Archive for the ‘Singing’ Category

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Common Musician Injuries and How to Avoid Them

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

The Red Hot Chili Peppers announced a slight setback to their upcoming U.S. tour yesterday – the kick-off gig, originally scheduled for January 20th in Florida, has been postponed until March due to frontman Anthony Kiedis’ recent surgery to remove a crushed sesamoid bone and correct a detached tendon in his foot.  Kiedis has been suffering from foot problems since 2007′s Stadium Arcadium tour, after he jumped off a bass drum and broke several bones in his foot.  The rescheduled calendar of shows can be viewed on the band’s website.

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.

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Posted in Drums, Performing, Piano, Practice Tips & How To's..., Singing, Violin Lessons | 1 Comment »

Improve Your Voice with One Simple Trick

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

As if the drama and hype of reality television isn’t enough, producers and judges from The Voice, American Idol and X-Factor are apparently busy taking shots at one another now.  We can only guess the drama will continue on as Idol begins its 11th season next Wednesday.

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.

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Posted in Becoming A Rockstar, Practice Tips & How To's..., Singing | No Comments »

A Santa-Approved Warm-Up Exercise

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

Gifts?  Check.  Eggnog?  Check.  If you’ve completed your to-do list, it’s time to sit back and take a deep breath.  You’ve made it – Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s time to celebrate (and relax!) with family and friends.  From all of us here at TakeLessons, we hope you’re enjoying the holiday season and making the most of it!

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/

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Posted in Performing, Practice Tips & How To's..., Singing | 1 Comment »

5 More iPhone Apps Great for Music Lovers

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

What a year for Apple – iPhone sales are still through the roof, Siri continues to be a hot topic, and Steve Jobs is now being recognized with a posthumous Grammy award for his part in revolutionizing the music industry.  Nowadays our smartphones help us with anything and everything, it seems; it’s hard to imagine living without them!

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

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Posted in Piano, Practice Tips & How To's..., Singing, Tips For Teachers | 1 Comment »

Your Cheat Sheet for Hitting the High Notes

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

The “VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul” concert aired last night, featuring performances by Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige and Florence Welch, as well as a special tribute to the late Amy Winehouse.  In a generation of auto-tune and computer-generated beats, these powerful ladies are a great reminder of the vocal talent that’s still around.

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

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Posted in Practice Tips & How To's..., Singing | No Comments »

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