Posts Tagged ‘worship leader’

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IS SINGING IN THE CAR OK FOR THE VOICE?

Monday, January 16th, 2012

WANT TO HEAR THE AUDIO VERSION OF THIS BLOG? Click here:  Blog-WarmingUpInCar_011612

Great Email Question

I got a great email question that asked this: “Chris, I bought the Vocal Coach series from you at a workshop you gave. You mention warming up while driving to rehearsal/gig. I thought I had heard not to do that. Is it ok to do that so long as posture is correct?”  This is a super question because it deals with real life for a singer.

Ideal vs Reality

Let’s start with this: The “ideal” warm-up/practice scenario would have you peaceful and quiet, undisturbed. You are rested, have eaten well and have just read something relaxing.  Maybe even had a string quartet playing during your meal. I’m not being sarcastic. Superstars like Luciano Pavarotti and Michael Jackson traveled with their own chef’s, food supply and, in the case of Pavarotti, entertainment.

Muscle Memory

Most singers who wait, and only warm-up and practice in perfect, ideal situations often just don’t do it. The result is that they don’t develop the muscle memory necessary for good singing.

Is Warming Up in the Car Ok?

I have sung all over the world and sometimes the only place I knew I could really “get away” to think and warm-up was in a rental car. Pavarotti and Jackson I am not, but I do know what my voice and mind and emotions feel like when I’m fully ready to perform and I’ll do about anything to make that happen. If you’re a choir or worship team member and the car is your only time to focus, put in a Vocal Coach Warm-Up or Daily Workout CD and go for it. The goal is to be ready.

If you do end up warming up in a car:

  1. Make sure the rear-view mirror is positioned comfortably high requiring you to sit tall to see out the back window.
  2. Keep your hands at the One and Three O’clock positions on the steerting wheel.  It will stabilize your chest and ribs in a comfortably expanded position.
  3. Have a goal of physically feeling a free, rich tone since road noise, air conditioning etc. may make accurate hearing challenging.
  4. Don’t try to out-sing the car noise. Instead, sing smart.  If you begin to strain, back off and recheck posture, breathing and tone. If you aren’t solid in those foundations make a plan, get some materials personal training and learn to do it right.

Ten Minutes Is Much Better Than Nothing

What it your schedule or situation doesn’t allow for a good warm-up?  That’s where muscle memory and experience kick in and get you through, but it’s not something to get comfortable with.  Those who do ultimately pay the price of sloppy, unpredictable performances. There is always some time to do humming and lip-trill exercises even if it’s while you’re in the shower and getting ready.

Summary

Do all you can to assure regular warm-up and practice times in ideal surrounding.  When that can’t happen, make sure to still prepare your voice and heart even if you need to hide in the janitor’s closet or a car to do it.

Got a Question You Would Like Answered?

Just email me at moc.hcaoclacovnull@sirhc and put “Question” in the subject.

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Posted in Soloist, Uncategorized, Vocal Coach Audios, Warm-Ups, Worship Team | No Comments »

“I WANT A VOCAL COACH, NOT MORE CD’S!”

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

REMINDER OF DALLAS VOCAL COACH WORKSHOP

HAS YOUR VOICE HAD A TUNE-UP LATLEY?

There are still a few openings left for the Saturday, November 12th Vocal Coach Workshop in Dallas. It will be held at the “Voice Kitchen” video studio and limited to 15 students. I will be teaching “live” from my studio in TN and we’ll all see and hear each other throughout.  9:00-Noon Nov 12th. This is a great value.  Just click here for more info or to sign up.

 “I WANT A VOCAL COACH, NOT MORE CD’s!”

I totally get that statement.  Regular, personal training from a skilled and experienced teacher/coach is the ideal.  BUT, in real life that means living near one of those teachers who is probably going to charge a good bit, and they deserve it.

I HONESTLY BELIEVE you can get the “information” and “personal feedback”  you need by using a combination of affordable methods.

TO START WITH, you really can learn (or be reminded of) much of the fundamentals through carefully structured CD’s. (There has to be a reason we’ve sold over 1 million of them.)

TO CONTINUE learning you will, at some point, want feedback and interaction from a teacher, or coach. In my case I am both voice teacher (technique) and coach (expression, interpretation, staging etc.). Because we live in the Internet Age you can literally be interacting with a teacher fom a desktop, laptop, iPad or even iPhone with full audio and video.  If you’re in the Dallas areas you can start with the Nov small class. Or just schedule an ONLINE SESSION with me on our site.  All you need is an Internet connection and a web cam and mic which are part of most computers or very inexpensive to add.

SUMMARY: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT ALL TO BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE.  You can download a training CD in 5 minutes from our VOCAL COACH STORE at vocalcoach.com where you can also schedule an online session.  And, don’t forget the free tips and other free resources our site, or email me at moc.hcaoclacovnull@sirhc.

Hope to hear from you or see you soon Online.

Chris

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Posted in From the Coach, Singing and Voice Lessons, Vocal Coach Workshops | 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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:

Hope to hear from you soon, and maybe even see you.
Chris Beatty

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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 »

Surprised By Worship Travis Cotrell-Vocal Coach Review

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

Special Book Review from Vocal Coach Chris Beatty

Surprised By Worship by Travis Cotrell

Reviewed by Chris Beatty

“Worship out of whatever pains you, concerns you, or absolutely delights you,” writes Travis Cottrell. That continuous state of worship “happens when we connect our heart with the heart of God.”

Travis clearly speaks from personal experience. Throughout the book we are challenged to have greater vision in letting God define who we are and who He is in our lives. He also encourages us to be willing to put aside our limited definition of what worship is and let God’s definition take the lead.

I love the idea of being Surprised By Worship.  It sets me up to look for something new and totally unexpected.  Those bigger-than-life surprises from God that let me know He’s just waiting for me to be available and vulnerable.  Travis definitely has a grasp on  where most of us are, or have been in our worship experiences.  He takes that knowledge, adds Scriptural truth and then challenges and leads us to a more satisfying experience.

In hindsight, Travis reflects: “Before placing me in a ministry of worship, God wanted me to likewise learn that worship is far more beautiful and diverse than this one-dimensional, cocky little redneck from the mountains of North Carolina had ever thought.”   Toward the end of the book Travis recalls the account of Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego from Daniel 3. These young Hebrew men were willing to walk out their faith even when it did not look too promising.  They knew what God said to do, and they did it.  How much more should we be willing to take God literally in all He says . . .  and be Surprised By Worship.

Surprised By Worship is available at amazon.com in hard copy or as a Kindle download.

Chris Beatty is a Christian vocal coach (vocalcoach.com) and songwriter (Holy Ground).  He lives in Brentwood TN with his wife, Carole.

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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 moc.hcaoclacovnull@sirhc.

Thanks

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Posted in Performance, Soloist, Tips Tailored for You, Uncategorized, Worship Team | No Comments »

HOW TO REGAIN LOW NOTES AFTER SINGING HIGH ONES

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

Question from a Blog Reader: Both my daughter and I have a problem: After we sing for a time in our highest range (we’re both sopranos), we can no longer reach our lower notes.  Is there something we’re doing wrong? Thanks.

Vocal Coach Answer: This is a very, very common problem and I’ve got some solutions I think you’ll like.

Common Scenario: You “kind of” warm up . . . though not all the time . . . and even then often while doing other things.  As you begin a rehearsal, or performance your voice gets stronger.  Because most songs don’t start on their highest notes, everything continues to feel good . . . for a while.  Then it’s time to move into some higher notes for a while AND THEN SUDDENLY sing some lower notes.  The same notes that were strong and easy when you started.  How hard could that be?

Plenty hard if you don’t regularly exercise through your full range, from top to bottom.  And the more casual you are about maintaining your voice the more likely you will encounter this situation.  Does the above scenario describe your experience?  If so, a great solution can be easily explained.

Solution:

First Some Background

Understand that there are 19 muscles busily adjusting so that just the right length and thickness of the vocal folds (vocal cords) are able to vibrate. As the sub-glottal breath comes up from the lungs, the vibrating leading edges of the folds produce a specific pitch, or frequency. Faster vibrations result in a higher pitch; slower vibrations, a lower pitch. The many adjustments that make this all happen can be quite effortless and automatic if, and only if you have trained and prepared your voice. It’s all about muscle memory and what your voice has memorized, be it good, or bad.

Here’s Your Course of Action

  1. Review your own concept and process of warming up your voice. If you’ve been too casual about it you can change that.
  2. Determine to never do much singing without first warming up. Even if you’re singing in the shower or the car, a few minutes of humming and lip-trills can go a long way. Often, the biggest offenders are trained singers who manage to “get away with” no warm-ups. But, it will catch up, and there is danger of slowly wearing away your vocal health without even knowing it . . . until it’s too late.  An obvious parallel is the trained athlete. The good ones always, warm and stretch the muscles to minimize the risk of injury and maximize the performance potential. It’s no different for singers. Either you are treating your voice well, or you’re not.  The proof is in how well, and how consistently your voice performs.
  3. Schedule times to warm-up and workout your voice. Be creative, but find a time and place that allows you to focus and analyze the feedback you’re getting from your voice. Just singing doesn’t make you a better singer.
  4. Plan your warm-ups. In addition to the many helpful tips on this site and at vocalcoach.com try this pattern: Start in a comfortable “speaking” range, humming five-tone scales on a light Hooo.  Start going up by half or whole steps. Then, come back down to where you started. Next, go lower, then back to the starting range, back up, down to the starting area, down lower,  etc. The goal is to always exercise both extremes of your range every time you warm up.  Just preparing the higher range can leave you vulnerable when those lower notes are needed, and it’s unhealthy for the vocal mechanism. Another athletic parallel: Good physical trainers always have you work both the biceps and triceps, not just one or the other. They also have you strengthen the abdominal and back muscles. It’s the only way to have a structurally sound and functional body.
  5. Respect your voice and it will always be there.
  6. Never sing harder or higher than your voice is ready for.
  7. Use technology. Carry warm-up CD’s in your car or on your phone or iPod.
  8. Anticipate the particular challenges of the songs you’ll be singing and prepare for those challenges.  That means not only systematic warm-ups, but also getting enough rest, eating well and getting some exercise.  Remember: You are a vocal athlete.

You now have one more reason to care for your voice. As you do, you and your listeners will hear the results and you will be a happy singer.

Let me know your thoughts or questions in the “comments” section below.

Chris Beatty

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Posted in From the Coach, Performance, Singing Exercises, Singing Subjects, Soloist, Vocal Range, Voice Fatigue and Strain, Warm-Ups, Worship Team | 3 Comments »

3 Priorities of A Worship Leader by Jamie Harvill

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Comment from Vocal Coach Chris Beatty: My guest author for this blog is one worth hearing, in words and music .  Jamie Harvill is not only the author of Ancient of Days, Firm Foundation and many more popular worship songs.  He is a pastor and highly experienced worship leader, guitarist, singer and one of my favorite worship leaders.  If you go to Jamie’s site at jamieharvill.com you can take advantage of his summer Online-and-phone training classes  for songwriters and worship leaders.

3 Priorities of A Worship Leader

When interviewed for a magazine a few days ago I was asked the question, “What would you say are the top three priorities for worship leaders?” My answers are simple but I believe that if heeded and practiced, they will bring fruit to your worship leading experience. My suggestions are based on the teaching of Jesus from Matthew 22:37-40 when He was asked what He thought was the greatest commandment:

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (NIV)

1. Love God. This seems obvious at first but it is a commandment from Jesus. Loving God in every area of our life is our greatest testimony. When we have a passion for God in work, when we play, when times are smooth and when they are rocky, when we are with our families and our guard is down, our passion for God is obvious and it is contagious when others see us living what we lead.

2. Love people. We must live a singular life when we lead people. We cannot be one way with our close friends and then another with those we lead at church. If we lead by influence (and this, in my opinion, is the only way to lead), and we love and respect people–stopping to listen to their story and showing care and concern for them–they will follow us. A true leader is one who never has to force people to follow. If you find yourself coercing others to follow, you are not a leader. People will follow your leadership if you care for them.

3. Bring excellence. My pastor always encourages our team to bring our “A” game each service. We have five services each weekend and it can be easy to “phone-one-in” if we are not careful.

The best way for me to bring my best is to, first, be prepared. I believe proper preparation for our worship leading brings rest. I am relaxed.  This, in turn, helps my team and the congregation to be relaxed (people have a hard time focusing on God when you are fumbling around as the leader).

Second, it helps to be focused. I try to train my heart and mind to zero-in on the task at hand for the hour or so before I lead. One tool I use to help me with this is to put a cheat-sheet (notes, keys changes, chord changes, arrangements, etc.) on the floor next to my mic stand so I can look down and find my bearings, if needed, as I proceed through the worship service.

Third, I think rehearsal is so important. I can hear you saying a collective, “DUH!” right about now! We have rehearsals on Tuesday nights so we then have a few days to study the rehearsal CD before we arrive back on Saturday afternoon to lead the services.  Two services Saturday and two or three Sunday in multiple sanctuaries. It’s a busy place.

I find that all of these preps bring rest and there is no better way to lead others. When we have a passion for God and people while knowing where we are going in worship, and how we are going to get there, others will gladly follow!

I have many more things to say that I can’t write here in this one post. So, if you want to learn more, I want to give you an opportunity to join me as I am starting two new web-based schools offering virtual classrooms and personal coaching. I will be the main instructor for both tracks. One track is to train and strengthen the next generation of songwriters for the church called Song Schools. The other course, Worship Consultants, is for churches and worship leaders who want to improve leadership skills, team-building and worship services. You can find out more details about each course at songschools.com, worshipconsultants.com and jamieharvill.com. Classes start in mid-July.

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Posted in Choir Directors, From the Coach, Performance, Singing and Voice Lessons, Songwriting, Tips Tailored for You, Worship Team | 3 Comments »

First Comes the Inner Stillness

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

By way of introduction: There are several categories of Vocal Coach Blogs.  First, the purely technical, dealing with the mechanics of singing. Second, personal thoughts from Carole, called “Carole Cares.” And, third, those written for anyone who functions in a place of ministry within the Church whether choir director or member, worship team member and those in the congregation who want to give their best.  This blog is from that third category, and will also be posted under the “Enhancing Your Worship” tab on the site.

First Comes the Inner Stillness

In addition to training singers and speakers around the world for a number of decades, I have also had the opportunity to lead worship in a number of different settings, large and small, in the U.S. and abroad.  From those experiences, and triggered by a recent message from my own pastor, I share this thought: I believe you can accomplish more meaningful interaction with God in 10 minutes of inner stillness than an hour of desperate, distraction-filled seeking. And, that’s a good thing for every aspect of your life.

For those who worship, from the congregation or the platform, there is a necessary skill to master that has nothing to do with music.  That is the skill of cultivating an inner stillness.

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)

Inner stillness is a place of tranquility and quietness of the mind and emotions.  A place where there is no competition for your attention and God can get right through to you, and you to Him.  This is where the connection, correction, adjustments and inspiration take place. Then, and only then can you be sure you are prepared at the foundational level to lead others to the cross.

Inner Stillness can only be found by deliberate actions. It doesn’t just happen because you want it to.  It doesn’t always happen quickly, and you can’t pay for it with a credit card and there’s no download available.  Here are some tools that can help you find this life-giving place:

1.     Desire. You must acknowledge the need and value of inner stillness in your life.

2.     Planned schedule. You must practice getting there and staying there.  After awhile you will get there more quickly.

3.     Set the physical stage. Get quiet. Get comfortable. Surround yourself with only those tools that will help the process like your bible, and a notebook.

4.     Pray that your body, soul and spirit will rest in the arms of the King and be still.

5.     Drive out mental and emotional concerns by replacing them with Scripture, leaving no room for distractions.  They will return quickly enough.

Once You’re There, Listen

Only after you have gotten to that place of inner stillness will you have something life-giving to share.  Only then, when your spiritual ears are open, can you hear the fresh and new and then give it away to others.

But, what if I can’t seem to “get there,” or “stay there?”

That means you’re human, and subject to a multitude of distractions.  After all, we do live in a multi-tasking, always-something-going-on world.  That, of course, is the very reason we need to spend time in the inner stillness.  Without it we tend to only take in and reflect what the world has to offer; not what the Lord has to offer, and that can be dangerous and very, very limiting in every area of your life.

Give Inner Stillness a try

There’s a real feeling of victory when you are able to push “Pause” on business-as-usual.  Once you have experienced that you can graduate to the “Stop” button, and then you’re really there. . . in that place of stillness.

What helps you find your inner stillness?  I would love hear your thoughts in the comments section.

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Posted in Choir Directors, Duets to Groups, From the Coach, Kids and Teens, Soloist, Teaching Teens To Sing, Tips Tailored for You, Uncategorized, Worship Team | 4 Comments »

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