For the uninitiated, singing may look easy – you either can sing on pitch, or you can’t, right?  Not so fast.  Without proper training, it’s common for beginners to make simple errors, and if those turn into habits, they may make or break your future as a singer.

Here are a few common singing mistakes, as written by Teresa Radomski, an operatic soloist and professor at Wake Forest University:

1.  Poor posture
The efficient alignment of the body is of primary importance to voice production.  Problems in posture range from the collapse of the chest and rib cage with corresponding downward fall of the head and neck, to the hyper-extended, stiff posture of some singers that results in tension throughout the entire body.

2. Poor breathing and inappropriate breath support
Some beginning voice students gasp for air and exhibit clavicular (shoulder) or shallow breathing patterns.  Trained singers, on the other hand, use primarily diaphragmatic breath support.  The muscles of the lower back and abdomen are engaged, in conjunction with lowering the diaphragm.  As the breath stream is utilized for phonation, there should be little tension in the larynx itself.

3. Limited pitch range, and difficulty in register transition
All singing voices exhibit an optimal pitch range.  The term “register” is used to describe a series of tones that are produced by similar mechanical gestures of vocal fold vibration, glottal and pharyngeal shape, and related air pressure.  Some common designations of registers are the “head” register, “chest” register, “falsetto,” etc.  Singing requires transitions from one register to another.  Lack of coordination of the laryngeal musculature with the breath support may result in register break, or obvious shift from one tone quality to another.  Regardless of the style of singing, a blend, or smooth transition between registers, is desirable.

4. Poor articulation
Pronunciation with excessive tension in the jaw, lips, palate, etc., adversely affects the tonal production of the voice. The longer duration of vowel sounds in singing necessitates modification of pronunciation.  Retroflex and velar consonants (such as American “r” and “i”) need careful modification to allow sufficient pharyngeal opening for the best resonance, and the over-anticipation of nasal consonants (“m,” “n,” “ng”) may result in a stiff soft palate and unpleasant tone.

Of course, the best way to fix these errors is to work with a professional – relying on YouTube videos alone will give you some tips, but won’t give you the one-on-one feedback necessary to really improve.  We’re here to help – find a music teacher near you, and start working toward your goals!

Have you improved with the help of private music lessons?  We want to hear about your experience!  Stop by our Facebook page and leave a comment to join the discussion.

Photo by ataelw.

As a singer, you’ve no doubt heard about the importance of proper breathing.  In fact, deep breathing can help all musicians, as it helps to relieve tension, enhance focus, and even alleviate stage fright.  It doesn’t surprise us, then, when musicians sing the praises of practicing yoga to improve vocal skills.  Can yoga really help you sing better?  It certainly won’t hurt.  But consider it your warm-up – and with any warm-up, there are both effective and ineffective strategies.  Here, speech pathologist Joanna Cazden shares some important guidelines to keep in mind when it comes to yoga and singing, as published on SingerUniverse.com.

Inside your voice box, or larynx, your vocal cords function as a valve in the airway, and they are exquisitely sensitive to airflow. They can get dry, tired, or irritated if the airflow is too forceful. If it’s too weak, the cords tend to tighten and squeeze, rubbing against each other and thickening over time. So while hatha yoga postures (asanas) are generally good for singers, the way you use your breath during those postures is even more important. Advanced breathing exercises (pranayama) should be approached with extra care.

First, the singing breath does not use the balanced, equal-in-and-out rhythm common to most yoga teaching. Voice production requires a very swift inhalation followed by a long, slow exhalation. You do this automatically when you talk, but it takes practice to quickly inhale enough to sing and then exhale very gradually. Try occasional cycles of breathing in fast and out slow during your asanas, with a relaxed throat, to reinforce this asymmetrical rhythm.

Second, some yoga teachers train a particular sequence of inhalation, such as drawing air into the belly first, then the waist, then the upper chest. These techniques are not harmful, but when singing, you don’t have time to inhale in stages—the whole breath system must open simultaneously. Again, just being aware of the difference can help you switch gears from yoga practice to vocal rehearsal.

Third, the vocal cords are vulnerable to dryness and fatigue when vigorous forms of audible breathing, sometimes called ujaya, are focused in the throat. The louder the breath sounds and the longer such practice, the greater the risk of vocal cord irritation. If you do this type of pranayama, place the friction higher, near the soft palate, and allow at least half an hour of rest before vocalizing.

In general, politely avoid any teacher who always wants to hear you breathe. Effective breathing for most styles of yoga can be totally silent, and experienced teachers can check on you by sight rather than sound. Vocalists need this extra safety to avoid drying the cords.

Keep these guidelines in mind when you reach for your yoga mat – and if you’re not currently a yoga fan, why not give it a try?  As long as it’s done correctly, any breathing exercise can benefit musicians of all types and levels.  Have you seen improvements with the help of yoga?  Leave a comment on our Facebook page and join the discussion!

You might also like…

- Do You Sing? Prevent a Vocal Hemorrhage and Keep Your Voice Healthy
- Just Breathe: Tricks for Mastering Breathing for ALL Instruments
- A Santa-Approved Warm-Up Exercise

Photo by Synergy by Jasmine.

As with many soul singers, a voice that powerful demands a commanding stage presence as well.  If you’re on the shy side, sometimes all it takes is some extra performing experience to break out of that habit.  Anytime you see an opportunity to perform, grab it!  And yes, that includes karaoke, as cheesy as it sounds.  Check out this great list of other ways to gain experience and increase your on-stage confidence:

- Open mic nights. Great for getting used to singing with a live band, and for getting seen.  Many bands started as a result of people meeting each other at open mic nights.
- Peruse Craigslist for bands looking for lead or backup singers.  (Being a backup singer is a great place to start if you have no prior live band experience.  You’ll learn a lot even as a backup singer.)
- Start or join an a cappella group.
- Student recitals. If you are taking lessons with a voice coach or at a music school, there are probably performance opportunities through there.  They may not be the rock-star performance situations you ultimately envision yourself in, but they’re valuable stage time nonetheless.
- Start a duo. Team up with a pianist, develop a repertoire, and start playing in restaurants and bars.
- Start a band. Easiest if you are a teen or twenty-something, before your peers have real jobs, kids, and mortgages.
- Hire a band. For those with deep pockets:  if you’re willing to pay for a professional band’s rehearsal time, even a novice could start a rock trio and play standard covers in bars.
- Try out for a role in a musical theater production.
- Join a choir. There are lots of community choirs – some are open to all ages and levels, others require auditions.
- Prepare yourself to sub in a party band. Even if you don’t win an audition to be a party band’s new lead singer, they may find themselves in a tight spot one day if their lead singer gets sick.  If you prepare a standard party repertoire, you’ll be ready to step in if and when a last-minute opportunity arises.
- Make a live music video. Design a stage area somewhere – your basement, your garage – and videotape yourself performing to backing tracks.  When you’re ready, call some musician friends and have them come over and play the song(s) live with you performing up front.  Videotape that and put it up on YouTube and on your own web site to help you connect with bands looking for singers.
- Learn an instrument. If you don’t play any instruments, guitar is a great one to start with because an acoustic guitar is very portable and is enough accompaniment.  This opens the door for you to write your own music and get hired for small gigs.
- Play on the street. If you do play guitar – or, once you have learned a few chords – go out somewhere and practice playing in front of people.

What are YOUR favorite ways to get performing experience, and what has helped your on-stage confidence?  Stop by our Facebook page and let us know!

Photo by Roland Godefroy.

Singing your heart out on stage is a great way to get over fears of performing in front of a crowd, but it’s always a good idea to keep your audience in mind.  And by that we mean… at least try to stay on pitch.  Need a little help?  We found a great article about how to sing on pitch that we wanted to share:

Landing Gently
Sometimes we are off pitch when landing on a particular note because we land on it too hard, too fast, or with too much tension.  Here is a great technique to practice called Ghost on the Stairs:

First, emphasize the problem:  Imagine a heavy basketball bouncing down a stairway.  Sing the difficult phrase as if your voice is that basketball bouncing down (or up) the stairway of the notes in the phrase.  Try to land hard on each note – you will probably overshoot pitch.

Now, do the opposite.  Pretend your voice is a ghost floating gently around the stairway.  Sing the difficult phrase by floating gently from note to note, rather than bouncing.  You may need to slow down fast phrases – that’s fine!

Now, find the happy medium between the two, where your pitch lands gently but accurately on each note.

Avoiding Overshooting High Notes
Individual, short high notes can be particularly tricky – they are easy to overshoot since they are psychologically far away.  To increase your accuracy of such notes, first hear the pitch in your mind first, before singing it.  With practice, you can learn to do this even while singing the preceding notes.  Next: If the note isn’t staccato, slide up to it so that you have a chance to calibrate your ears with your vocal cords.  In practice, sing the note by itself (be sure not to strain).  Notice where you feel the pitch.  Does it feel like it’s behind your eyes?  In your nose?  In the top of your head?  Mark this location so that you have a physical reference for where to aim when singing this note.

Repetition to Ingrain Muscle Memory
This approach is especially helpful for fast pitch transitions, such as quick vocal embellishments.  Quick embellishments don’t allow time for pitch adjustment based on hearing, so using muscle memory to ingrain the feel of the intervals will allow you to let your body take over and sing the intervals easily based on familiar feel.

Like most techniques, this approach is most effective done over several short practice sessions than in one or two long practice sessions.  Don’t try to make too much progress on a single day – just push to the tempo that’s currently just past your limits.  If you do this for just a few focused minutes every day or every other day, your brain will integrate your progress at night and you’ll find that the next day, you have improved.  Soon you will find that you have a number of vocal embellishments that you can sing effortlessly because your muscles and body know exactly how they feel.

Singers, can you provide any other tips for hitting each note with perfect pitch?  Let us know – stop by our Facebook page and leave a comment!

Photo by tinou bao, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.

Whether you yearn to be the next Katy, or just earn first chair in your orchestra, it will take hard work, dedication and a commitment to practicing to get there.  Yesterday we discussed some tips for avoiding injuries as a musician, including warm-up exercises, stretches and proper posture.  But if you’ve been playing for a while and adopted bad habits from the start, it may take the expertise of a professional music teacher to help you correct those habits.  While YouTube videos may be good for learning a couple of guitar chords, they don’t provide the one-on-one feedback that a private teacher will.

Music lessons are a very personal experience, and finding the best teacher for you is often half the battle.  Here, TakeLessons Student Counselors Kathleen V. and Danae G. explore the most important things to consider when finding a music teacher:

First, think about why you are learning to play your instrument.  Are you trying to get a scholarship for college?  Are you a stressed-out business executive unwinding after work?  Are you an aspiring artist or rockstar?  Do you just want to have fun and check this off of your bucket list?  Once you have that figured out, you’ll have a better idea of what you need in a teacher.  Of course, use your intuition to feel everything out. For a student to grow to their full potential and learn the most effectively, safety and comfort are very important.  For example…

- Has this teacher had a criminal background check done?
- Have you seen any letters of recommendation or feedback from previous students?
- Are the lessons taught out of a safe and comfortable home or studio location?

Next, you want to find out about quality. This is something that causes many people to be misled.  If you lower your standards too much, you will end up taking lessons for double the amount of time, causing you to pay far more in the long run and feel frustrated with the lack of progress.

Here are a few more questions that may help you to make a decision:

- Does the teacher have credentials to teach?
- Are there any videos of the teacher performing or teaching that you can watch to get an idea of their style in teaching or performing?
- What level does this teacher teach up to? (Beginning – Advanced)
- Does this teacher work best with adults or children?
- Is this teacher connected to a reputable affiliation?
- How many years of experience does he/she have playing? Teaching?
- Does the teacher have group lessons and individual lessons available?
- Is there any type of Money Back Guarantee if it isn’t a perfect fit?

Music is such a fun, creative way to express yourself, and with the perfect teacher at your side, you may be surprised at how quickly you excel!  Still have questions?  Leave us a comment on our Facebook page – we’re happy to help!

Even if you’re not jumping around on stage, musicians of all kinds are prone to injuries.  Especially if you’re a beginner, it’s important to know how to play your instrument properly in order to avoid injuring yourself over time.

In order to protect yourself, consider these important tips for musicians to prevent injuries:

Assess Your Instrument: Is your instrument the right size, shape, weight and height for you? Would an adjustable chair, footstool, strap or cushion make you more comfortable?

Know Your Body: Choose pieces that are reasonable for your body to play. If you have small fingers, playing repertoire that requires you to stretch beyond your finger span is a recipe for disaster. However, if you really want to learn a particular piece (or you need to learn it), make adjustments to make it easier to play. If you are a student, let your teacher know right away whether a piece or technical exercise is causing you pain.

Appraise Your Playing Technique: Is your body relaxed? Are your hands, arms, neck, head and core positioned to allow for fluid and comfortable playing or singing? Are you moving with the music? Are you using excess movements? Is your fingering logical and comfortable?  Videotaping yourself is a valuable method to assess your playing technique.

Evaluate Your Non-Musical Activities: Desk and computer work, sports, dancing, carrying heavy objects and hobbies can adversely affect your body.

Do Warm-Up Exercises and Stretches: Musicians are sometimes called “small muscle athletes.” Stretching exercises and gentle warm-ups result in increased range of motion, strength, coordination and flexibility.

Take Breaks: One’s muscles, ears and vocal chords need regular breaks to return to their relaxed state. Not doing so tricks the body into thinking that “tense” is the “relaxed state,” resulting in chronic pain and stress.

Engage in Active Sitting: Most musicians remain in a seated position for extended periods of time. Active seating helps ease chronic back pain, promotes correct posture and maintains general health.

Overall lesson here?  Music should be fun, not painful!  Take care of yourself to ensure many musical years to come.

What other precautionary advice has helped you?  Share your thoughts by leaving a comment on our Facebook page!

Image courtesy of http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/red-hot-chili-peppers.

Whether you’re a fan or not, the show has become a large part of pop culture.  And if you’re able to ignore the gimmicks, you’ll find that shows like Idol do have some merit in exposing some amazing talent: grunge-loving Chris Daughtry, country crooner Carrie Underwood, and of course Kelly Clarkson – just to name a few.

There’s also a way these artists can help you improve your own voice.  Don’t believe us?  It’s as simple as… learning to listen more efficiently.  As you listen, train yourself to focus on the intricacies of the singer’s vocal style, and you’ll be able to pinpoint the areas that you need to work on yourself.  And don’t worry – if we catch you rocking out to “Since U Been Gone,” we won’t judge.

Here’s an excellent list of elements to listen for in other singers’ voices, courtesy of PerformanceHigh.net:

1. Melisma (embellishments, riffs, trills, licks, runs) – how, when, and to what extent does the singer “decorate” the basic melody?
2. Texture – is the voice breathy, edgy, brassy, clear, gritty, etc?
3. Intonation (pitch) – is the singer on pitch? Do they use “blue” notes? Do they intentionally (or not) sing any notes slightly flat?
4. Emotional expression – what does the singer do to help you feel the lyrics emotionally?
5. Phrasing and space – what is the rhythm of the lyrics? Does the singer push or pull any lyrics ahead of or behind the beat? Where does the singer leave space?
6. Dynamics – how loud, how soft? How quickly or slowly do the singer’s dynamics change?
7. Mix – is the singer singing in chest voice, head voice, or a mix? If a mix, how heavy (chesty) or light (heady) a mix are they using? Do they use different approaches throughout the song?
8. Compression – how “compressed” is the voice? (High pop belting is often very compressed; breathy low-volume singing is not.)
9. Tension and release – how does the singer help you feel emotional tension and then release simply through the voice (and not the song structure or lyrics)?
10. Placement – is the voice “aimed” forward behind the nose? Or is it rounder and throatier? Is it more present in the mouth, or in the nose, or equally balanced?

Practicing better listening will also come in handy when listening to recordings of yourself.  With this one simple concept, you’ll be able to really feel the details in your singing, making it seamless.

How has the simple act of listening helped your own skills?  Leave a comment on Facebook and share your own tips and tricks with the community!

Image courtesy of http://abcnewsradioonline.com.

One of our favorite parts of the season is all of the holiday music, and sharing that gift of music with others.  And of course – if you’re heading out caroling this weekend, make sure to warm up your voice, as with any practice session or performance.  Here’s a simple exercise sure to get you on Santa’s “Nice” list, courtesy of Performancehigh.net:

You have probably heard many times that singing is all about breath support and airflow.
And you may think you’re singing with good breath support and airflow.  But if you’re getting tension in your neck and are unable to sing past a certain ceiling without “flipping” into the next higher register, you probably still have some work to do with breath.  Let’s get down to the basics for a moment.

Put your hand on your belly.
Spread your fingers wide so that you cover as much vertical area as possible.

Now, say “Ho! Ho! Ho!” in a percussive way.
Don’t worry about hitting any particular pitch.  Just focus on feeling your stomach muscles actually act, and expel air with each syllable.  Your throat is simply a passage the air goes through.  Let the air pass through without trying to “grip” it or control it with your throat muscles.

Your belly should go in, not out, with each syllable.
This is completely natural for some people, but not for everyone.  Just check to make sure.  (If you’re pushing your belly out with each syllable, how in the world are you pushing air up and out through your throat as well? Think about it…)

Once you are doing “Ho! Ho! Ho!” correctly, then do a variation:  ”Ho! Ho! Hooooo…”
Hold out that last syllable for a second or two, making sure that you are still supporting your breath from your belly and not moving the compression and effort up into your throat just because you are now “singing” a sustained note.

How did the exercise go for you?   What other tips would you add?  Let us know by leaving a comment on our Facebook page!

Image courtesy of http://www.singingsantaclaus.com/

But besides organizing our calendars and feeding our Angry Birds addiction, the iPhone is a great resource for music teachers and music fans alike.  Check out our original list of 5 apps for music lovers – now, here are 5 more especially great apps for teachers to check out, courtesy of www.funmusicco.com:

1. ACappella – This simple song recording app can be used to record voices into tracks that can be played at the same time or one by one. The user can adjust the volume, tempo, and time signature. The app was designed for ease of sharing files: song URL’s can be posted to Facebook and Twitter or shared on a special website called “SingSing.” ($1.99)

2. Notes for Little Composers – Designed for ages 3 and up, this app can be used to introduce beginners to music notation and basic composition. The user taps on the treble clef screen to make notes, hear the names of notes, and create simple songs. Ideal as an accompaniment to starting music lessons. ($0.99)

3. Ear Trainer – This app is designed for beginning to advanced music students, and provides exercises on intervals, chords, scales, and relative pitch. A virtual piano keyboard helps you recognize the notes that have been played. Individual progress is tracked so that users can pinpoint areas of strength or weakness. ($6.99)

4. ImproVox– Record your voice into your device and create harmonies as you sing. This app demonstrates effects such as reverb and echo, and enables you to generate 4-part harmonies in different styles. ($3.99)

5. TabToolkit – This guitar tablature and notation viewer can be used for learning guitar and practicing music. The interface shows a fret board or keyboard with finger positions and/or standard music notation. Upload tabs from your computer or download from the Internet. ($4.99)

What other music apps do you love?  We want to know – click on over to our Facebook page and leave a comment for us!

Image courtesy of http://www.appstorehq.com/playthisnote-guitar–iphone-89811/app

Taking voice lessons and finding out your own vocal range can be an exciting process – but if you’re ready to take it the next level (literally), you’ll need to keep some things in mind.  Most of all, don’t strain your voice!  Some people just aren’t cut out for Mariah Carey’s range, and the last thing you want to do is end up with an injury (we all know about Adele‘s struggles).

Take it slowly, and listen to your body.  Here’s a safe exercise to try from Singingcoachtips.org that is worth the read:

1) Take a few minutes to do a vocal warm up with some rudimentary singing basics. For example, you can try humming through ascending arpeggios. The point is to warm up and go as high as you can for your vocal range — but don’t strain yourself!

2) Try to develop a clear sense of the high note you want to reach and make sure you’re setting a realistic initial goal. Ensure that this note is within the achievable range of your singing voice.

3) Start by singing the note that is an octave below it. Then, breathe deeply into your diaphragm and back, simultaneously dropping your inner jaw. You will then want to raise your soft palette without also dropping your tongue or raising your larynx. It will get easier with practice and this sort of thing definitely helps you to learn to sing better.

4) Get your voice high up in your head (above your eye sockets, near your forehead). It helps to visualize the top of your head as being large and hollow. Sing the high note with gentle but solid support from your lower body. It might feel like you’re yelling, but this is a good way to improve your singing voice.

5) Even though your voice feels like it’s up in your head, it actually starts its rise in your diaphragm. When you’re singing, your voice will reverberate in your skull first. Then it will be projected outwards.

6) Spend the time practicing singing the two notes an octave apart. Proceed ahead when you manage to achieve a rich tone for your high note.

Singers, is there anything else you want to add?  Let us know your own tips by commenting below, or joining the conversation on Facebook!

Image courtesy of Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Vh1