Water and a Bounty of Fruit is a Brilliant Way to Hydrate the Body

Naveed Pervaiz

If you are a singer and you’re wondering what to eat to help you maintain a healthy voice, this article will shed some light on the quintessential topic of hydration and why it is of significant importance to vocalists.

Water consumption is a brilliant way to keep your body well hydrated. Furthermore, try to avoid alcohol and caffeine. Vocal cords vibrate pretty quickly, and so having a proper water balance helps keep them well lubricated. And what’s more, foods that contain large amounts of water are excellent hydration-conscious snacks, including apples, oranges, pears, watermelon, peaches, melons, grapes, plums and bell peppers.

When you feel the sudden urge to clear your throat, try a sip of water or simply swallow to quench the urge to clear. If you feel like you must clear your throat often, I would advise that you get checked by a doctor for such things as acid re-flux disease, or allergy and sinus conditions.

Nothing beats several vocal naps a day, especially during periods of extended use. Find a quiet way to spend quality time ‘with yourself’ rather than talking in a noisy place. The last thing you want to do is talk loudly in noisy areas.

Definitely DON’T smoke. Smoking tremendously raises the risk of throat cancer, and even inhaling secondhand smoke will irritate the vocal cords. In a nutshell, smoking is the fastest way to hell for any vocalist anywhere on the planet. So you bear that in mind.

If you’re in the habit of yelling and screaming, that (in my book) is vocal abuse and misuse all rolled into one package for self-destruction!  If your throat feels dry or tired, or your voice is getting hoarse, reduce your voice use. The hoarseness is a warning sign that your vocal cords are irritated.

If you like this article, please be so kind as to share on your social media using the links below. And you can book private voice lessons with me here!


You are the Instrument, Learn to Sing Like a Pro!


JOETT - Vocal Coach & Author:
“101 Letters from a Vocal Coach”

One of THE Most Essential Elements in Developing a Singer's Voice is by Consuming a Rich Musical Diet. Discover the Missing Ingredients!

To listen to the Mica Paris Collection click here!

Now let’s assume you’re doing the voice training either by using voice training products you’ve downloaded online or with a private tutor in-studio or via Skype, one of the most essential elements people tend to forget is your musical diet. Put simply, what kind of music do you listen to? This article will discuss probably the most overlooked key ingredient to developing your musicality.

I talk quite a lot about this in my book 101 Letters from a Vocal Coach, and in a recent voice note to my predominantly Tanzanian WhatsApp group I talked about the lack of a good musical diet as being one of the reasons why a lot of millennial generation youngsters, especially in Africa, are failing to grow their talent. Cos, whether you like it or not, the kind of music you listen to plays a major role in developing your ear for music and style. Now, I’m not saying you can embody the total singing package by just listening to great music, you’ll still need the training.

So: assuming you ARE already in training, your next step is to soak in all of the great stuff released in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Why? Because back then, they had no computers and therefore it was either you CAN sing or you can forget about a career in music. Up until the 00s a record producer couldn’t correct your pitch and auto-tune your vocals from start to finish to disguise your inability to deliver a simple note. And hey, let’s face it: they made really good music back then.

And so I have decided to publish on a daily basis (if I can keep this up), my recommended old-school essential listens to help you get started with consuming a vibrant, colorful and rich musical diet that comes from a bygone era when the music was SO GOOD it will live forever!

I have already started publishing my recommended list of 70s, 80s and 90s music from disco to pop, soul, R&B, jazz, new jack swing and MORE on my Tumblr here. And from time to time, I shall be blogging some more on this topic. Enjoy!

CAN YOU SHARE? If you like this article, please be so kind as to share on your social media using the links below.


You are the Instrument, Learn to Sing Like a Pro!


JOETT - Vocal Coach & Author:
“101 Letters from a Vocal Coach”

Own a Laptop and Some Decent External Speakers? Follow These 3 Simple Steps to Improving Your Singing

If you’ve wondered how learning to sing online works, then this article will explore the options available to you, whilst highlighting the easiest path to your singing success. In this article, I will also provide links to some of my previous articles as well as links to my voice training products, so please make sure that you explore those to see the bigger picture.

Buying a learn-to-sing product online and learning on your own can be quite a lonely experience. This is why, it is good to join a community of learners such as yourself to keep you motivated and striving to achieve your goals.

And this is the reason why I created WhatsApp and Telegram groups to offer support to all of the people that have acquired my products and want my help in their home-learning process. I offer this particular service for free.

In recent weeks, my voice coaching services have been uploaded to Nam Radio’s retail store where anyone, anywhere in Africa and the Diaspora is able to purchase my private voice coaching as well as my book 101 Letter from a Vocal Coach and its accompanying audio product Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-7.

So here are the 3 simple steps to improving your singing online.

First, you buy the products you’re going to need for the training. Your next step is to join a support network, such as a WhatsApp or Telegram group as mentioned above. And this next step (optional) is to take up private lessons via Skype or in person with a professional voice coach to help kick-start your path to learning.

If you’re the kind of person that really needs to learn to sing online and you want the motivation and technical support to help you get started, then this will be exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll find more information on my private voice coaching here!

If you like this article, please be so kind as to share on your social media using the links below. AND please make sure you tune in to Nam Radio for your Daily Dose Of African Music!


You are the Instrument, Learn to Sing Like a Pro!


JOETT - Vocal Coach & Author:
“101 Letters from a Vocal Coach”

Jifunze Kuimba na Joett WhatsApp 2019

Je, ungependa kujifunza kuimba kiurahisi na bila gharama yeyote?

Basi nimekuandalia kila kitu. Cha kufanya ni kufuata maelekezo na kujumiaka na wenzio WhatsApp.

Nilikua nimesitisha huduma ya WhatsApp na kuhamia Crew na Telegram, lakini kwa mara nyingine tena nimeamua kurudi WhatsApp kwasababu watu wengi hupendelea zaidi app hiyo. Sasa basi, ukisha jiunga utapata muongozo wa jinsi zoezi hili linavo endeshwa, na pia utapata eBook (pdf) yangu yenye maelekezo kuhusu mazoezi ya sauti Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-7 ambayo yanapatikana Mkito.com.

Lakini ni muhimu kabla hujafanya lolote usome maelekezo hapa kwenye blog langu kwanza na ukiwa na maswali, ntayajibu kwenye group langu JOETT Voice Studio WhatsApp.

Kuna mazoezi ya ziada ambayo narushia WhatsApp na vile vile najibu maswali na kutoa ushauri kuhusu maswala ya uimbaji.

Maelekezo ya ziada kuhusu msaada huu maalum wa mafunzo utayapata hapa!

Kujifunza kuimba online inataka kujituma. Darasani pia inataka kujituma na kuhudhiria madarasa. Katika njia zote mbili, wanafunzi wengi hughairi.

Inataka mtu unajijengea tabia ya kufanya mazoezi. Jitengenezee ratiba. Hata kama ni siku moja kwa wiki. Baada ya muda unazoe. Na inakua jambo rahisi kutekeleza bila ya kuona uzito.

Na la mwisho kabisa, kumbuka, mazoezi ya sauti hayana mwisho. Ni endelevu.

Nawatakia mafanikio mema!


JOETT

Namibia’s Nam Radio Ignitions Voice Coaching Initiative for Africa

Scott Webb

PRESS RELEASE May 04, 2019 -- Nam Radio, an all African music channel that gives power to the upcoming African artist by creating a platform for those typically lacking media access, proudly present Vocals Quick Fix Africa Project to provide essential training that will equip artists with skills and knowledge to attract their recognition by mainstream platforms.

In collaboration with their in-house artist development brand Talent Showcase Africa (TSA), Nam Radio is launching the first ever radio jingle and social media campaign in Africa that offers a very unique opportunity for listeners across Africa and the Diaspora to connect with a celebrated voice coach for the purpose of getting professional training to help them become better singers.

Joett, voice coach to afro pop superstar Vanessa Mdee and the author of new singers’ handbook 101 Letters from a Vocal Coach, is creator of the 'Complete Vocals Overhaul' concept in association with Nam Radio and heads up its pan-African training division.

“When it comes to singing, you are the instrument!” said Joett. “With proper training, almost anyone can learn to sing like a pro—with no pain and no strain.”

Referring to their flagship voice training program, Joett explains: “we have created something that is tailored to the mindset of African singers; a program that doesn’t involve a lot of time and requires absolutely no long-term commitment from the artist whatsoever. It is what it is. A ‘Vocals Quick Fix’ for pre-studio recording sessions and live gigs. Plain and simple! This, I feel, should work well for Africa.”

Citing shouting and putting weight on the throat as being one of the most endemic problems afflicting African singers, Joett advocates vocal rebalancing using specific tailor-made vocal exercises, as the key solution to freeing the singer from all the pain and strain associated with the untrained voice.

With private voice lessons conducted by Joett via Skype, Nam Radio brings convenient, affordable, professional help to both upcoming and established artists across the African continent, and the Diaspora.

To book your place visit their website today, at: Nam-Radio.com

Auditioning for East Africa's Got Talent? See How Easily You Can Impress the Judges With the Vocals Quick Fix Solution

The recently launched East Africa’s Got Talent (EAGT) reality TV show is inviting talented individuals, including singers, to audition for an opportunity to feature in the talent search show, which is set to air in August 2019.

Interested individuals, aside from auditioning at a designated location in their respective countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, they can also submit a one-minute video recording with their name, age and country to the judges via WhatsApp (See numbers in poster above).

If you plan to audition for East Africa's Got Talent as a singing talent, then I'll let you in on a little secret.

In order to gain an unfair advantage over your fellow competitors, there are specific vocal exercises you can do that will quickly improve your voice in time for your audition. Not to mention, you'll greatly increase your chances of being selected.

Now here's the good news! In association with Nam Radio, an all African music channel that gives power to the upcoming African artist by creating a platform for those typically lacking media access, we proudly introduce the Complete Vocals Overhaul program to offer you the pro vocal warm-up that will re-balance your voice so you can impress EAGT talent contest judges on the day.

Nothing can get you closer to being selected than good preparation.

This program is available to practically anybody anywhere in the world, but with this article I only want to focus on helping contestants prepare for East Africa's Got Talent.

Get started TODAY via Nam-Radio.com, and be sure to listen to the Sing Like a Pro Radio Jingle in widget below... and please feel free to download mp3 to share on WhatsApp; or simply share the SoundCloud link across all social media platforms.

What's more, I also provide vocal coaching backup support via Telegram. So if you need guidance and plenty of audio and video content to help you steadfastly move along with your training, you'll want to join my Telegram Channel, wherein you'll also find the link to joining my Telegram Group. (You'll need to download the app). And so I shall look forward to seeing you there!

TANZANIA

Tarehe ya Usahili wa East Africa’s Got Talent (EAGT), ni tarehe 25 na 26 May kwa TANZANIA, Pia unaweza kutuma video clip ya dakika moja WhatsApp, ikionyesha kipaji chako, Usisahau kutupa jina lako na unatokea wapi. Onyesha kipaji chako. Zawadi ya Tshs Milion 120 ni yako. #EAGT



You are the Instrument, Learn to Sing Like a Pro!


JOETT - Vocal Coach & Author:
“101 Letters from a Vocal Coach”

Record Producers Africa 101: How to Resolve Vocal Issues in Booth

If you are a record producer or an artist manager based anywhere in Africa, and you’ve run into situations where your artist inside the vocal booth is struggling... in that, not only is range, technique and resonance an issue, their vocals quickly tire out and it begins to hinder your recording session, then this article will look at the root cause of the problem and it will also provide you with a quick and permanent solution for your artist. With this, your artist will be able to easily deliver a song in a manner that best suits the style, mood and dimension of the song without an iota of pain, strain or struggle.

First and foremost, let me explain what happens when a vocalist in your vocal booth is hurting and quickly losing their voice during a recording session.

The main reason is because they are putting unnecessary weight on the throat when they sing. The trouble with singing from the throat (shouting) is that the outer larynx muscles are being incorporated into sound production and this inevitably results in the vocal chords taking a rather big beating from all the strain.

And yes, the singer will endure a lot of pain in the process and ultimately they will lose their voice. Needless to say, as a result, you might have to cancel your recording session altogether. Which, clearly, is a waste of time and money.

SOLUTION

I know this is not common practice in Africa. Believe me, I know this firsthand. But it is the ONLY solution to the problem. So let's take a closer look.

The solution to the problem is to have the vocalist undergo a series of special speech-level singing vocal exercises a couple of days before the recording session and on the day of the recording session itself.

Seriously, that’s all it takes to completely re-balance the voice ready for a recording session because it will eliminate the tendency to recruit the outer larynx muscles in sound production.

Your artist, after the vocal warm-ups, will exhibit a more balanced vocal delivery, control, range and resonance  devoid of all the strain and pain the singer had previously experienced.

In a previous article I introduced my new voice training program that prepares the voice for the recording studio and the live gig. In that article I talked about this endemic problem afflicting so many singers across the African continent, and whilst giving examples with some success stories I also tried to explain that it really only takes a few hours to re-balance the voice ready for any situation. You can read the full article and also gather some more information on my Vocals Quick Fix Africa Project here.

Vocals Quick Fix (Pre-Studio Recording Sessions & Gigs)

I have created something that is tailored to the mindset of African singers, a program that doesn’t involve a lot of time and requires absolutely no long-term commitment from the artist whatsoever. It is what it is. A ‘Vocals Quick Fix’ for the job at hand. Plain and simple! This, I feel, should work well for Africa.

How It Works

I’ll want to liaise with recording studios and artist management anywhere in Africa. My modus operandi is pretty simple. If you have an artist going into the recording studio and they need help getting their vocals in order, I will gladly work with them for up to an hour prior to the recording session.

And in the case of the live gig set—similarly, I will prepare them for it right before they hit the stage.

Ideally, whether we do this via Skype or I work with you in your country and city, you have the option to book a four-hour program so as to get even MORE value for YOUR money!

The four hours will be evenly spread into an hour-a-day slots, and can be scheduled to begin three days before the recording session, with the fourth and final hour taking place on the day of the recording session OR day of the gig, as it were.

How to Setup for Skype Voice Lessons with Joett

1. Send me your email address. I will want to send you some working files.
2. Download Skype to your phone. 
3. Add my Skype ID tojona so we can talk for free Skype to Skype.
4. When you receive my sound files, make sure you burn mp3 to cd to playback on sound system like the 'home theater' with speakers. If using a laptop or PC it needs to be connected to home theater speakers (or similar).
5. When you come on the Skype call make sure everything is ready: i.e. your music system is setup and the sound files are ready for use. Also ensure your email is connected for easy delivery of additional working files to your inbox during the session. Also, I will create and record 2 minute scales on piano during the call and transmit that through Skype chat window. 
6. FEES: Please send inquiry via WhatsApp (contact info in #VocalsQuickFix banner above).

You are the Instrument, Learn to Sing Like a Pro!


JOETT - Vocal Coach & Author:
“101 Letters from a Vocal Coach”