Volume Dynamics
Dynamics
VOLUME LEVELS IN A SONG – LEVELS 1 TO 10 Very Important!!! — This is expression. This is the Pro level. Audiences expect changes in volume so the song doesn’t sound boring. Songs verses, portions of a verse, or even individual words are sung at different volumes.
Sustained Notes and Vibrato
Long Sustained Notes
Practice the notes of a scale with each note being held for 8 counts. Musically that would be two bars with a whole note in each bar and with a tie touching both whole notes. Volume and Pitch must be constant throughout the 8 counts.
Try to increase to 12 counts.
Vibrato
Elvis used vibrato in every song. He couldn’t do those slow songs with excellent vibrato without vocalizing practice.
Relative Pitch
Relative Pitch is the most important exercise - [do it periodically]
Melody Tuning
Elvis would go into the recording studio and all his band members would be there waiting … He would sit at the piano and start tuning his voice to melodies of songs. The first song he would always play and tune to was “Lead Me, Guide Me” a gospel favorite of his. He would mostly play gospel songs while other backup singers would join in singing harmony. He would do this for an about two hours while his band members would wait for him to start the recording session.
Simple Tuning
SIMPLE TUNING
OBJECTIVE
Your ear listens and tunes into the frequency of the note while your voice matches it and you see and feel the notes on the keyboard. This conditions the subconsciousand muscles to sing the correct pitches. This is for people who are just starting and know how to form the chord of the scale but don't know the full fingering of the whole scale. Also good for a quick tuning.
