Music Simply Music - Warm Fuzzies

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

July 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 _________________________________________________

2. Test Your Vocal Knowledge

1. Another name for the trachea is called the ____________.

2. Is it more important to keep your mouth open or the back of your throat open when singing or speaking?

3. True or False: Cold weather can tighten or constrict your vocal cords. ____________________________________________________

3. VIP Q & A

Q: I have heard much controversy as to when a child should start singing lessons. What are your views on this subject?

A: Based on my experience over the past 12 years, I generally do not start a child with private vocal lessons until the age of 9 or 10. I have worked with younger students with much success (it really depends on the individual child) but I truly feel that one of the best things you can do for a child interested in singing up to this age is to expose him or her to a great variety of good quality voices (and music!) and perhaps get him or her involved in a children's choir. Learning to LISTEN and blend with other voices of similar age is invaluable. I think this is also a great age because it is usually prior to the student becoming more socially and vocally active and more likely to develop bad habits. Incorrectly belting out songs along with the radio, yelling at sporting events and concerts, and joining the cheerleading squad all can pose as hazzards to the voice. It makes much more sense to teach correct technique right from the start than having to recondition a young singer's voice because of misuse. For boys, it is an ideal age in that it is before their vocal change. Now the voice instructor can closely monitor the change and assist the boy in keeping his voice up (in his high register) as mother nature pulls it down. There are many instructors that feel voice lessons at this age can actually hurt the voice. The only thing that will hurt the voice is the child abusing his or her voice (screaming or pushing the voice) or a poor voice instructor. A high quality voice instructor will teach basic technique in easy to understand terms, sing songs (that the student likes!) and play musical games more than sing exercises, and be enthusiastic. Learning to sing should be a FUN process. Also, crucial in the developing voice is use of the head voice in both boys and girls. Most important is educating the student on how to keep the voice safe and healthy. All of these activities will nuture the child's voice and begin a positive education that can bloom into a life long love of singing. ____________________________________________________

4. Vocal Tip

I use many visualizations in my book. If you tend to speak or sing with a closed throat, try pretending that there is a golf ball sitting on the back of your tongue. Too closed of a throat will cause your palate to crush against the ball. Too open of a throat will cause the ball to roll out of your mouth. With this visual, find that balance and then go about singing or speaking. Observe how a open throat feels and, upon constant repetition, your throat will become accustomed to this position. Note: Please don't use an actual golf ball - this is a visualization! ____________________________________________________

5. Notable Quotables

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." -Mark Twain

"It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look. To affect the quality of the day - that is the highest of arts." -Henry David Thoreau

____________________________________________________

6. Trivia Answers

1. windpipe

2. the back of your throat (opening your mouth may be important in shaping your tone but an open throat is crucial in creating the space needed for the air to flow freely and for the sound to be produced in a safe manner - no stress on the vocal cords)

3. true

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

Click here to return to VIP archive page