As you click on the link above you will hear my thoughts about helping our children become the best communicators they can be.
The more our kids learn about their voices, and how to use them in speaking and singing the clearer communicators they will be, and that’s important for a successful future.
Carole and I have six grandchildren and have taught literally thousands of students, young and old, around the world. We really “get it” when it comes to teaching and coaching our kids the right way.
Please click on the audio link above, then let me know that you think by emailing chris@vocalcoach.com
Chris
Tags: chris beatty, chris beatty vocalcoach.com, kids singing lessons, singing kids, singing lessons, singing lessons for children, Teaching kids to sing
Posted in Kids and Teens, Teaching Kids 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 »
DICTION. IT’S MORE THAN WORDS.
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
DICTION REALLY IS ABOUT MORE THAN WORDS
Most people know that diction is all about making your message understandable to the listener. But, for the singer, there is a lot more at stake than just the message. There are vocal issues! Issues like tone quality, pitch and vocal stamina. These areas and more are impacted by the way you pronounce your words.
Example 1: if you’re a mumbler, there’s a good chance your larynx is working overtime trying to fix the unclear words coming out of your mouth. It can’t, of course, since diction has to be taken care of with lips, tongue, teeth and an ear that knows what to listen for. Clearing up the diction will reduce vocal stress and make you a better singer.
Example 2: If you have sloppy diction when you record and depend on “fixing it in the mix” you’re building some really bad habits. It’s true that programs like ProTools, Logic Pro and AutoTune allow the engineer to correct pitch, reduce the amount of SSS or TTT and even move a syllable within the phrase. But, some things are better being done right in real-time, every time. It’s healthier for your voice, makes a better performer and makes you more fun to record.
SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW
Begin by looking at your self in a mirror and lip-syncing the words to a song. No sound, but moving lips, face and tongue. It will help you get in touch with all the muscles involved with good diction. Next, still with no sound, be even more expressive as you “sing” the song and memorize the “feeling” of good diction and expression. Finally, make sure your voice is warmed up and put the music to it. Try and duplicate what you felt in the first exercises.
Because DICTION is one of those important-but-often-neglected areas of singing, WE ARE OFFERING THE COMPLETE DICTION CD at a special price. Just CLICK HERE to learn more and save 20%.
Tags: complete diction, Diction, diction for singers, singing diction, singing lessons, vocal coach chris beatty, vocalcoach.com, voice training
Posted in Choir Directors, Diction, Performance, Soloist, Teaching Teens To Sing, Tone, Uncategorized, Worship Team | No Comments »
“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 »
ONE VOICE with MANY SINGERS
Tuesday, October 5th, 2010
I recently taught the second in a series of 6 classes for worship leaders and their teams at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro TN. This very large and active church has eight weekend services requiring many committed singers and instrumentalists. Our goals in this series of classes is to help each singer bring out their personal strengths while at the same time having the ability to bond into that one-voice sound that is so important to any group.
This class was called One Voice, and this was our process:
- We talked through the concept of giving up individuality, in favor of becoming many-singers-with-one-sound.
- With this One Voice concept in mind we then did a series of general warm-ups. In this time we started standing backed up against a wall to remind of upright, aligned posture.
- We took the first big step toward giving up individuality: We moved into a circle (limit circles to no more than 8-10) and all held hands as we continued to warm up. We came from different backgrounds and ranged in age from 25 to 66 but quickly began to have a single sound just by being “in touch” and listening. We had given up our unique sounds and yielded to a common sound. It’s exciting to experience, or even just hear this process.
- The next step was to maintain that unified blend with a more difficult hearing environment so we stayed in the circle, but turned facing away from each other. We again joined hands and continued to warm up, this time having to listen much harder.
- I played a CD with four different worship leaders and teams singing in four different styles including traditional, contemporary, Gospel and pop. Still in a circle, holding hands and facing each other we listened to a track, then matched and blended with that leader’s style and voice quality. This was also done facing away from each other, still in the circle to require focused listening and matching.
- After we had done that with each leader/style I quickly moved randomly from track to track requiring the singers to listen, adjust and yield to that singer and each other. They quickly started to own their new skills of listening and flexibility.
The next step is for the individual singers to practice these flexibility and blending skills on their own, then bring those skills to the next class, rehearsal or service. And, while this class was in a church setting, the same principles work for choirs, choruses, bands, duos, trios, quartets etc.
Remember: Practice Makes Permanent, and Muscles Have Memory. Practice and memorize the right skills and you’ll own them.
Need more great ideas and some “tools” to help you and your singers be their best? Share this free blog with your teams and be sure to visit our newest Online tool on FaceBook. Just search on VOCAL COACH WITH CHRIS AND CAROLE BEATTY then click the “Like” icon at the top of the page. That page also has open discussions that we’d love to have you join.
Tags: Blending, Blending Voices, chris beatty, singing lessons, vocal coach, vocal coaches, vocal training, vocalcoach.com
Posted in Blend, Choir Directors, From the Coach, Singing Subjects, Tips Tailored for You, Uncategorized, Worship Team | No Comments »
DON’T TRY AND FIT ANOTHER SINGER’S VOCAL MOLD
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
Be who you are, vocally. Don’t try and fit someone else’s vocal mold.
Someone else may be a higher or lower voice part than you, and that’s fine. They may also relate to different vocal styles because of their cultural or musical experiences. That’s also fine.
But, notice that I didn’t say, “Stay in the rut you’re in. That’s just the way it is.” In fact, here are two thoughts to the contrary:
1. Even though you can’t suddenly become another voice part you probably can significantly expand your vocal range just by cleaning up and refining your vocal technique. It’s all about owning the foundations and having some specific goals.
2. Learning to believably sing new styles is a fun and wise pursuit. In fact, expanding your repertoire of vocal styles makes you a more valuable, more flexible singer.
Finally, here’s the answer to a question I get asked regularly.
Question: Chris, what do you actually do with singers? Help me understand.
Vocal Coach Answer: I guess you could sum it up as this: I look at people who sing, and then help them discover their potential, discover current problems or limitations and come up with solutions and a step-by-step way to make it happen. This does, of course, require the cooperation of the singer, and it does take some time, but it’s very doable . . . and that’s what we do at Vocal Coach with in-person or Online sessions.
BONUS: Like a little humor? Check out these two Vocal Coach Animations:
I Have To Practice? And Preparing for Performance
Please keep those questions coming to chris@vocalcoach.com.
Thanks
Tags: chris beatty, chris beatty vocalcoach.com, singing lessons, vocal coach, voice training, worship leader
Posted in Performance, Soloist, Tips Tailored for You, Uncategorized, Worship Team | No Comments »
VOICE PROTECTION for TEACHERS and SPEAKERS
Saturday, August 28th, 2010
Every Fall I get emails from teachers complaining of voice fatigue, and sometimes even voice loss. In these next few minutes I’ll share some ideas and exercises that are good for teachers, salesmen, pastors and anyone who uses their voice consistently throughout the day.
To begin with, remember that what we call “the voice,” is really a physical, mechanical and acoustical instrument. It is designed to work in a specific way and involves a number of different organs and systems of the body. Posture, breathing, articulation, projection and more are involved every time you speak. Here are some thoughts and exercises to help you prepare and maintain your speaking instrument:
- The voice is a complex, physical instrument.
- Physical systems need to be warmed up and cooled down.
- Understanding how your voice projects, takes the pressure off.
A Physical Instrument
Since your voice has always just “been there,” it’s easy to mistreat. The fact is, the voice is a series of physical systems that need to be maintained and cared for. Posture, breathing and articulatory muscles are all involved.
Warm It Up and Cool It Down
Because we are dealing with muscles, tendons, cartilage, membrane and more, you should warm up your instrument before you hit the classroom or office. Just how does a teacher or speaker warm up the voice? Here is a checklist that will help:
1. Hands Up! Prepare the instrument, which is you, by lifting your hands straight up over your head to align the body. It will feel good, while at the same time, prevent tension in the neck and larynx that can tire the voice. Muscle memory will help you maintain this posture throughout the day.
2. Check the Power Source. With hands still up, take in four sipping breaths and feel the entire waist area expand. Now, expel the breath on four hissing sounds. Sip, sip, sip, sip, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss etc. You will quickly realize where you should be feeling the breathing. Muscle memory will help you use these same muscles throughout the day, rather than leaving the chest up and down.
3. Hummmmmm. Relax the arms and start humming anything you want – a song, or just sounds. Go high and low, reaching into all parts of your range.
4. Cool it Down. At the end of your teaching or work day, do some more Humming on a simple melody. The goal is to allow this physical instrument to gradually return to normal resting size and temperature. The obvious parallel is sports. Those who cool the muscles are more protected from injury.
Use the “You” Sound System
You are the sound system. While you were humming you could dramatically feel vibrations in the face, head, neck and chest. These are the acoustical chambers of your body amplifying and projecting the sound. The great part is that it doesn’t take a lot of air. Instead, it naturally amplifies the sound if you don’t over-push it.
As you respect your voice, warming it up and allowing it to naturally project, speaking becomes much less stressful on the voice. To learn more about ways to preserve and maintain your voice check out the FREE RESOURCES page of our site. If you have questions you would like to have answered just email chris@vocalcoach.com . Need some training tools? The Complete Breathing, Warm-Up and Diction and Daily Workout CD’s are perfect for teachers and speakers. The are fun and easy to use. Check them out by clicking here.
Tags: chris beatty, protecting the voice, singing lessons, speaker's voice, teacher's voice, vocal coach, vocal lessons
Posted in Choir Directors, From the Coach, Performance, Posture, Tips Tailored for You, Tone, Uncategorized, Warm-Ups | No Comments »
GOING FROM WANTING TO DOING
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
GOING FROM WANTING TO DOING
Here are some thoughts and tips to help you go from just wanting to express something when you sing, to actually doing it. This can also apply to public speaking, classroom teaching, prepping your team for a game, preaching or leading a Bible study. In every one of those cases your goal is to clearly communicate. As a bonus in this blog, I’ve created an animated segment to reinforce some of the principles. Check it out now, or after you’ve read the blog. Click here.
Start with these simple steps:
- Recognize that the rules change anytime you get up in front of people to share, with or without a microphone. You become responsible to give them a clear message, not one that is only half-thought-out. Otherwise, you will lose them and they will mentally to elsewhere. Second, be confident that with a bit of the right kind of preparation you will succeed in getting the message from your heart to the listener’s ear.
- Rejoice in the fact that if you make certain preparations you will succeed in getting the message from your heart to theirs.
Identify the challenges:
- Fear. Speaking or singing in front of others is the number one listed fear for the average person. For some, it’s uncomfortable. For some, it’s nearly impossible.
- Lack of preparation. Even if you are moderately comfortable or even thrive in public performance situation you have to do your homework. If you don’t you risk being less clear or even embarrassing yourself.
Where to begin:
- Prepare your content. Know what your message is. Be able to summarize it in a few sentences. If it’s a song, you should be able to put the essence of every verse and chorus in our own words. Restating the song personalizes it. Then, and only then will you own the message.
- Prepare your mind. If you’re singing a serious song with a painful message you need to be able to feel that. The same is true for happy, encouraging messages, or instructional or testimony songs, etc. If it’s a speech or teaching put yourself in the message. Be there. Live there. Feel it. Otherwise how will you be believable?
- Prepare your face and body. Unless you’re just doing an audio recording, your posture, facial expression and hand gestures will play a part in your communications, whether you like it or not. That means you need to know your options, chose the right ones and practice them. Why? Because if you don’t they either won’t be there, or they will look stiff and unnatural.
- a. Your Posture is always showing something, be it confidence, or fear. Determine to look secure and in authority. The fastest way there is to lift your hands straight up over your head and memorize that aligned, upright posture. Then, slowly bring the arms down to your sides, relax the shoulders and keep the rest of it the same. Look in the mirror and you will be pleased.
- b. Your face. Here’s a biggie and it will take some practice because there are dozens of options is facial expression. I suggest using a mirror, or video camera connected to a TV monitor, to see what your various expressions look and physically feel like. Ultimately, it’s the physical sensations that you will be reproducing. Muscle memory is your friend. Bottom line: Your facial expressions need to agree with your message.
- c. Your arms and hands are another part of you that will either enhance or distract from your message. Don’t just stand there, and don’t worry about doing too much. You probably won’t. Do worry, however, about doing nothing, or being tentative or vague with what you do. Decide the options, practice the options then assign meaningful gestures to the words.
Worried that this will be too mechanical? Don’t be. Actors, baseball players, guitarists, chefs and even computer programmers all practice the physical aspects of what they do until it is second nature. That’s the only way you will ever own it.
Check out this Vocal Coach animated dramatization to help reinforce what you’ve just read. Just click here. And be sure to check out the special offer for the Vocal Coach Complete Performance CD at our store.
Tags: chris beatty, Preparing for American Idol, singing classes, singing lessons, vocal coach, vocal performance, voice training
Posted in Choir Directors, Performance, Soloist, Song Selection, Songwriting, Tips Tailored for You | No Comments »
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