Don’t seek out a vocal coach based on a particular method. Seek out a vocal coach who will work for you.
I have studied with many vocal coaches and several singing methods and continue to do so to improve upon my skills. Every single student has a unique sound and style and it’s my job to help them not only get better but to be consistent. What works for one student doesn’t necessarily work for all. As long as the approach isn’t damaging, it may help you out. I have tried some pretty zany ideas on my students that have actually worked! Don’t get yourself caught in a vocal method net. Or do - if it works for you! There are thousands of amazing teachers all around the world. A vocal coach should be secure enough in his/her knowledge and shortcomings to never feel threatened by any other vocal coach or methodology.
0 Comments
“Today what you wear is more important than who you are, and that's just plain sad.” Are you putting the cart before the horse?
Recently, a colleague of mine speculated that she wasn’t hired as much for her services because she didn’t have a trendy image. She noticed the record labels she was working with tended to recommend artist coaches who dressed “cool.” Whether this is true or not doesn’t affect me at all. I know that I study my craft daily to be the best vocal coach and mentor that I can be for my students. In doing so, I am teaching them that content must come before image. Who cares if you’re not the cutting edge of fashion as long as you are working and practicing your craft every single day?! Let your art shine thru and start generating a following, then you can spend some time on your image or find someone whose passion is fashion! Lip rolls are great. I do them daily - early in the morning and late in the day. They stimulate the lips and wake up the cords and at the end of the day it’s like a gentle massage to calm things down. Don’t stay fixated on them. Move on to other exercises that include fricatives, nasals, and plosives and start singing when you feel good and warmed up. You can do exercises until the cows come home, but the only thing that will get you singing is to sing!
automaton |ôˈtämətən, -ˌtän|
noun (pl. automata |-tə| or automatons) a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being. You wake up and head to the kitchen to make coffee, moan and groan and start doing the same thing day after day after day. When was the last time you changed your routine? When a student comes in stressed and I ask if they’d like to share anything, it’s usually that they are bogged down doing the same thing and they feel pressured and behind schedule. The stress compounds when they can’t seem to find time for their music. Just a little change in your daily routine may jump start you in a positive direction. Starting tomorrow morning, instead of shuffling into the kitchen, go outside and do 10 jumping jacks. Crazy? Maybe. But I promise you’ll either laugh or curse and that will be a good start to changing your routine. Maybe you’ll write a song about it! It’s interesting how some cultures celebrate karaoke and no one is afraid to sing in public. Here in the U.S.? I have so many students dealing with real life stage fright. Take baby steps to share your voice in public. Start by humming. I’ve observed my students are far less fearful when their mouth is closed. As soon as they open up their mouth, it’s as if they’re sharing the deepest part of themselves. Face your fear of singing in public by taking small steps. As soon as you’re comfortable with humming, you can take the next step by singing melodies with ooh’s and ah’s. Just make sure you’re doing this in public. I find myself humming when I cook and when I go grocery shopping!
When my daughter, Nikki, was in grade school I used to ask her several questions to sum up her day. What’s the best and worst thing that happened today? What’s the funniest and saddest thing you heard today? You can use these simple prompts on yourself to come up with ideas for songs. Your audience is interested in you and how you live and observe life. It’s not necessary to look for prompts online. You have all the story ideas you need in your head from your daily life experiences.
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I never stop being aware of it and it’s been 15 years since I was first diagnosed. My art kept me centered during some dark moments. It was about 2 weeks before my mastectomy and 6 months of chemo and I was in an understandably strange headspace. My art and teaching mentor, Phyllis, encouraged me to write and produce a song to help me work thru my feelings. Phyllis was an art therapist for terminally ill children so had a lot of experience in this area. The song I wrote was a reflection of feeling like I was floating between 2 worlds. Underneath me was the cacophony of life that I felt separated from and above me was a calm that I couldn’t reach. I trusted my Buddhist friend, Rick, to produce what I was feeling. My Jewish friend (and pianist on the track), Mitch, had given me a prayer to recite before going into surgery that called on angels to surround and comfort me. I mention those angels in the lyrics. I thought about the Catholic saints I knew from my youth for lyric inspiration. I’m sharing this story because I want all of you to write for yourself and share your stories. Money and fame from your art is great, but there is no greater healing of the self than writing from and for the depths of your soul.
For the month of October, the zuketeas Original Blend and Autumn Cider teas are 15% off to celebrate Zuke's 15 years as a breast cancer survivor.
We follow artists because we want to connect with them. They had an experience in their life that we can relate to. Your audience doesn’t want to hear you say “I can change the world with my music!” they want to hear your personal story. How did you get to be the person you are today? What shaped you to make you so passionate about music?
It is oftentimes great pain or great joy that drives our passion. What’s your story? Sharing invites people in. Share yours. Morning is my time to reflect and meditate. I thank the universe for my loving family, my health, and our beautiful little home on the lake. When I am alone in my thoughts, I mull over what my purpose is in the moment. Maybe it's paying bills or preparing fresh food. As a stone causes a ripple in the water, I allow my purpose to spread out. Paying my bills will keep me in this house. Creating homemade meals will keep me and my family healthy. I am free of stress and sated. I can teach with an open heart to help others on their artistic path. Those I teach will touch others with their artistry.
Focus on what is important right now instead of wondering how you will become a Broadway star or a famous singer/songwriter. Ask yourself what you can do at this moment that has purpose. Who and what will that purpose serve? What will be the ripple effect? Keep moving forward in your mind until you find your purpose in life. Then ask yourself “how will becoming an artist serve me and others?” Every week my husband and I go to one of the available farmer's markets near our town. I don't make any lists and decide what to buy when I get there. When I get home and see my purchases, that's when I go to my favorite recipe sites. I have no clue what I'll be preparing until the produce muse inspires me.
You are most likely wondering what this has to do with songwriting. Observe everything as if you are at a market. Be present in every moment and you will find words and phrases to build songs. It's no different than laying my produce on the counter and deciding what to cook with it. Inspiration is all around you just like the produce at the farmer's market. You just need to pick and choose what you want and make your recipe later when you have all the ingredients. |