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Vocal Tips: Learning How to Harmonize

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

It’s amazing what you can do with your voice! Unlike other musicians, as a singer you carry your instrument with you at all times. The opportunities to practice and perform your art are vast, as well as the ways to experiment with different styles, techniques, and of course, harmonies!

Similar to a guitar player plucking one note and then building it into a chord, learning how to harmonize will create that rich, full sound when you’re singing with a group or a choir. Think of it this way: imagine a “band” made up of just one lone clarinet player. It might be a good solo, but add in the low tubas and high flutes, and presto – it’s a whole new experience for the listener.

Singing harmonies, however, can be tricky. Lead lines may come easy to beginner singers, but excelling at harmonies requires an understanding of note relationships and chord formations. Finding a great voice teacher, therefore, is a must if you really want to improve.

As you get started, check out these tips from the Eclectic Musician blog, another great resource for singers:

1. Put on some music and start experimenting with your voice. Harmony is, essentially, multiple pitches at once. One way to proceed is to put on a favorite song and start singing whatever comes to you. Try some high notes, low notes, long tones and short tones. By definition if you are not singing the melody (i.e., the tune) you are singing harmony.

2. If you are having trouble breaking away from the melody, drop the words. Listen to the Beatles’ “Hey Jude”. During the first verse, it’s just Paul singing alone. In the second verse, on the word “minute,” the other guys come in singing “ahhhhh.” Think about how much easier it is to just pick a note and stick with it, rather than come up with a distinct harmony line! Still, it’s completely legit. You can add aaahs and la la las to just about anything to practice.

3. Learn existing harmony parts. If you have the opportunity to sing in a choir, you will learn a specific harmony part to sing against the melody (unless your part actually is the melody). This is a great way to experience how singing harmony is supposed to feel, and develop the independence to stick to your part even when someone else is singing a different part.

Also, seek out the harmony parts in the music you listen to. You might start with call-and-response type songs (if you’re not Gladys Knight, you’re a Pip – can you pick out your part?) and then try out some closer harmonies where two or more parts are moving together in the same rhythm. If it’s not fun, you’re doing it wrong – pick stuff you really like.

Continue reading the article for additional tips here.

Readers, what do you think? What tips have you learned when it comes to learning harmony? Share them with the community – stop by our Facebook page and leave a comment!

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You might also like…
- Ear Training Exercises: Recognizing Intervals
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Photo by wstryder.

Posted in Singing | No Comments »

5 Simple Things to Add to Your Next Vocal Warm-Up

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Singers, you probably already know the importance of a proper vocal warm-up, whether you’re practicing or performing. But here’s something smart to keep in mind warming up goes far beyond breathing exercises and scales!

Even if you’re technically just standing still, in reality your whole body is working when you’re singing. Your muscles are active from your head to toes as you stand straight and tall. Your blood is pumping and your abdominal muscles are definitely engaged as you inhale and exhale. Basically, your entire body is your instrument! Pretty cool to think about.

We love these recommendations from the Finding My Singing Voice blog – consider adding these unconventional “warm-ups” to your routine:

1. Drink water – Most singers already know how essential proper hydration is, but just the act of swallowing is beneficial, too.
2. Drink hot tea – For singers with allergies, tea can help to wash down phlegm and clear the nasal passages. Other hot drinks will also work, but watch out for too much caffeine – it can dry the vocal cords. Tea has additional health benefits (it’s loaded with antioxidants) and half the caffeine (or less) of coffee.
3. Yawn – Yawning is the ultimate throat and palate stretch!
4. Stretch – Singing involves the whole body, and unnecessary tension anywhere can have a negative effect on the voice. A good side stretch can help open up the ribcage and free up your breath. (See also: Can Yoga Help You Sing Better?)
5. Meditate – Mindfulness meditation is the practice of focusing the mind, usually by observing the breath and disengaging from thoughts. It’s a great way to calm anxious nerves and tame self-criticism.

Now it’s your turn – what other activities or routines do you practice to get ready for a performance? Head on over to our Facebook page and share them!

You might also like…
-Find Your Voice as a Singer: 4 Tips That Work
- Singers: Do You Make These 4 Common Errors?
- Using Scales to Improve Your Vocal Range and More

Photo by Synergy by Jasmine.

Tags: Vocal exercises, Vocal warm-ups
Posted in Singing | No Comments »

Diaphragm Singing for Added Support and Even Tone

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

When you’re beginning singing lessons, you’ll most likely start off by learning all about proper breathing and how it relates to your diaphragm. It might even seem silly to practice your breathing, something you’ve been doing unconsciously for your entire life. But when it comes to taking control of your instrument – the vocal cords, in your case – correct breathing is of utmost importance.

If you don’t master the art of proper breathing, it will haunt you throughout all of your lessons, practice sessions and performances. This is one skill that you can’t fake!

The most important step is learning which muscle movements are associated with singing. Your voice teacher can show you how to monitor yourself and recognize the difference between shallow and deep breathing. Outside of your lessons, here are 3 steps to remember for correct diaphragm singing:

1 – Breathing exercises. Even as you practice singing every day, you must practice breathing for at least ten minutes. Sit on a rug on the floor with legs folded, your hands resting lightly on your knees. Inhale slowly until you feel the air reaching your stomach expanding it . Hold the breath as you count to ten in your mind. Then exhale as slowly as you inhaled. This exercise is a must for any aspiring singer.

2 – Check breathing while singing. Keep your palm on your solar plexus (abdomen) when you start singing simple scales. If you are breathing properly then you will feel your palm being propelled outward with your stomach movement. This can help you get control over your voice and improve your singing technique.

3 - Sing with an open mouth. Just as we realize the need to take deep breaths, we should also allow air to flow out freely while singing. So it is important to sing with your mouth open and your throat muscles relaxed. This helps with proper diction, voice throwing and volume control.

For additional tips and information, we recommend this SingingLikePros.com article. Looking for music lessons? Search for a voice teacher near you and learn more about the TakeLessons program!

Thoughts, questions or want to share your own tips? Stop by our Facebook page and join the conversation. Want to learn more about singing? Sign up for email updates to receive advice from the experts, singing exercises and more.

You might also like…
- Vocal Warm Up Exercises Inspired by Robert Shaw
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Photo by michael_swan.

Tags: Breathing, Singing exercises
Posted in Singing | 3 Comments »

Vocal Warm-Up Exercises Inspired by Robert Shaw

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

Yesterday, April 30th, would have been the 96th birthday of the late Robert Shaw, famed conductor and founder of his namesake Chorale and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, most notably. Shaw won 14 Grammy awards and 4 ASCAP awards throughout his career, and is best known for helping turn choral conducting into a true art and setting forth the standards of excellence that are still in place today.

While many conductors see vocal warm-up exercises as just that – warm-ups – Shaw saw it as precious time to sharpen singers’ techniques and work on acting as an ensemble. For Shaw, warm-ups should be both effective and relevant.

Chorus America has a great article about Shaw’s technique (along with some great audio clips) that is definitely worth the read. Below are some of the highlights from the article, explaining some of the exercises Shaw used:

1. Vowel Unification: A single pitch, sung in unison (or octaves) on the nonsense syllable, “noo.” Begin on a moderately low pitch, such as E, and move down by semitones. This exercise allows the singers to concentrate on nothing more than basic vowel unification and tuning.

2. Divisi Textures: Two, three, then four pitches sung on “loo” or “noo,” creating a whole tone cluster. Singers may also sing on “nee” or “naw” or move from “nee” to “aw.” This exercise is useful for determining balance issues in two-, three-, and four-part divisi textures. In addition, the dissonance created by the cluster pitches is preferable to more consonant intervals because one can more readily determine if one voice part is overbalancing the other voice parts.

3. Intonation: Beginning on a moderately low pitch such as E, move up a semitone in 16 pulsed unison pitches (effectively dividing the semitone into 16 separate notes, with each sung almost imperceptibly higher than the last). For even more intensive ear training, a minor third relationship between lower and upper voices may be used.

4. Changes in Acoustics: Beginning with a unison pitch on “noo” or “nee,” change vowels rapidly ad lib while slowly turning 360 degrees. This forces the singer to listen acutely in order to maintain a consistent pitch as the acoustics in the room change.

5. Tone Color: Begin with unison pitch on “nee” with an overly bright vowel. Crescendo and darken the vowel. Do the exercise again, beginning with a tone that is too dark, gradually brightening the vowel during the crescendo.

Readers, what other strategies do you use for your vocal warm-up exercises? Leave a comment below or head on over to our Facebook page! Like these posts? Sign up to receive updates right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe.

You might also like…
- Using Scales to Improve Vocal Range and More
- Find Your Voice as a Singer: 4 Tips That Work
- How to Sing Better With One Simple Trick

Photo by hikingartist.com.

Tags: Robert Shaw, Singing exercises
Posted in Singing | 1 Comment »

Tips for Singing with Allergies: How Do You Cope?

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Spring is in full swing now, and for many, allergy season came right along with it. Allergies can wreak havoc on your tone, breathing and vocal cord strength – and just like you should take special care when singing with a cold, taking extra precautions if you have allergies is just as vital.

Allergy symptoms can vary person to person, but common woes include itchy, puffy eyes, sinus issues, a scratchy throat, and an itchy upper palate (roof of your mouth). If you suffer from severe allergies, it’s best to go to an allergy specialist to help you combat the symptoms (make sure to mention that you’re a singer). But even if your symptoms aren’t severe, they can still be frustrating when you need to practice or if you have a performance coming up.

So what’s a singer to do? Here are a few great tips from ForeverSinging.com that may help:

Take Medicine
If you are having trouble with your allergies, or perceive that you will have trouble with allergies in the future, be proactive! Start taking allergy medicine as soon as you feel an attack coming along. Allergy medicines dry up your sinuses, allowing you to sing without have to worry about mucous covering your vocal cords and hindering you from singing to your full potential.

Precautionary Warning: Drink plenty of water after taking the medicine. Not drinking water after taking allergy medicine can be just as bad as singing with allergies. If you find that medicine dries you out too much, you may want to forgo the medicine route and use a more organic medicinal approach to relieving allergies, such as taking Vitamin C pills.

Drink Herbal Teas
Herbal teas have a wonderful way of clearing out your throat of any excess mucous. Add a touch of honey to your favorite herbal tea to enhance the experience. Teas can soothe your vocal cords and allow you to approach singing without a fear of cracking or breaking.

Take A Shower
If all else fails, take a long and hot shower. This will get your sinuses flowing and hopefully release all the excess drainage from your system. Drink some water after the shower (or even your favorite herbal tea) to remove any leftover drainage on your vocal cords.

Proper training and breathing exercises can also help, so don’t be afraid to speak with your voice teacher to get additional ideas! Of course, if you’re really feeling the strain, take a day off. The voice is an incredibly delicate instrument, and unnecessary stress may cause problems that will follow you for the rest of your life. As the saying goes, it’s much better to be safe than sorry.

Readers, what tips do you have? Share with the community – stop by our Facebook page and leave a comment! Like these posts? Sign up to receive updates right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe.