Thursday, April 12th, 2012
Having just returned from yet another month of Major League Baseball Spring Training in FL I am again reminded of this: We all need on-going training, no matter how good we are. In fact, it was the big name superstars that were the first on the field before every game with their trainers. And these guys were already partially warmed up and in extremely good shape.
We, singers need to take our craft just as seriously. We need to stop being satisfied with just acceptable singing and push to be all we can be. Singing up to your potential is more satisfying in every way. Plus, it makes you more valuable to those you sing with and those who hear you. That being said, consider these training opportunities:
ANOTHER DALLAS AREA WORKSHOP MAY 12, 2012 9:00-Noon
Due to the success of our last Online Video Workshop at the Voice Kitchen in Plano TX we’re doing it again! I’ll be live in our Brentwood TN studio connected to the Voice Kitchen video studio. This class is limited to the first 15 who sign up and is a great way to get small group training at an exceptional price. There are also two slots remaining for 30 minute one-on-one sessions that afternoon.
To sign up go to voicekitchen.com or call Jill at 469-383-8885.
VOCAL COACH PACKAGES – Physical product or Download.
If you’ve visited the Vocal Coach Online Store Recently you know we are constantly offering new packages and bundles and special pricing. Being able to master the foundations in the convenience of your own home, when it works for you is just part of what Vocal Coach is all about. You can download Vocal Coach training CD’s in a matter of minutes and be on your way to better singing.
FACE-TO-FACE PERSONAL TRAINING
Online training is getting more and more popular. It allows us (you and me) to see and hear each other without anyone having to drive or fly anywhere. You’re at home; I’m in my studio. If you have Internet and a webcam on your computer you’re good to go! Check out details by clicking here
Hope to see you soon in an Online session.
Chris
Tags: blog.vocalcoach.com, chris beatty, chris beatty vocalcoach.com, performance training, singing lessons, voice lessons
Posted in Singing and Voice Lessons, Singing Exercises, Uncategorized, Vocal Coach Workshops, Vocal Training & Practice Helps | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 14th, 2012
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.
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 moc.hcaoclacovnull@sirhc 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 »
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Receive a 10% discount at checkout when you enter HOLIDAY10 in the coupon code.
1. A personal Online training & coaching session with Chris Beatty. All you need is a webcam and Skype, iChat or FaceTime. It’s the perfect way to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and get on a path to being your best.
2. Vocal Coach Singer 12 CD training series. A complete, systematic program to help you be all you can be.
3. Our Teaching Kids To Sing pack is the perfect gift for kids and grandkids! The two DVD’s and one CD set cover the foundations of singing in a fun, practical and very user-friendly way.
Tags: choir, chris beatty, sing better, singing lessons, vocal training, voice lessons, voice training
Posted in Choir Directors, From the Coach, Singing and Voice Lessons, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, December 2nd, 2011
THE REAL DANGER is the control you can lose and the damage you can cause if the vocal folds (vocal cords) don’t have the right lubrication as they articulate thousands of times during a phrase.
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP maintain the needed moisture include:
with a Vick’s Personal Steam Inhaler. It’s made by Kaz and sold at Target, Walmart etc ($25-30) or Entertainer’s Secret Throat Spray (vocalcoach.com/store $6.95 ea). The steam inhaler also helps is you’ve over-used the voice a bit. The Entertainer’s Secret is a great, topical moisturizer that will keep the nasal passages, sinuses and upper throat moist even in a dry setting.
Tags: chris beatty, chris beatty vocalcoach.com, dry throat, singing lessons, vocal training, voice lessons
Posted in Choir Directors, Performance, Soloist, Uncategorized, Vocal Health, Worship Team | No Comments »
Monday, November 7th, 2011
Before you listen to the audio link below prepare your mind with these thoughts:
1. The lip-trill is done naturally by all babies and toddlers. Yes, YOU did it when you were younger!
2. It brings an awareness of the many parts of the face and head that are involved when you speak and sing.
3. It is the safest way to venture into your highest notes without straining or pushing.
4. It helps the body produce the right lubrication for the leading edges of the vocal folds.
5. It serves as a natural decongestant since it helps vibrate loose any thick mucus in the sinuses and nasal passages.
6. This exercise is so freeing you may literally open up entire new areas of your voice.
How important is the Lip-Trill? I have all my students sing their songs on the lip-trill sound to discover how the song SHOULD FEEL when they sing it.
Join us Saturday, November 12 from 9:00-Noon for a live, interactive Vocal Coach Workshop.
Tags: blog.vocalcoach.com, chris beatty, Lip Trill Exercise, singing lessons, vocal training, Vocal Warm-ups, Vocal Workshop, vocalcoach.com, voice lessons
Posted in Choir Directors, Singing Exercises, Singing Subjects, Soloist, Teaching Teens To Sing, Tone, Uncategorized, Vocal Coach Audios, Vocal Coach Workshops, Vocal Range, Warm-Ups | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
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:
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:
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 »
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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 »
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Question from Blog reader:
Chris, I am having a voice problem and need your input. I’ve been using your training CD’s for a few years now and they have helped me a lot. But, here’s my problem: When I first start a song I feel short of breath. My voice feels unstable. After a few words it gets better, but I still have a problem with my voice breaking or quivering. It’s not solid, or stable. Is this a throat problem, breathing or ??? Your comments would be greatly appreciated.
Vocal Coach Answer:
When a voice is unstable, wavering, tentative or breaks and quivers there are several possible causes. Here are some likely ones and some solutions
1. Anxiety. When you are mentally or emotionally unsure about what is going to come out when you open your mouth it can interfere with breathing, posture, diction, tone, expression . . . everything. The solution will be found in being more mechanically solid than you are anxious. In other words, having such secure technique in the posture, breathing, tone and diction that nothing can interfere. Solid muscle memory, of right techniques will be your friend every time.
2. Posture. If your posture is bent or broken it will interfere with breathing, tone and self-confidence and how the listener perceives your confidence. By lifting your arms straight up over your head you will discover your balanced posture. As you slowly bring your arms back down be sure to maintain the upright alignment. The shoulders should be completely relaxed, not pulled up or back. The feeling is one of being “athletically alert,” with a comfortably upright chest. Feel like you have a long back of neck and a shorter front of the neck. The head is back, over the shoulders, with the eyes looking straight ahead. Don’t let the chin lift for high notes or fall for low notes. Keep the head position neutral. Once you can sing your songs comfortably in this position you can look anywhere you want. Just don’t move the head to help you hit a note; it won’t.
3. Breathing. Securing good breath management will help you sing through the nervous times. The muscles will just continue to get you the right amount of breath. Not too much; not too little. Good breathing starts with good posture. A good first exercise is to get on your back, on the floor and feel what parts of the body are naturally engaged when you breathe in, and out. Then start sipping the breath in through an imaginary straw, and out on a SSSSSSS sound. After you have memorized where the breathing is naturally felt, stand, check your posture and repeat the exercise with a still chest and ribs.
4. Tone. Getting your posture and breathing more secure opens the possibility for your best vocal sound, or tone quality. The physical sensations of good tone are a relaxed throat, and lots of buzzing resonance (harmonics and overtones) vibrating through the face, mouth, sinuses and nasal passages. These are all sensations that you can physically feel, memorize and reproduce. A gentle hum will begin the sensation. Adding a chewing motion to the humming will keep the face and jaw more relaxed. And, don’t be afraid of all the vibrating you feel in the face. That’s a good sign, and means you are allowing the voice to work and not forcing it. These are aspects of your vocal sound you can “feel,” and that means you can reproduce them using muscle memory.
5. Diction. Another important area is diction, pronunciation or enunciation. It just means that the listener gets the message, not just the music. The other bonus of clear diction is this: As your own ears hear clear words coming out they tell the brain to tell the larynx to just relax and keep giving the pitch. If, on the other hand, your ears hear mumbled words they often tell the brain, and the brain (for some unknown reason) gets the larynx involved. That just leads to useless tension in the throat since the larynx can’t help diction. So, when in doubt, over-pronounce a bit so that even the least attentive listener hears your message.
So, there you have it. A systematic approach, to freeing up an unstable voice by paying attention to your POSTURE, BREATHING, TONE and DICTION. Needless to say, there’s a lot more to be said on all these topics. If you want to go deeper, with principles and exercises just go to the main site at vocalcoach.com and look for the Vocal Coach Singer package, or individual subjects by title.
If you have thoughts or comments leave them in the space below. Thanks.
Tags: breathing technique for singers, chris beatty, chris beatty vocalcoach.com, larynx, performance training, Singer, singing lessons, vocalcoach.com, voice lessons, voice training
Posted in Ask the Coach, Breathing, Choir Directors, Diction, Duets to Groups, From the Coach, Performance, Posture, Singing Subjects, Tone, Voice Fatigue and Strain, Worship Team | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
“When something exceeds your ability to understand how it works, it becomes kind of magical.” I recently heard that statement in an online demonstration of the Apple iPad. It occurred to me that the same descriptive applies to the human voice.
Here’s what I mean: Aren’t there times when you hear a singer that just amazes you? One who can do things with their voice that you can only imagine doing, but never actually do? That’s the “magical” aspect of the voice. The part that defies analysis, or duplication by the average listener, and even the average singer.
But, what if you really, really, really want to at least come close to delivering that kind of magical performance. And, what if you are willing to invest the time, effort and resources to take the voice as far as you possibly can. What are the steps?
In truth, it’s no different than choosing to absolutely maximize your athletic performance, or your intellectual performance. It takes sacrifice at all levels. Sacrifice that most of us, frankly, aren’t willing or able to make. Sacrifice that would make having a normal family life and job almost impossible. Like being an Olympic athlete in training. It takes all that you are, often at the expense of normalcy.
Discouraged? Don’t be! No one is asking you to give up family and friends to compete for “World’s Best Singer. But, there is sacrifice and investment involved in becoming a better, more consistent singer. And, it starts with constant, non-stop awareness of your daily posture, and the way you manage your breathing in speaking and singing.
You see, many people compromise their posture throughout the day, and that leads to poor breathing. Then, they “get straight” for singing and wonder why it feels so stiff and unnatural. The key is being upright and aligned every waking hour. I don’t mean standing at attention. I just mean being upright, like any two-year-old. It’s natural, and how we were designed to function. And, it’s one of the first things to go if we don’t get daily reminders. For years I would go so far as to put reminders in my calendar to check my posture and breathing. Seem extreme? Not if you’re really serious about being your best.
When it comes to breathing it’s a matter of management, not power or push. Untrained, three-week-old babies do fine with sharing their vocal messages to the entire household with no formal training whatsoever.
Tags: breathing technique for singers, chris beatty, vocal coach, vocal training, voice lessons, voice training
Posted in Breathing, Posture, Singing Subjects | 2 Comments »