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Welcome
to Vocalist's Insightful Practices (VIP) Newsletter!
March
5, 2003
Table
of Contents:
1. Welcome Notes
2. Vocal "Trivia"
3. VIP Q & A
4. Vocal Tip
5. Notable Quotables
6. Trivia Answers
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1. Welcome Notes
Welcome to Vocalist's Insightful Practices (VIP)!
Ah…March - spring should be right around the corner
but it sure doesn't feel like it! It has been one long,
cold and snowy winter here in New York! I look forward
to "springing" into more innovative vocal
ideas with you as the year (and weather!) progresses.
Have you checked out Music Simply Music's FREE
REPORTS yet???? They are only available to YOU…
VIP and M-TIP subscribers!
Welcome to our new subscribers and thank you to our
friends who continue to forward VIP to their friends.
That's how we grow and have a greater impact on the
vocal community!
Thank you again for all the positive feedback and for
helping to make VIP such a successful e-newsletter!
VIP is a free monthly newsletter that's goal is to
promote proper vocal health by providing valuable, yet
simple tips to singers, vocal coaches, speakers
and anyone else who uses their voice! I hope that this
electronic publication assists you in creating a voice
that is more healthy, powerful and enjoyable. Please let
me know how I can be of service to you in reaching your
vocal goals. Take care of your voice, if it breaks you
can't get a new one!
A note to subscribers:
Do you have all VIP issues since it's premier in June
1999? View the VIP issues you wish to today!
http://www.musicsimplymusic.com/viparchives.htm
If you have a question that you would like to see
addressed in an upcoming issue, e-mail me with the info!
You may contact me at vip@musicsimplymusic.com
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We have lots of information, and resources you can use.
We're constantly adding and up-dating so check it often!
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2.
Vocal Trivia
Test Your Vocal Knowledge
1. When performing, is it more advantageous to keep your
energy heavy, focused downward or light, focused upward?
2. A term meaning vocal exercises is __________________.
3. True or False: A full or expanded stomach shouldn't
affect your singing.
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3. VIP Q & A
Q: How do a select a voice teacher for my child? What
should I look for and what questions should I ask?
A: This question has come up again and again so I must
address it again. As per my January 2001 issue of VIP,
here are some suggestions:
Sadly, there have been numerous times over the past 14
years that I have personally been
visited by young girls with damaged voices.
Unbelievably, every one of them came to me
after studying with another voice teacher! I share this
disturbing fact to educate you
and suggest that you do your homework carefully when
selecting a voice teacher. I get very upset when
students (as young as 7!!!) have the beginnings of life
long damage to their
vocal cords. More upsetting is the fact that their
condition is due to poor vocal training
by someone who is considered a professional! How
horrible is that to the unknowing parent
and the deceived student who are both so excited to
nurture this love of singing!?!?
Yes, I know - I obviously have a lot of energy on this
topic. Rightly so, as I am
directly affected by this continuing predicament.
ANYWAY...here are those tips on choosing the RIGHT voice
teacher for your child:
- A recommendation from someone you know and trust holds
a lot more weight than the teacher who has the biggest
or fanciest ad in the paper. Is the person recommending
this teacher pleased with the student's progress?
Listening to this student would be beneficial to you as
well.
- A great teacher should be vocally skillful to
demonstrate all techniques taught to the student. (There
are many teachers who have musical ability but little
knowledge of the voice and how it works. Many don't even
know how to sing!
- Degrees and years of experience sound impressive but
should not play a major role in selecting a teacher. I
personally would like to find the teacher who has a
"Ph.D. in RESULTS!" Also, some teachers with
decades of experience have not
changed with the times. This is not necessarily a bad
thing (They obviously have been successful to have
survived all those years!) but it could be a problem in
creating an affective relationship with a young student.
- Phenomenal vocal ability is great but can he teach?
Can he communicate with a child? Can he be sensitive to
know when or how to present information to the student?
Beware - many voice "teachers" out there are
wannabe performers that don't get the gig so resort to
teaching to earn a living.
- Have you heard any of this teacher's students?
Attending a recital would allow you to hear what kind of
voices this teacher is producing. Even an uneducated
person can hear straining, harsh tones or other
problems. Beware of voices that all sound to same. This
indicates a teacher focused on one technique that works
rather than a individual program customized to develop
all the talents and uniqueness of that particular
student.
Students have different voice qualities and different
vocal goals, which need to be addressedin different
ways.
- Interview teachers on the phone and ask them about
their program and what their methods can do for your
child. A teacher should LISTEN and allow you to express
all your concerns.
- Trust your instincts - Do you feel comfortable with
this person? Can you see her interacting with your son
or daughter?
-Find out if this teacher has any affiliation with an
ENT (ears, nose & throat doctor) or
speech therapist. A speech therapist or ENT would refer
their clients only to a qualified
voice teacher who has knowledge of the mechanics of the
voice. You want a voice teacher who knows how to detect
damage, how to teach correct vocal placement and who
knows how to work with a damaged or recovering voice.
(It's not just about sound!)
- Choose a teacher with an upbeat personality, full of
enthusiasm - someone who truly enjoys what she does and
can create a wonderful rapport with your child. These
qualifications can help develop a nurturing environment
in which your child will have fun while learning and
growing as a singer and performer.
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4. Vocal Tip
Never underestimate the importance of the lyric! Okay,
so you have a beautiful tone and a wonderful stage
presence, but what are you saying??? Are you reaching
your audience??? Here is one tip to assist you in
turning your lyrics into ideas and emotions: Drop the
melody and just speak your lyrics. If there are any
words you do not understand, look them up! Once you
understand what is going on in the song, put yourself
into the situation. How would you speak these ideas?
What inflections would you have in your voice? Are there
any particular words upon which you would place an
accent? When you start relating to the emotions of the
song, you now are creating interest in your voice and
connecting to the song. This connection will engage your
audience as well. Then go back to your melody and listen
to any changes in your voice. Notice the variations in
your tone or maybe the greater use of dynamics or even
facial expressions. This will take your performance to a
much higher level.
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5. Notable Quotables
"When you perform…you are out of yourself-larger
and more potent, more beautiful. You are for minutes
heroic. This is power. This is glory on earth. And it is
your, nightly."
-Agnes de Mille
"Personality can open doors, but only character can
keep them open."
-Elmer G. Leterman
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6. Trivia Answers
1.light, focused upward
2.vocalises
3.false
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Copyright © 2003 Diane Ambrosino. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute
VIP so long as this copyright notice and full contact
information about the author is attached. The author of
this issue is Diane Ambrosino and she may be contacted
at: vip@musicsimplymusic.com
or reached by telephone at 631-863-2069 ext. 32
To subscribe, simply send an email to:
VIIP-list@musicsimplymusic.com
with the words "subscribe" subject line of the
email.
"A sound approach to music education"
phone: 631-863-2069 fax: 631-863-2355
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