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

July 5, 2001

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)!

Welcome to Vocalist's Insightful Practices (VIP)! Thank you again for all the positive feedback and for helping make VIP such a successful e-newsletter!

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!

A note to subscribers: Do you have all VIP issues since it's premier in June 1999? They are now available - go to 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! I'm getting some really great questions!!! You may contact me at Mail to: dambrosino@musicsimplymusic.com

2. Test Your Vocal Knowledge

1. When singing high notes, should you force more breath out to sing the high note or use the same amount of breath you use for the lower notes.

2. Whether you are a public speaker or a professional singer, the various changes in the tone of the voice used to create interest is called ____________.

3. True or False: Statistically, most people that are diagnosed with vocal nodules (growths on their vocal cords) are non-singers.

3. VIP Q & A

Q: I know it is helpful to listen and try to imitate my favorite radio artists but how do I develop my own style?

A: It's great that you see the value in imitating your favorite artist. Every successful artist has had a role model - someone to whom they aspired. By imitating, you need to LISTEN closely to the other singer and assimilate the varying techniques performed. Listening closely will help you discover how the singer is producing those different tones or subtle embellishments. Listening often will condition your voice to remember how to execute these different techniques. Believe it or not, this is how you develop your own style! By exposing yourself to other artists as well and, by examining them in the same way, your own vocal style will emerge. You will be drawn to certain elements and learn to express yourself in your own unique way. The voice is so wonderfully individual that it is not humanly possible to sound identical to someone else. Sing often and make sure you are having a great time during this process. Accept the natural voice you were given and nurture it so it can become your best voice. Sure, certain influences may be evident, but your voice will be all your own.

4. Vocal Tip

Here are some simple tips to get you connected with proper breathing technique. Remember - your diaphragm MUST be involved or else you are engaging in shallow and ineffective breathing that could lead to poor sound production and unnecessary stress on your vocal cords. When you let out a hardy laugh, gasp, pant or have the hiccups - that movement in your abdomen is your diaphragm at work! Also, when vocalizing, using a "huh" sound or even a "fff" sound will activate your diaphragm. Stay connected!

5. Notable Quotables

"The judgment of music, like the inspiration for it, must come slow and measured, if it comes with truth." -Lillian Hellman

"This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we know what to do with it." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

6. Trivia Answers

1. the same, just create a larger opening in the back of your throat
2. inflection
3. true

Copyright © 2000 Diane Ambrosino. 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: DAmbrosino@musicsimplymusic.com

To subscribe/unsubscribe send an email to: Vip-list@musicsimplymusic.com with the either words the words "subscribe VIP" or the words "unsubscribe VIP" in the body of the email.

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