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