Can’t figure out how to expand your ribcage? Here’s an easy way to get it.

Some people can do it without having to “learn” how, but some people can’t.  
(Consciously expand the ribcage, that is.)
Imagine you are stuck wearing a nylon band around your chest, a couple inches below nipple level. It’s bothering you, so you w…

When’s the Best Time of Day to Take a Voice Lesson?

Several of my students are IT or biotech workers, graduate students, or office workers with high-stress jobs.  Some of them have experimented with taking lessons on their lunch hour, after work, later in the evening, and on weekends.  Most fi…

How To Sing Better by Listening Better

Singers who can hear the fine nuances of other singers’ voices can usually sing better themselves.  If you don’t feel like you know what to look for, or you don’t feel like you have a good ear, don’t worry.  You can learn to listen better. &n…

The Secret to Singing Anything You Want To Sing

“Secret” is such an abused marketing term that I hesitate to even use it.  But it’s accurate, because until you figure out how to use your voice easily and correctly, it may seem impossible to sing the way you want to sing.  It’s like there’s…

How to Recover Quickly from Vocal Fatigue

I’ve been sick, moving from one house to another, and gigging a lot lately.  I apologize for letting last week week go by without a newsletter.
This past Saturday, I completely lost my voice at a gig.  I have rehearsal on Wednesday and anothe…

Why Even Bass Singers Need High Frequencies

When you sing any given pitch, you are producing sound not just on that pitch, but also different overtones as well.  That’s one reason why your voice sounds like a voice, not a pure computer-beep sine wave.
Think about what happens if you change …

Why Is It So Important to Warm Up at Low Volume?

Have you ever done any high-intensity sports?  
I ran track and cross country in high school.  When we would warm up for the afternoon workout, we’d start with an easy jog.  Not a 100-meter sprint; not even a half-mile run.  We woul…

Humming to Bridge Your Break

Ready for a little basic vocal technique today?
One of my favorite exercises, which functions as a warmup, troubleshooting, training, AND recovery exercise, is simply humming.  But not just any kind of humming.  It has to be done the right wa…

How to Sing From Your Belly with Santa’s Help

Christmas is six weeks past, but I’ve used this technique three times in the last week with students, so I thought I would share it with all of you on the newsletter.
You have probably heard many times that singing is all about breath support and airfl…

How vowel modification helps you sing better

Certain vowels tend to sound less good than others when sung, especially up high.

 
When you find that a certain word doesn’t sound quite right, but the pitch is on and you’re not sure what’s wrong, consider modifying or “tilting” the vowel.

&n…