Music Simply Music - Warm Fuzzies

Welcome to Vocalist's Insightful Practices(VIP) Newsletter!

May 5, 2000

Table of Contents:
1. Welcome Notes
2. Vocal "Trivia"
3. VIP Q & A
4. Vocal Tip
5. Notable Quotables
6. Trivia Answers

1. Welcome Notes

Welcome to Vocalist's Insightful Practices (VIP)! I hope for you that the start of 2000 has been healthy and successful. Thanks for all the positive feedback!

Welcome to our new subscribers and thank you to our friends who forward VIP to their friends. That's how we grow and have a greater impact on the vocal community!

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 which 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!

Note to subscribers:
Do you have all VIP issues since it's premier in June 1999? E-mail me today to receive back issues! If you have a question that you would like to see addressed in an upcoming issue, e-mail me with the info!

Another note to subscribers:
Thanks for your response in reference to receiving back issues. We are still having some challenges making them accessible directly through the vocal page of the Music Simply Music web site. We are presently working on it. In the meantime, thanks for your patience!

You may contact me at Mail to: DAmbrosino@musicsimplymusic.com

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2. Test Your Vocal Knowledge

1. The developed falsetto (head voice) range of a male singer is called ___________________.

2. In your mouth, which sits directly behind your nose - the soft palate or the hard palate?

3. True or False: A classical singer shouldn't try to sing pop music. ____________________________________________________

3. VIP Q & A

Q: What's the most efficient way to breathe - through my mouth or my nose?

A: As a general rule, you should inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. You have two means in which to breathe - it is only to your benefit as a speaker or singer to learn how to utilize both. If you suffer from chronic nasal congestion or have a stuffy nose, you obviously need to inhale through your mouth. Be aware, however, that inhaling through your mouth will greatly dry out your throat (which should always be kept moist) and can also be noisy during a performance. If you usually inhale through your mouth, it will take time but you can recondition your breathing techniques to learn to naturally inhale through your nose. A fantastic exercise to become an efficient breather is as follows: keep your mouth closed and slowly inahale through your nose. When you feel you are just about full, open your mouth a you'll almost automatically inhale a bit more. Your stomach should feel as full as a balloon ready to burst. As you get better at this exercise, repeat it at a faster pace, until all it takes is half a second. This skill will come in very handy for those times where you have to grab a quick but efficient breath to speak or sing the next long phrase. ____________________________________________________

4. Vocal Tip

If you are experiencing a dry throat and do not have immediate access to a beverage or cough drop, try lightly biting the tip or your tongue to create some moisture. (It's better than cracking your way through a performance!) ____________________________________________________

5. Notable Quotables

"I know I'm no glamour girl, and it's not easy for me to get up in front of a crowd of people. It used to bother me a lot, but now I've got it figured out that God gave me this talent to use, so I just stand there and sing." -Ella Fitzgerald, speaking back stage at the Apollo, 1956

"One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others." -Archibald Rutledge ____________________________________________________

6. Trivia Answers

1. reinforced falsetto

2. hard palate

3. false - A singer can sing any genre of music he or she desires. There is no need to limit oneself. All it takes is some reconditioning of the voice and getting educated on how to execute the various skills appropriate for that particular genre. (This is a great topic to elaborate on in a future issue.) Sing whatever brings you joy!

All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute VIP so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is attached. The author of this article is Diane Ambrosino and she may be contacted at: mailto:DAmbrosino@musicsimplymusic.com

"We enjoy what we do, and so will you!"
phone: 516-471-4358
fax: 516-471-8311

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