Thank you to all who entered our contest. I hope you will try again next year. Renee
THE WINNER OF MY 4TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY SONG WRITING CONTEST IS:
Mary Kutter for her song "Glory Be To God"
Mary wins a Free voice lesson with Renee!
Click here to listen to the winning song & our two honorable mentions. I had the list down to three songs and had trouble deciding the winner. My assistant gives me the lyrics without names so that the judging can be fair. Therefore I was unaware that Mary Kutter had submitted two songs, both of which made it to the top three. Mary not only won the contest, but she is also one of two honorable mentions! Good job Mary! The two honorable memntions are: Mary Kutter (again) for "I Wanna Ring" & Mark & Joe Mannherz for "Another Christmas." Both can be heard on my website.
Congratulations to Associate Teacher Christy Sutherland winner of the 2014 The Diamond Awards...(SGN Scoops Fan Awards) for Christian Country Female Vocalist of the Year!!!! This is the fourth year in a row that Christy has taken home this coveted award. We are proud of you!
This
past Saturday the first reality-based episode of "Road to Nashville"
debuted.
In
this eight minute YouTube television show you’ll watch these young singers meet
in my studio for the first time to check out the talent pool and how they feel
they rank within the group.
You will see some great shots of my voice studio when I evaluate their
performance and remind them of the hard work we may have to do in the short six
weeks leading up to their debut concert at Margaretville on Broadway, downtown
Nashville.
Join me each week as these singers work toward reaching
their goal to become country singers.
This is unbelievable. Renee Grant-Williams, a voice
expert—where was this major when I was in school? I had to settle for taste
management—compiled a list of “to-don’ts” regarding protecting your voice
against strain and apparent long-term damage—inflicting chaos brought onto the
lungs of sports fans who perpetually yell and scream during games.
“Whenever anyone yells repeatedly, it puts severe
friction and pressure on their vocal cords. An enthusiastic fan risks becoming
hoarse, losing their voice or even developing nodes” says Grant-Williams.
I’m sorry for interrupting, Ms. Grant-Williams…but can
you possibly explain what the hell “nodes” are? "Nodes are like calluses, they form on the vocal cords to
protect them for strain. However, nodes get in the way and keep the vocal cords
from fitting together cleanly, causing the voice to become hoarse and
unpredictable. Over time, these nodes may require surgery."
Ok, that’s what I thought.
So our resident voice expert details a list of
suggestions to protect that golden voice of yours. (West coast fans
notwithstanding):
"1. Dress appropriately. Layering clothing so the layers
can be removed or added as needed. Fans attending the game should take a warm
scarf to protect the throat."
We prefer the removing of layers, thank you.
"2. Drink plenty of fluids. Limit beverages that dehydrate, such as alcohol and caffeinated drinks."
Ah yes, what is a sporting event without
the irresponsible consumption of green tea?
"3. Eat smart. Eat a good balance of protein and
carbohydrates. Limit the intake of salty foods like salted nuts and chips."
How can you even utter the ords "eat smart" when referring
to ballgame habits? Maybe YOU should lay off the nuts.
"4. When expressing support for your team breathe low and
support the yelling by contracting your lower abdominal muscles. Do not scream
from the throat."
This is a sporting event, not a church or Lamaze class. Apparently,
you haven't been doing much screaming lately. It's good for the soul.
Fortunately, you can contact voice guru Renee
Grant-Williams at 615-244-3280. I strongly advise everyone to call up when you
have a moment and just scream extremely loud and obnoxiously. Then set up an
appointment for voice cleansing.
I can’t believe I missed "National Cheeseburger Day" last week! But, since the
cheeseburger is as American as apple pie I think we have the right to celebrate
cheeseburgers any time we choose.
There are two things most people know about me. One, I teach
voice lessons and two, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE cheeseburgers. I have a cheeseburger
collection that’s been featured on several television shows like the Food
Network, (In the Bun), Tennessee Crossroads, Fox and even Taste of Home
magazine. My students take it as a challenge to find one I don’t already have.
In fact, I got a pair of Cheeseburger bobby pins just last week to add to my
collection.
Even though I’m a week late in celebrating “official” Cheeseburger
Day I thought you might enjoy watching a YouTube video where I join Susan
Watson on Tennessee Crossroads as she checks out my collection.
My good friend, speaker, author, musician, marketing guru, and father of triplets Jeff Slutsky (StreetFighter Marketing
enjoys creating parodies for the speaking world. I thought you might
enjoy a small sample of his re-creation The Wizard of Sales. Enjoy. Renee
Football games sometimes result in
terrible injuries – and they’re not always on the field.Injuries can take place inside the throats of
screaming fans at the stadium, in sports bars, or even at home watching TV with
friends.According to leading voice
expert Renee Grant-Williams, sustained yelling can brutally tear up a fan’s
vocal cords resulting in damage that may persist long after football season is
over.
“Whenever anyone yells repeatedly,
it puts severe friction and pressure on their vocal cords.An enthusiastic fan risks becoming hoarse,
losing their voice or even developing nodes,” says Grant-Williams.“Nodes are like calluses, they form on the
vocal cords to help protect them from strain.However, nodes get in the way and keep the vocal cords from fitting
together cleanly, causing the voice to become hoarse and unpredictable.Over time, these nodes may require surgery.”
Grant-Williams offers several suggestions
for voice protection during football games:
1) Dress appropriately.Layer clothing so the layers can be removed
or added as needed.Fans attending the
game should take a warm scarf to protect the throat.
2) Drink plenty of fluids.Limit beverages that dehydrate, such as
alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
3) Eat smart.Eat a good balance of protein and
carbohydrates.Limit the intake of salty
foods like salted nuts and chips.
4) When expressing support for your
team, breathe low and support the yelling by contracting your lower abdominal
muscles.Do not scream from the throat.
“Just as in football, the best
defense for the voice is a good offense,” says Grant-Williams.“Don’t wait until the damage is done to take
precautions.Even though it is normal to
be enthusiastic during a sports event, think twice before yelling too much.” This link will take you to an amusing response to this blog article.
In 2005 I was lucky enough to be chosen by NBC's Three Wishes and Amy Grant to work with featured guest winner Rosie Baker from Toronto, South Dakota. Rosie dreamed of becoming a country singer.
She and I worked several weeks at my downtown Nashville voice studio and when she was ready she recorded the song, "The Higher Up The Mountain" written by Nashville legendary songwriter Tom Shapiro and produced at the Sound Emporium recording studio by renowned producer Garth Fundis. I hope you enjoy this walk in the past. Renee
Nashville voice teacher Renee Grant-Williams will help you
hit better high notes and increase your vocal range.
Are Dairy Products Screwing Up Your Voice? By: Wade Sutton-Rocket to The Stars
If
you sing, you have probably experienced that feeling of sticky mucus
accumulating in your throat. It is annoying, uncomfortable, and can be a real
pain in the ass if you are getting ready to walk out onto a stage for a
performance. It leaves you wanting to clear your throat with a powerful “AHEM”
and, in combination with something like seasonal allergies, can be the source
of major stress for any singer wanting to show off their vocal capabilities.
But
what if I told you that there is a good possibility that you are making the
problem even worse due to your diet? In our “what is good for you today will be
bad for you tomorrow” world, dairy products have had their fair share of
criticism, including some that have been launched from within the music
industry. So, in true Rocket to the Stars fashion, I went looking for
answers...
...Meet Renee
Grant-Williams...
A
native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania now living in Nashville, celebrity voice
instructor Renee Grant-Williams has a list of clients that reads like a “Who's
Who” of the current music industry. She has worked with some of the biggest
names in the business, including Miley Cyrus, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Faith
Hill, Christina Aguilera, Keith Urban, and Huey Lewis. She has been quoted or
reviewed by major publications such as the New York Times and Cosmopolitan and
has made television appearances on all four major US networks, as well as CNN,
BBC, and MTV. She is also the author of Voice Power:
Using Your Voice to Captivate, Persuade, and Command Attention.
...What is
"casein"?...
Casein
has become the source of quite a bit of controversy over the past few years.
Grant-Williams described it as a protein found in dairy products that
contributes to the creation and formation of mucus that can find its way to a
singer's vocal chords. Casein, which has a molecular structure similar to that
of gluten, is also used independently as a binding agent in a number of
processed foods and is sold in various protein powder forms used by many
fitness enthusiasts. Some people are allergic to casein. Others, while not
allergic, are still sensitive to the effects of casein and don't even know it.
“Casein
amplifies the thickening of the mucus on the chords,” she explains. “A lot of
people are allergic to casein but most of those people don't realize it because
they don't notice the symptoms on a daily basis.”
And
for those of you living in or near cities infamous for environmental allergies
(looking at YOU Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee), casein can become even
more of an issue. According to Grant-Williams, a diet high in fatty dairy
products can double the severity of your allergy symptoms, including the
accumulation of the mucus on the vocal chords, making singing properly
extremely difficult and/or uncomfortable.
The
controversial protein has drawn criticism from more than just vocal instructors
and singers. Some studies have attempted to link casein proteins to the
development of cancer cells. In fact a well-known book, The China Study
by Dr. T. Colin Campbell, argues that casein promotes the growth of cancer
cells in all stages of cancer development. The findings in Campbell's book were
based loosely on the China-Cornell-Oxford Project, a 20-year study for which
Campbell served as a director.
..Trying to avoid the
mucus build-up...
Avoiding
consumption of casein is extremely difficult for some people. Research shows
that casein makes up approximately 80% of the proteins found in cow milk, which
is then used in the creation of several other dairy-based products. The protein
is found in higher quantities in dairy products with greater amounts of fat.
“Sour
cream is high in fat,” explained Grant-Williams. “The same goes for ice cream.
Pizza is something singers should stay away from because it typically has
heavy, fatty cheese in addition to toppings that are usually high in salt.”
Grant-Williams
also mentioned that casein is less prevalent in yogurt and low-fat milk because
both products have lower fat contents, but she did emphasize that the protein
is still present in those products. There are some alternatives to which
vocalists can turn, including the common choices of both soy- and almond-based
milks, which are absent of both casein and lactose.
“I also tell my students to drink water in
abundance,” says Grant-Williams. “I also recommend they drink fruit juice.”
If
you find it too difficult to give up dairy products entirely, Grant-Williams
suggests not consuming them for an entire day leading up to a performance. She
feels that allows enough time for them to disappear from the body.
...A vocal exercise to
combat the mucus...
Nearly
every vocalist has experienced the feeling in the throat that comes with a
heavy build-up of mucus on the vocal chords. Most voice instructors tell their
students to try to avoid clearing their throats with the common “AHEM” because
it can actually make the problem even worse. So what do you do if you are
getting ready to perform and you can feel the mucus build-up at a higher than
normal level? Renee Grant-Williams has a technique she refers to as “Three
Stutters, Three Swirls” which she demonstrates in this special video she made
for Rocket to the Stars...
While more
and more singers are starting to catch on to the idea of reducing or
eliminating fatty dairy products from their daily diets, it is important to
remember that casein is also used in a lot of processed foods. So, even if you
do cut back on dairy products in an effort to combat that music build-up
affecting your voice, the problem will still be present if your diet continues
to include those processed foods (which also tend to have a high fat content).
I'm starting a new YouTube series "Singin' in the Honky Tonks." Tyler Bailey and I talk about his job at most likely the most famous honky tonk in the world, "Tootsie's Orchid Lounge," in Nashville Tennessee. Country greats Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline among others got their starts at Tootsie's.
Singin' in a honky tonk can be a challenge even for the most seasoned singer, but it's also a great place for an up-and-coming singer to get their feet wet. It's important for you to keep one thing in mind if you want to try singing in honky tonks, you will not be hired to entertain, you will be hired for one reason and one reason only, to sell beer. If you can't do that, stay off the stage! John Taylor one of the owners of Tootsie's has sent dozens of his performers to me for vocal training. Greg Humphries, Producer, Tootsies' Orchid Lounge urges his singers, "If you want to be a good singer call one of these other guys on your list. If you wanna be Elvis, call Renee." I hope you enjoy this new series. Here's the first installment. Renee
Learn to sing and hit better high notes with Nashville's #1 vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams
This is my very best long-time friend in the whole world. Brian Bullard.
For more than 30 years we've made it a point to get together at least
once a year. We've traveled all over the States and Europe together (even
Malta and Crete!)..Check out the YouTube video of him singing "Anyone Can
Whistle" by Sondheim. That's what I mean when I say "SING
THE WORDS! He lives and teaches in Milan Italy now. I miss him every
day. Renee
This note is from my good friend and student Lee Kernaghan and I wanted to share it with you. Dearest Renee,
How good it is to hear from you. I am currently
flying over the outback on my way to start a tour in
South Australia. You know I think about you so
often, come to think of it just about every time I
sing!!…You have helped me so much and I have only
just scraped the surface of all you have to offer.
All is going well out here and I hope you will be
making another visit in the not too distant
future…the seafood is as good as ever in fact I had
some cold prawns with lemon juice at a party in
Sydney recently and I think they were the best I’ve
ever had.
You are probably hearing from young up and coming
Australian artists every now and then. I try and
send the ones with potential your way whenever
possible. I recently took on a mentorship role for
Toyota Starmaker. It is the biggest country music
star search in Australia. I won it many years ago so
to did another one of your students Keith Urban. The
2014 winner is Jared Porter and if it’s ok with you
I will give him your contact details so he can set
up a lesson when he travels to Nashville in June.
There is another young country boy Damian Agius who
I think could benefit greatly from your tuition.
He’s only 19 but with the right songs and a few
more years under his belt I think he can do very
well.
Well my plane is on descent into Adelaide.
Sending my best and lots of love from me and Robby.
One of my Twitter friends asked me, “How do you know which style of music suits your voice?” The answer is not as easy as one might think and it’s not all about the voice. I certainly could not answer in the 140 limited Twitter characters. So, I thought I’d write this short blog article to answer the question. You need to think about what kind of music you like to listen to. If you want to be a professional singer you need to sing music you like, because if you do become successful, you’ll be singing it for a very long time. You need to make sure you can actually sing the kind of music you like. If you like hard rock, but you can’t seem to get that gravely screaming thing to work, hard rock may not be right for you. If you want to be a pop singer, be sure you can hit and hold the high notes with ease. Do you have an accent? A deep southern drawl may work well for singing country music but could be a disaster on the Broadway stage. What kind of stage performance might your chosen genre require? Could you imagine Haley Williams of Paramore standing at the microphone and simply swaying as she belts it out? Or George Strait making moves like Miley Cyrus? Do you have what it takes to get out there and really involve yourself with an audience or are you somewhat more reserved?
It’s really more about knowing who you are. When you figure out who you are then you’ll know the kind of music that is right for you.
Almost everything I’ve listed can be changed. If you want to sing pop music you might want to work with a vocal coach to learn how to hit long high notes. If you don’t move well on stage but want to rock out, get a performance coach or take dance lessons. And, as far as distinctive clothing it only requires a trip to the shopping mall. But, keep in mind whomever you choose to emulate make sure you choose to be true to yourself. One last thing, as you grow older, who you are may change and there is no reason why you can’t reinvent yourself time and time again. Madonna does it! Happy hunting Renee
Nashville based production company, Seek First Productions, has partnered with
Awesomeness TV Network to produce the groundbreaking new music based
docu-reality webseries, "Road to Nashville.” Filmed on location within music city
itself, RTN follows the story of five talented young musicians with big
personalities and bigger dreams. They will encounter big stars, stages, crowds,
and drama, as they pursue their careers within the rewarding, but unforgiving,
music industry.
Renowned vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams, whose work is probably best
displayed in artists such as Miley Cyrus, Christina Aguilera, Jason Aldean, and
Tim McGraw, will be featured as a recurring mentor for each of the show's
primary characters.
The first episode is scheduled to air October 18th on Awesomeness TV's online network.
Last Saturday (May 3) I presented my 12th and final Vocal Master Class and I have to say it went out with a Bang! I think the overall talent level this year was amazing and attendees came from as far away as California, Florida Virginia and England. We had everything from country singers, to pop, R&B and rap.
The panel discuss was two-fold. Bernard Porter founder of PCG Nashville and I discussed “Shameless Self Promotions.” Then we were joined by. Mark Lambert, (producer, manager, musician) and Krystal & Allison Steel, (2Steel Girls, The Voice, Team Blake Sheldon), discussed harmonies, duos.
I’m sad to see the Master Class end, but I have some other exciting things hiding in the wings that I can’t wait to share with you.
Many thanks to all those who have made the Master Class a success.
W
My Voice Coach | Renee Grant-Williams | Singing lessons, Voice lessons, Private voice lessons, Private singing lessons, voice training, sing lessons and more with singing coach, vocal coaches, voice teacher, and the best vocal coach in Nashville. MyVoiceCoach.com
WHY WARM UP?
BECAUSE RENEE GRANT-WILLIAMS SAYS SO
By Bob Doerschuk
CMA CloseUp Country Music Association's primary publication
Many singers, in Country Music and other genres, grew up thinking that all they had to
do before starting their show is make sure their clothes are on and their teeth are brushed.
Those who manage to get a career underway learn quickly that there’s much more to it than that. CMA members can read in the April/May 2014 issue of CMA Close Up how several young Country performers get ready to hit the stage each night. But in this CMACloseUp.com exclusive video, renowned vocal couch Renee Grant-Williams makes it clear why warming up the voice is essential.
Her words carry weight in our business. Tim McGraw affirms that “Renee has changed by whole approach. Her teaching has given me a lot more confidence in my singing ability.” “In short,” adds Rodney Crowell, “I’m a much better singer for having studied with Renee.” Many others, from Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney to Brenda Lee and Carrie Underwood, would similarly testify, based on personal experience.
On Saturday, May 3, Grant-Williams will lead a vocal master class in Nashville,-“Beyond the Basics: Shortcuts for Savvy Singers.” To learn more, and to also check out her DVD instructions on warming up and other topics, visit
