roualdl

Well, I used to be something of a professional singer – half time while leading new product projects, and carrying a full evening show by myself. Those were the days…;). I’m going to be just straight and clear here – as anyone should be who you get involved with, to coach for example voice and singing.

There’s lots of this and that in singing, which can be fun, but there is one fundamental I think everyone would agree on. This is the way you breath while singing, or as singers call it, very appropriately, ‘breath support’.

This is what allows you to produce all the solid tone, pitch, and interestingly, also articulation (clear words). The clear words come because it also makes you relax properly, jaw and throat. No magic. But it is a physical practice, like riding a bicycle, and you learn it somewhat in the same way, so that it is always a ‘good habit’. Then you don’t find yourself at a loss in public, compared to what you could do at home. That’s a great secret, there.

Here are three articles, just in looking a few minutes today:

- first, is from believe it or not, the Sweet Adelines. It’s the best description I’ve ever read, and worth the read, so that you understand without mystery what’s going on with the diaphram and the rest so you get good singing.

http://www.sweetadelineintl.org/oct04pp2.cfm

There are four other articles in this series, which you can find here. They are all good – if not more than what you want now, in which case you know where they are for later.

http://www.sweetadelineintl.org/clipmansvocalpro.cfm

- Now, I just hit this page looking around, and it looks not so bad to me somehow, so I put it in. It has a long list of short tips, many of them quite good, the ones singers know.

http://a2z-singing-tips.com/index.htm

What about the other author pages on this site? On a very brief look, I liked enough of what I found with each of the women.

I didn’t so much like what I found with the guy – Manning – too ‘tight’ or ‘avoiding’ – think he’s had his struggles, and might be more right for someone having problems in profession, say losing their voice shouting rock-and-roll.

Real lesson: a good coach can be quite a good thing, and coaches really differ. It’s all personal, and I would go for someone with more education and who knows how to be thoughtful, professional, and calming – it’s a bit like choosing a physician. (if you get into this, a voice prof at a local college is likely available and a good shot for a once a week hour).

- Third link. This is a ‘For Dummies’ website, and we know by now those are often actually pretty good, surprising books. Interesting, in their own approach.

This page is pretty good – worth reading through. It shows there are always different ‘roads in’ to what you learn—and gives more exercises, like a coach will.

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-2013,subcat-ARTS.html

There are more links off this – you can see what you think.

Have a fine time with singing – it’s a great thing you can ‘make’, quietly and at your own pace for yourself, and then there’s always a little more—and it’s yours ;)