Singing Tips for Songwriters

It's really compelling when a songwriter sings their own music, as they are usually the best 'storytellers'. Unfortunately, a lot of songwriters are either too shy to sing, or don't think they're good enough. I say 'it's better to be a great storyteller than to be a perfect singer!'  I've posted some 'Viva La Voice Singing Tips' on my YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/vivalavoice - please check them out!

Singing During the Birthing Process

Singing is a fantastic thing to do during pregnancy and the birthing process. It releases endorphins, to reduce pain; it oxygenates the blood; stimulates the system; calms mother and baby; focuses the mind away from pain - and lovingly on the baby; and the belly breathing can ease and speed the birth process! Singing should be taught as an integral part of every birth, without fear of negative judgement. A mother's voice is perfection to the child she is carrying, even if SHE doesn't think she has a good voice. Totally therapeutic for mother AND child!

Singers & Speakers - Be Clearly Understood!

So many times singers and speakers forget a crucial element that will mean the difference in either a spectacular connection with their audience, or one that leaves their listeners unmoved.  That element is simply being heard clearly through a relaxed, dropped jaw combined with open pronunciation!

I tell my clients that they must always present their material as though their audience has never previously heard what they are singing or speaking about.   9 times out of 10, this is truly the case!  Over the years  singers and speakers tend to develop bad vocal habits which are generally overlooked by someone who can ask them to repeat what they've just said, but when in front of an audience, a performer doesn't  usually have that luxury.  You must be heard, clearly, the first time.  If you aren't understood, your listener will have no connection to what you are saying or singing!

Very simply put - you must open your mouth when you sing or speak to allow your sound to freely flow out to the audience!  You also have to open up your words so that they are easily understood by someone who may never have heard your ideas or lyrics.

So remember to err on the side of overly clear pronunciation with a dropped, relaxed jaw.  This will insure that you are heard, understood and successful in connecting with your audience!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxLDt6kSVkA

Music Business - Lessons In Life

Being a musician has helped me develop 'gracious acceptance' - rejection still hurts but I understand it now, and realize that it's not personal, it just IS. Being adaptable, being optimistic against all odds, being able to get back up and dust myself off are all hard lessons I've learned from the music business - but lessons necessary for life. Nothing ever stays the same; our path is ever winding and weaving, taking us to places we never dreamed we'd go. The sooner we release our hold on 'how it should be' and just let it be, the easier our path becomes. Our dreams are like a beacon on that path, and once we stop dreaming, the world becomes a very dark place. To dream is to live fully!!


This blog was inspired by a blog entry from fellow musician and co-composer, Richard Souther.

Vocalizing Clears the Mind!

Did you know that doing simple vocalizing exercises in the morning can clear that foggy brain?!  Try it -  singing helps oxygenate the blood, clearing the mind and energizing the body!

Joyful Singing Begins Again!

Off to teach the first of another 'Joyful Singing' 6 week series! It's always fun to see first night trepidation turn to excitement when folks learn they CAN sing - with just a little positive guidance!

Step Five for a Youthful Voice!

5.  Vocal Rest
Just as it's important to exercise, it's also important to rest.  We use our voices constantly, and those who use their voices in a professional setting are even more prone to overuse and tire the voice.  Be kind to your voice - don't scream, try to talk over background noise, or speak to large groups without a microphone.  When you don't have to talk, don't. Once you become mindful of your voice, you'll begin to honor silence as a great way to care for your voice.



Remember to treat your voice with respect and care and you'll have a rich, strong, healthy and youthful sounding voice for your entire life!

copyright 2010, Beth Lawrence

Step Four for a Youthful Voice!

4.  Vocal Exercise
            Your vocal cords are muscles 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!  My best advice for folks who are noticing an 'aging' of their voice is to sing everyday!  A great time to vocalize is in your car going to work.  You'll arrive with a voice that's ready to take on the challenges of the day.  Just like your body, simple vocalizing will strengthen and tone the voice, maintaining a supple and youthful tone.

copyright 2010, Beth Lawrence

Step Three for a Youthful Voice!

3.  Pitch
Speaking and singing are natural and should reflect your authentic persona.  What I mean by this is that you should be using your natural voice, not a voice that has been habitually altered through years of manipulation.  So many times clients will come to me with very soft, airy voices, or voices that sound thin and squeaky.  Many women have a hard time letting go of their 'little girl' voices and must be taught to release their naturally pitched voice.  Your natural voice is always in a comfortable range, free of pinching and straining.  Speaking with a relaxed throat and natural pitch gives the voice a warm, silky, youthful tone.

copyright 2010, Beth Lawrence

Step Two for a Youthful Voice!

2.  Conscious Breathing
The basis for proper speaking and singing is conscious breathing.  This means becoming aware of relaxing the belly, breathing low and slow, allowing the diaphragm to lower while the lungs fill with air.  Think of filling up like a balloon:  on the inhale the abdominal area 'fills' up; on the exhale, the abdominal area 'deflates' or goes slightly flat.  Most people breath very high in the chest and keep their bellies tight, which doesn't allow you to take in a full, deep breath.  You can also imagine your ribs as a bellows expanding as you inhale and going back to the normal position as you exhale.  Breathing is natural and is essential for supporting the voice so that the throat is not forcing the volume.  A youthful voice is a well-supported voice!

copyright 2010, Beth Lawrence

Step One For A Youthful Voice!

1.  Mindfulness
In general, the first step to change is awareness.  We've got to become mindful of how we're using, or abusing our voice.   As you speak, start listening to yourself!  Do you talk loudly in order to be heard over talking or background noise?  In your job, do you attempt to push your voice for maximum volume?  Do you use your voice constantly without occasional rest?  Begin now to monitor your volume, pitch and breath control and be willing to learn new ways of using your voice to maintain vocal health.

Spring Is The Time To Sing!

Spring Is The Time To Sing!

©2006 Beth Lawrence

Robins are singing, the daffodils have emerged; Spring is a time for new beginnings! When people hear me in concert, or find out that I'm a voice coach, I'm always amazed at how many of them tell me "I've always wanted to sing." They usually say it in a rather wistful way, as though it's a dream that's totally out of reach for them. I always respond, "Then why don't you?", to which invariably, they say 'oh, no! I can't sing!'

Why do we so stubbornly defend our false beliefs and limitations? If you'd love to sing; if you harbor that secret desire to belt out a tune or be the next American Idol; or just want the courage to sing 'Happy Birthday' without embarrassment, I'm here to tell you that YOU CAN! And there's no better time than right now, to begin.

Everyone can sing! You were born singing! Along the way, though, someone told you that you couldn't, and that became your belief system. Spring is the time when all things come back to life. Even dusty, forgotten dreams can be born again. So do something wonderful for yourself - take a few voice lessons! You'll see it's not as scary as you thought, and it will give you worlds of self-confidence. I offer both group and private voice mentoring and I find that most people are so anxious about singing in front of me initially that we spend lots of time working on that inner critic that demands vocal perfection. My goal is to help my clients sing from their hearts, not their heads! Singing is all about raising your voice in joy; not worrying about how good you sound, but how good you FEEL when you're sharing your music.

If you yearn to sing, then DO IT! You will feel great and you'll feel proud of yourself for taking a risk and emerging a stronger, more confident songster! I love to help people find their voices, and now is a great time to take that step of self-discovery and self-love. Sing because you've always wanted to. What better reason is there? And if you're a bit shy, then take a few lessons (study with someone whose method is based in Bel Canto) so that you gain skills that will give you confidence in your voice.

Spring is the time to start something new; something that's going to feed your soul and bring a bounce to your step! Singing has incredible physical and emotional benefits, and it's a great way to meet new friends! My unclejust started singing at age 83, and it has changed his life! He sings every Thursday night in Los Olivos, California, and just loves it! And his audience loves it, too! How fantastic that he took the initiative to take singing lessons at the local community college, then had the guts to get up and put himself on the line. And you know what??? This is now his PASSION! He lives and breathes it. I am so proud of him, and wish everyone would have the courage to open up and sing! My uncle Dick is 83 and singing every week in public; what's your excuse?!

If there’s something you want to do in life, now is the moment. The Universe wants to roll out the red carpet and let your heart's desire come out to play! Open up and let your lifesong break free. Spring is the time to sing!!

Beth’s ‘Joyful Singing!’ class starts April 12th in Salt Lake City, UT. For more information: http://vivalavoice.com

©2006 Beth Lawrence is a Veteran Diva, singer/songwriter/producer and the Owner of Viva La Voice, a conscious music company dedicated to inspiring confidence in the everyday artist, re-entry singer, and creative bon-vivant who wants to live life fully and fearlessly.

She is the author of “The Seven Principles for Vocal Mastery' , which teaches a holistic approach to ‘giving voice to your inner Hero’, honoring the connection of body, mind and spirit. For over 25 years, she has been helping people all over the Globe rediscover the joy of singing, performing, and living their Big Dream. Beth loves developing the brilliance in others!

Beth has won awards from Billboard, Parents, and L.A. Jazz Scene Magazine; the American Song Festival; and was awarded an ‘Outstanding Women In Business’ Grant from Zions Bank. To learn more: http://www.VivaLaVoice.com

On Change - "The Intertidal Years"

One thing is certain -change.  Here are some words of wisdom from Dominique Browning, former editor of House and Garden magazine:


"One adventure is over; it is time for another. I have a different kind of work to do now. I am growing into a new season. At the water’s edge, watching the tiny, teeming life of that mysterious place between high and low tides, the intertidal zone, I begin to accept the relentless flux that is the condition of these days. I am not old and not young; not bethrothed and not alone; not broken and yet not quite whole; thinking back, looking forward. But present. These are my intertidal years."

Joyful Singing Finale!

Our six week Joyful Singing series ended with a fantastic finale!  We did our 'Mock Carnegie Hall' concert to an appreciative audience of pianos (afterall class was held in a piano lab!).  And since I had urged the students to imagine a full house, it was easy for them to imagine a rousing standing ovation from their imaginary fans!

The great thing about this class, and the incredibly gratifying thing for me, as the teacher, was seeing the growth in confidence that this group experienced!  For the first few weeks of class, mine was the only voice I heard as I sang along to encourage them.  But after 6 weeks, they were singing with style and verve, and didn't need my help at all!  It was neat to see all those animated, smiling faces as I 'directed' our repertoire for our final night.  Not only were they smiling because they loved singing, they were smiling because they had overcome their fear and were able to move on with their lives, rich with a new passion that they had just re-discovered.

Most of these folks were 're-entry' singers - adults who had sung when they were young, then either put it away while they lived their lives, or stopped singing because of some public embarrassment they had experienced which caused them to shut down their voice and never sing again.  Finding the courage to even come to the first class is a testament to all of them who wanted to rekindle a relationship with singing - something they had loved, but had lost.

If singing is something that you used to do (and we all used to sing just for the fun of it when we didn't care if we were 'good' or 'bad') and would like to do again, then take a group singing class where you can not only learn some basic singing skills, but discover how fun it is to raise your voice with others.  There is a healing power in singing that is  magnified when there are many voices.  It is in our cultural heritage to sing together in joy, in sadness, in celebration of life.  To shut this voice down is to cut oneself off from our cultural community, and deny ourselves the true joy of singing.

Don't let fear keep you from joining others in song because you don't feel 'good enough'.  The only person who will be judging you is your self, and if you are in a class that can teach you new singing skills, you will improve as well as gain confidence in your singing voice.  My philosophy is the 'everyone can sing!'; but you can also learn to sing 'better' which will help you feel more secure when singing in a group, or singing solo.  So don't hesitate to get back into singing!  It will not only improve your health, it will make you feel proud of yourself for taking a risk, and confident in your ability to sing in any situation.

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.