'Protools and Why Singers Should Study Vocal Technique'

Thought for the day:  Why should we study technique as singers!? As I've said before, we study technique in order to get it out of the way. And I wholeheartedly believe that! But with today's modern technology, a skilled engineer can thread a great recording out of bits and pieces of a mediocre performance. As long as one 'good' consonant, sustain, emotion, etc. is in the can... You get the picture. So why bother, right!? (Putting aside the singers inability to produce it live, well that's a whole different post in itself!?) But last week as I vocalized an outstanding young artist for a recording session, I stumbled onto a little something that was worthwhile to share on the matter! PROTOOLS can make you sing in tune but it can't take it out of your nose!? THAT has to be done in-house. If your voice lacks depth, flexibility, or clarity that too cannot be addressed with the click of a mouse. It can only be covered up! (Think auto tuning to the extreme.) If you are struggling with singing out of tune or you regularly experience frustration while singing, THOSE challenges are an indication that your singing fundamentally lacks vocal balance. Simply put, you lack an ease of getting out of the bottom of your voice and into the top (and/or vice verse.) The process of singing has become jammed up or 'mucky' for you. But rest assured, you are not alone! This is where 99.9% of ALL singers struggle. The way we deal with this dilemma as singers denotes our individual tendencies; to push it in our nose, to crack it in the top, to over culture it, to sing ourselves hoarse... But learning to sing in a vocally balanced manner is easier than you might think and results in a voice that is uncluttered and unmanufactured and is easily produced across your ENTIRE vocal range in a clear, flexible tone at any dynamic level.  So why not give it a try!? Most see dramatic results in their very first lesson! Book now:  Rachel@RachelRainsVocalStudio.com 

'Les Miserables...' Purists vs Non-Purists. Can't We All Just Get Along!?

Much controversy has ensued since the release of Les Miserables and everyone seems to have an opinion. Live singing vs prerecorded. Singers vs actors. Purists vs well... non-purists! Its almost a West Side Story of 'schools of thought.' Can't we all just get along!?

"Did I hear a wobble in Hugh Jackman's voice? Yes! But I heard him overcome it. Did I hear Amanda Seyfried sing too lightly in her chest causing her at times to almost push sharp? Yes! But I also heard her overcoming it. Did I hear Anne Hathaway go too wide in the top resulting in a strained top? Yes! But again... she overcame it." The result, I believe, of the actors' diligent work. They are all GREAT actors and actresses who sang technically well to their God given ability. Applaud them for achieving that 'fullest' potential. Don't criticize them for what they lack in raw, vocal talent.

The only real disappointment to me was in the only 'true' singer in the cast, Samantha Barks. She should have delivered a 'stand out' vocal performance. But instead, she pulled her chest voice way too high and therefore had to drop ALL of the weight - all of a sudden - in the top. Therefore, she lost ALL of her power on those top pitches! Which are the 'money' notes of the song! Disappointing... And sad for her. She definitely could have benefitted from a hard MIX not a mixed belt approach to singing. Oh well... 'Nuff said. But I did NOT let it ruin the whole movie for me!

See the film for what it is! Lighten up and enjoy! After all... the book is 1400+ pages!

What's that... What is a hard MIX you ask!? A hard MIX gives the impression of belting BUT without the strain that comes from 'pulling straight chest.' Because it is a 'truer' balance between registers than a 'mixed belt,' it is a much more effective tool for powerful singing and is used by many R&B singers of today. If you would like to discover just how POWERFUL your own voice can be, contact me at RRVS@comcast.net.

God Did Not Intend For Singing To Be So Hard...

Do you ever feel as if you work way too hard at singing? I often find myself saying to singers in the studio 'God didn't intend for singing to be so hard!'

But nowadays, due to the plethora of information available (some good and some bad,)  many singers suffer from TMI  (too much information) and begin to distrust their own innate ability to distinguish what 'feels' wrong and what 'feels' right. 

Further, in an effort to help/assist the singing process, singers actually begin to insert tension into their OWN voices. Thus getting in their OWN way of producing a relaxed, healthy sound. Does this sound familiar!? 

As a singer, what you really should be striving for is developing your own innate sense of balance or 'feel' for your voice. Why not ask yourself "Does my voice 'feel' even or balanced when singing throughout my range without any of the pitches feeling stronger or weaker than others!?" Or how about asking yourself "Does it 'feel' as easy to sing in the top of my range as it does in the bottom and vice verse?" 

Why SHOULD singing be so hard? I can't imagine God EVER having intended it to be that way!?

My friend and mentor, Seth Riggs, said it best when he said  "Good singing (referring to Speech Level Singing) is an absolute refusal on the singers behalf to assist or help the pitch in any way." When is the last time you felt like THAT while singing!? 

If you desire a method of singing that allows you to sing comfortably throughout your range with increased pitch control, agility, and stamina, then why not give Speech Level Singing a try!? And leave the TMI forever behind...