Thursday, July 19, 2012

SINGERS NEED HEALTHY BACKSTAGE CONDITIONS



Singers need healthy backstage conditions now that it’s summertime and performers are on the move. Big tours, little tours. A cast of hundreds or a couple of guys in a van. Some will travel in luxury while others are lucky to get a per diem and a shared room.

Venue backstage conditions tend to depend on how far up the food chain the act has climbed. Until you’re a major act you can’t expect to enjoy all of the amenities you desire, but it doesn’t hurt to fantasize.

Those of us who have performed in a wide variety of venues have also encountered a wide variety of backstage conditions. Some appear to be set up with the artist’s comfort and well-being in mind, others seem to have been thrown together by people who loathe performers. Wouldn’t it be great if the backstage amenities at more venues were user-friendly? For instance:

CATERING
Gone are the days when cases of Jack Daniels automatically appeared backstage. Today’s artists are more health-conscious. If the contract rider doesn’t specify catering, be kind to the artist’s health by offering lots of bottled water, fresh fruits and vegetables, herbal teas, non-greasy proteins, sugar-free desserts, and decaffeinated and non-carbonated beverages.

EXERCISE EQUIPMENT
A singer’s body is their instrument. On-site stair steppers, weights, treadmills, or other basic exercise equipment provide a way for the singer to stay in shape for the physical demands of the show. It’s also a perfect way to relieve pre-show tension.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Rapid changes in body temperature can be a common cause of susceptibility to colds, flu and sinus problems. Overheating on stage and then resting in an over-air-conditioned room is a sure-fire recipe for disaster. It’s best to maintain a moderate temperature in all backstage areas, and also provide portable space heaters and fans so the singer can tailor the temperature to their own body’s needs.

HUMIDITY CONTROL
In dry climates or during the winter months when artificial heat can dry out a singer’s throat and mucus membranes, a humidifier can work miracles for keeping a singer’s voice in good working condition.

DUST AND AIR POLLUTION
Last minute stage sweep-ups stir up dust. This does clean a floor but also puts a tremendous amount of pollutants in the air that can adversely affect a singer’s throat especially if they have allergies. Clean up early or do it with a wet mop.

THE SINGER'S THROAT
Honey and hot water for tea should be available. It wouldn’t hurt to have a supply of throat lozenges on hand. Another good over-the-counter remedy for singers is to take zinc lozenges at the first sign of a cold. The results are amazing. There are several brands and dosages on the market.

THE BACK-UP PLAN
Even with the best precautions, we all get sick sometimes. A venue manager would be wise to develop a relationship with a few Ear, Nose and Throat specialists who would agree to be on call during non-business hours for emergency situations that may arise.

With just a few simple concepts in mind, venue management can create an environment backstage that demonstrates their concern for the artist’s overall health and well being. You can help by making your contacts at the venue aware of which amenities you would appreciate the most. It also doesn’t hurt to be prepared by providing your own special supplies and equipment. After all, a contented artist puts on a better show than one who is disgruntled.

Nashville vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams reveals the trade secrets that have already helped hundreds of aspiring singers become celebrities: Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks, Miley Cyrus, Huey Lewis, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Christina Aguilera...



Like me on Facebook at or follow me on Twitter @MyVoiceCoach. My blog can be found at MyVoiceCoachBlog.com.

Go to CyberVoiceStudio.com and sign up to receive my free weekly Video Voice Lessons.

For more information go to MyVoiceCoach.com or call 615.244.3280 to schedule a private voice session in person, by telephone or by Skype.

Sunday, July 15, 2012


Fallen Legends Tribute Songwriting Contest Winner

                        We have a Winner.
Lani Ford’s entry, Hey Amy, a tribute to Amy Winehouse, has won our contest. She will receive a one hour session with Renee and a six month membership to Renee Grant-Williams’ Membership website. Listen the winning song and two runners-up, with lyrics, below.
Congratulations to Lani Ford
Click here to hear her winning song

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Learn to Sing Within Your Range





Learn to sing high notes and astonish your friends! Shatter the stemware! Sing higher than howling dogs!

I don't know about you, but I am leery of these advertisements that promise to increase a singer's upper register a couple of octaves. I wonder if they are floated by the same people who promise you can learn to speak French by 3:30 this afternoon. Or build an Olympic body in just five minutes a day.

Does anybody really need to shatter glass? If there is a need to break glass, wouldn't it be easier to use a hammer rather than a singer? Yes, of course I realize that breaking glass is considered to be a sign of robust vocal prowess. But it is just this sort of thing that moves music out of the realm of human expression and onto the slippery slope of carnie gimmicks.

So I suppose the big question is this: do you want to sing in a way that touches people's hearts, or do you want to do carnival tricks? If you want to be a real singer then you need to put your time, money, and effort toward becoming the best communicator you can possibly be within the registers you already have.

This is not to say that a singer should not challenge their comfort zone and stretch out to reach for high notes, but don't you feel a singer's primary goal should be to connect emotionally with the audience?

If you continually try to wow the audience with over-the-top high notes and meaningless melismas (the singing of a group of moving notes on one syllable) all their attention may be centered on waiting for that next glass-breaking high note rather than focused on the bond you could be building with them through the words of your song and the emotional tones and rhythms of your voice.

The average singer can sing a span of about two octaves, a highly trained professional singer about three, and there are a few extraordinary singers like Mariah Carey and Georgia Brown who can sing comfortably spanning three or four octaves. To my knowledge Georgia Brown in the UK is the only singer who can actually sing a full eight octaves and make a living at it.

Hitting the high notes with ease is important to a singer’s development, after all, few people are waiting breathlessly to see if the singer will hit the middle note. But, a singer will do best if he or she were to strive to hit the high notes within their personal vocal range and do it well, rather than to squeak out higher high notes that lie beyond their natural range and execute them poorly.


Nashville vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams reveals the trade secrets that have already helped hundreds of aspiring singers become celebrities: Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks, Miley Cyrus, Huey Lewis, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Christina Aguilera...

Like me on Facebook at or follow me on Twitter @MyVoiceCoach. My blog can be found at MyVoiceCoachBlog.com.

Go to CyberVoiceStudio.com and sign up to receive my free weekly Video Voice Lessons.

For more information go to MyVoiceCoach.com or call 615.244.3280 to schedule a private voice session in person, by telephone or by Skype.
 

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Support for Singing Part 2




I'm going to show you a Full-Body Support technique that you can begin to use to your advantage in the next ten minutes. Let's start by locating the right muscles to use.

Position yourself first by standing sideways in front of a full-length mirror. I'm going to start you out in a "duck butt" position, which means standing with your "tush" sticking up and out. After you have settled into that position we're going to make a change.

With your hands on your hip bones where they meet your legs, rotate your pelvis forward and under you, as if you were going to sit down on your tailbone. Your knees will soften as the angle of your pelvis tilts forward.

Basically it's the way you would tuck your hips under your body to lift something heavy. It's alright to feel some “tension” in your lower body when you are singing. This muscular tension provides the support for your tone. Focus your awareness on “tucking” your tush under and on keeping your upper body relaxed. Get under your sound.

Here’s how you will use it once you are satisfied that your positions match the above description.

First, place your fist directly below your navel. Squeeze the old air out, relax your jaw and open your throat so a fresh supply of air can fall in. Effortless! You don’t have to force the air in or tense up at all. In fact, I call this Passive Breathing, because it requires so little effort. After you gently squeeze out the old air, relax your throat and lower body. The new supply will just flow in automatically.

Passive Breathing is the way to get air into the body with the least amount of tension. Then you are set up to use your entire body to support your sound. For great examples of Full-Body Support go to YouTube and watch what these singers do. With their strong legs and loose upper bodies, they make it look and sound so easy and so appealing. And notice that whenever they get ready to go for the “big money notes” they tuck under, bend their knees and tilt back.

Elvis Presley                         Carrie Underwood               Faith Hill
Tim McGraw                         Celine Dion                           Keith Urban

Now, try it yourself. As you press in with your fist (this is just to get the feeling) and contract your lower abdominal muscles around the air, make a short, buzzy sound - ZZZ. Feel the buzzy sound start in your lower abdominal area instead of your throat, jaw or mouth. Keep your jaw and lips totally relaxed. ZZZ. Check yourself in the mirror to ensure that you stay completely relaxed above the waist. To stop the ZZZ at the end of your out-breath, release your abdominal muscles, relax your jaw, and let the new air simply drop in. It’s totally easy!

I encourage you to sing with all of your body, from your toes to the top of your head. The body is like any vibrating instrument, and in order to get the maximum vocal production from it, the upper body must relax and move freely. Above the waist everything should be relaxed. But below the waist, your body should be working hard.

As with breathing, try to incorporate Full-Body Support into your speaking voice on a daily basis. Don’t wait until you’re onstage or in the studio; support must be in place and working for you long before then. 






Nashville vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams reveals the trade secrets that have already helped hundreds of aspiring singers become celebrities: Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks, Miley Cyrus, Huey Lewis, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Christina Aguilera...

Like me on Facebook at or follow me on Twitter @MyVoiceCoach. My blog can be found at MyVoiceCoachBlog.com.

Go to CyberVoiceStudio.com and sign up to receive my free weekly Video Voice Lessons.

For more information go to MyVoiceCoach.com or call 615.244.3280 to schedule a private voice session in person, by telephone or by Skype.