Vocal Class - January 7th

Why do you think that lyrics are written before the music to a song? After answering this question what do you think is more important to your audience when you are performing a song? Since you know these two things when you sing a song why is important for you to pick it instead of me?

Stage Fright D:

Are you the scared cat, a 'chicken' when performing in front of an audience or on a stage? That's alright, me too, initially. Stage fright is a common feeling to every performer everywhere. It does not matter if you are a newbie in performing or a pro. Even professional singers and talented individuals can fall prey to nerves, turning potentially fun singing experiences into dreadful and traumatic ordeals.

Here are some tips for reducing the impact of stage fright before, during, and after the performance.

Things To Do Before the Performance

First and foremost, since this is singing, do your vocal warm-ups. Knowing that your voice will sound croaky will not add confidence in you if you are about to sing. What you can do is drink plenty of water and proceed with your scale exercises.

Do not forget to ease up those tense muscles by doing some stretches. Try head rolls, shoulder shrugs, side bends, and toe-touches. Always remember the days when you are singing for the fun of it. This will makes you feel relax.

Try to amuse yourself. Stand before a mirror and make the goofiest possible face. Just think about it, whatever happens and whatever it is that you will look like on that stage, you won't look worse than that! Laugh and don't worry about looking foolish.

When it's time to take the stage, mentally pack your anxiety into a box and leave it behind. Start your performance without emotional baggage, and just go out there and have a good time. Your fun will be infectious!

Things To Do During the Performance

When you are onstage, you will feel nervous again. That's alright, face that fact and just let it pass by, roll with it. You will feel more relaxed and your nerves more tamed when you start singing. Stand tall and look proud. This will make you feel more confident. Your body language will affect your confidence level.

Look at the audience as one person instead of a group of people. Pretend that you are talking to a single person if you need to talk to the crowd. It creates an intimate atmosphere for the people, and shrinks your perception of the audience size.

You can use eye contact to fight nerves, too. Pick out a few friendly faces and focus on them while you sing. If you prefer not to make direct eye contact, focus on the back of the room, just above people's heads.

Handle everything like a pro that means even if you made a mistake. The show must go on is what we always say. Even the best performers can trip, miss a note, or forget the words. What sets them apart is how they handle these situations.

Remember, the audience is your friend. They don't want you to perform badly. They want to be entertained and they are rooting for you. Relax and have fun, and they will reward you with applause.

Things To Do After the Performance

After you are done with the performance, you will totally have forgotten that you are nervous in the first place! You will probably feel exhilarated and more than a little relieved. You might even feel regretful that it's over. Try to focus on this feeling and remember it the next time you feel nervous about taking the stage.

Stage fright can strike at any time, even if you've performed many times before. Don't let it stop you from singing your best. With these tricks up your sleeve, you'll be able to shrug off the nerves and sing your heart out!

Just keep in mind that even the pro get nervous on a big performance too. It's natural and let it roll by, you'll make it through just give it your best shot.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacaranda_Flagg

To Better Improve Your Singing...

1. Think about your Breath Without correct breathing, you can't sing using the full potential of your voice. To know if you are breathing properly while singing, put your hand on your tummy and breathe in. Your hand ought to be moving because when you are singing your tummy is expanding, not the ribcage and chest. The singer must have control of the intake and exhalation of breath to achieve maximum results to improve singing voice.

2. Focus on your posture it will improve your singing voice tremendously. You breath pass through from the lungs directly through the mouth. If the passage is distorted, twisted or blocked, your voice won't get out well. Good posture allows the breathing mechanism to fulfill its basic function efficiently. The sound of your voice has a big outcome on how you stand. Stand straight, shoulder-width apart. When singers assume good posture, it often provides them with a greater sense of self assurance and poise while performing.

3. Try to relax your vocal chords when you talk and sing. If there are tension from your tummy and head, it will affect your singing voice. If you want to sing better, you must learn to allow these muscles to relax while singing to maintain tone quality. Forcing a higher note can actually damage and make your singing voice sound harsh.

4. Know where to place your tongue and soft palate. Vocal resonation is the process by which the basic product of phonation is enhanced in timbre and/or intensity. Raised your soft palate. This will provide more space to resonate your voice. Placed the tip of your tongue at the back of the teeth. It will keep from blocking your throat if it is placed too far back. Balance your vocal resonances. Once balanced, your tone will be superb and your singing voice will sound much better.

5. Watch out the food you eat. If you want to improve singing voice, what you eat and drink is very important. There is nothing better for water. If it is lukewarm, the better. Too spicy, oily or even sour food can affect your voice box. If you have a forthcoming performance, avoid heavy foodstuffs for at least 3 days. You shouldn't drink cold water because it can damage your singing voice.

6. Do not strain Keep your mind to your body. When something upset you while singing, you constraint the range of your voice and you are doing the wrong thing. As much as possible, avoid singing on the top of your volume and straining your vocal chords. You need to sing at a physically powerful, healthy volume by upholding proper breath control.

7. Warm up with vocal chords and breathing exercises can help you improve your singining voice instantly. It is extremely important that you are relaxed and warm up before a performance. Warm-up first. Never begin a song directly without warming up. Warming up includes deep breathing and relaxing your body. Do simple deep breaths and proceed to light humming to gear up for the performance.

Website: http://improvesingingvoice.info/

Helpful Hints!! -Joanne

Voice Tips

• Never sing without first warming up. Your vocal cords require the needed "warm up" before you perform. undue strain on "cold" vocal cords can lead to permanent damge. A good rule to remember is "to be a perfect 10-10 be a perfect too". This means that starting slow and warming up, for at least 10 minutes before a performance, will not only stretch your vocal cords, but calm you down too (increased oxygen supply helps your body relax).
• Sing like you speak. Your vocal cords get used to a specific style and range of volume. Increasing the volume by straining or pushing your voice to react louder, only causes undo stress upon your vocal cords and could possibly make them weaker. Practice slowly to increase the volume of your voice by controlling the release of air from your diaphagm. Soon, you'll be bellowing like the best of them!
• Turn lemons into lemon-aid. The acidic qualities of lemons will not only give you a purse to your pucker, but clean your throat of unwanted mucus residue. Yummy! Plus, think of the lemony-fresh breath you'll have when singing close to your favorite harmony partner. Lemonade will not work here; just a fresh-cut wedge of lemon. A glass of water will assist in washing the tartness away.
• Eating dairy or chocolate before you sing will diminsh your range. Milk substances, dairy, chocolate and even sugar can produce a film that coats your throat and possibly your vocal cords. This film doesn't allow for the full range of movement of vibration of your vocal cords, plus a feeling of needing to clear your throat may become more frequent. Therefore, when you have to eat something before you perform, grad something free of milk, cheese, or anything from the dairy family. Garlic wouldn't be good either!

website: zionevangelical.org

Original What Child Is This!!!

fire fire my heart-large choir

the full choir version sounds really cool. they're really good; also their pronunciation of all the words is pro. our quartet version will be awesome!

Diction with Consonants - Colton

Vocal Heath Hints!!

-Be sure you keep your vocal folds moist and well lubricated. You can do this by drinking plenty of liquids throughout the day.

-Keep tea and coffee consumption to a minimum though, as the caffeine in these drinks dries out the vocal folds and can make the voice sound raspy and scratchy. Alcohol is also bad for the voice, as it dehydrates the body and therefore the vocal folds.
....that means no alcohol you silly children!

-After speaking for a long time, warm-down by drinking some tepid water. Yawn and then breathe deeply.

-Look after your voice. Don't strain it. Eliminate background noise before you try to speak loudly over it. If you have to project your voice, always use breath support.

-Watch that you DO NOT push your voices from the throat. When you speak, your navel should move towards your backbone. If this doesn't happen, you won't get the best from your voice and you may even damage your voice without realising it. Look for this in the breathing exercises above.

Website: http://www.musickit.com/resources/vocal.html

From Joanne, breathing exercises, Awesome!

BREATHING!
-This is an article I found online of exercises to do to improve your breathing.

To breathe properly for singing, you must breathe low into the bottom portion of the lungs, engaging the diaphragm. Your rib cage and back will expand. Your shoulders and upper chest will remain still and will not rise.
Try it yourself: Inhale deeply and exhale completely. Again inhale and exhale.
Now try it again, only this time inhale for four counts, hold your breath for four counts, exhale over four counts and then wait four counts before inhaling again. Let’s do three complete sets of that counting exercise. Remember to inhale deeply and properly for singing.

Inhale 2 3 4, Hold 2 3 4 Exhale 2 3 4 and Wait 2 3 Again.
Inhale 2 3 4, Hold 2 3 4 Exhale 2 3 4 and Wait 2 3 Last Time.
Inhale 2 3 4, Hold 2 3 4 Exhale 2 3 4 and Wait 2 3 4.

This basic exercise is an easy one you can do every day. Plain fact, the more you exercise your breathing, the more control you will have over your voice. With a little time and practice you will be a master of breathing control. As you make progress, challenge yourself to increase the breathing count to 8, 12, 16 and more. For best results mix and match the numbers. The size of singing phrase is never the same, so practicing all different airflow situations is ideal. Breathing correctly needs to be a habit, meaning you need to do it correctly without thinking about it. So in the beginning you really want to concentrate on the proper technique.

BONUS TIP: Are you sure you’re breathing right? If you are uncertain of yourself see if this little experiment helps. Sit in a chair and while keeping your back straight, lean over and put your elbows on your knees. Take a deep breath. Feel your back and rib cage expand? Now sit up and work to duplicate the feeling, only the expansion should be a ring around your entire body.

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September 19, 2010 10:57 AM

Post a Comment

Hey, Watch this guys, it's cool! colton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1aQdsJ4h6c

Very informative and good for a nice laugh ;)

I didn't realize I had a problem with this until Mrs. Symans pointed it out a couple weeks ago!

Hi everyone,

I can't wait to read your blogs. I will go first.

Click on the video link below;



what did you think? What did you think about the posture of the choir members? What else did you notice about this performance.