Singing Lessons - How to Improve Your Breathing Technique

I've reviewed quite a few learn-to-sing CDs and one thing a lot of them seem to have in common is the lack of in-depth information on breathing technique. There's so much detail about breathing properly in order to sing properly that I feel is key to developing a great singing voice. I want to address this element of singing - beginning with this article. As a vocal coach I always tell my students, if you open your mouth to suck in that breath gradually as you drop the jaw, you will sing that way -- correctly. It's about developing a new habit and dispensing with old. There is a direct connection between opening your mouth to sing and opening your mouth to breathe. Get the breathing bit right, and you'll be singing like a pro in no time. This article will explore the pros and cons of breathing technique to help you not only sing better, but also sound a heck of a lot better than you ever did. It's all in the breathing.

Try stifling a yawn right now -- genuinely, whilst looking at yourself in the mirror. Notice the way your jaw drops. Now that's how you're meant to breathe when you sing. In through the mouth as you gradually drop the jaw. If you could create a breathing exercise where you breathe in through the mouth, as above, to the count of eight beats (put a piece of music on); hold your breath for eight beats; and then slowly exhale with a hiss (controlled) to the count of sixteen beats, and you're half way there. But do it properly, using the yawning example above.

As a vocal coach I always tell my students, the way you breathe is the way you're going to sing. If you breathe incorrectly, you will sing incorrectly. Here's a very simple example: With your teeth separated just two inches apart, try holding a note with the vowel "A" for several seconds. Now take a look at your mouth in the mirror. As you sing AAAAA start to drop the jaw gradually whilst maintaining the same amount of thrust and see how that alters your voice. You will notice that you begin to scale upward without really doing much at all. It is effortless. So here's the crux. When you learn to sing with the jaw-drop pattern as illustrated above, you will also be inadvertently learning to go up the scale by simply dropping the jaw--by creating more space down the throat--with the vowels A and E--or words that sound like that.

Here's a good example. Listen to the first verse of the song "Touch Me In The Morning" by Diana Ross. Note the second line "Then just walk away." Now try singing that line and when you sing the word AWAY drop the jaw gradually in the second 'A' and slowly close the mouth to fade the note. It would sound like an extended W-A-A-A-Y. This action produces a very refined articulation of the vowel. Dropping the jaw at the right time and at the right pace will produce a better-sounding vocal. Try working with the entire verse again, this time focusing on the breath intake spots before the note. Make sure you drop the jaw to breathe each time there's a gap that allows you to. And remember this. The pattern with which you open your mouth to breathe is the exact same pattern with which you should open your mouth to sing and articulate the vowel. The two work in synergy.

Author Bio

Joett, a singer-songwriter and member of ASCAP, is a vocal coach based in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. His highly acclaimed single "I Could Never Live (Without Your Love)" can be heard on Internet radio Jango and is available for download on iTunes and Amazon MP3. He also presents a 70s Disco 80s Pop retro radio show called BOOGIE from 6pm Sundays on Times 100.5 FM

Singing: How to Eliminate the Strain in Your Voice

If you're singing with a strained voice and you can actually feel pain around the throat area, there's something wrong with your placement. In that, you're probably recruiting other muscles to produce the sound. You don't have to! Here's a quick way to rectify any placement problems you may have.

Try saying AAAAA in your speaking voice, otherwise referred to as your chest voice. Once you've mastered that, start to work your way up the scale with AAAA gradually going up to a point where your voice breaks and switches over to your second voice (the falsetto area). If you're doing this correctly you should notice that there is no pain in the throat... because your placement is right. Now try to apply this technique to singing ANY song. Enjoy!

Joett
Vocal Coach | Singer & Songwriter
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Email: info[at]joettmusic[dot]com

Craig David Signed, Sealed and Delivered

A diet of great music with good vocals is one sure fire way to understanding vocals. British singer Craig David, who made his big break with hit single Fill Me In at age eighteen ten years ago, has the kind of vocals you'll want to listen to intently and to analyze deeply. He has a new album Signed, Sealed and Delivered released this week. I've been listening to his interview with Trevor Nelson and Gemma on BBC Radio 1Xtra. Have a listen, and please pay close attention to his Live Lounge rendition of Fill Me In. An outstanding performance. Enjoy!

Have a great Easter Sunday!

Joett

Vocal Coaching Comes to Tanzania

Not often do you stumble upon a niche that is screaming to be filled. Well, incidentally, it recently happened to me! When a couple of Dar es salaam record producers sent me four bongo flava artists to train, I realized from the outset that, indeed, there was a huge gap in the market for a professional vocal coach in Tanzania. But I didn't stop there. I decided to sling a classified ad in the local newspapers, and not only was I amazed at the response (the phone rang incessantly), I was delighted to be in a position to help. You know? Like giving something back to my local community? I for one was fortunate enough to have worked with one of the top record producers in the United Kingdom, multimillion-selling composer Tambi Fernando, and to have been trained by Sybil Esmore, a highly acclaimed  vocal coach who's also trained chart topping UK acts like MN8 (who toured with Janet Jackson). I have been privileged, to say the least, and nothing would please me more than to help singers in Tanzania, those of whom seriously want to sing like pros, develop their talent.

Did you know that there are dozens of subtle secrets, little magic techniques, all of which make you a slightly better singer? Now when you throw in some hard work you can become a great singer. Or if not great, then the best singer your talent will let you be. Talent counts. Hard work counts more. Training counts most of all. At the end of the day "You Are the Instrument!" All you need is someone to show you HOW to take the voice back down the throat to the larynx (or voice box) and use the vocal chords. That's all there is to it! And, needless to say, that's where I come in. I'd be thrilled to be given the opportunity to help improve the voice you already have. Not only will I help you improve your range, pitch accuracy, flexibility, articulation, I'll also show you how to breathe properly when singing, and where and how to place your voice (voice placement) and much more besides! If you're in Dar es salaam, please feel free to call me to book a FREE half-hour assessment session any day of the week except Sundays.  


Thanks for dropping by, and have a great day!

Joett

Mobile# 0715 364 045 / 0787 364 045.