musika

It was during my high school that I learned to strum my first guitar. It was actually my classmate’s guitar, back when we go to their house for class presentations and projects. During break times or while waiting for others to come, I began my learning of the guitar chord using song books which have guitar tabs on the back. 

Soon, guitar playing was getting a hit throughout the campus. Everybody brought their guitars of all color and sizes. A classmate of mine actually went to a classical guitar lessons. He was probably using popular guitar tabs like van halen guitar tabs or Judas Priest guitar tabs . Really interesting for me. 

Later, my future brother-in-law at that time decided to give to me his old guitar since he was about to leave the city. It was then that I had the chance to really practice my guitar chords. I haven’t gone to being a professional about it yet but I am pretty sure the tutorials I had and the resources I used for my learning were very much of help.

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No, I didn't ask if you blog while you listen to music. What I'm asking is do you blog about music. Or, are you a blogger who talks about specific topics and things? If so, then watch as iHype.com Launches because this website is definitely hot for you. Ihype is a website where you, whether as a blogger or an advertiser, will find what you need with the convenience of the website.

If you are an advertiser, iHype enables you  to generate word-of-mouth blog and website marketing, search engine rankings, traffic and pure internet visibility with the world's largest virtual society. The website is a wise investment for your marketing needs as it guarantees real visibility in the cyberspace.

 If you are a blogger and would like to empower your blog or website, then ihype offers so much for you and your little online abode. Not only does ihype lets choose from options on how to earn, it also conveniently advices you on how to get the most out of your websites and blogs

Opportunities are plenty and the options are many.

Indeed, the internet has allowed even the simplest people who stay at home and have an internet connectiont to make the most out of there hobby or past time.

I understand that blogging about a specific topic allows you to dig deeper and further into the topic that you chose. Just as this blog is all about music, music techniques, music opporunities, and a whole lot more, it gives one a great time and good sense of accomplishement to have written for something worth while. 

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If you are fond of collecting music, especially mp3's, then MusicMP3.ru is for you. MusicMP3 is more than a music archive. It gives you Music News, Album Reviews and a whole lot more. The website conveniently arranges your favorite mp3's according to its artists, soundtracks, reviews, genre and latests. It also lists for you the most popular ones being requested by thousands of users of the website.

Another feature of MusicMP3 is that it allows you to conveniently search for your favorites music and filtering the results by artist, by album or single, by song or those which are reviewed. For a very minimal amount, you can get the music as clear as crystal.

As it has been said for so many times, music and its industry has indeed come a long way from the first few attempts of inventing it. From the invention of the note symbol to the g-clef up to todays gazillions of genres and music styles, music has definitely been evolving.

Undeniably, technology has always been playing a crucial role in the evolution of music and the likes of music lovers. 

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If you are a professional singer, you know how important it is to keep a healthy body. Because healthy body enables you to sing and perform well, giving your best every time.

One of the most important parts of your body is, of course, the throat. This is where every note you sing comes out. While all else in your body is important, the throat is extra important for a singer like you. Without your throat, a singer is useless.

It is important that you take extra care of yourself. As a singer, the throat is extra prone to irritations and exhaustion, especially if you are a pop singer (who usually sings from his or her throat). If you ask any professional, it is very important to have a good and reliable medical plan. Advantage Medical Quotes offer a good array of choices for your health insurance for you to choose from. You could also ask for an online medical quote for your convenience. They assure you of low medical rates that are easy on the budget.

If you think health is not an investment, think again. We need to be healthy in order for us to do virtually any career or profession. Health is wealth they say. Investing on it is a sure win-win situation

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Have you tried the hottest trend for people search? It’s called Spock- the best for people search and if you haven’t tried it yet, then your way too medieval already. Spock is a free service that lets you find people and information in the internet complete with specifics like MySpace accounts and other affiliations. It can also classify and categorize your search for you.

Check this out, I did a little search here and this is what it gives you (http://www.spock.com/Guy-Sebastian). Well, Guy is one of my personal favorites in male singers. Is it because of his Angels Brought Me Here that brought to the top this Australian Idol? Could be. It’s just great to see Christian singers giving it a go in the wild music industry.

This is just one of what Spock can do. It really is great to have it especially for looking up your favorite artists and music idols. Aside from the full name, people can also be searched using the tags associated with it, or by email their email addresses – whatever suits you best. These information can be done through blogs and websites crawled by Spock themselves or can be put up by the searched person themselves. Cool huh!

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The web is a great avenue to get discovered. From singing to acting to modeling, the worldwide web has made the dreams of thousands of artist wannabe's come true.

One of the hottest sites to see is Look of the Year, a website looking for young, fresh beauties all over the globe. It's more than just a beauty contest, its a search for beautiful people. Get the chance to be the next model working in no less than Italy, France or the United States. Not only that, you might be the lucky one to win ten thousand dollars! Try it out!

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1. Let the music tell you what it wants. This is something that recording sensei Bruce Swedien emphasizes in his master classes. The music will tell you what it wants, but you have to listen. Rather than trying to sound like something else, bring out what’s unique in what you have.

2. Pay attention to the details. Listen to every track, in isolation, before you start mixing. With hard disk recording/editing, you can massage each track to eliminate any little pops, clicks, hisses, etc. This can make a big difference in the overall sound.

3. Always consider the context. A common mistake among newbie recordists is to solo a track and add EQ and effects to make it sound fantastic. Then they solo the next track and do the same thing. But there’s only so much bandwidth and dynamic range: Mixing all these “rich” sounds together can result in a mess. Each track is a piece of the puzzle, and needs to fit with the other tracks.

4. Differentiate instruments with EQ, not just panning. I always start mixing with all tracks panned to center, then use EQ to carve out frequencies that step on each other. For example, in a dance mix where the kick should hit hard, I’ll shave some low end off the bass while emphasizing its pick or filter attack. But with something that’s more old-school R&B, I’ll keep the bass full, and instead accent the kick drum’s mid and beater. Once you can clearly differentiate all the instruments in mono, bring on the panning.

5. Automatable EQ is your friend. Drop some of the piano midrange during the vocals so they don’t compete with the piano. Increase the upper mids a bit on the guitar solo so it “cuts” through the mix, then drop it back when the part reverts to rhythm guitar. Even changes of one or two dB affect the overall sound, and most hosts allow EQ automation (Figure 1).

6. Remember dynamics — ride the faders. When recording, there’s a tendency to use the maximum available headroom. You can restore a sense of dynamics by playing the faders as you mix — subtle changes in dynamics can make a mix “breathe.” And while mixing with a mouse is great for editing and touching up, it’s lousy for performing. Spring for a hardware fader controller to add some human feel.

7. Always be in “record automation” mode. As soon as you start mixing, enable automation recording. Sometimes your gut hears music better than your head, and your emotional, initial reaction toward a song might be what the music wants. Go ahead and get on it a little like the coolest san diego disc jockey there is.

8. Be brutal when you edit. I’m ruthless about cutting out whole sections of songs if they don’t work. Keep the pace moving, while of course respecting the dynamic flow. Recommended listening: “Shhh/Peaceful” from In a Silent Way, by Miles Davis. It was edited down from far more material to create a beautiful, concise listening experience.

9. Don’t try to master while you mix. A lot of people will slap a multiband compressor across the final output bus and go, “Okay, it’s mastered now!” Wrong. A good mastering engineer can make a good mix sound great, and a great mix sound transcendent. Although I’ll switch in some compression on occasion to get a rough idea of how mastering will influence the sound, when it’s time for the final rendering to stereo or surround, compression is outta there. To me, mastering is a different discipline than mixing.

10. Optimize your room acoustics. This is the foundation of a good mix: Mixing great music in a room with poor acoustics is like trying to make a great dinner in a cockroach-infested kitchen. If your mixes sound great in your studio and not-so-great everywhere else, you definitely need an acoustics makeover.

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Self-Publishing and Copyright Protection

Self-publishing your work does not change copyright. As soon as you set down your work in concrete form, you had copyright protection.

Even though some authors do not register their commercially-published works, the self-publisher is highly advised to do so. Two copies of the work are required in the application package.

A work for hire is a work which is created and turned over to another person for a flat fee. No royalties for publication or performance are paid the creator, and the rights to the work belong to the other party. This frees you up from complicated legal acts as compliated as a probate process.

A work for hire requires that a number of conditions be met. If these conditions are not met, the work is not considered a work for hire. Among the conditions:

• the work must be created to fulfill to a specific request, not a casual expression of interest in such a creation
• it must be a movie or video soundtrack, a musical contribution to a collective work (such as an album or a songbook), an arrangement of an existing piece of music, or some other form specified in the copyright statutes, etc.
• there must be an agreement, signed by both parties, that this is a work for hire.

Since a contract specifying this is a work for hire is a necessary condition to designation of work for hire, any musician who creates a piece at someone else's request probably retains ownership of the rights in the absence of a work for hire contract. Therefore, any commissioned piece, such as by a symphony orchestra to a composer, is likely to remain the property of the composer rather than the commissioning body. An exception would be if the contract the composer signs states that the composers gives all rights to the commissioning body.

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Charisma is that special magical, magnetic charm or appeal that you cannot learn or buy. You can't take charisma lessons the way you take guitar lessons. You can read all the books you like on the subject, but the bottom line with charisma is—you either have it or you don't! Confused? Well, just keep reading.

Charisma is what enables an artist to take his talents—whether minimal or exceptional—and make them personal and unique. It's a stamp of identity that immediately conjures up images of that artist in your mind's eye. It is what forever endears you to that artist. It is a trait the artist possesses both on stage and off.

What can you do to become more charismatic, more appealing, more magical, more magnetic?

1. Be yourself. I know this will sound stupid and obvious, but nobody else is you. Nobody else has what you have. Hey, that makes you unique, right? You bet! So why not use it? How can you be charming and magical if you're always trying to be something or someone else?

2. Don't hide the things that make you different. Take advantage of them; flaunt them. Buddy Holly's glasses, Jon Popper's girth, Mel Tillis' speech impediment, are all unique features that make these performers immediately recognizable and add to their charisma and charm. An Orlando cosmetic procedures may help but is not really necessary just for the sake of impressing an audience. Keep it natural and real. What you see is what you get!

3. Make your special gifts standout.
This will make you less self-conscious and more at ease. It is not easy to come to terms with the fact that you are fat—especially in the Rock world. But once you can admit that even though you are fat, you're still a kick-ass performer and songwriter, you can get to the job of being real.

4. Don't be afraid to make mistakes or people laugh at you.
Most of the Rock icons mentioned in this story were ridiculed. People laughed when Elvis gyrated his pelvis. They insulted Boy George for his homosexuality and his outlandish costumes. They burned John Lennon's records because of his appeal to the youth of the world and his sharp, snappy wit. Today, we still get a chuckle from watching performance footage of Little Richard.

Many of today's newer performers are exciting to watch. Nobody will argue that Limp Bizkit doesn't put on an awesome, action-packed live show. Or that Korn doesn't tear the house down in concert. But are these charismatic performers or merely performers putting on an exciting show? There's a world of difference. Garth Brooks' charisma transcends his live performances. His magnetic, magical personality is apparent whether playing live or at a quaint, dinner spot. You do not turn charisma on and off.

As you traverse the waters of the music business over the next few years, remember that musical styles will come and go. Radio formats will change. People's tastes will vary from one week to the next. Talent will always remain but a single element of success, and charisma, a very essential part of that mix.

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1. Be In Good Voice. If you haven’t sung in a while, you can’t expect to go into an audition and perform well. Singing every day (or very close to it) is essential for keeping your voice healthy and strong. It’s a great idea to look over the score (if you can find it), or listen to the cast CD, and start singing the songs from the show several weeks ahead of time.

2. Know the Show. In musical theatre, there’s no excuse for not being familiar with the show you’re auditioning for. Remember that the better you know it, the better you'll audition for it. Hop online and find a synopsis, listen to the cast album (buy the CD, or find a copy of the album at a library...sometimes theatres even have copies they’ll loan to you), and read the script (again, look online for it, or ask the theatre if they have perusal copies available).

3. Prepare your audition material. If the theatre asks for a prepared monologue, and you don’t already have several in your memory banks, find one AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Do not wait until a week or two before the audition. Learn that monologue ASAP.

4. Keep your hands out of your pockets.

5. Have properly prepared sheet music. Make sure it’s written out in the right key, and that any tempo changes, repeats, codas, etc. are all marked clearly (red ink works well for this). Never give a pianist sheet music in the form of a music book. That makes it too difficult to turn the pages. Make a photocopy of your song, and tape the edges together, accordion fashion.

6. Enter with confidence. Believe it or not, the way you walk on stage can either make a great impression on the director, or a very bad one. Keep good posture (shoulders back!), your chin at a natural level, don't stare at the floor. Walk with confidence, even when you’re terrified.

7. Dress Well. Dress for an audition the way you’d dress for a nice date. In general, avoid jeans and sweatshirts, and don’t dress in an evening gown, either. Don’t wear clothes that are so big and floppy nobody can tell whether or not you have a beer gut. Don’t wear uncomfortable shoes, or something that’s too tight; that’s the last thing you need when you’re already nervous.

Don’t come in costume, but don’t miss the chance to “dress the part” a little, either. If you’re bald and must portray a role of a long hair rock star, you don’t have to get a hair restoration really but a good, well suited wig might just help. If you’re called back, wear the same outfit you wore the first day, and wear your hair and makeup the same way, too. They liked what they saw...don’t change it! In a large audition, wearing the same outfit also makes it easier for the director to remember you. (Carol Burnett tells a wonderful story about her big break: She wore an orange dress to the audition, and—because she had no other “good dress” to wear—wore the same orange dress to the callbacks. It was a good thing, because the director couldn’t remember her name—he just asked the stage manager to bring out the “girl in the orange dress.” If she’d been wearing another outfit, she may never have landed the role that became her "big break.")

8. Be friendly. You don’t want to be overly talkative (auditions take a long time, and everyone wants to be done as soon as possible), but you shouldn’t be antisocial, either. Smile and be personable. The director wants to know he'll be spending the next few months (or weeks or months) with people that are easy to get along with. Although you want to be friendly with the other auditionees, avoid conversation in the auditioning room, and don’t get so engrossed in chit–chat that you end up having no time to center yourself and concentrate before you audition.

9. Sing out Louise. When you sing, just stand there and sing. Never do choreography or blocking to accompany your song. (An exception to this might be the pop singer who has dancing as an integral part of their act.) Don’t wander around the stage. Use hand and arm movements only if they are natural. This is no time to be shy, so sing out, as if you were giving a performance. And, just like a performance, don’t forget to feel your song. Good acting is vital to good singing.

10. Never Snap your fingers or clap your hands at the pianist. Even when you’re just “trying to help them with the tempo.” Many musicians take deep offense at this.

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Few things can screw a singer’s voice – and a concert – up more quickly than singing with a dry throat or mouth. There are various reasons for that. In case of emergency, here are some tips even Crespi doesn't know yet.

Pineapple juice

Far and away, the best choice available. Doesn’t matter if it’s room temp or a bit chilled, but nothing cold. And nothing with chunks in it, those can make you cough. Pineapple juice is slick, it will instantly moisten your throat, wet your tongue – and cause you to salivate, which is the best lubrication you can find. 1 glass per 45 minute set, a sip or two between songs, that’s all you need. Remember, you’re just lubricating, not quenching thirst. Do not go overboard with pineapple juice, you will spend the next morning in the bathroom. Crazy as pineapple juice sounds, it’s the best thing you can use.


Strawberry Juice

I don’t go out of my way to get this one, but if I can’t get my hands on pineapple juice this will do for a one off. It can be grainy, so just sip. SIP. It will also cause you to salivate, and it will make your mouth very slick. Again, don’t overdo it.


Honey

And by this, I mean pure honey. Not honey mixed in with some silly tea. If your throat really gets it, you can carry a small squeezable tube of honey around with you and use a tiny bit as needed. Salivation is instant and that’s what it’s all about.


Olives

Again, the real olive, not olive oil, though I suppose that would work in a pinch. Olives are readily available in most bars, just nibble (NIBBLE) at one until your throat feels nice and wet.

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My sister is a singer. She used to regularly work with our church music ministry during services, festivals and even crusades. She started at a young age and through out time, she learned a lot, not only in her spiritual life but also in her singing and music skills.
There was one time though that she had problems with her throat. She experienced that due to fatigue and stress. She looked for a good doctor who advised her to take a total vocal rest for a few weeks. Good thing she had it checked as the damaged could only have gotten worse if she delayed her consultation.
Seeing a doctor as soon as possible can really be critical especially to a singer. Though highly unnecessary, there are just times that incidents like these happen, especially when a singer does not recognize that he or she is already stressed. Before seeing a doctor, it can be a good practice to read reviews of skilled nursing facilities in case you would have to be admitted (worse case scenario) to make sure that you are really taken cared properly.
Health is one of biggest things a singer must invest at. A healthy body ensures a good performance and plays a big role for a singer to give a top quality sound.

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Many music artists who want to start or who have just started a career in music ask a huge question and that is - is physical appearance really important in succeeding in music.
The question is a huge topic to discuss as there are many different aspects in music that involve it. Also, beauty and appropriate physical appearance is highly subjective from one person to another. To begin with, appearance is undeniably a huge factor in entertaining your audience.
Depending on your genre, your style of music can be highly accentuated (or distracted) by your physical appearance. If you ask about whether it affects on making good music, I doubt it does. Quality and mastery in music can only be achieved with good discipline in training of the craft as well as artistry in doing.
Still, if you ask whether physical appearance is a huge factor in entertaining your audience and reinforcing the beauty of your music, I highly believe so. Singing jazz music wearing slippers, rugged pants and a tee can be very destructive to watch. Some artists even go to extents as getting a rhinoplasty revision in Beverly Hills just to accentuate their beauty and catch more attention. Just as it is important to add Mexican decorations to a Mexican restaurant to make your customers really feel the Mexican theme, so it is to dress appropriately during a performance.

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Blogging is getting more and more popular by the minute. Blogs like this one talk about things of the author's interest. In my case, music. For several years now, blogging provides an avenue for people to share their thoughts and feeling, their emotions and opinions about a certain subjet matter as well as talk about something that they are knowledgable about.

Now, blogging has turned into something more. A certain blog like this which talks about a certain niche can become an avenue for advertisers. Websites like that of bloggerwave provides services for those who would accept adveritisng in their websites. They connect you with advertisers around the world.

Blogging is really rewarding not just emotionally but also mentally and financially. People can make money out of it, creating a whole new industry for people to be at.  

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Music is a beautiful and artistic way of telling someone of how much you love him of her. For hundreds (possibly thousands even) of years, music has been part of any culture and raise in relaying a message, more so in courtship and love.

Music can talk about hatred and envy and pain. It can also talk about affection, excitement and love. It is merely a version of the ways words are said and relayed to another person. Some people express there love by requesting a song during a night out. Some do more though. They send out a singer or group of singers together with a flower delivery. Red roses are the ones that are popular for these since red is usually associated with love. These things really tickle a fancy for people who are wooed.

The celebration of love for this month can be done through music as medium. For sure, most restaurants set the “love” mood using sensual music and love songs.

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The start of two thousand and eight flew so fast. It’s February again. Right before the summer season begins, one season comes in between. A season celebrated by people all around the world, the season of love – commonly known as Valentines Day.

Just as hearts sing in tune for love this season, many singing groups are also into the love frenzy by serenading and aiding people to fall in love. I remember one time this event in school where there were trade show booths and trade show exhibits . I was heading a choir then and helped them when they decided to offer singing gram services for the day of hearts, February fourteen.

The day was very festive. Lovers and suitors were asking us to serenade their loved ones anywhere in the campus. It was really fun and enjoyable. Singing really brings a lot, not just the tone and music but also the love messages that each song brings with it.

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Online communities are so common nowadays. Usually, each exists for a certain purpose. Take for example a community that solely exists to talk about Joomla or Wordpress. The community not only exists to so that people could meet but more over, so that people could help each other in different aspects of managing the two very popular content management system platforms widely used today. It involves the technical, social and even psychological aspects of being webmasters of these platforms.

For music, a site like MusicMP3.ru does a good job at helping music lovers find the right music by providing music news and album reviews . You can find mp3’s by artist, by collections, by soundtracks, by genre or even by year. They also feature new mp3 releases and combined hit list.

This and many other sites do a good job by being a means of distribution of music. As varied as music is today, such also is the variety of ways we get to appreciate music all the more. In my previous posts, you can see how technology has changed the way things are for music, from the very first invention of a microchip that has prompted and sped up the developments of almost everything that are of interest of humans.

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Music has always been a money industry. This is very evident today, even in reality shows. One of the roads to success or stardom is winning a popular, if not nationwide talent search. To many, they join for the reason of earning a lot while doing what they love best –singing. If, however, if you don’t win any of these competitions or you are the discreet type who doesn’t want to line up with hundreds of people for audition, you can try online video uploading.

Many people now have been discovered through free online video sharing. They just sing to their heart’s content in the comforts of their own room (comfort room for some) and upload it in the web. It is much easier that filling up those application forms and lining up for hours. Technology does a lot for people in terms of convenience and broadcasting.

I did a little search and found a site where you could actually upload your music, place your price and when somebody wants to buy it, the site would pay you sixty-five percent of the sales. Whoa! Even amateurs can now sell their songs and albums. I don’t know yet if it is shopping cart software they are using or not. I haven’t signed up yet. I haven’t had the time to record a few songs anyway. But that’s one good thing technology has brought into the music industry, the opportunity for people unknown from the world to broadcast themselves and sing to their heart’s content.

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Today, blog advertising happens all around. Even in the music industry. Music has never gotten away from the limelight, especially in today’s developments in technology.

If you have observed, a lot of devices are created to specifically cater to music lovers and the music industry as a whole. Take for example the Ipod from apple. This device has been around all because of music. Although current product developments have prompted to device to cater to a person’s other needs as well like cellular phone telecommunications, image archiving, internet access and so much more, it is undeniable that such gadgets started out all because humans have always loved hearing music and taking music anywhere they go is a very great idea. Before the Ipod, there was walkman, then diskman – all created to human’s demand in music.

Aside from convenience, technology has also brought about more dynamism in music. The very invention of electronic devices like the keyboard has created almost infinite combinations of sound effects to create music wherein an example is the creation of the music genre called “Techno”. The very name came from the root word technology.

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Growing up in a family that has a long line of history in music, specifically in singing gives me the thought of trying out singing as a career. Many who have music inclination may hope to find a job in the music industry.

I have known a lot of people trying it out for the love of music. I’ve had aunties and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews who have tried it out and have gone a long way as far as helping their family for their daily financial needs.

For sure, this does not come instantly. It needs a huge time of physical, mental and emotional preparation and training. Prior, you should have already an experience first as an amateur singer where you build your roots and your name. It is not easy to build a name as you must create a reputation and be known for several music genres.

Having spots in good music places like hotel lounges and bars can give you not just exposure but an experience that will always be part of you. There, just like many other jobs you would take, you would encounter different people with different preferences and attitude. You would have to be able to handle these if you plan to make singing a career.

Soon, when you (or your band) have established enough name and quality in music, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to find people or establishments who will be willing to finance for your continued work and performances.

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Are you planning to buy the musical instrument that you have long wanted? Modern technology has made musical instruments much more available and affordable these days. Before, people used to have grand pianos. Those wooden and beautifully designed classics are wonderful. However, unless you can afford one on cash, you would have to have it loaned in order to have one. That would mean you shouldn’t have previous bad credit loans to get one.

But today, if you cannot afford a classic grand piano, you can get a keyboard instead which are way much cheaper. Or if you still want to have that classic, antique or natural look of a grand piano, you can have Clavinova, a very interesting digital piano created by Yamaha Corporation. It is actually a clever fusion of the classic wooden feel of grand pianos enhanced by digital features which are characteristics of a keyboard.

This is just an example of how modern day technology has enhanced and has made affordable musical instruments that have longed been loved by musicians and avid music lovers.

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If you have been using the internet for some time already, I have probably seen websites selling their songs. It comes form the structured modern songs of known artists to amateur singers with high hopes to be heard by the world and sell their music. Some use free web community accounts to share a portion of their music just to show their talent. Some however use modern ways like using shopping cart software to manage well their inventory, online queries, ordering and payments. The possibilities are growing just as music has been evolving throughout time.

An important reality check is the fact that the Internet is not a shortcut to success -- it’s simply another tool, one that can be very effective in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. Still, it’s important to have realistic expectations before investing your time and money marketing your music online. You’re going to face some very heated competition. There literally tens of thousands of musicians out there who already have web pages on the Internet. How can you compete with all those musicians? They are just the tip of the iceberg, though. Once you embark upon your promotional journey, you are, in a very real sense, competing with every other web page out there. How can you possibly stand out in that crowd? Pretty daunting, isn’t it?

To succeed on the Internet, you must prepare yourself for the long haul and prepare to work hard. Success on the Internet won’t come overnight.

Always keep the following questions in the back of your mind. They hold the key to successful online music promotion:

1. What is unique about my music?
2. What general style of music are my fans most interested in?
3. What other artists do my fans compare my music to? and most importantly...
   
4. Who is my target customer?
5. What kind of information is my *target* customer searching for on the Internet?
6. How can I use that information to bring that target customer to my web site?

You can use the Internet to create a huge amount of exposure for your music. The more exposure you generate, the more likely you are to gain new fans, sell more music get more gigs and of course, make those contacts you want to make within the music industry.

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One of the ways to project your voice is by learning how to breathe properly. Breathing is defined as the alternate inhalation and exhalation of air during respiration.
Breathing greatly affects voice projection. Generally, a good breath control is essential if you want to sing safely and powerfully.
There are two very important body parts that we use when we breathe: the lungs and the diaphragm. The lungs are commonly used as air storage. Just underneath the lungs is the diaphragm.
It is highly advisable to always use your diaphragm when singing. Why? Because the diaphragm is one of the main muscles responsible for generating a powerful voice. (There is another kind of muscles that I will mention later).
The diaphragm is in its resting (convex) position during exhalation. When you breathe in, the diaphragm moves downward into a concave position making room for your lungs to take in air. This is an automatic movement and the only way you can control this is during inhalation.
As you release the air together with the words of the song you are singing, your sound volume decreases unless you use your diaphragm to support your voice.
Aside from the diaphragm, there is another set of muscles that play a very important role in generating a powerful voice, the lower abdominal muscles. These are the muscles located just underneath the diaphragm.
The lower abdominal muscles should be in a relaxed position when breathing in. This would mean that when you breathe out as you sing, the muscles will contract, pushing and controlling the air flow.


Simple Breathing Exercise:

Remember to breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth. And as you breathe in the lower abdominal muscles should expand and contract as you breathe out. You may put your right or left palm on your tummy so you can feel the expansion and contraction of the lower abdominal muscles. If you have a difficulty trying it, just imagine your reaction the moment you know that your payday loan is approved.

Do this gradually a few times. It might take a while to co-ordinate. Practice this exercise at a maximum of 1 minute per set of inhalation and exhalation. then take another 1 minute rest and then do it again up to a maximum of 5 minutes only. Remember to drink water in between rests.

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Have you tried singing with a group pressured by time and has about five minutes to prepare in the backstage right before the performance? Well, I have. And it’s an experience I don’t want to encounter again. What’s worse? It’s a competition! Oh great!

I was actually with a choral group and we were late because of the checks made at the entrance of the casino (not an online casino but a real casino by the way) where the competition was held.

The biggest tip I can give: Always prepare for the worst and hope for the best in every performance. Things unimaginable could come out from nowhere and grab you by the neck. In our case, each of us was carrying a lot of stuff like costumes and many different bags for personal belongings.

We understand that the check was for security reasons but boy, did it contribute to the tense or what! Maybe the choir that time was too complacent, arriving almost just on time.

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I attended once a concert of two siblings, a soprano and a tenor - two of the best singers in the country. It actually was a small intimate concert for a cause, one that the siblings are very keen to do. Big prominent people of the city were there.

Makes me thought of the intimate concerts I see in movies. A small room in an expensive hotel, wonderfully arranged tables with silver settings. The old rich men are smoking while the old ladies compared their fancy, if not weird, hats. The president is there, the richest man in the city, prominent figures like Bill Gates and George Lindemann ( I don't know if Bill Gates is the type who does this thing, hehe). Beautiful and rich celebrities whos gown are the envy of the wives of politicians. Quite an interesting scene.

But back to the concert I went to, there was nothing like that really. Yes, the rich ones in the cities are there maybe but only those who believe for the concert's cause. I think the singers went for a minimum talent fee as well. Good to have hearty singers around :)

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I have always been curious what it's like to make music as career. As a working professional and had a bit of experience of my course, I went to a stage when I was questioning myself whether that was it for me. " Is this the only thing I'll be doing for the rest of my life?" was the question I frequently ask myself even until now. Maybe I just can't stop asking until I can say the answer is yes.

Watching singers and musicians above stage, singing their hearts out, I wonder how they plan their lives to be. Well, not really a life plan but a some sort of it. Who knows what happens in the future, ey.

Those who have spent their lives singing in concerts and recording hits that millions would love, how has their life been? It must have been both fun and painful - the money, glamour, fame and North Virginia plastic surgery . Interesting. Curious even.

Is it worth it? Not everyone goes there. But still, it was choice and hard work that put them there. They choose to pursue something that has given them meaning. Beautiful.

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# Plan ahead
# Sore throat? Try an apple or pear (or their juices)

# Don't do anything that will hurt your voice in any way
# When looking for a teacher, ask about his/her backgroud in music, and whether they are willing to help you learn how to sing something other than their style of singing
# Just because a singer sounds nice doesn't mean s/he can sing

# When you are learning to sing, you are doing it to find out what your voice is capable of, not someone else's; be happy with what you have
# To those who want to sing pop music: There is nothing wrong with learning classical

# To those who wish to sing classical: There is nothing wrong with learning popular
# You are not the person on the radio-don't try to imitate them unless you are trying to learn something
# Don't inhale any kind of smoke at any time whatsoever
Reason: Smoke sticks to and burns your vocal cords.
# Don't drink
# Don't do drugs

# Don't allow people to come at your vocal cords with sharp instruments. In other words: Don't allow doctors to perform surgery on your vocal cords, as there is a possibility you may never sing again after this. The only way to not have vocal problems is to not do harm to your voice in the first place, a skill which isn't taught due to lack of information.
# No more yelling
# You can forget ice-cold drinks unless you have some sort of trauma to the throat area, i.e. tonsils removed, that sort fo thing.
Reason: It tightens up your vocal cords. They must be warm and loose in order for you to sing properly.
# Don't talk too much
Reason: It wears down your vocal cords.
# Try to stay away from a lot of dust

# Try to cough a little quieter
# Don't sing any song out of your range
# No more than 3 performances per week

# Don't sing your loudest for extended periods of time
# Ask as many questions of as many people as you can about singing
# Keep away from air conditioning for at least two hours before a performance

# Get to know and understand the organs involved in singing
# Singing will help to cure a sore throat that is not the result of oversinging or overtalking
# Practice as slowly and softly as possible
# Learn every style of singing you can
# Dairy products cause phlegm

# Singing helps to get rid of phlegm
# Keep a mint or hard candy handy
# When singing, make sure you know what the song is about by knowing what all the words mean and what is going on in the music.
# If you must sing in a group, make sure you know what the other voices are doing
# Know what the music is doing

# Contrary to classical tradition, taking pictures is not a distraction
# It is harder to make an audience sit in quiet awe than it is to start a party
# Play to the back of the crowd
# Being hoarse in the morning does not mean you will be hoarse in the evening
# After performing, place a warm, wet towel around your neck and do not speak for 10 minutes

# Gargle with warm water containing 1/2 tsp each of salt and baking soda
# Try to wear only one fabric on stage
Reason: Those lights get hot
# Learning how to sing well takes time. There are no shortcuts.
# Try to make as little air as possible come out of your mouth when you are singing a musical phrase
# Train your ears by playing only the first note of a musical exercise

# Always take one day a week off
# Unless it's called for, always stand with good posture (this does not mean standing stiffly) when you sing
# Any move you make will affect the sound you are trying to produce
# Keep the tip of you tongue below your teeth
# Don't exert yourself the day before a performance

Source: Dwayne's Singing Page

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Classics are admirable. They resemble years unfading in the heart of people. Classic artists like Beth Midler, Matt Monroe, Engelbert Humperdinck and Barbara Streisand (i wonder if Los Angeles rhinoplasty nose surgery keeps track of that nose, hehe! kidding).

I admire them not only for their voice quality but also for those years of training and creating songs that has become part of history - the ones remade by enumerable modern artists. The originals are still the originals, unbeatable and never fading.

For me, it seems that they have made their mark not only in the music industry but also in the human history as well. 

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I was just thinking about it. Don't animals respond to music as well?

I remeber this cat I saw in a tv show who "meows" each time a guitar is strum. Or those dogs in dog kennels outside the house who howl each time a music plays. Maybe they wonder how sounds are created too. Just like a child who imitates sounds that he hears, pets too try to imitate not really the sound but the beat.

I remember one time, we were in a research groupmate's house who has this huge dobberman. The big dog was about to sleep when I got bored and started to stump my feet on the floor. I didn't notice until sometime after that the dog's head went nodding (or twitching) each time i stump. I told my groupmate and did it for sometime until the dog woke up ang looked for another place to sleep.

Poor dog..

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I found this site that has interestingly posted the "Premature Death of Rock Stars".  It states that while the average age of death of Americans is 75.8 years, the average death of rockstars included in their list is 36.9 years. Hmm.. is it because of the lifestyle? Probably.

A Rock Star stereotype is a someone with lots of women, alcohol, drugs and a long untidy black hair. Who needs a hair transplant? Hehe. I wonder if this holds true to other countries. I think it is the US who started that rock craze with loud noise and and stone old guitars that "twang" around the onert hall. The modern predecessors were just following the fad.

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A bit off this time. Music from nature.

Still, i feel the connection between the music that we hear in MTV and the music we hear when we go out into an open field with birds chirping and wind rustling through the branches of the trees.

Ancient Chinese music exhibits this. With the use of instruments that replicate sounds like rushing water and blowing wind, their music sooths out stress and relaxes the mind. It's so pure, plain and simple, no plastic surgeon needed.

Many modern songs are inspired by nature. Sound effects from a modern keyboard recreate  sounds inspired by natural tones. Still, though efforts are credible enough, nothing compares to the dynamic and unpredictable sounds of nature.

Try it, it's free. 

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One of the privileges of having a singing career is the travelling. And if you have a good manager / conductor / organizer, you'll enjoy travelling and experiencing different places. You'll see different hotels, like the Rancho Santa Fe hotels and accomodations, enjoy being pampered as a guest.

Well, hard work pays off after all!

Travelling with friends or co-choir members is very much fun as it is work. It lightens up the reasons of going there. Aside from the travel, you'll feel that you'll also have a bit of a time for yourself, if you know how to demand for it and the schedule permits it.

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It is vital that anyone who aspires to be a singer must study with a sound teacher. And it has to be remembered that singing involves the whole of the person and the whole of the body . The exposure in singing is unparalleled in the arts.

The voice always presents problems and the fear of losing it is never far from the singer's mind. Going to a teacher who is unqualified and one who promises you success and the promise that they can make you sing high notes or complicated songs will be disastrous.

Do not go to a teacher who makes such promises.

There are many textbooks on the art of singing some of which contradict each other. As Dr Alfred Alexander points out, "There are teachers who are charlatans. They can ruin voices and cause psychological damage to the singer."

There is one vital and critical piece of information that must be realised and accepted by everybody. No singing teacher can add to the voice; all the qualities needed in singing already exist, or do not exist, within it. To give a comparison: an expert gardener can do all that is necessary in preparing the soil, caring for the seeds, planting them at the right time and caring for them but he can draw nothing out of the seed or plant that is not already there.

It follows that smoking is undesirable for singers, although, at one time, Caruso smoked 60 a day! A good diet and when to eat before singing is also an important consideration.

Forcing the voice damages the vocal chords and by forcing we mean singing too loudly and trying to reach top notes. You should only sing notes that are comfortable and natural.

As Sir Adrian Boult told us, "If you are straining you are not singing."

The singer must have a sound teacher and be willing to trust that singer and take on board all instruction. The singer must also study sonognosy, the consciousness of one's own voice.

The proper attitude of any singer is not to be a showman or showwoman but to give intense delight and pleasure to others. The singer should be concerned with making a beautiful sound and experiencing a sense of fulfilment by the happiness it gives to others. It is the applause that makes the singer feel good not a cracked top note. The successful singer is a slave to good technique, detail and accuracy rather to self enchantment. Any fool can sing a song incorrectly and in their own way.

Don't be deceived. An audience of ordinary people is not stupid. They can recognize wrong notes and when the singer is not up to the song. Most can hear a dreadful out of tune top note or a low note that is unclear. No singer wants to just to sing, but also to give pleasure and feel good about the performance and the response to it.

There are , basically, two types of singing voice namely the lyric and the dramatic. The lyric singer has a light voice with less power and some amateurs are only suitable for a drawing room or small hall. Usually the range of a lyric voice is small and this is the way nature has made it. To attempt to sing more powerfully or to attempt to achieve high notes will always end in tears. The dramatic singer has a more powerful voice and, usually, a greater range. Some dramatic singers can only sing in a lyric style but it does not work the other way round. Some lyric singers, knowing, but not admitting the smallness of their voice use amplification, use microphones which should tell them their limitations. An amplified voice is not a natural voice.

There are three requirements for any singer :

1. First, a sonorous voice

2. Second, enunciation to make each word and note clear and to enable the sense of it to be understood

3. Third, the ability to adapt the voice to the expression of different sentiments and passions.

There are two basic things for the singer to consider namely the physical and the aesthetic. Singing is physical. Aesthetics refers to the appreciation of and the communication of beauty. This does not change. Fashions change and some singers feel they have have to adjust to meet current trends. But beauty and the principles of singing are constant. They do not change.

Don't trust a teacher who contradicts this!

The principles of singing do not change. Singing must have volume. You can't be a singer with a whisper of a voice. The voice must have quality, intensity and expression and passion throughout its range. The breath must be in complete control but the act of breathing should be comparatively unnoticed. Then we talk about the attack in a song. That does not mean that we are aggressive or bellicose. It means the approach, the vigorous application to enunciation must be eloquent where each word and note counts and, incidentally, every rest and pause counts as well. Detail is essential and the louds and softs , the tone colour, must be observed. Songs at a uniform volume can be tedious. Intonation must be impeccable. Notes that are "off" are self-afflicted wounds and a personal disgrace. Rhythm is also important. Rhythm is an all-embracing word. It refers to the right tempo of a song (the correct speed at which it is sung), the right value of all notes and rests, the pulse of the song with a slight emphasis on the first beat of the bar and the measured flow of the music. It has to do with stress not only on the first beat or any other accented notes but essential words but it must sound natural.

There is a curious trait among some female singers. They think that they are not good singers unless they can sing very high notes, namely those above the stave. They have this other false notion that a soprano gets, and must get these top notes!

This glamorous quest for high notes is a vanity seldom found among male singers.

However, it is vital that a singer looks good at a public concert. Men have a limited wardrobe and a smart suit and tie suffices but, as with female singers, they should not wear anything that is tight particulalry if it affects the breathing and poise.

The matter of poise should be briefly mentioned here. How do we stand? We need to stand with our feet about nine inches apart so that the balance is equally distributed on both legs. This means that if someone pushed you you would remain standing. The upper body should be very slightly forward . The idea of standing straight as if you are in the army is nonsense. Hands should be across the body above the waist, straight and at 90 degrees to the elbows. One hand should be lightly resting on the other but there should be no contact with the body. The head should be at 90 degrees with the body and never tilted upwards. You should fix your gaze slightly above the audience's head for posture purposes only. You should look confident and as well as being confident.

A female singer should dress elegantly but avoid too much make-up. In a warm hall it can run. Jewellery should also be at a minimum and if one item should be discarded it is earrings since certain metals can by vibration and resonance add to the voice. Skirts and dresses are always preferable although they should be modest and not revealing. The attention should always be on the song and its performance.

We have rightly emphasised the high notes. Low notes are also important. If it is a strain to get them one should not attempt the song publicly. Many believe to transpose the song , that is to write it in a different key to make the pitch suit the voice is acceptable. But a song, albeit the same, in a different key can sound very wrong.

Source: http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2002/Nov02/singing2.htm

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Breathing plays a central key in singing. It dictates rythm and style. Try breathing quickly ang your sound (or style) changes. What differs Josh Groban from Bryan Adams? It's the vocal quality projected as well as the the breathing dynamics that sets the two apart.

Josh generates vocal power from the diapghram and breathes continuously. Bryan Adams on the other hand breathes profusely while compressing the throat to give out that husky, rocky voice that hase become his trademark.

Generating the voice through the mouth can be modified with the use of the nose. This is especially good for Altos and Tenors who are usually challenged to hit high notes above their  regular ranges. It makes hitting high notes cleaner and simpler. It also elevates your facial muscles to make the sound brighter. (Boy, how difficult it is for a singer to break one's nose. Better find a good rhinoplasty in Oakland quickly. Hehe)

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We have already stated that interpretation is the realization of what the composer has written and as exactly as is possible.. We made the obvious comparison between translating one language into another.

It is lamentable that singers, and other performers 'mess about with' the material and 'do it their way'. If the composer wanted it done their way he would have written it their way.

Imagine you are a painter and have produced a painting which you consider to be very good. But someone comes in and says that you should have done this and that and takes up a paint brush and makes some alterations. How would you feel? The unwelcome interfering person interpreted the work differently from you but what he has done is ruined your painting , insulted you deeply and caused criminal damage..

The word style, sadly, covers a gamut of notions.

Simply, it means type or sort. We talk about an elegant style of a house. This also means that some houses do not have an elegant style. It means that there are various sorts of houses.

In music there are many styles. Some people stupidly lump together all music that is not pop or easy listening as classical or serious. But that simply is not true. There is medieval music, renaissance music, classical music, romantic music, impressionistic music, contemporary music and so on all of which be called serious music.

If your choir is singing a Tudor anthem by Byrd or Tomkins you cannot sing it as jazz or as a blues although we have to lament the modern trend to jazz up works of previous generations. This is the same as that person adding to your painting which you and others admired before he ruined it!

This point highlights the second definition of style which is the manner in which it is written and their are distinctive styles within certain artistic schools or periods of history. As we have said Tudor anthems cannot be sung as jazz or the blues. Historically and artistically it would be very wrong.

Style also refers to superior quality. We talk about some fashion as having style.

But the real meaning of style in music means the correct way of production, to perform in the specified and designated way. In other words, to perform what is written as it is written and to take no liberties with what is written.

Of course, there are styles that are not serious music as, for example, jazz and the blues. These have a style quite different from serious music. but the singer should still follow the composer's written instruction, namely the music.

Pop music lacks style. The singers and groups who perform this material are not concerned with accuracy, beautiful sounds and singing. Take Lulu's song Shout in which she does not sing but bawl, shout, scream and screech. Listen to the group Oasis who never make a pleasant sound but sound dreadfully nasal. Listen to other singers and groups and note the shocking breath control. So many pop singers, singers of ballads and folk music have no idea of diction and many cannot sing in tune. Some singers strain and made other hideous noises. That is not singing!

But, it will be said, how do we make a song our own?

First we must remember that the music of a song belongs to the composers. Not to us.

How we make it our own is largely due to our faithfulness to it.

I was an adjudicator at a singing festival on one occasion. We had to listen to eight sopranos sing Roger Quilter's Go lovely rose.

One girl had a voice 'to die for'. Another contestant did not have such a good voice but she sang perfectly in accordance with every note and instruction on the printed page. There was every crescendo and diminuendo, every staccato and rallentando. Every phrase was shaped exactly right. Her breath control, her diction, her commitment was absolutely spot on. She knew the song inside out. She sang from memory. The girl with the voice 'to die for' did not follow all the composers instructions but her voice had a clearer sound.

Who did we select as the winner?

The best voice or the best performer?

Style and interpretation overlap in definition. But what we have said is sufficient for each honest singer to put these vital points in practice.

You look at a new song and discover its style. Is it medieval, renaissance, classical, jazz or a blues? Once that is established, you learn it as written and your interpretation of it is to be as close as possible to the text.


Source: http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2002/Nov02/singing5.htm

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Well, technically, looks are not required to have a beautiful voice.

However, physical and mental presence is.

Just like with any performance, singing requires a lot of presence of mind and self-confidence. I remember one time when I was in highschool, I was with this choral group competing nationally (check out the NAMCYA competitions website). We were always reminded by our conductor to look good, feel good and smile. Frowning makes you facial muscles sag which then pull down a note or a half.

Some singers, especially celebrity singers do more than just smile though. Some opt to go under the knife like what these New York cosmetic plastic surgeons do. Well, that's their prerogative.

But, with any performance, self-confidence brings out the best in a singer. it makes the mind active, responding to the crowd immediately as need arises. Wear your best suit - and smile!

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There are three registers of the voice namely chest, medium and head.

The chest register covers notes from the lowest notes that a male bass can achieve to E above middle C.

The medium range is from about A below middle C to two E's above middle C.

The head register is from C above middle C upwards.

You will see that there can be overlaps.

For a bass whose top note may be the E above Middle C he will have one voice register namely the chest voice.

A tenor's usual range is from C below middle C to A above it. Therefore he has two registers . His low notes C to A will be in the chest register and the rest in the medium register.

A contralto is largely in the medium register although she will probably experience the changes as does a soprano which changes I will detail later.

The soprano may have a few low notes in the chest register but will have both a medium and head register.

For a soprano she should be able to hear the changes in her register when singing an ascending scale. It is rather like listening to the engine of your car and knowing when you have to change gear. If a soprano can manage a low G usually the changes are the low G to A below middle C, the next change is E to F above middle C and the final change C to D to the head notes. However, a soprano usual lowest recommended note is B below middle C.

But a good singer has to hide these changes so that it sounds as if he or she has one register.

The usual range of singers is as follows:

Soprano------------ B below middle C to two Gs above middle C. Some very special singers can reach five tones above. Exceptional singers can reach a few notes even higher than these. Some sopranos can reach a low G

Mezzo Soprano--- F below middle C to two Fs above.

Contralto----------- -E below middle C to two Ds above This may seen a limited range but the quality of the voice is usually velvety or earthy..

Tenor-----------------C below middle C to a or B above.

Baritone------------ Two Gs below middle C to F above.

Bass -baritone----- Two Es below middle C to E above

Bass-------------------Two Ds below middle C to d above middle C

The chest register is called the chest register becomes the sound comes from the chest. The middle register refers to the sound from the throat and the head register speaks for itself.

The quality of sound depends largely on what we call the open throat. Some have simplified this by calling it the yawning sensation where there is a sense of space at the back of the tongue.

Sound can also be enhanced by speaking practice. It is important to speak both vowels and consonants clearly.

The problem is that vowels have several separate sounds.

Take the vowel a

It can have a long sound as in accident. The a here is hard

It can have a short sound as in appreciate. The second a here is soft

It can have an intermediate sound as in absolutely. The a here is halfway between the two

It can have a broad sound as in Joshua or Paul. The a sound here seems extended.

There is a lot of nonsense talked today about people 'speaking posh' and 'lardy-dar' or as if 'they have a plum in their throat.' But it is vital that people hear and understand what you say partcularly as both speech and singing are about communicating.

It is harder, but more sensible and profitable, to say , "I want to hold your hand", rather than, "I wanna 'old yer 'and."

Singing is a discipline and if speech is to be rendered accurately it will go a long way to helping your diction in singing.

It is said that vocal expression is built on vowels and verbal expression is built on consonants.

Vocal expression is linked to the words of a song. It is so easy to sing the words of a phrase without expression. What you do with the content can lift the song. How we sing words determines character and colour to the song.

Verbal expression has to do with diction and diction is not only pronunciation but articulation, intonation, declamation and punctuation.

Articulation has to do with what is clear and understood. In singing it is more exaggerated than in speech. Here consonants are the real problem. The shorter they are and the longer the vowels the more effective the articulation will become.

Pronunciation is obviously vital but we must ensure that we do not sing with neutral sounds or unspecified accents.

Intonation is sometimes described in a complex way, but in simple terms it is making every note true and exact. Singing out of tune, or bad intonation, may be due to poor technique, ill health, tiredness or defective hearing. Sometimes singers do not listen to what they sing and when they do detect something is wrong are often hesitant to admit it.

Declamation means to articulate the words in the manner most suitable to convey their meaning.

Punctuation is the use of accents, breaths and commas.

There is a lot of nonsense talked about interpretation. So many take this to mean licence to sing the song as they feel and mess about with it. Consequently, the time in the song may change without authorization and people put in extra notes particularly a high one at the end, or leave bits out. But interpretation means to realise the notes and words as in the given text just as someone translating German into English, for example.

For example

Ich auf der erd',am Himmel du,

Wir wandern beide rustig zu

Translates as:

I upon Earth, you in heaven,

We both go our vigorous ways.

But if I were to say that it meant I am in Heaven and you are on Earth. You are I are going timidly in the same direction that interpretation would be hopelessly wrong.

The function of the singer, the accompanist, the members of the orchestra and the conductor is to perform what is written and how it is written. If you don't, you cannot be a good singer, good accompanist, good orchestral player or a good conductor.

If a singer sticks to all the rules then the saying among professionals comes true. Tears were not shed in the concert. They were shed at rehearsals.

Source: http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2002/Nov02/singing4.htm

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Try asking a professional singer and he or she will tell you how physical fitness and wellness is important in singing.

We could not deny the fact that though singing is a form of art and expression, we still use our body to create those beautiful notes with our voice. A swelling throat or an inflamed tonsils keep any professional singer in rest (unless he wants to kill himself, hehe).

Kidding aside, physical preparation for any singing engagement is a high requirement. Stretching plays a big role as it prepares the body, like the abdominal area and shoulders, keeping it relaxed as tense muscles degrade the quality of voice. yoga poses for men and women can be of great help.

Vocal stretching or "warm-up" also prevents strain for the vocal cords and the surrounding area.

Lack of preparation and poor physical condition not only diminishes the voice quality but may even cause physical damage and pain if not acted upon.

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There are people who become so obsessed with all the mechanics of singing that it can take away the love of singing.

Singing is an art, not a science.

The body parts, and other terms used for and in singing are as follows:

1. The throat. This is the windpipe and that part of the neck that contains it.

2. The larynx is the hollow organ in the throat that contains the vocal chords.

3. The vocal chords are the part of the larynx that produces the voice. It is sometimes called the voice box.

4. The lungs are the pair of respiratory organs. They are the air sacs reached by bronchial tubes. The lungs are lined with a membrane called the pleura

5. Respiratory refers to breathing and its workings.

6. The thorax is the name given to the body area between the neck and the abdomen which includes the breast bone , the closed cage or ribs and the backbone.

7. The glottis is the opening at the top of the windpipe and between the vocal chords.

8. The epiglottis is the flap at the top of the windpipe

9. The diaphragm is the muscle that is the partition between the thorax and the abdomen.

10.The resonators are those parts of the body that reinforce sound.

You probably take 25,000 breaths a day and are probably not conscious of one. Breathing, or respiration, is essential to life.

When you breathe, the intake of air passes into the nose along a passage into the pharynx which is the term we give to the back of the nose and throat. Here the air route overlaps the food route for a few inches then go their separate ways. The air travels to the flap at the top of the windpipe, the epiglottis, to the round opening of the windpipe, the glottis. Down it goes, past the vocal chords, or voice box, into the trachea or windpipe. The windpipe is a series of rings of cartilage, one on top of another , rings which are elastic and made for mobility. About half way down the chest the trachea divides into two main bronchi. The left bronchus passes under the arch of the aorta to the left lung. the right bronchus carries on in a straight line each bronchi divide like branches of a tree into smaller and smaller twigs which eventually lose all trace of cartilage and become narrow muscular tubes called bronchioles. These in turn branch into microscopic ducts which lead to the air sacs proper.

The lungs are filled with air by the movement of the bony thorax and the diaphragm. Breathing in is called inspiration. With breathing in the ribs are raised thrusting the breast bone forward and increasing the distance between it and the backbone. This enlarges the chest from front to back. But with each take of breath each rib rotates sideways like an old fashioned bucket handle so that the width of the chest is increased. These movement of ribs depends on the intercostal muscles lying between them.

An up and down movement of the chest is achieved by the movement of the diaphragm which is a sheet of muscle with a large central tendinous part. It forms a dome separating the chest from the abdomen under which, on the right is the liver and on the left the stomach and spleen. It is attached to the backbone to the ribs and to the sternum in front. Above, near the centre, the pericardium is fixed to it, so holding the heart in position.

When a breath is taken the muscle fibres contract, drawing the central tenon of the diaphragm downwards and the bases of the lungs follow and so expand the space caused by the dropped diaphragm.

Expiration, breathing out, is the opposite. It is almost entirely a passive recoil. The ribs fall back into position from their raised position almost entirely by virtue of their own weight.

Breathing may be about 17 times a minute. With exertion this is increased. Even standing produces a higher rate than lying down.

Many things affect our breathing from illness to elation.

And emotion plays a part. Whether that emotion is happiness, distress or worry , it plays a part.

The quality of the air we breathe is always a factor.

One of the serious breathing problems for singers are caused by temperature. If the air is too hot or too cold it can seriously affect your respiratory functions and singing performance.

Source: http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2002/Nov02/singing3.htm

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FACT!  Most singers sing with a forced, unnatural, vocal production that at some point will cause them to totally loose their voice.

 

Here's the bottom line... EVERYONE can learn to sing beautifully if they follow the natural laws of voice, laid out step by step in the Vocal Release Course.

 


Absolute Fact!
Singing is only a continuation of speech. It uses the exact same vocal organs and process.

The truth of the matter is, if you learn how to sing in a way that obeys the natural laws of voice, singing is effortless and beautiful.

Everyone knows that the best singers sound natural even when singing loudly or hitting high notes.

Most singers when beginning training however indulge in unnatural vocal practices like using excessive force to attain pitch and volume, because they assume great singing takes more effort and muscle.  

Or even the outdated classical practice of, "strengthening the diaphragm."

 

Here's the truth, right now you have all the physical development of your body you need to sing.  Great singers are not physically different from anyone else.

They were not born with, "stronger than average vocal cords, a powerful diaphragm, or even HUGE LUNGS."

What they do have is a sense of ease in their voice.  Either because of proper training or natural ability they ALLOW their voice to come out.

Any expert will agree that the human voice works it's best when it is done freely and no real effort is exerted.


That's exactly why when you watch a show like American Idol that so many of the rejected contestants (and some of the ones that get through) sound so awful.

They don't obey the natural laws of singing!  They try to muscle their way through singing as if they were powerlifting at the gym!

 

"Warning To Singers!"  Singing with a vocal production that is not natural can severely damage your voice.

Let me ask you: when you sing now is your voice sore after wards?   Or, do you push large amounts of air to go up in pitch and hit high notes?  Can you only sing loud and shouty?

Do you find it difficult to stay on pitch?  Do you run out of breath when you sing?  Are you hoarse after just singing for an hour or even fifteen minutes?

If so, stop.  Your vocal production is forced and you will damage your voice with continued use.

Source: http://www.vocalrelease.com

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Never hold your breath while singing. The airflow is what creates and carries your vocal tone, so keep it flowing. Avoid Clavicular Breathing and Belly Breathing -- instead, learn the proper way to breathe for singing, called diaphragmatic breathing. Fill the lower portion of your lungs as if you had an inner tube around your waist that you were evenly filling.

Source: http://a2z-singing-tips.com/

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Music is an art form consisting of sound and silence expressed through time. - wikipedia

To many, music is more than an art. It is an expression of oneself, a manifestation of the soul, it is language of an unspoken heartbeat.

Let us embark on this journey. See music in its different facets. Listen to the music within.

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