What are the differences between effective speech and singing? Would it surprise you to discover there are very few differences. The basic techniques for both are the same. "Are you nuts, Al Koehn? I'm a (salesperson - teacher - actor - radio personality - public lecturer...) and I can't sing a note."Consider these points: Let's start by acknowledging that the same vocal cords produce the sounds for both speaking and singing. There is no...more
When the Wizard of Oz floated off in his hot-air balloon he was unable to return for Dorothy (remember?) because there wasn't enough weight in the basket to bring the balloon back down. He had dropped all of his sandbags so he kept going higher and higher, away from Dorothy and friends.The biggest secret to extending your high range begins with understanding that in order to sing higher we must drop the sandbags (fatness and weight). A primary...more
I've been working with professionals who use their voices as an integral part of their daily routine for a lot of years...salesmen, singers, actors, lawyers, teachers, TV and movie personalities and many others; and I'm constantly amazed to find that most of these people do not know how to use their vocal instrument correctly, so it never gets tired or wears out no matter how often or how long they have to use it. And many of these students carry degrees from major universities, or have studied with reputable singing and speech teachers. Tom, a TV anchorman was referred to me by his speech therapist because he was in danger of losing his highly lucrative position due to constant hoarseness. When I asked him what his university professors taught him about speaking with good vocal quality, he said: "I was told to "project my voice....to speak deeply from the diaphragm". Really? That's all? Here is a guy who holds two full degrees in speech and theatre from a major university, and he knows little or nothing about how to protect his voice from serious damage. Singing and speech both require the use of the exact same physical equipment: the vocal chords, and lungs, diaphragm and other...more
"I plan to buy myself a microphone. What kind do you recommend for me?" Well, what are you going to use it for? If you plan to use your new mic on the stage for amplification you need to check out "dynamic-cardioid" mics, such as the Shure SM58 or the Shure Beta 58A. These are two of the most popular and effective stage mics available, but there...more
Though the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof remains successful in production, the '60s play has been hit hard this year with turmoil. The show lost one of its original Tevye the Milkmans this year, when Fiddler on the Roof's Chicago thespian Lee Pelty died in late November 2009. The actor, who was a veteran of the stage and Chicago theater,...more
When I ask parents, "Why do your children need music education?" I often get a generalized answer like, "My child studies for himself." Drawing from my own life experience, I can tell you this with absolute confidence: the more clearly and more precisely we know what we want, the quicker and easier we get it.To understand the advantage of music education, let's talk about the music lessons in more detail, beginning with the most simple and popular art - the art of singing. The voice is given to a person from the moment he is born as the means of a congenital, unconditional, protective reflex. Later, the person learns to use the sounds produced to develop a speaking and then a singing voice. By singing songs or humming tunes, children have an opportunity to accumulate musical impressions and acoustical experience, develop an ear for music, and learn to use the natural musical instrument, the voice. The skilful use of a singing voice is one of the main advantages for the development of child's musical abilities. Even simply singing for your own pleasure can bring a lot of positive moments into your life. Also, singing activates the functioning in the left (logic) and right...more
Many people shy away at karaoke parties, because they feel their voices are not good enough to be heard outside the washroom walls. Karaoke is basically meant to be just an all fun experience, and in an ideal world it should not matter how good or...more
Author: Drew BackleyMy ultimate dream job would be to be a singer. Not for the money, not for the fame…but for the love of singing. I would also love to be able to get on a stage in front of thousands of people and sing songs that I wrote from my...more
In an ideal world all aspiring singers would have ample funds to hire a full time, private vocal coach to work with them every day to fine tune their natural talent. But few people can afford such a luxury. Likewise, not many people have a karaoke...more
If you are passionate about music and want to improve your singing skills then join John Robert Powerss singing class. Here singing professionals will guide you properly and wisely. You may be fantastic in singing but if you join singing classes in...more
Does your child love putting on plays or singing to their favorite songs at home? If they really show a passion for entertaining, you might want to think about fostering their talents. If they are still a little young for singing classes you can...more
It is possible that at some point of your life for some reason you will decide to learn singing.Not like the usual singing in the shower, but more like professional singing. In this case you need to head to a Singapore singing school and maybe who...more