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Welcome
to Vocalist's Insightful Practices (VIP) Newsletter!
September
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)!
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! 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
- The term "inner smile" refers to raised
cheekbones and, more importantly, a raised ________.
- Tessitura is the term for the most comfortable
part of a singer's ________.
- True or False: Your vocal range is the lowest
through the highest note you can reach with your
voice.
3.
VIP Q & A
Q:
How do you begin to interpret a song?
A:
When it comes to interpretation, methods are many.
Generally, I encourage students to learn the song and
handle all the technical challenges first. Secondly, I
have students READ the lyrics and find out what's going
on. How would you SAY that phrase? What kind of
inflections do you hear in your voice? Is there a story
and/or a character behind the story? Is the subject
matter something in which you can relate? Think of two
adjectives describing the mood of the piece and sing the
song keeping that in mind. I have a degree in drama from
NYU and I know of many processes in which to get
connected to a script or song. Perhaps, you would
benefit from a bit of theatrical education. There are
some great resources in your local library and book
stores. If you have a favorite artist who sings that
particular song, you can study his/her performance and
utilize those skills in your own performance. You do,
however, run the risk of not sounding original and of
missing the opportunity to learn how to tap into your
own creativity and uniqueness. The bottom line is to get
the song connected to your heart and sing from that
place. Audiences are very sophisticated and can read
through a lie in a heartbeat. (Isn't it easy to
recognize a poor actor?). So...do your homework -
understand your lyric, grasp the emotions and
remember...get in touch with YOUR heart and, only then,
can you touch the heart of another.
4.
Vocal Tip WARNING: Sneezing may be hazzardous to your
throat!
Are
you among the many people (myself included!) who
sometimes suffer from an irritated throat due to a great
big sneeze?!?! Next time you feel the explosion about to
happen, try keeping your mouth closed and focus the
sneeze in your nasal cavity. Don't hold back your sneeze
but rather let the sneeze (and all that pressure) come
out your nose. Here's to more pleasant sneezes and
happier throats!
5.
Notable Quotables
"Good
music is wine turned to sound." -Ella Wheeler
Wilcox
"No
soul is desolate as long as there is a human being for
whom it can feel trust and reverence." -George
Eliot
6.
Trivia Answers
1.
palate
2. range
3. false - Your range is all the notes that are readily
available - meaning you can effectively produce these
pitches with ease. (a note or two above your lowest note
and a note or two below your highest note more
accurately describes your range).
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.
"We
enjoy what we do, and so will you!"
phone:
631-863-2354
fax: 631-471-8311
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