A Reality Check for Singers who think you can get by with Just Talent

If you were under the impression that talent alone is enough to take you from zero to hero as a singer, and yet in secret you struggle to deliver those seemingly basic notes in the studio AND on stage... and you’re finding it hard to admit [even] to yourself that—after all, it MUST take more than just TALENT to become a better singer, this article will aim to open up that space for you, and help you better understand what it really takes to improve your singing voice.

Have I struck a chord?

The more you care to consider what you’re missing out on for lack of vocal training, the more you’ll want to find out about what professional voice coaching can do for your career.

Well, I know there’s always the YouTube video that hands out random tips on how to improve your singing voice, but if you’ve tried learning to sing using these videos you’ll probably have found out the hard way that it isn’t so easy.

And I will explain why.

Nothing beats private coaching. There’s so much more about any individual’s vocal problems that you cannot even begin to be address with one-size-fits-all downloadable mp3 products and video illustration. 

And this is why, even though I DO offer similar products myself, I’ve had to go the extra mile so as to become more accessible via WhatsApp because I’ve learned from experience that a lot of folk downloading such voice training products are using the training programs incorrectly—OR in a way that does not address their individual vocal issues—and without proper guidance, left to their own devices, they tend to achieve very little.

And so you’re going to be surprised to find just how much more you stand to gain just by working with a voice coach one-on-one.

I remember a good testimonial from Luther Vandross about a book and audio training product he’d purchased, and this is what he said.

“A couple of years ago, Stevie Wonder put me on a counsel phone hook-up with Seth and we arranged to start some voice study. Soon I became involved in Seth’s technique. I bought the book and also sat in on lessons with a junior “Star Search” winner who got a contract with CBS Records (whom I was producing). Seth’s vocal approach makes the high notes solid and easy, with no need to resort to falsetto (unless for some special effect). This approach is a valuable addition to making your styling easy, always available and extending the life of your voice.”

So, books and audio downloads are a great help, but private sessions with a professional voice coach—speaking from my own experience as a coach—go a long way toward helping you realize your full potential as a singer, as whatever is done in training will be tailored to correcting YOUR individual vocal issues. Not that of another person—just YOU, personally!

If you’re the kind of person that wants to become a better singer, I do sincerely hope this article has shed a bit more light on what it takes to become a far better singing version of yourself.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, please share it on your social media and for more information on my private coaching services please feel free to get in touch with me via contact info in calling card above.

You are the instrument, learn to sing like a pro!

Joett – Voice Coach & Author

101 Letters from a Vocal Coach

Vocals Quick Fix Africa — DIGITAL Giveaway Package for RADIO

According to news reports from various sources—including BBC Radio, the coronavirus is seen to have caused an increase in terrestrial radio listenership.

Also, people in the UK and elsewhere have turned their online attention to tutoring websites (up 400%), politics, television programmes and gardening, according to cyber-security company Cloudflare, who monitor online traffic to more than 25 million websites that pay for its cyber-attack protections.

Pan African online radio platform Nam Radio has also seen a significant increase in listeners in recent months, not to mention, thousands more radio stations from around the globe have experienced a similar spike in their listenerships. 

How to Stimulate Engagement with Your Radio Audience

Seeing as tutoring website traffic is up 400% and radio listenership has also risen significantly right across the board, the smart thing to do—perhaps, would be to capitalize on these combined market trends to increase YOUR engagement with radio audiences, in order to gain traction in your market share AND the attention of major brands for sponsorship deals.

Here's what a voice coach and former radio presenter has created for radio.

Vocals Quick Fix DIGITAL Package

If you've kept abreast with growth patterns in the music industry across the African continent, you will have noticed that there is a growing number of youths, perhaps in their millions, that want to learn to sing. 

Notably, the driving force behind this inspiration stems from the success stories of so many African artists who have made it BIG in Africa's flourishing entertainment industry, coupled with the incredible opportunites that that has brought to the continent's music space. 

And so that is where community outreach project Talent Showcase Africa, a joint venture partnership between pan-African voice coaching brand JOETT and online radio platform Nam Radio, saw an opportunity to not only help emerging African singing talent GROW to their full potential, but to also offer them an online platform so they can be heard on radio and hopefully, get to connect with industry stakeholders to bring to fruition their pursuit for a succesful career in music. 

Book & Audio Product Giveaway to Radio Audiences

Joett, a former radio show host and author of 101 Letters from a Vocal Coach: A Collection of Helpful Tips and Articles for Singers, is looking to giveaway hundreds of FREE eBooks and MP3 downloads to his revamped Vocals Quick Fix Digital Package, for radio listeners across Africa and the Diaspora to enjoy.

The competition is to be run through an especially created interactive auditioning process where a select number of entries get to win a copy of the book; the voice training audio files Volumes 1 to 7, as well as a FREE online consultation with the  author and products creator. 

How it works

It is proposed that participating online and terrestrial radio platforms run the jingle promoting the book (please download MP3 from SoundCloud widget below), with a short script introducing the competition/ campaign to be supplied by the organizers and read out on air by radio presenters.  

Simple Format

Listeners will be asked to sing on mobile phone camera and to upload video clips to Instagram whilst tagging the radio station's IG handle and that of the author and Talent Showcase Africa.

It is proposed that participating radio stations put up a voting system to stimulate engagement within their listenership AND social media, and a select bunch of the best vocals (perhaps, with the highest votes) will get to win the prize!

It's that simple.

Sponsorship, and Why Bottled Water Brands are a Good Fit

Since the amount of water in the human body ranges from 50-75%, water is not only of vital importance to the human body, it is also highly beneficial in keeping the vocal folds lubricated and supple.

Therefore, a company that supplies bottled water will be a good fit for this program.

All options considered, the modalities and airtime rates will need to be worked out between FM radio and the bottled water brand, but what is most important here is that a bottled water brand is offered this platform to promote their products in connection with the significance of water for the human body and particularly, for the voice.

Other suitable businesses are in such industries as: telecom, clothing & apparel, cosmetics, health & nutrition distributors, fitness clubs; retail outlets such as supermarkets, boutiques; record stores and so forth. 

In Conclusion

The Vocals Quick Fix DIGITAL Package comprises a comprehensive handbook for singers; voice training audio files for home-learning, and a free consultation with the author of the book 101 Letters from a Vocal Coach: A Collection of Helpful Tips and Articles for Singers. 

The purpose of this exercise is to offer radio listeners (and aspiring singers) from across Africa, a chance to win the entire Vocals Quick Fix Digital Package in a competition conducted on both online and terrestrial radio, which stands to benefit participating radio platforms by stimulating engagement within its listernships and beyond; and forthwith grabbing the attention of corporate sponsors.

Needless to say, it will also help to create awareness of the author's digital products and online voice coaching services accross a wide array of territories on the African continent and the Diaspora.

That being said, an amicable arrangement that is mutually benefitial to all parties involved is to be thrashed out and discussed in greater detail via correspondence.

This will be the first radio giveaway event of its kind ever conducted on African soil.

Before & After Testimonial Audio Video

The following Before & After video shows how the vocals of Tanzanian artist Japhy Ross were completely transformed with the Talent Showcase Africa outreach program. This is one of many testimonials from around the continent.

How to Enlist Your Radio Platform 

To participate in the Vocals Quick Fix Digital Package giveaway event, radio platforms from across Africa are invited to contact Joett via WhatsApp (see number in calling card above) or Email: joettmusic[at]gmail.com.

Please Play or Download the Vocals Quick Fix Digital Package radio jingle below.

Joett Music Publishing · Vocals Quick Fix Jingle

AFRICA DAY 2020: Mass Support from Music Stars as AU, AFRIMA Fight COVID-19

The commemoration of the 2020 Africa Day organized by the African Union, AU in partnership with All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA held on Monday, May 25 as a virtual live Solidarity Concert for the African Union COVID-19 Response Fund drawing participation and performances from diverse African music talents across the continent and the diaspora.

Broadcast on multiple electronic and digital media channels in Africa, the Concert, staged under the theme: “Health Security in the Context of COVID-19” and featuring electrifying and inspiring live performances from more than 20 African music superstars, also conveyed motivating messages to viewers using the tag #StrongerTogether #StrongerthanCovid.

The Concert opened with the official anthem of the African Union, followed by addresses by the African Union Chairperson, His Excellency,Moussa Faki Mahamat, Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Her Excellency, Mrs. Amira El Fadil during which they appealed for donations in cash or in kind to the Africa COVID-19 Response Fund to aid the AU’s fight against the CoronaVirus. Other speakers included the Director, Africa Centre for Disease Control, Dr. John Nkengasong; the President & Executive Producer of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mike Dada and the African Union Youth Envoy, Ms. Aya Chebbi who respectively reiterated the importance of collective action and donations to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.

However, the highpoints of the Solidarity Concert were captured during various performances by the different music stars that came together to use their influence and talents in a show of solidarity with the African Union and AFRIMA. The carefully curated concert reinforced the pan-Atlantic diversity of the continent’s music and showcased a blend of mellow, mid tempo and high-energy performances. In order of performing appearance live from their different locations were: Rudeboy (Nigeria); Pape Diouf (Senegal); Becca (Ghana); Salatiel (Cameroon); Nikita Kering (Kenya); Toofan (Togo); Salif Keita (Mali); Aminux (Morocco); Hiro (DRC); DJ Moh Green (Algeria); Kanvee Adams (Liberia); Daphne (Cameroon); Lizha James (Mozambique): Nadya Shanab (Egypt); Busiswa (South Africa); DJ Spinall (Nigeria); Naiboi (Kenya); Sarkodie (Ghana); 2Baba (Nigeria); Betty G (Ethiopia); Ahmed Soultan (Morocco) and Master KG (South Africa) who closed the Solidarity Concert with his hit single ‘Jerusalema’

In his message after the concert, the International Advisor for AFRIMA, Mr. Rikki Stein, who watched the live stream from London the United kingdom, said,

“That was a beautiful show. I salute all concerned. Whether or not money was raised, the message was, more importantly, strongly and eloquently presented urging viewers to do everything possible and necessary to hopefully avoid another CoronaVirus related disaster or huge loss of lives anywhere on the Continent”.

Hosted by three of Africa’s finest entertainment personalities; Eddie Kadi (Democratic Republic of Congo DRC); Chidinma Ekile (Nigeria) and Pamela ‘Miss P’ Happi (Cameroon), main broadcast partners for the event were Trace TV Africa, African Independent Television (AIT); other media partners included: HipTV, Nigezie, WAPTV, Goldmyne TV and Facebook.

The 2020 Africa Day #StrongerTogether Solidarity Concert was aimed at inspiring action with key messages on the prevention, protection and response measures to contain CoronaVirus. The Concert leveraged the power of music and the crucial role of African artists in advocating for the curb of COVID-19 on the continent as well as galvanizing solidarity for financial and in-kin contributions to the Africa COVID-19 Response Fund.

For more details please contact: @afrimawards

Video Yenye Mifano ya Mazoezi ya Sauti - Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-4!

Kuhusu Video Demo: Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-4  

Mifano ya mazoezi ya Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-4 pamoja na aina tofauti za kutumia piano scales hizo hizo kufanya mazoezi ya sauti, utayakuta kwenye video (bofya hapa). Tafadhali fuata miongozo. Sio mazoezi yote yanaingiliana. Usifanye ambacho hakijatolewa mifano. Mazoezi yalio kamilika mtayakuta Mkito kwa mfumo wa MP3. Kama hauna account ya Mkito basi login kwa kutumia Google account yako, na tafadhali angalia video ya maelekezo ilioandaliwa na Mkito hapa chini. 

Kupata MP3 za Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-7 kwa video ya mifano (boya hapa) pamoja na makala zangu nyingi (bofya hapa). Na kwa maelekezo ya jinsi ya kujiunga na madarasa yangu ya sauti kwa njia ya simu endapo unajiandaa kurekodi ngoma studio (bofya hapa).

JOETT - Mwalimu wa Sauti

Mazoezi ya Sauti LIVE kwa Njia ya Simu Unaporekodi Ngoma Studio

Mara nyingi producer ndani ya studio atakua na changamoto nyingi wakati wa kumrekodi msanii.

Na changamoto hizi zinatokana na sauti ya muimbaji kutokidhi viwango vinavyohitajika kutengeneza ngoma nzuri.

Kutoka kipindi chetu cha #Vokoz, sasa tunawaletea mazoezi ya sauti ndani ya recording studio kwa njia ya simu ili kutatua matatizo ya sauti ya muimbaji papo kwa hapo.

Tunakaribisha recording studios popote Tanzania ambao wangependa msaada wa vocal training ya papo kwa hapo kwa njia ya simu, ili kurekebisha sauti wakati wasanii wapo ndani ya studio wana rekodi ngoma.

Hii huduma ya majaribio ni BURE na ni muendelezo wa kipindi cha #Vokoz cha Lady Jaydee na Joett.

 UTARATIBU - #VOKOZ LIVE

Nahitaji information zako, yaani Jina Kamili, Umri, Namba ya Simu, anuani yako ya Barua Pepe. Hii chart nitaijaza mimi kwa kalamu hapa studio na itakua ndio faili yako.

Vocal Coaching                                                 Sessions Log

Name_______________________      Age______      Mobile #

Email_______________________

Date	Start Time	Vocal Exercise	Session Duration	Signature

STEP 1:  Download Skype app. (WhatsApp sio mbaya lakini Skype ni bora zaidi).

STEP 2: Hakikisha simu yako imeunganishwa na spika (external speakers) kama speaker ya bluetooth au home theater, ili uweze kusikia sauti ya kinanda kama ilivyo.

STEP 3: Zoezi la Pumzi (ntarusha awali ujiandae kabla).

STEP 4: Tathmini ya tatizo la sauti

STEP 5: Tutaanza mazoezi kwa njia ya simu kwa kutumia VOICE CALL (sio video call)


VIFAA NYONGEZA

Ukiwa na device nyingine moja, yaani smartphone, tablet au computer, nitaweza kukurushia mazoezi ambayo ntatengeneza na kurusha ili uweze ku-play kwenye speaker huku tupo kwenye simu nikisikiliza ukifanya mazoezi.

IGTV

Huduma hii ni bure lakini tungependa recording studio ifanye ku-stream LIVE IGTV matukio ya ndani ya studio, kama itawezekana, ili kuhamasiha na wengine.

Tag: @vokoztz @joettmusic @jidejaydee


JOETT - Mwalimu wa Sauti

#Vokoz Online: Jifunze Kuimba na Joett kwa Njia ya Simu

VOKOZ, UTANGULIZI

Kwa wale ambao hawakufanikiwa kuingia kwenye program ya Vokoz ya Lady Jaydee na Joett, msife moyo. Kwani kuna uwezekano pia, wakujifunza kupitia program ambazo tayari nimeshaziandaa online, ni kiasi cha wewe ku-download MP3 na Makala zangu tu. (Tafadhali bofya hyperlinked text ili kufungua blog post husika).

Sauti ya Japhy Ross Kabla na 
Baada ya Mazoezi ya Sauti kwa Joett

Jifunze Kuimba na Joett kwa Njia ya Simu

Huu ni utaratibu wa kujifunza kwa njia ya simu kwa kutumia voice call WhatsApp na Skype. Tafadhali fuata maelekezo yafuatayo.

STEP 1

Imba alafu unitumia sauti nikupe tathmini.

STEP 2

Feedback: nitakupa kuhusu sauti yako

STEP 3

Jinsi ambavo naweza kukusaidia, chukua madarasa 4 ya Dakika 30 kila darasa, kwa njia ya simu (voice call) WhatsApp au Skype (Skype ID yangu: tojona).

Bei kwa darasa moja la dakika 30 ni TZS 21,000.

BONUS PACKAGE

Ukinunua Madarasa Manne kwa Mpigo utapata madarasa ya dakika 45 badala ya dakika 30. Ambayo ni sawa sawa na jumla ya dakika 60 za ziada.

Utakapo kua tayari kuanza madarasa malipo utafanya kwa Admin wangu Hance Mligo kupitia M-Pesa +255 768 274 654 na kama wewe upo nje ya Africa Mashariki unaweza kutumia WorldRemit.

Maandalizi Maalum

VOICE CALL

Tunatumia voice call. Sio video call.

SPIKA (External Speakers)

Hakikisha simu yako imeunganishwa na spika (external speakers) kama speaker ya bluetooth au home theater, ili uweze kusikia sauti ya kinanda kama ilivyo.

VIFAA NYONGEZA

Ukiwa na device nyingine moja, yaani smartphone, tablet au computer, nitaweza kukurushia mazoezi ambayo ntatengeneza na kurusha ili uweze ku-play kwenye speaker huku tupo kwenye simu nikisikiliza ukifanya mazoezi.

MAZOEZI NDANI YA CHUMBA 

Hakikisha unafanya mazoezi haya ndani ya chumba. Sio nje.

Nahitaji information zako, yaani Jina Kamili, Umri, Namba ya Simu, anuani yako ya Barua Pepe. Hii chart nitaijaza mimi kwa kalamu hapa studio na itakua ndio faili yako.

Vocal Coaching                                                 Sessions Log

Name_______________________      Age______             Mobile #

Email_______________________

Date	Start Time	Vocal Exercise	Session Duration	Signature

TAHADHARI: COVID-19 

Ningependa pia kuwataarifuni ya kwamba kwa kipindi hiki cha kusambaa kwa ugonjwa wa Corona, madarasa yote nitakua nafanya kwa njia ya simu mpaka hapo hali itakapo badilika. Kizuri ni kwamba ninao uzoefu mkubwa wa kufundisha kwa njia ya simu.

Joett Voice Studio WhatsApp Group (BURE)

STEP 1 - Tuma vocal kwa voice note nikupe tathmini. WhatsApp +255 787 364 045

STEP 2 - Ntakupa zoezi fupi la sauti ufanye, jirekodi nitumie.

STEP 3 - Download mazoezi kutoka Mkito 

STEP 4 - Angalia video (bofya hapa) ya mifano ya hayo mazoezi (Vol. 1-4) na njia tofauti za kuyafanya ili kuimarisha sauti; na usome makala yangu (bofya hapa).

 

STEP 5 - Join link ya WhatsApp group (bofya hapa). 

STEP 6 - Jiandae kufanya darasa fupi (BURE) la uhakiki wa mazoezi kwa njia ya simu. Dakika 10 tu. (Maekelezo utapata baadae ndani ya group).

Karibuni,

Joett – Mwalimu wa Sauti

Mazoezi ya Sauti, na Jinsi ya Kujipatia Msingi Mzuri na Mwalimu

Kujifunza kuimba kwa kutumia program zangu nilizopandisha Mkito; au kwa kutumia program ninazo stream Tumblr; au ninazorusha kwenye WhatsApp group zangu Joett Voice Studio na Gonga Jiwe for Joett, ni njia moja wapo ya kujifunza kuimba nyumbani kwako, mradi ufuate mungozo wangu na ushauri ninaoutowa kwenye makala zangu, na pia kwa kuzingatia mifano ya video nilizopandisha Facebook; na pia kuna video yenye mifano ya Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-4 (bofya hapa).

Kuna watu wanaonifuata Inbox na kuniambia kwamba wanashindwa kujifunzia nyumbani. Hii hali nnaielewa sana, lakini kama unataka kujifunza bila ya gharama yoyote, basi hauna budi kujitahidi pole pole hadi uweze kufanikiwa.

Sitaki kumdanganya mtu. Kuna watu ambao nimekutana nao ndani ya studio yangu baada ya wao kujaribu mazoezi yangu nyumbani kwa muda mrefu... miezi, hata mwaka na zaidi, ambao nilipowasikiliza walikua ni kama watu hawajawahi kufanya mazoezi ya sauti hata siku moja.

Na nilipo kaa nao kufanya tathmini tu ya sauti zao (huduma ya bure), niliweza kuwaweka sawa haraka sana, ndani ya muda wa dakika 30 tu, ambapo walikua wamepambana nyumbani kimakosa kwa muda mrefu bila ya mafanikio.

Watu hutofautiana katika kujifunza. Hata wale ambao nimekutana nao katika mazingira hayo hayo na walikua wamepiga hatua kubwa, wao pia kwa darasani mwangu niliweza kuwapeleka mbali zaidi.

Sababu ya mimi kutoa mazoezi ya sauti kwa njia ya mtandao lengo langu ni kuwasaidia waTanzania wenzangu kupata angalau uelewa, na mazoezi stahiki ili waweze kujiendeleza bila swala la gharama kua ndio kikwazo kwao.

Hivyo basi, mazoezi ya ana kwa ana ya kulipia yapo, japo ni watu wachache sana ambao wapo tayari kulipia mafunzo ya aina hii... hususan madarasa ya kujifunza muziki, iwe: sauti, guitar, kinanda na kadhalika.

Hii ndio hali halisi ilivo kwa hapa Tanzania.

Kwa sisi waalimu, ni kazi ambayo bila ya kujitolea tu kuwasaidia wanaotaka kuendeleza vipaji vyao, hii elimu itakua ni ngumu sana kuifikisha kwa walengwa.

Ningependa kurudia tena, kama kuna mtu yoyote ambae ana hisi angependa kupata msingi mzuri kwa kupitia madarasa ya kulipia, basi ni vyema awasiliane na mimi kwa njia ya simu au WhatsApp.

Kwa wale ambao mpo ndani ya WhatsApp groups Joett Voice Studio na Gonga Jiwe for Joett, jaribu kuwasiliana na Admin wangu wa hizo group, Hance Mligo, (bofya hapa) ili kupata utaratibu wa madarasa kwa njia ya simu (voice call) kupitia WhatsApp na Skype.


Wewe ndie chombo halisi, jifunze kuimba kama pro! 


JOETT - Mwalimu wa Sauti