The Basics of Singing Properly

As a back up singer in my band a couple years back, I had to sing the hard way. Sitting down behind my drums was quite possibly the worst way to sing, as it cut off my potential for breathing fully from my diaphragm. This is called Diaphragmatic breathing, whereby you fill the lower portion of your lungs with air. The steady air creates a constant airflow that allows for a smooth vocal tone. Since, your shoulders should be in the relaxed position, and you should adjusting their height and position as you sing, that was another challenge for me as a drummer, being that my arms were flailing at all times. Your shoulders should remain in the lower and relaxed position allowing you to concentrate on getting the air from your diaphragm. By doing these types of breathing exercises you can start to develop comfort and confidence. I remember being afraid to sing properly because I thought it made me sound too old- fashioned. After all, I was in a rock band. So if you aspire to sing as a pop star or in rock band, don't worry about style, that will come with time and distinctly from your technique. Concentrate on good technique and the rest will not only come, but it will come much easier.

Train, Don't Strain 

Training with a professional will teach you how to use your vocal chords properly. If you start out by singing a certain way, old habits are hard to break. You may have heard of singers who have to have surgery because they have pushed the limits of their voice unnaturally. Try not to sing out of your ability-range or you'll cause vocal fatigue.  Straining your voice is not only bad for you, but it's also unflattering and unpleasant for the audience. Putting your vocal chords through stressful hurdles will also cause problems as you get older. And, despite the smoky qualities in a voice that some lucky people possess naturally, smoking is one thing you should avoid. It's really only good for 2 things – throat and lung cancer.

The Mirror Trick

One of the things I have learned with acting is to practice acting in front of mirror so as to observe your own facial expressions and learn about your mannerisms. Singing in front of a mirror can also help you get comfortable with how your mouth and face moves when you hit a certain note. Sometimes you'll have to look funny in order to make the sound you want. So watch yourself and pay particular attention to your shoulders, how you're standing and how your face and throat are allowing you, or not allowing you to breathe properly. Sometimes you may have to stick out your tongue to clear a path for you to get the high notes out. So, watching yourself will allow you to see what your doing so you can visualize yourself making that exact face when you need to belt out that note on stage.

Hold Your Tongue

When doing vocal exercises, stick out your tongue and hold it out with your forefinger and thumb. You should never be swallowing when you're singing, and holding your tongue out keeps you from sticking your tongue back in to swallow. This is a great way to do scales, particularly the "Mmm" sound. Your body has many cavities like the chest or nasal cavities.  Paying attention to your vocal tone through the proper resonating chamber (neck, chest, bones) will help you control and develop your own stylized singing voice. This technique is great for men and women both and should be done with in the appropriate keys for your vocal range. 

Drink Fluids And Warm Up

Remember: Drink plenty of fluids, do vocal exercises before any show, even if you're rehearsing or practicing at home. The throat, your vocal chords, muscles and cavities is a complex orchestration of many parts trying to achieve one result. You need to warm up just as you would if you were an athlete. If you think you'll cramp up if you don't stretch before a good run, think of how complex the whole process of singing is. If you respect your body and your singing voice, it will produce some pleasing results!

Written by Paul Brighton

What's This? You Don't have a Vocal Coach? You Can't afford one? 

It's Cool, We've Got You Covered.

There are many other ways to get lessons if you don't have a vocal coach. My friends over at Rock House have a great vocal training DVD series for Rock & Pop vocals on their site www.rockhousemethod.com

The DVD's are amazing, on-the-spot training, and if you have a lap top you can take it anywhere.

If you're a singer who loves Acting, please check out www.AuditionPortal.Com

You can Register for free and post a Profile and a Video of you singing, dancing ,acting or even doing stand up or sketch comedy. It's free and stays free until you choose to upgrade.

Does Being a Trained Vocalist Count When You're a Pop Star?

The Auto-Tune Quandry

Let's look at Madonna. Technically, she is neither a great nor trained vocalist, but the whole package makes for an enduring and captivating artist. From clothing to image, hair, songs, production, and yes, vocals, Madonna is an icon and vocal perfection never factored in much to her career. But these days, producers are split between masking and Auto-tuning vocals either for effect or because the singer can't sing. But many producers have raised the bar for vocalist these days. That precedent may have been set by singer Amy Winehouse. When Amy's album "Back To Black" came out in 2007, the world was blown away by a new vocalist that sounded like we were still living in the 60's . She wore her heart shamelessly on her sleeve and wrote about a agonizing breakup, which added tragedy and allure to a newly tragic figure in music.

Now we're seeing copycats surface by the dozens and many of them can really sing. It's actually quite refreshing to see that singers like Ms. Winehouse, despite her tabloid fodder, have set a new standard for vocal mastery. While some people are continuing the over-extended honeymoon with that timeworn auto-tune effect, we are now blessed with the likes of Adele, Mika, Lady GaGa and Carrie Underwood who can sing their hearts out.

London-based, Lebanese born, Mika is a 26 year-old singer is close to releasing his second poptastic album, filled to the rim with bubbly electronic affectations but overlaid with a vocal style we haven't seen since Freddie Mercury. Mika's vocal training with Alla Ardakov (Ablaberdyeva), a Russian opera professional is apparent in Mika's ability to belt out notes,
weave in and out of falsetto seamlessly and always with a flair for drama.

His 2008 Hit,"Grace Kelly" is in response to record labels asking him to be all the things he was not interested in being. "I tried to be like Grace Kelly, but all of the lines were too sad, so I tried a little Freddie, I've gone identity mad."

All the talent we're seeing these days is refreshing. It has restored faith for many who thought the world was going to be inundated with electronic, robotic vocals.

"So it's plain to see we're headed for a new era in vocals in the Pop arena. With every action there is a reaction and this one could create an awareness for a bygone era in vocal excellence" says Paul Brighton of AuditionPortal.com. He adds "Auto-tuning popularized by Cher, had been used secretly to correct or harmonize vocals and tune poor pitch, when it's set a certain way, it over-corrects and places notes to the nearest note in a hard and deliberate way creating the robotic sound we're all so sick of. Luckily, we're seeing it phase out, despite Kanye West's "Heartbreak and 808's" which was the first Male rapper to popularize it. I didn't mind that so much. But let's get back to real vocals."

With the advent of GarageBand on the Mac, more and more kids are now playing with less-complicated versions of harmonizers and auto-tune effects, and as it gains more popularity among amateurs, the pro's may be forced to find something new, and luckily for our collective eardrum, it seems like they have.

Real singing, what a concept.

Jared Lifeson
www.auditionportal.com

Singer Megan Joy leaves American Idol

"She had her grand moments," said Paul Brighton of Audition Portal. Seems that wasn’t enough though for aspiring singer Megan Joy, the latest contestant to leave "American Idol." Megan did an admirable job with Bob Marley's "Turn Your Lights Down Low," but despite her last-ditch efforts, the 23-year-old singer from Sandy, Utah received the least number of viewer votes on “American Idol” Wednesday, with no hope for a judges' save.

Said Simon Cowell, "I'm not going to pretend that we're even going to contemplate saving you," in the moments the singer’s performance. That alone crushed what was supposed to be her chance to convince them to keep her on.

Singer Allison Iraheta from Los Angeles and singer Anoop Desai from Chapel Hill, N.C. joined Joy as the bottom three vote-getters this week.

Simon called the singer’s performance "boring" and "indulgent." I love you, Simon, but I don't care," Joy said Wednesday. Simon got the last word, though. “Megan, with the greatest respect, when you said that you don't care, nor do we. This is your swan song. Enjoy it."

Kara criticized the singer’s choice of songs, insisting said she would have rather heard Adele's "Chasing Pavements" instead of the Marley song." as she was being heckled by the audience

On next Tuesday's “American Idol” show, the remaining top eight finalists will perform songs released the year they were born, which means all remaining finalists, except Iraheta will be performing songs from the 1980s.

The eight remaining contestants are Kris Allen, Iraheta, Desai, Danny Gokey, Adam Lambert, Matt Giraud, Lil Rounds, and Scott MacIntyre.

Larry King Viewers Offer Singer Natalie Cole their Kidneys

Dozens of people called in to see if they could be tested to determine of they could be a match and donate their Kidneys to singer Natalie Cole on Tuesday’s Larry King Show.

Cole shared her stories of drug abuse and being diagnosed with Hepatitis C back in February of 08. She said that her illnesses was due to her struggles with heroin and cocaine use and even went through chemotherapy to fight the virus.

"I couldn't breathe. I went into -- literally, my kidneys stopped functioning. They stopped, you know, processing the fluid that was starting to build up in my body," explained the singer.

Since the virus started wreaking havoc in her body, Cole has actively pursued searching for a donor but kept things under wraps and only now has come forth and made her illness public. Dozens of emails poured in last night and it seemed that Cole was completely overwhelmed by the generosity displayed by Larry King viewers.

Cole won six Grammy awards in 1991 for critically acclaimed record "Unforgettable With Love,” which was a tribute to her father, the great singer Nat King Cole. Through the magic of digital technology Ms. Cole was reunited for a singing duo with her long deceased father on the classic song “Unforgettable.” She won a Grammy this year for her new album "Still Unforgettable."

The staff at AuditionPortal.com wishes Natalie Cole a speedy recovery and much love.

Written By Paul Brighton
Auditionportal.com

American Idol: The Honest Truth About the Last 9

With 9 more contestants to go on American Idol, how can we resist watching this show? So many people are stuck for the same reason we like older movies, we appreciate antiques, or we love the old Motown sound. After so many weeks the contestants have grown on us and now we're hooked...hook, line, and singer!

My favorite contestants are the same ones I picked out from day-one. Many of you probably did the same thing.

If you've been in the business like I have for the last 25 years, you just know who's got singing chops and who needs chopping.

I appreciate raw singing talent, but I also need to enjoy watching that person too. For me, it's a packaged experience that needs to excite my ears and eyes. Hey, I don't mind hearing a good Michael Jackson song and struggling with all the things I know about his plastic surgery, but he's Michael Jackson. New singing talent has to have at least both things going for them at this stage. America is a hard place to make it, and this business can be relentless. It all has to do with the audiences and keeping them interested. Longevity is king and at the risk of sounding shallow, looks are very important. Yes, there are exceptions–but in order for that talent to reach full marketing potential, it sure doesn't hurt if they have both singing skills and looks.

Here is my honest breakdown, as if I was judging talent this talent on www.auditionportal.com:

Anoop Desai: Anoop Dog. I don't know why Matt was in the bottom three and Anoop survived last weeks voting. My only guess is that he's popular and that people like voting for the underdog. But, I must remind the public this is about talent. Anoop can sing, no doubt but is he Idol worthy? Not in my top three.

Megan Joy: Pretty Girl. Moments of uniqueness and relevance, but too many moments of imperfection to get my vote. Will miss her.

Scott McIntyre: Okay don't kill me, but Scott is workin' on my last good nerve. He's not a good singer and his performance of the "You Can't Hurry Love" couldn't be over fast enough for me.

This should really not be about pity. When Stevie Wonder sings I don't feel bad about him being blind, I am moved by his voice to tears. If you can do that to me, you've got my vote.

Kris Allen: Good-looking boy, nothing special on the vocal or guitar end. Seen many like him in the Brooklyn folk scene, but so many other deserve to be there instead of him. He's got the girls, and that could keep him up there until the last 4. But let's make room for the real Idols.

Adam Lambert: Phenomenal Singing Voice, hard to imagine on the radio. Has to have great writers or he could be doomed. High voices are tough to place on radio these days. I appreciate his raw singing talent, and his looks are cool. But, I liked the Chris Isaac/Elvis look better than the emo-rock look.

Allison Iraheta: I got one word for this girl. Powerhouse. She will get signed no matter what, and I'll buy her records. At 16, she has the singing voice of a seasoned 27 year-old. She makes Anne Wilson's toes curl, and has knowledge about music that can only come from one divine place...look up! Can you imagine what she'll sound like in 3 years? It's sick. In my Top 3.

Matt Giraud: Matt is amazing. I love him as a singer and he seems like an ultra cool guy. I think he might overdo the trills here and there, but he's got to be a top runner in this, and he WILL get a deal because he's got chops. Playing an instrument helps because it adds that "I can write my own shit" vibe to the whole thing. Diggin' him.

In my top three.

Lil rounds: Now here's a great singer, destined to make records, but is she unique enough? Better song choices will help. She's reminds me of Oleta Adams, but minus the killer low range. If she can nail a couple ballads in the next few bouts, she'll be one to be reckoned with. Love me some LIL.

Danny Gokey: In my top three and the potential winner! Danny has that smokey sound that fiends who put away 15 packs of cigarettes a day can't achieve. He commands the microphone, and is completely relevant. Now the weight thing, the hair...I can do without. His stylist needs to re-think his appearance for the next few shows. This is critical. And, the fact that he shot himself in the foot about his clumsy dancing didn't help. If you say "yeah, I can't dance," people will not only believe it but they'll look to see how badly you move the next time you're on that stage.

It's getting good out there kids. While American Idol is formulaic and predictable at times, you can't help but be sucked in.

And, It's a fun night too– you relax, you order a pizza, and watch someone's dream come true–Not bad for free television.

Who do you like & why? Blog all you want about it! And, be honest, your Facebook friends won't mind!

We're only a day away from the the next round.

Written by Paul Brighton
www.auditionportal.com

Famous Blues Singers

Jimmy Rushing has been called the greatest of all big-band blues singers and many of today’s blues standards are credited to his writing skills, such as “Good Morning Blues”, “Goin’ to Chicago”, “Boogie Woogie” and many others. The song “Mr. Five-by-Five” was written the singer's honor and is said to describe him as being five feet tall and five feet wide.

Perhaps the best know blues singer in all the universe is B.B. King, who has been satisfying audiences worldwide with his vast talents on his famous guitar “Lucille” to accompany his soulful singing voice for more than half a century. B.B. King is also perhaps the most influential of all famous blues singers and all that have followed have taken a bit from this multi-talented yet humble superstar.

The singer was raised in the blues rich delta of Mississippi where he was raised. Life was by no means easy for him as a young singer. He was shuttled back and forth between his mother’s and grandmother’s homes where he spent many long hours working hard as a sharecropper and just as many hours praising the lord in church, as he sang gospel songs and honed the skills that would later be enjoyed by millions worldwide.

Marlena Shaw was born in 1942 in New York and given the birth name Marlina Burgess. She was influenced by her uncle and grandmother early in life who exposed her to gospel music early on and helped to develop her love for music and her seductive and sultry sound.

Otis Rush is a well known blues singer and guitarist, born in Mississippi in 1934. His style is unique and distinctive with a slow singing style and the long bent notes he made his own. His style of blues became known as West Side Chicago style and has proven to be an influence on such singers as Eric Clapton, Luther Allison and Magic Sam among others.

At the age of ten she made her debut before a live audience at the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, where she performed with her uncle. She was such a big hit they were invited to sing again the following week. As it turned out her uncle had double-booked the night and the pre-teen went on to perform solo before a stunned and very pleased audience.

Her big break came when she was invited to sing with the Count Basie Orchestra and as they say the rest is history. It is easy to understand the attraction to her versatile style and her smooth vocals. Marlena is still performing today and her voice is still as sweet, seductive and sultry as ever.

Gertrude Pridgett or better recognized as Gertrude “Ma” Rainey was one of the many famous women blues singers. She was called “Mother of the Blues" since she was the first true blues singer and one of the female singers that performed the blues in minstrel and vaudeville shows. She was the first female to record the blues professionally when she signed a recording contract with Paramount in 1923. Between the years 1923 and 1928 she recorded 100 songs on Paramount records. In 1983, Gertrude Rainy was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Blue Hall of Fame.

Bessie Smith was another one of the famous blues singers of the 1920s and 30s and was called the “Empress of the Blues.” She began her singing career in the year 1912 when she joined the Rabbit Foot Minstrels led by Gertrude “Ma” Rainey. Before long she signed with Columbia’s records and had several major hits. She went on to record more then 150 songs. Some were so popular that as many as 150,000 copies sold in a week. Her broad expressive range was only one of her many qualities that made her an outstanding blues singer.

Ethel Waters was also one of the famous women blues singers. At seventeen, Ethel was discovered when they heard her sing at the apartments where she was employed. They paid her $10.00 a week to sing in their vaudeville unit. She had a low and clear voice and audiences felt her emotions when she sang. Between 1921 and 1924 she recorded songs for the Black Swan label. She was signed on with Columbia records in 1925. The type of voice she had gave her the ability to sing many different types of music including jazz. She also became a dramatic actress.

Other famous blues singers include Bill “Hoss” Allen, Ralph Bass, Chuck Berry, Blind Blake, Big Bill Broonzy, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Ray Charles, James Cotton, Arthur Crudup, Magic Sam, Robert Lee McCollum, Fred McDowell, Brownie McGhee, Lillian McMurry, Jay McShann, Blind Willie McTell and Jimi Hendrix.

"Blues singers have an amazing range of styles that enrich the genre's history" according to Paul Brighton of Audition Portal.

A popular blues singer in the 1920s was Ida Cox. She was only 14 when she joined traveling vaudeville shows. Ida began a recording contract in 1923 with Paramount. Her first blues recordings were called “Graveyard Dream Blues” and Weary Way Blues.” She wrote many of her own songs. She often recorded songs for Paramount with her Blues pianist husband Jesse Crump. Some of the songs she performed with her husband were Bone Orchard Blues, Black Crepe Blues and Worn Down Daddy.

Alberta Hunter was one the famous women blues singers. Her career flourished in the 1920s and 30s. She was a songwriter as well as a blues singer. She wrote Downhearted Blues in 1923 for Bessie Smith and it was a big hit. Alberta also appeared in New York and London clubs and on stage in musicals. Her recording career began in New York in 1921 where she recorded for the Black Swan Label. In 1922 she started to record with Paramount. In 1927 she went to Europe where she sang in musical revues. She became famous there and stayed for many years. In 1956 she retired from singing and became a nurse. She resumed her singing career in 1977.

American Idol - What about the losers?

With another finals season of American Idol, the most popular television show in the country starting next week, the odds look tougher than ever. There are four American Idol seasons in the history books now, and few, if any, of the 40 people who made it to the finals but didn't win or come in second have been able to transition their instant fame into legitimate stardom.

"It takes a truly unique singer to pull it off," says Paul Brighton of Audition Portal. "The reality can be brutal."

The comments from a just-eliminated American Idol contestant are as predictable as Simon Cowell's wardrobe: "It was a blessing just to make the final 12. The world hasn't seen the last of me."

Millions of Americans watched or voted for losers on American Idol, but of the 12th- through third-place finishers who have gone on to release records, only one has gone gold: second-season country singer Josh Gracin, who finished fourth.

Another second-season singer, third-place finisher Kimberley Locke, has sold approximately 209,000 copies of One Love, but after her, the next-best American Idol loser is William Hung's Inspiration. Trailing in the dust of "She Bangs" are Tamyra Gray's The Dreamer, RJ Helton's Real Life, John Stevens' Red, George Huff's Miracles and self-titled albums from Jasmine Trias and Corey Clark.


Josh Gracin is the former Marine teams with Rascal Flatts producer Marty Williams. His download is Patriotic tear-jerker "The Other Little Soldier".

Kimberly Locke, the R&B singer goes for the adult-contemporary audience. The download is Clay Aiken duet "Without You".

William Hung, the Berkeley nerd outsmarts the record-buying public with Ricky Martin covers. His download is the Latin/Chinese mash-up "Bailamos".

John Stevens, the boy next door gets his old-school croon on. His download is the Lounge cover of Maroon 5's "This Love" Compared to sales of Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway, Clay Aiken's Measure of a Man, Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts, Ruben Studdard's Soulful and Fantasia's Free Yourself and it becomes quite clear that o make a significant impact in the music industry, making the final 12 of "American Idol" is not enough. You need to make the final two.


Tamyra Gray, the favorite loser gets her due with help from Scott Storch, Babyface. The download - Prince homage "Good Ol' Days"

Some — including songwriter/producer Kara DioGuardi, who has worked with most of the winners and runners-up — say that at the end of the day, it's a show that's all about the winners. " American Idol is the dream," she said, "it's not the dreams."

Another popular presumption is that American Idol finalists — who sign an agreement not to release music until the debut singles from the winner and runner-up are in stores and the subsequent American Idols Live Tour is completed — are missing their window of opportunity.

"Pop culture has a short-term memory," said Andrew Wallenstein, senior TV reporter for The Hollywood Reporter. "And as much as we embrace these people who are great contestants year in and year out, for some reason we forget them two weeks after the show ends. And I think the problem is there is only so much room in our hearts for these big winners."

"I think these A&R guys are excited about the American Idol experience, but at the same time they deal with people every day who have wide audiences, and I think they're nervous," said Jon Peter Lewis, a third-season finalist who is shopping a solo record. "I mean, 60 million people watched the finale the year I was on, and I think Fantasia sold just over a million. It's a small fraction of the American Idol viewers who actually buy the records."

"People all around in the industry — and I've had hundreds of meetings — everyone is a little gun shy," added Constantine Maroulis, one of last season's most experienced contestants. "You see the 'Idol' ratings and it seems like an obvious decision. We come in with a huge fanbase, television exposure and experience, relationships with the talk shows. What other artist that a label is about to break has that already? But people are a little hesitant."

And by the time the singers finally can approach record labels, they are being met with apprehension, almost to where some might call being an American Idol finalist a curse. After all, credibility is part of the music business, and doing cheesy Ford commercials and singing Stevie Wonder covers for Paula Abdul doesn't carry a lot of weight.