Joyful Singing Tonight

Prepping for 'Joyful Singing' tonight. It's my last class of the series and I'm having the students do a 'mock' Carnegie Hall Concert!

Don't Rush Your Bow !

You've worked hard to prepare for your gig.  You've studied your lyrics; understand the emotions behind the words; and have developed your voice so that you can tell your story and not be distracted by vocal challenges.

You take the stage and share your music authentically, making a sincere connection with your audience.  They feel your music and when your set is done, you get an ovation!  Here's my advice - don't rush your bow!  Enjoy your moment, you earned it!

Many times when I work with insecure or inexperienced singers they always have a problem with this.  The moment they're done with their song they practically run offstage!  Not taking a deserved bow robs your audience of the satisfaction of publicly thanking you.  It also shows your audience that you feel unworthy of their praise.

Being confident before, during and after your performance will demonstrate that you have arrived as a powerful, masterful singer who isn't afraid to take the stage with no apologies.

Do You Know What You're Singing About?

Make sure that you are prepared before you take the stage to sing!  That may sound elementary, but many times singers don't do the work that's necessary to really connect with their audience.  Specifically, I mentor my clients on the importance of breaking down the  lyrics for every song you're going to sing so that you know EXACTLY what the song is about; what the feeling is you want to impart to your audience; and what commonality you'll share with your audience when singing your songs.

What is it in your songs that people in your audience can relate to?  A lost love, a new love; triumph over a challenge?  Break down each verse, each chorus, each line so that you know exactly what the meaning is underneath the lyric.  Understanding the subtext of your lyrics is a big job and requires that a singer does their homework!  Knowing what you're singing about may seem simple, but many singers omit this crucial step.  It's not enough to be a good singer; you've got to be a great storyteller.

Remembering Michael Jackson

  

After seeing "This Is It" I was left with conflicted feelings and an overall sadness.  in the film, Michael Jackson is both brilliant, and at times, artistically incoherent.  At 50 he is still a more talented dancer than the  ensemble cast 1/2 his age.  He  was mesmerizing, yet failed to connect with his audience on an authentic level.  In life he was meek and soft spoken, while onstage he was a raging tornado of ambiguous, androgenus sex.  Beloved as a child megastar, we watched him morph into  a ghoulish character; fragile and troubled, who had legions of sycophants, but not a single trusted friend near him when he died.  He was a driven perfectionist, putting himself on a self-proclaimed 'King of Pop' pedestal from which he was doomed to fall.  Icons like Michael Jackson are destined to self-destruct because they simply can't live up to an inflated image that is never supported by a fulfilled, and filled life.

Looking at Michael Jackson's last swan song  was bittersweet, for not only did we see, after many years absence, a trendsetting artist making a remarkable comeback, but we witnessed the end of a life, the stilling of a voice that made us dance as we grew up together.  We look at 'Stars' and think that they have everything.  Michael Jackson was just another in a long line of megastars that were caught in an existence without grounded reality or inner substance.   Watching MJ, I couldn't help but mourn that darling, sparkling little boy who had such a bright future ahead of him., but who instead became a victim of the isolation and darkness that so often comes with fame.  I'm choosing to remember Michael as that uncorrupted kid, still fresh and untainted by a dream gone wrong.

Don't Trivialize Your Dreams

So many people tell me how much they would love to sing, but are too terrified to do so.  This is the very reason I offer 'Conquer Stage Fear' workshops, in hopes that they will be able to finally let their fear go.

If there's something you want to do in life, don't trivialize it; don't ignore it; find a way to have the courage to transcend your fear and live that dream.  If not you will forever regret that you didn't face the monster in the closet, that in reality is nothing more than a product of faulty logic created when you were too young to create your own truth.  If you'll open the door and face your fear, you'll be surprised to see that it's nothing more than dust and cobwebs that can no longer hurt you.

http://vivalavoice.com

The Singer As a Harmonious Entity!

As you take the stage to share your music, you’ll find that you must operate as a harmonious entity, with your voice reflecting your music; your body movement reflecting your emotions; and your mind clearly present in the moment, reflecting your authentic connection to your audience.

Is Your Ideal Self Taking Center Stage?

Your 'Ideal Self' is that confident, compassionate, fearless, open person that resides silently inside of you.  It is your 'Best Self'.  When you sing or speak in public, is it your 'little me' or your 'Ideal Self' that takes center stage?

Please join me for my workshop 'Conquer Stage Fear Forever!' where you'll learn to act from the 'Ideal Self'.

Where Are You Focusing?

 One of the questions I'll be asking the participants of my March 6 "Conquer Stage Fear Workshop" in Salt Lake City is: "When you take the stage, are you focusing on your perceived inadequacy, or on your authentic connection to your audience?" How about YOU?

Raise Your Voices Together!

Tonight in the Joyful Singing class I'm teaching in Salt Lake City we had tons of fun!  We started out doing our breathing exercises, vocalizing, then instead of sitting apart we all 'clumped up together to sing.

It's amazing how the energy in the room changed!  All of a sudden we were a happy, supported group, not a bunch of separate entities singing alone.  On one song I had the group split in two and sing facing each other.  It was great practice for making eye contact (a fear for many performers) and further solidified the warm, fuzzy feeling in the room!

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Exercise those Vocal Cords!

Your vocal cords are folds of muscular tissue that need to be exercised throughout your life.  Doing simple singing exercises to warm up the voice in the morning is a perfect way to start the day.  Vocal exercises strengthen the voice; get rid of phlegm, and conscious breathing oxygenates the blood!

Free Willy!

CNN headline today "Killer Whales 'neurotic' in Captivity". YA THINK?! I have always disliked zoos, aquariums and circuses, finding them tragic for the poor, majestic animals who must live in captivity. I say 'FREE WILLY'!

Stand Up To Fear!

My February Viva La Voicegram is available!

From my February's Voicegram: "It takes some work to stand up to fear and put it behind you.  But isn't an open, joyful, fearless life worth a little effort?  Believe me, it takes more effort to keep the desires of your heart subdued than it does pushing the fear out of the way so that your happiness breaks through."

What Makes a Great Performance?

What makes a great performance? Making your audience FEEL. Technical perfection isn't nearly as important as emotional authenticity.

Stage Fear and the Ideal Self

If you suffer from 'stage fear', envision yourself singing or presenting from your confident, capable 'ideal self', rather than the insecure, frightened 'little self' that fears rejection! You ARE capable and confident!!

Singers Are Storytellers First and Foremost!

First and foremost, singers are STORYTELLERS!  A character is telling his/her story through you.  As a Storyteller, you determine what your audience will feel.  You must know what the character's emotional state is, then let your emotion determine your voice quality, your face and body actions.  If you're truly immersed in your character and story, emotions, movement and expressions will be authentic and natural....you won't even be thinking about it, you will BE IT.

You're invited to my workshop on February 20, 2010 "HOW TO SELL A SONG...making the emotional connection with your audience"

Singers - Tight, Tired Throat?!

I recently got a question from a reader on my ASKBETHLAWRENCE.COM site who wrote:

 "I am contacting you just with a concern.  I am a musical theatre major, which requires me to sing on a regular basis.  I am planning on seeing an ENT within the next week or so, but I was just wondering what all could cause fatigue in my upper registers.  It is mainly when trying to sing soft that I experience this.  Is this most likely only related to technique?  Or could it be more serious than that?"

This was my response which I believe could be helpful to a lot of singers who have the same issue:

Sorry you're having challenges with your voice.  Without hearing your voice, or seeing you in person, I can only give you an answer based on my experience in what you're describing.  It could be any number of things, but it doesn't sound to me like you're having these symptoms based on anything more than poor technique, but it's good you're going to the ENT to check it out.   I had lots of vocal problems early in my career until I found a Maestro who saved my voice.  I hope you can do the same!  

If you're planning on having a career as a singer, then you owe it to yourself to sing effortlessly and easily, as your voice IS your career!

By fatigue, a singer could mean just a 'feeling' in the throat (tightness?), or actual hoarseness which would indicate damage.  Number one, are you supporting your tone?  Your breath support is critical and you need to make sure that you are breathing fully; expanding the ribs and belly; softening the belly but not 'pushing out' or having any tension in your belly, diaphragm or throat.

Two, if your throat is feeling tight and tired when you sing, your tongue may be the culprit!  If you're not supporting, then your body compensates by tensing the base of the tongue in an effort to 'hold' the tone, which is really uncomfortable.  This also causes the larynx to jam up, which again, causes a tight throat.

If your throat is tight and the larynx raised you're causing constriction which not only feels bad, but forces you to push the voice to get more sound out.

All in all, a cascade of events  is set in motion that feed upon each other creating a pinched sound, excessive force on the vocal mechanism, mental distraction, a tight, tired throat, and ultimately can result in vocal nodules.

If you haven't already done so, go to my website and read 'A Singer's Story' and some of my philosophy on voice.  

Do you have any questions about voice?  Let me know!

Salt Lake City Music Workshops

Just scheduled two workshops in Salt Lake. 'How To Sell A Song!', Feb. 20th, and 'Conquer Stage Fear Forever!' March 6th. So many of my clients are paralyzed with what I call 'Singer's Anxiety Syndrome', so I want to help them feel comfortable on stage. It's time to get rid of that limitation!

Singing for Health and Breathing!

Another great 'Singing for Health' class today. Still working on reversing years of habitual breathing patterns in my adult students.

Joyful Singing Class - laughter and tears!

First of my 'Joyful Singing!' classes last night - we had lots of laughs, and even some tears as the attendees shared their desire to sing without fear. I love empowering people to get rid of their old beliefs and sing with CONFIDENCE! It's life-changing! Class continues next Monday in Salt Lake.

Cult Status for my Musical!

"Marilyn, An American Fable" - the musical I co-wrote with Norman Thalheimer (with Kenny Ortega making his Broadway directorial debut) was named "a cult musical" by a reader/member of BroadwayWorld.com! Cult status....is that a good or a bad thing??!!!!