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Even if you’ve practiced well at home, and studied hard in your voice lessons, the moment you get in front of a microphone can change everything! So, how can you make sure that you're not only singing with proper vocal technique, but also using your mic well to get the best sounds. Here are some tips to get better prepared to sing into a microphone and make sure you sound your best whether you’re in a filled auditorium or your own living room.  Tips for Using Microphones:  Singin

Believe it or not, famous singers aren't always perfect. In this article, we'll reveal whose bad vocal habits you can learn from. It’s easy to turn on the radio and assume that famous singers always sound incredible, but the reality is that every singer has experienced vocal faults at some point. Here are just a few examples of some of the things that can go wrong. Bad Vocal Habits of Famous Singers Pitchy, Off-Key Singing Régine Chassagne (Arcade Fire) Taylor Swift Singing

When you have an audition, picking the right song is crucial. If you’re looking for good baritone audition songs that can help you stand out, you’re in the right place! We’ve got a variety of options from musical theatre to pop and rock so that you can pick the perfect one for you. It’s not every day we get to pick the song we sing for an audition, so it’s a special opportunity when we do and one that should take careful consideration. When choosing your audition song, you need

Feeling a sore throat coming on, or just want to keep your voice in the best shape possible? Here's a rundown of the products and throat remedies to keep on hand, as recommended by our teachers. When you have a performance coming up, staying healthy should be a priority -- but sometimes, your immune system has other plans for you! Sometimes you have to ask yourself honestly, whether you should sing if you're sick or not, but if you're feeling okay, you may just need a little TLC. There are

Vocal warm ups and exercises are key when you’re learning how to sing. Just like athletes stretch out their bodies and muscles before a big game, vocalists must warm up their singing voice before a performance or rehearsal. All it takes is 10 minutes with these five simple voice warm ups to maintain a healthy voice. When you warm up properly, you can sing for longer periods of time with less effort. These singing exercises will work for both beginning and advanced vocalists, so don’t hes

The human voice is the most expressive “instrument” in the orchestra of sound that is music. Nothing can express or invoke the emotions of the listener like a beautiful voice! Of course, developing your vocal ability takes time and practice. It’s important to understand and develop proper breathing technique, pitch recognition, and range. The traditional method of learning to sing is to study with a qualified vocal teacher. A good teacher understands their students' strengths and weakness

Do you love the sound of a "raspy" singing voice? Find out the truth about this vocal style -- and why you may want to avoid it -- in this guest post by Ann Arbor, MI teacher Elaina R... What do Janis Joplin, Louis Armstrong, and Steven Tyler have in common? They are all famous for their raspy, gravely voices. A raspy sound is so popular in some types of music that some people with normal voices want to learn to sing with a raspy tone. Is it possible to get a raspy singing voice if you don

  Do you love to sing but are afraid you have a terrible voice? This is the most common fear and complaint that vocal teachers hear. Some people believe they can never become singers because they hate the sound of their voice, and they discourage themselves from giving singing their best shot. Even if you have a "bad" singing voice in the beginning, the truth is that once you understand the basics and establish good practice routines, you'll become a much better singer. You'll also come t

When we think about singers we enjoy listening to, we tend to think of their voices as effortless, and that their sound is powerful and consistent throughout the entirety of their range. However, when the average, untrained person attempts to sing, they may have difficulty emulating the level of ease in register transitions that professional singers achieve. Expanding vocal range takes time and training, and a more in-depth understanding of the physical workings of the voice. Many voice teac

If you really want to experience what it's like to perform on stage, you have to go to a live band karaoke event! It's nothing like that PA system stuff… you'll get the thrill of live musicians who improvise and work with you to create a truly fabulous performance. Here are the best live band karaoke Chicago hot spots where you can strut your stuff: PIECE Brewery and Pizzeria: Piece Brewery is known for serving up some of the best craft beer and pizza slices around. And on Saturday ni