If you’re having difficulty interpreting a song and in delivering your vocals in your own inimitable style without trying to sound like somebody else, then this article will offer tips and guidance on how to be your true unique self.
Just the other day, one of my online pupils recorded a couple of covers on his phone—including a Michael Jackson number—and sent them to me. Now, what struck me as rather odd was how he tried so hard to sound like somebody else. It’s like suddenly, he had lost his own identity.
This is especially common nowadays. But the more you entertain the misguided notion that you have to sound like someone else, the more difficult it gets to wriggle out of it. You’re going to be amazed to find just how powerful singing in your own voice is. And it isn’t difficult at all when you allow your own emotion and style to shine through.
The idea behind the best delivery of a song is to breathe new life into it, and not to copy every emotion and all manner of affected tone production to emulate someone else’s rendition.
To illustrate my point, and this is exactly what I passed on to my pupil on this matter, I’d like you to watch Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Gladys Knight perform “That’s What Friends Are For” to see how each artist owns the song in their own unique voice and distinctive style.
If you’re the kind of singer that wants to be able to interpret a song—or shall we say, do it your way—then there’s no better time than now to express yourself in music in the true sense of the word. You’ll find plenty more tips and voice training modules in my book 101 Letters from a Vocal Coach.
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!
And for those of you who downloaded my audio product from Mkito.com, you'll be in possession of the vocal drills but what you don't have are some additional instructions on how to make the most of my home-learning vocal training audio programs.
The following instructional audio tape will offer tips on how to expand your range into the vowels AEIOU.
Furthermore, I provide FREE online support and tons of videos straight out of my classroom on my Telegram Channel here (opens into new window), wherein you’ll also find a link to join my Telegram group Joett Voice Studio. (You'll need to first download the app).
If you like this article, please be so kind as to share on your social media using the links below.
In association with Nam Radio Local, 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 present Vocals Quick Fix Africa to provide training that will equip artists with skills and knowledge to attract their recognition by mainstream platforms.
When news of Nigerian artist Tekno surfaced, regarding what they alluded to being the collapse of his voice box, I thought the time had come to at the very least, try to fix an endemic problem afflicting African singers.
Shouting and putting weight on your throat when you sing damages the vocal folds. And this is why it is SO important to re-balance the voice with specific vocal exercises.
From my eight years experience as a voice coach in East Africa, I have come to realize that voice training—unlike with our friends in the West—is not deeply rooted in African culture and that the way around the inability to deliver a song with dynamic range, resonance and control has led to the auto tune conveniently come to the rescue. And so—sadly, listen to almost any mainstream song by an African artist and you’ll find the excesses of auto-tune use.
It’s as though the entire industry, is built on it.
But it is never too late to begin to fix the problem.
Vocal rebalancing that ultimately frees the singer from ‘strain and pain’ takes consistent training and commitment, something I find lacking in the attitudes of many African singers—especially the more established ones.
On that note, I have decided to create and make available to the struggling vocalist, a Vocals Quick Fix solution for African singers. What this means is that an artiste can get a pre-studio recording session vocal warm-up and similarly, before a live gig.
It requires no long-term commitment and very little effort, but in 30 to 40 minutes it will adequately prepare the voice for a recording session or a live concert.
I did this with Jux on Vanessa Mdee’s opening night to their In Love & Money Tour in Mwanza, Tanzania.
After giving Vanessa a vocal warm-up, I worked with Jux for about forty minutes. When he took to the stage a couple of hours later, Vanessa—who has been my student since 2011—looked at me in shock backstage and asked, “What the hell have you done with his voice? I’ve never heard him sing like that. He is SO opened up!”
What I’m trying to say is, rebalancing the voice for a gig OR for a recording session is something that can be done in just a few minutes, but to maintain that level of vocal delivery and to further develop your range and vocal technique, you’ll need regular training.
Jux never came back for more voice lessons, which is quite normal with African singers, always in a hurry to get that next record out and to go gigging to rake in the cash. The more established artists seem under the impression that they don’t need to train. But when they do train, as did Jux that one occasion, they get to see the immediate benefit.
When Jux came off the stage that night I asked him, “so how did it feel?” And he replied with a really broad smile, “Joett, it was SO easy. Thank you SO much!”
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. And to give you a better idea, below is a Before & After video you MUST watch.
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.
Concert Tour Voice Coaching
It is very common for major acts in Europe and North America to travel with a voice coach on tour. If you are an African artiste or band going on a concert tour and you would like to travel with your very own personal voice coach, look no further, I’d be more than happy to join your entourage. Please ask your management to discuss with me the finer details, options, and financial implication via correspondence (contact info in #VocalsQuickFix banner above).
How to Setup for Skype Voice Lessons with Joett
I'll need your email address to send you some working files.
You'll require two devices: a mobile phone and laptop or PC
Download Skype to your phone and laptop or PC.
Add my Skype ID 'tojona' so we can talk for free Skype to Skype.
To playback the sound files I send you, one of your devices, say--your laptop needs to be connected to external speakers... like Bluetooth speakers or home theater.
When you come on the Skype call make sure everything is ready: i.e. your music system is set up 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. During the call, in addition to playing single-note-cues and in real-time on piano, I'll be recording a series of short piano scales which I will deliver in the Skype chat window.
We can also do this on Zoom. My Zoom email is joettmusic@gmail.com
Finding it hard to figure this out? Don't worry, we can do a trial run session.
If you have been searching for vocal exercises for singers to increase range, then you will find this particular program very useful. I had created this program for the Tanzanian Swahili-speaking market, but even if you do not speak Swahili you’ll understand what to do by simply following the demonstrations that precede each run. However, there’s a breathing exercise labeled Zoezi La Pumzi included here, that gives instruction in both English and Swahili; and you’ll find video demonstration on how to do the lip rolls and tongue trills on my Facebook page here.
Please view the video on top of this page (illustration in English) for guidance on how to log-in to download Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-7 from Mkito.com. If you're outside Tanzania, all major credit/debit cards are accepted on the Mkito platform.
Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-4 is a set of vocal exercises for singers to increase range, the duration of which is approximately 30 minutes, and they will improve and develop the quality of your voice AND increase your range very quickly with consistent training.
Furthermore, I provide FREE online support and tons of videos straight out of my classroom on my Telegram Channel here, wherein you’ll also find a link to join my Telegram group Joett Voice Studio. (You'll need to first download the app).
Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 5-7 is a guitar driven set of riffs for singers set to the song Color Me Beautiful from my acoustic pop EP Twisted, which will help you to begin applying your training to delivering a song. Only attempt this set of exercises several weeks down the line, once you’ve had sufficient training on Volumes 1-4. Just for reference, Vol. 6 is in a lowered key.
And so if you wanted vocal exercises for singers to increase your range, my prerecorded piano scales Vol. 1-4 are a must-have, and for more handy tips in paperback please grab a copy of my new book 101 Letters from a Vocal Coach, available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Lulu.
I can also recommend that you purchase the voice training product Superior Singing Method—which I frequently use in my classes—that comes in male and female range prerecorded tapes. Excellent for home use!
And before you go, please spare a moment to take a look at the Before & After video clip of my student Japhy Ross. His musical journey and growth with me as his tutor has been outstanding, so much so that I felt I needed to take this to Africa. And so I partnered up with Namibia's Nam Radio to create Talent Showcase Africa. I'm so excited and passionate about this new project as it will give me the opportunity to work with talent right across the African continent.
If you like this article, please be so kind as to share on your social media using the links below. And wherever you are in the world, you can learn to sing via Skype. You'll find information on my Personalized Skype Lessons here. You are the Instrument, Learn to Sing Like a Pro!
Much as you might want to just get up and hit the recording studio, rehearsal session, or the stage for that matter and hope your voice will warm-up during the session as you went along, the truth of the matter is, preparing your voice for singing beforehand will make a world of difference in the way you feel and certainly, in the way you sound. You’ll find singing easy and more comfortable for you.
Ideally, a quick vocal warm-up for at least 20 minutes prior to any of the aforementioned sessions should suffice. Do anything from lip rolls to humming… you can watch some examples on my Facebook page here.
I can also recommend that you purchase the voice training product Superior Singing Method, that comes in male and female range prerecorded tapes. Excellent for home use!
If you like this article, please be so kind as to share on your social media using the links below.
Baada ya hapo utaweza kujiendeleza vizuri na program zangu online. Kupata maelekezo zaidi soma yafuatayo.
Kwa kipindi kirefu nimejaribu kusaidia watu kwa maelekezo, lakini mara kwa mara maswali yanakua yanajirudia. Kwanza kabisa, ni muhimu kuwaelewesha ya kwamba mazoezi ya sauti yana ratiba na miongozo ni lazima ifuatwe ndio upate mafanikio.
Ratiba ya Mazoezi nimeweka bayana (Kiswahili nenda chini kabisa) hapa!
Mkito ilikua inasumbua sana, kwahivyo nimeyapandisha mazoezi yangu ya Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-7 kwenye platform yaInternet Archive, ambapo yanapatikana ku-stream na ku-download BURE!
Ku-download MP3 kwenye simu weka kidole kwenye track, kuna kadirisha katapanda, halafu chagua Download link. Ukishindwa ku-download MP3 kwenye simu, tumia computer kud-download zip file. Ni option ya chini kabisa VBR MP3.
Lakini pamoja na hilo, ningependa pia kuwakaribisha kwenye Channel yangu ya Telegram na WhatsApp ambapo utakuta link ya kujiunga na Group.
Madhumuni ya hizi group ni kutoa msaada kwa wale ambao wana nia na shauka la kujifunza kuimba vizuri. Unaweza kuuliza maswali na pia nitatupia maelekezo na mifano hapo. Ni juu yako wewe kutumia hii fursa au laa. Huduma hii natoa bure kabisa. Haina gharama yeyote. Ahsanteni.
Telegram / WhatsApp
1. Download Telegram App
2. Regista
3. Jiunge na Channel kupitia https://t.me/JoettMusic, halafu ndani utakuta link ya kujiunga na Joett Voice Studio Group la Telegram.
4. Kujuinga na Group langu la WhatsApp bofya hapa! (Ukikuta Group limejaa, jishikize kwenye group langu la Gonga Jiwe for JOETT, hapa!).
Muangalie Japhy Ross kabla na baada ya mafunzo ya Sauti
PART 1 - Kabla ya Mafunzo ya Sauti
PART 2 - Baada ya Masaa 10 ya Mafunzo
PART 3 - Baada ya Miezi 10 ya Mafunzo
Japhy Ross - Bado (Official Audio)
Jifunze Kuimba na Joett Vocal Drills Volume 1
Kwa awamu nyingine tena, na tena safari hii kwa maboresho yalio fuata mahitaji muhimu katika kujifunza kuimba kupitia mtandao, ninawaletea toleo mpya kabisa Jifunze Kuimba na Joett Volume 1. Hili toleo ni muhimu katika kukuwezesha kuingia katika mstari wa mafunzo ambayo bila shaka, yatakuletea mafanikio ya haraka.
Kabla ya kuanza, hakikisha una download na kufanya zoezi langu la pumzi kwanza, bofya hapa!
Bila ya kuzungumza maneno mengi, nataka niwaachie toleo hili la kwanza (Vol. 1) msikilize mifano nakuendelea na mchanganyiko wa mazoezi ya sauti kwa takriban dakika 8. Mifano ipo. Nikusikiliza tu na kufuata hiyo mifano, na la msingi kabisa nikuachia sauti ifuate mkondo wake. Usilazimishe sauti. Iachie ifuate kinanda na maelekezo mwanana. Download mazoezi kutoka Internet Archive, yaani Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-4 na Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 5-7.
Mifano ya Mazoezi ya sauti nimepandisha Facebook. Tafadhali bofya hapa ufuate muongozo.
Ukiwa na maswali, jiskie huru kuniuliza kwenye group langu la Telegram na WhatsApp, au soma nakala kadhaa nilizo andika, kwa kubofya link za makala kibao chini kabisa ya ukurusa huu.
Jifunze Kuimba na Joett Vocal Drills Volume 2
Volume 2 ni muendelezo wa Vol. 1. Kwa maana ni lazima ufanye Vol.1 kabla haujafanya Vol. 2. Kwa mara nyingine tena, nita sistiza mfuate maelekezo kama yalivo kwenye toleo hili. Mazoezi haya yana dakika 7. Ukishaweza kufanya haya mazoezi, sasa utakua na mazoezi mawili. Yaani Vol. 1 & 2 katika ratiba yako ya mazoezi ya sauti ya kila siku; na utatakiwa kufanya yote kwa pamoja kufuata mlolongo huo huo wa Vol. 1 kuingia Vol. 2. Kumbuka, madhumuni ya haya mazoezi ni ku re-balance sauti yako, au kurekebisha matumizi ya sauti yako ili uweze kuimba kwa urahisi kwenda juu na kwenda chini; na mpangilio na ratiba hii ndio itaweza kukupa wewe huo uwezo kwa njia ya haraka na salama zaidi. Tafadhali usianze kukurupuka na ku-download vitu olela kwenye internet. Tafadhali fuata maelekezo yangu na mazoezi niliokuandalia ili uweze kupata mafanikio ya uhakika.
Jifunze Kuimba na Joett Vocal Drills Volume 3
Mazoezi ya Vocal Drills Volume 3 ni muendelezo wa Vol. 2. Kwa mara nyingine tena, fuata maelekezo. Kama unayo maswali ama kuna kitu kinakushinda, tafadhali uliza. Nitaweza kukupa ushauri. Lakini cha msingi nikufuata maelekezo na kufanya mazoezi stahiki kama nilivowaandalia hapa. Ukishaweza haya mazoezi ambayo muda wake ni takriban dakika 5, unatakiwa kuunganisha Vol. 1, 2 & 3 katika ratiba yako ya mazoezi ya sauti ya kila siku.
Jifunze Kuimba na Joett Vocal Drills Volume 4
Volume 4 ndio toleo la mwisho katika awamu hii mpya ya Jifunze Kuimba na Joett Volume 1-4. Fuata maelekezo. Panapokupa taabu, tafadhali niulize nikupe muongozo. Ukishaweza hili zoezi la takriban dakika 10, sasa utakua unamazoezi ya sauti Vol. 1, 2, 3 & 4 katika ratiba yako ya kujifunza kuimba. Kwahivyo, kilamara unapo kaa kufanya mazoezi yote haya kwa pamoja, unapaswa kufanya zoezi la pumzi kabla ya Vol. 1 alafu kuendelea na mazoezi ya Vol. 2, 3 & 4 bila ya kusimama.
Ratiba ya Mazoezi nimeweka bayana (Kiswahili nenda chini kabisa) hapa!
Jumla ya muda wa mazoezi ukiunganisha hizi Volume zote 4 ni dakika 30. Kumbuka, madhumuni ya haya mazoezi ni ku re-balance sauti yako, au kurekebisha matumizi ya sauti yako ili uweze kuimba kwa urahisi kwenda juu na kwenda chini; na mpangilio na ratiba hii ndio itaweza kukupa wewe huo uwezo kwa njia ya haraka na salama zaidi. Tafadhali usianze kukurupuka na ku-download vitu olela kwenye internet. Tafadhali fuata maelekezo yangu na mazoezi niliokuandalia ili uweze kupata mafanikio ya uhakika.
Mifano ya Mazoezi ya Ziada ya Kufanya Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-4
Kwenye hii video niko na mwanafunzi wangu Afro Jay, na madhumuni ya kuitengeneza hii video ni kutoa mifano ya jinsi ya kufanya mazoezi ya Joett Vocal Drills Vol. 1-4, pamoja na njia zingine tofauti za kuyafanya hayo hayo mazoezi ili kupanua wigo na upeo wa sauti yako.
Jifunze Kuimba na Joett Vocal Drills Volume 5-7
Vol. 5, 6 & 7 ni mazoezi ambayo yatakupeleka kutumia sauti kwenye nyimbo yangu Color Me Beautiful (Acoustic Pop) kwa mpangilio ulioupata wa matumizi stahiki ya sauti kutoka Vol. 1 - 4. Ni muhimu sana USIGUSE haya mazoezi mpaka baada ya muda...hata ikibidi miezi au wiki kadhaa, punde sauti yako imekaa sawa.
Nilicho kifanya hapa nikujaribu kuwezesha watanzania wote popote walipo, kupata mafunzo stahiki ya sauti bila ya gharama ya kuhudhuria mafunzo ya sauti darasani pamoja na mimi. Maelekezo na mazoezi haya ni nyeti kwa kukuwezesha kufikia malengo yako. Fuata maelekezo, fanya mazoezi mara tatu kwa wiki, na utapata faida kubwa sana kwenye swala la kuimba.
Lyrics Vol. 5-6
You make the world a better place Your love is divine, straight down the line Take me away from what I know Onto a better place There in your arms Your love is divine, straight down the line Cos you know that I’m addicted to love Cos you know that I’m addicted to love So color me beautiful Color me blind
Tumia chombo cha muziki cha kupigia CD/Flash au kama unatumia simu yako ya mkononi, hakikisha unaunganisha na speaker kupata sauti kubwa kulingana na sauti yako ukiimba.
Fanya mazoezi ndani ya chumba na sio kwenye maeneo ya wazi, wala sio kwa kutumia simu yako ya mkononi na headset zake masikioni.
Kujifunza kuimbaonline inataka kujituma. Darasani pia inataka kujituma na kuhudhiria madarasa. Katika njia zote mbili, wanafunzi wengi wakitanzania 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.
Kupata elimu na uelewa zaidi, tafadhali Soma Makala Nyeti za Mazoezi na Maelekezo ya Uimbaji Bora. Ndani ya makala hiyo utakuta link ambazo zitakupeleka kwenye makala zangu nyingine. Jipe muda kuzisoma zote.
Na vile vile unaweza kupata maelekezo zaidi kwa kubofya makala kadhaa nilizo andika hapa chini. Ukiwa na maswali, tafadhali jisikie huru kuniuliza. Ni muhimu sana kuelewa, na sio kufanya vitu kwa hisia bila muongozo. Panapo stahili, tafadhali tafuta ushauri wangu!
{PRESS RELEASE} AFRICA is endowed with natural resources – from its rich, arable land to incredible wildlife, minerals, gas and oil. But also hidden in this enormous tapestry of wealth are its people and their musical talent. And so to bring hope and progress to the musical fraternity, a joint venture partnership between Namibia’s Nam Radio in Southern Africa and celebrated voice coach and author Tony Joett (pronounced Joe-Wet) from Eastern Africa, have created Talent Showcase Africa (TSA), a new pan-African platform that seeks to discover, nurture, develop and launch fresh new talent on the African continent.
Hinged on an auditioning process; a comprehensive voice training program conducted by Joett—whilst also showcasing the exhilarating creative process toward a mainstream record launch—TSA has devised a smart yet simple format in selecting talent for its flagship program which is designed to roll-out country by country, to offer an opportunity of a lifetime to a new generation of African singers.
To highlight the positive impact this initiative will have on local talent across communities in Africa, Joett, using one of his pupils—an unsigned artiste from Tanzania who goes by the name Japhy Ross and studies voice on Joett’s community outreach pro bono program—has created a compelling Before & After video clip that chronologically catalogs his musical recordings from before the voice lessons; after ten hours of training; and ultimately his outstanding achievement after ten months.
“When it comes to emerging talent and singing as a whole, aside from the hurdles in relation to funding a career in music, one of the greatest challenges facing African talent today is the lack of professional training facilities, and where it is sparsely available… like in some major cities, you’ll find youngsters from poorer communities unable to afford the fees,” said Joett. “I am truly humbled and deeply grateful that Skope Magazine have wholeheartedly embraced our vision and come on board to help raise awareness across North America and the world, with a view to ultimately creating a fundraising campaign for our cause, hopefully, beginning with the launch of the debut single from Japhy Ross as a workable format to discovering and breaking out new talent in Africa.”
The purpose of Nam Radio is to reduce inequalities for emerging artists within the entertainment industry, and to increase opportunities on mainstream platforms by providing a platform that is less judgmental to make their recognition easy and valuable. Joett on the other hand, who is also an ASCAP singer-songwriter and the author of a new singers’ handbook entitled ‘101 Letters from a Vocal Coach: A Collection of Helpful Tips and Articles for Singers’, brings his professional vocal coaching expertise to TSA to facilitate a training framework for aspiring singers, funneled into a high profile multimedia entertainment and learning project that will not only see African talent come away with the professional expertise and business acumen for growth and sustainability, it will also provide them with the definitive launch pad to a successful career in music.
