PLAYING PIANO
Buy cheap 61 key keyboard know chords for tuning the voice. Play chords of songs to backing tracks. Memorize song chord changes. When playing the chords, put on a drum beat and play with the original song, and then with the backing track of the song.
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CELEBRITIES
Sinatra
Frank talking about his voice tuning book
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PROGRAMS & APPS
Cubase 12 for singing practice
Spectra Layers program to produce backing tracks from original songs
Connect program to practice with others at different locations
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SING SPEAK
Do it all day! Listen to Elvis talk … he was always slightly singing his speech …
BEFORE PERFORMING
1 Tune your voice several times in the day, and especially right before the performance. You can tune your voice when you are driving or before you leave.
2 Stretch. Do Yoga several times during the day if possible. Do one set as close as you can in time to the performance.
3 Vocalize for one hour or more before a performance. Don’t sing songs. You have done singing practice of your songs for days before this performance (not just the day before).
WHAT AUDIENCES EXPECT
1. Singing in tune to the notes of the scale
2. Singing emphasis on a consistent beat in the verses. This is Music not a speech. People want to hear a beat in your singing. A rhythm. Emphasize a down beat. This is done by going up in volume one level for one beat (ie. level 5 to level 6)
3. Words exaggerated – Ball in the mouth, enunciate big your words
4. Pleasant tones – use nasal and chest resonators, back palate, breath, vibrato
5. Volume changes – minor changes of volume inside verses and changes of volume louder or softer amongst the various verses. There are ten levels of volume. People appreciate when a singer changes between the levels even though they might not realize it. This is a sign of a quality singer. In many slow songs there are several subtle volume changes in just one verse.
Voice is Shot
If you have a bad cold, flu, allergy, etc. where you just can’t sing …. get prescription Prednisone (a steroid) = helps your throat come back if bronchitis or severe cold. It will clear up your voice in hours. In severe cases a Doctor will inject the drug into the throat.