Does a bird, teetering on his branch, think about how his voice may be criticized, judged, or analyzed? Does he get nervous or tense hoping he will please those that hear him? Does he wonder if his voice would be beautiful? Nope. A bird’s voice is conjured from pure instinct… divine genetics… a melodic destiny… and so is yours.
Music connects the memories of our life and for those of us whose calling is to hold the silence and fill it with our song know all too well the vulnerability necessary to transcend the body to reach another person on a heart level. We are the storytellers, the torchbearers that draw people out and into the beauty of wholeness… embracing shadow and light – death and life, love and hate. Music gives us permission and space to feel the entirely of our human experience.
– Does your voice sound or feel breathy? Use the Zzz-uuuu-iii warm-up.
– Do you feel you placement is too far back? Try the Zzz-uuuu-iii warm-up.
– Do you want to get your air moving while gently waking-up your voice? Use the Zzz-uuuu-iiii warm-up.
Click above on the video to watch my Open Mouth Hum Vocal Warm-up demonstration Welcome to my complete warm-up series… Over the last few weeks, I have shared with you two body warm-ups, a mind warm-up, and a popular vocal warm-up…today, I am giving you another valuable vocal warm-up #2. Let’s […]
Used by professional singers worldwide – this popular warm-up… the Lip Trill will help you sing your best!
As a singer, actor, or public speaker, we are our instrument. The Sun Salutation activates your breathing, as well as stretching out your entire body… in less than 2 minutes. Try it!
As a singer,actor, or public speaker you are your instrument. We are very much like athletes… conditioning our bodies and minds; fine-tuning our skills for peak performance. We cultivate stamina, endurance, flexibility, and expect consistent results. Unnecessary tension may hinder our true voices from being expressed. But like an athlete, a good warm-up may unleash potential and positively impact our process, as well as help in meeting our goals. It is for this reason that over the next few weeks, I am sharing with you a series of warm-ups that will… alleviate tension, enhance focus, and encourage space for a relaxed and open sound.
Six Must-Do-Steps When Learning Your New Song So, you picked a new song. You love it…it is in your vocal range, sits nicely in your tessitura, and is a piece you feel drawn to perform. Now what? Here are my six must-do-steps when learning a new song and a process that I encourage […]
Create your own flexible evaluation system that takes judgments and critiques out of your head and puts them on paper. With your new assessment process, the next time you listen to someone or want to improve a recording of yourself, you will have better tools to ensure your singing success and structured starting point to meet your performing goals.
Before heading into 2014, I took some time to reflect on the beginning of my love for music. Where did it all start? All spotlights point to my sweet “drama mama.” Mom has a bigger than life personality, is fearless in crowds, and never hesitates to sing a high C at any given moment… we won’t even go into her soprano “who-hooo” that beckons her children and grandchildren over isles and rounders in every public grocery or clothing store. Growing up, music filled our home. Melodies played on thick latex records introduced me to Robert Goulet, Beverly Sills, and Yuma Sumac. We enjoyed family outings to symphony concerts and ballet in the park. Dad, Mom, and I would often gather round the piano and sing hymns in 3-part harmony and, on our frequent road-trips, Spirituals and folk songs made the miles pass with ease. A fond music memory includes listening to Mom sing Summertime and Lord’s Prayer for civic events. “Summertime, and the living is easy!”