Jazzsari

So many people have asked how I can sing with so many tones and octaves in a song and still sound sane! Well the key to a versatile vocal output is #exercise and more exercise. Here is one of my personal favourites: Drink some water till it inflates your #cheeks(as seen in the picture below) . Keep your throat area in a "call-out" position,then sing any song of your choice on a key that is on your #workingrange .Make sure you move your jaw as if you are singing,form the words as if your mouth was free. Once you feel any #discomfort either drink the water or let it out. The reason for this exercise is that the buccal area needed for articulation is well extended and elasticised. The tongue is controlled and relaxed beneath the lower denture; it also initiates correct and balanced higher resonance production and increases larynx flexibility. Your lips are not left out as the pouting position acts as a massage that will leave them flacid for brisk articulation in singing. ...

It is also important to note that, 'breathing from the diaphragm' and 'breathing from the belly' are not the same. If correctly executed, the breath support technique that is widely referred to as 'diaphragmatic breathing', and should not be confused with 'belly breathing'. Unlike 'belly breathing', 'breathing from the diaphragm' involves no pushing or forceful expulsion of air, and is the natural, correct, safe, gentle, internationally accepted method of supporting the singing tone. In diaphragmatic breathing, the tone rides on a minimal and steady stream of air, which brings stability and consistency to the tone. Understand, though, that the belly/diaphragm itself doesn’t actually breathe, as the lungs are located above them. It merely moves in response to the diaphragm’s downward and upward movements and to the expansion and contraction of the support muscles.

SINGERS MUST KNOW! It should not come as a surprise to you that most successful “professional” singers (especially in Africa), who are gifted and famous, have no idea of their instrument (their voice); its parts, names, intricacies and uses are all foreign to them. This makes it very difficult for them to really explain the art of singing to their mentees and/or protégés, and this is how half-baked singers are born. I decided that before I start dishing out tips, lectures and exercises this year, that I would list a few parts of the singing apparatus and their uses. I would not go all “BIO 101” on you but the most used parts will be listed and simply explained in this post. BASIC PARTS OF YOUR INSTRUMENT Source of energy: The compressed breath from the lungs and sent through the trachea and larynx. Source of tonal vibration: As the breath passes through the larynx, it sets up a vibration in the vocal folds. Source of resonance: The tone then resounds within the cavities of the h...

VOCAL FATIGUE I think it is crucial that I list the causes of vocal fatigue. Because singing is such a coordinated function, the list of causes might seem repetitive. However, I feel it is important to review the causes of vocal fatigue. Allow me to say emphatically, a singer should NEVER experience vocal fatigue. If he/she is singing correctly, the voice should not tire. Never should a singer feel fatigue after a lesson, recording session or performance. I have heard so many singers tell me that their last teacher told them that the 'muscles had to get used to the new technique'. This is irresponsible for any instructor not to take vocal fatigue as a red light for future vocal damage. Hoarseness should NEVER occur after any voice lesson unless the singer is executing the instruction incorrectly. SOME CAUSES OF VOCAL FATIGUE 1) Smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages. (2) Hyper-belting: Using too much chest voice pushed up to high in the scale. (3) Constantly singing i...

PAY ATTENTION TO THE WAY YOU SPEAK. Over the course of a day, most of us speak far more than we sing, and as singers, we need to be aware of how we use our voices in speech. Beyond being a means of your voice is a vital part of your personality and psyche, and you should treat it with care. Singers can be gregarious, outgoing, and emotional people. Because your instrument produces both your speaking and singing voice, it follows that your singing can be negatively affected by poor speaking habits. To prevent this, employ touch-distance talking. Only speak to those who are within an arm’s length, or touching distance, away. This will help you control the urge to shout and prevent unnecessary strain on your voice. In American culture, people tend to speak in lower pitched, less resonant voices, perhaps because they are associated with strength, seriousness, and intelligence. While this characterization of a low or husky voice especially affects the way women speak, many men also s...

CONTEMPORARY DYNAMICS 3. 2 HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE. This is the last post for the year 2017. We will have a better year in 2018. READ AND SHARE. RESTS/SILENCE. For most parts of your song, it is expected that you will be singing. This is a practice most accepted and known through centuries. But to spice up a song and give it a dramatic feel, in today's singing arena, some parts of the song can do with some extra rests (than factored into the original song) and in very emotion-driven performances, silence. Be careful not to over stretch any of the dynamics as this could put the audience in a state of confusion or make the song lose its efficacy. Furthermore, you can skip a beat or double a beat in a phrase to make it standout and /or give it colour. VOWEL TWIRLS Personally love this dynamic because it gives room for personalization of a song. Each vowel in a song can be made darker or brighter (depending on its message and position in a song) by a simple twist of t...

CONTEMPORARY DYNAMICS 3. 1 PHRASING Singing a song in a single repeated pattern from start till end could be boring and tend to lose the attention of the audience. Remember audience are prone to fast and changing things/sounds . A song is like a piece of cake, its beauty and taste is in the blend of so many elements, all mixed in an orderly manner. The act of phrasing helps show off your vocal prowess as well as test your breathing stamina.it has to do with sustaining a note in a phrase or lengthening a phrase than it normally is. You can sustain a note at the end of a phrase or at a transition point (if you have back up vocalists) MOOD REFLECTION When singing a song, take note of the meaning and message of each of part of the song, there may be a part of the song that conveys a happy thought, this part should be well reflected in your vocal output; a sharper (nasal) vowel will communicate gaiety to the audience; and vise-versa, for a sad or emotional part/aspect of a song. Most...