The Engaging Voice

In today’s episode,Tara shares some of her favorite helpful apps and products that will help you be a healthy and confident singer!

Some of my favorite products, apps, singing helps:

The Singing Straw  

You can use it for warmups or cool downs.

Here is a link to get 10% off: https://bit.ly/SingingStrawTara

Use code tarab10

Vocal Eze

Throat spray that has honey, echinacea, ginger, and more.

Manuka Honey drops and sticks that help keep your throat more moist and stop hacking coughing.

You can get 15% off here: http://vocaleze.refr.cc/tarabrueske

Gua Sha

A quart stone that is shaped to help massage your face and neck, or use it for acupuncture.

Here is a link on Amazon to purchase one:

https://www.amazon.com/Gua-Sha-Facial-Tool-Acupuncture/dp/B08TRGNP9F/ref=asc_df_B08TRGNP9F/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=508231731992&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14798465847751075361&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019552&hvtargid=pla-1287142188407&th=1

Voice Memos app

Or you can get another non IOS app like Recorder Plus.

Look for a voice app in your phone app store.

Practice App—Modacity

(It is a paid app)

It can keep track of your days when you practice, the actual time or amount of practicing,  has a recorder, metronome and more.

Look for it in your phone’s app store.

Purchasing sheet music/chord charts online

Sheet Music Plus https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

Music Notes https://www.musicnotes.com/

Musescore https://musescore.org/en

Hal Leonard Publishing https://www.halleonard.com/

JW Pepper https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/welcome.jsp

Amazon

Going to the library to utilize or find new songs

The Reader’s Digest Books

Duolingo

Great app for learning any language. Free version to paid version. But you can hear native speakers and learn grammar too! Also good for being able to sing and sound closer to the real language.

Look for it in your phone’s app store.

Please reach out to me for teaching.

My remote lessons are available online here:

https://tarabrueske.com/music-lessons

My vocal monthly subscription is called The Singer’s Feedback Zone:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician 

In today’s episode,Tara chats about an alternate way of educating yourself to become a professional musician that doesn’t include the college route of a music degree. Tara herself, having a Music degree and yet being in the music biz for over 30 years, gives the listener her take on why college might not be the best way in today’s world of music performing.

The costs of a college degree is super high compared to what you might make as a musician seeking your own gigs or teaching studio. It can take time to build your own business as a performer and that means not a salaried income coming in. The pursuit of a college degree is time consuming. You can’t put extra time into learning about many things of the music biz, from networking to producing your own music and shows. The music industry has many changing features, including technology and social media that may not be covered in college. You may not be able to pursue different genres of music where you would study that specific history and get training in folk, jazz, country, etc You might want to do something more out of the box like opening your own music studio or publishing and selling music and you won’t get much help through a college degree. Marketing yourself, learning how to get albums out, creating a website,  learning how to book yourself and more are not usually learned at college. Time management for a music performing biz is hard to do with keeping up with studies, paying for that education and then actually trying to create a music career. College can have a political agenda instead of having an educational foundation. They are often more interested in promoting a political ideology instead of focusing on what your major is.

What you can do:

Partake of free podcasts, free challenges and bootcamps on social media and getting fans to an email list, read books on the different subjects. Seek out mentors in the music biz—coaches who help you in biz, coaches who help you learn your instrument, coaches who teach you how to be a great performer. Purchases online courses for marketing, writing, songwriting, booking gigs, auditioning, podcasting, how to do social media, and how to find other music producing income, and more.

If you want further help, please reach out to me for a Zoom meeting through Premier Performer VIP. Link here: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/22

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician 

In today’s episode,Tara chats about the challenges and strengths of being a singer/performer who is introverted. She chats from her own experience of being an introvert, as well as from working with other introverts.

These might be things introverts struggle with:

Being introverted can also include these strengths:

The Introvert Advantage book is a great resource to understand what it means to be introverted.

Check out The Singer’s Feedback Zone here:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today’s episode,Tara gives you steps  that can help you teach a voice lesson. Practical tips to help you know what to do in a weekly lesson with a voice student.

Get to know how your student is doing that day. Have the student do some simple stretching or massage parts of their body. (Using a Gua Sha is great for this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074SL6JNN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Start with warmups that are lower or in mid-range. Use SOVT’s for early warmups in the lesson. Don’t use exercises that go too quickly or are on the ends of their range—high or low. Watch/observe what is going on in their physical body—face, head, shoulders, breath, neck, hips, knees, etc Pick one thing in the warmup that they do well and then focus on something that they need help with that you have noticed. Pick a song and then have the student sing the whole song or only just a verse and chorus. Listen and watch for that portion of the song for areas of technique they do well and can improve upon. Example: resonance, breath support, pitch issues, tension in their body, lack of flexibility and more 10. If you can’t find a solution for something, it’s okay to tell the student you will come back to it in another lesson. Then go do research. 11. Throughout the lesson, ask them the things they are physically sensing and noticing so that they can know on their own what you see or hear. 12. Be aware of if your student learns aurally, visually or is a kinesthetic learner.

You can grab your free template for teaching a voice lesson  at the Singing Hub:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today’s episode,Tara talks to music fitness coach Angela McCuiston, the founder of Music Strong LLC, a business that specializes in personal fitness training for musicians! We explore her own personal journey of a music related injury and her healing as well as how she helps musicians get healthy in their body and stay healthy!  

Angela developed an injury from playing the flute (which was her instrument of study) She had strain and imbalance of certain muscles and needed to find a way to get her body healthy again without just quitting her instrument.

“You don’t throw out a soccer player when they pull a hamstring… or tell them to quit their sport…you just rehab them.”

Angela didn’t find enough resources to help her heal properly so she looked into becoming a personal trainer. 

“Up to 90% of musicians will either experience pain related playing or will have injuries.”

During a convention of flutists in Florida, people started asking Angela for help and someone asked if she would do a workshop and she did and started traveling around to universities to give them.

“Rest is NOT rehab.”

Angela sees a lot of shoulder, low back pain as well as weak core muscles. When people come to her, she starts with a movement assessment—upper and lower body— to help personalize what each individual needs.

One thing Angela uses is NeuroKinetic Therapy: This uses manual muscle testing to address the cause of pain It’s a corrective movement system that addresses dysfunctional movement patterns stored in the brain. 

Musicares—a division of the Grammy’s that helps musicians.

You can get ahold of Angela here:

https://musicstrong.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicstrongfitness/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicstrong/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MusicStrongFitnessTraining

You can grab more free helps at the Singing Hub:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today’s episode,Tara talks gives some very practical exercises for your warmups that will help with engaging and maintaining breath. She focuses on specific exercises to help with breath pressure and the speed of the airflow!

Vocal warmups to help you get and maintain great breath:

Put your back in a sitting position against the wall and take some nose breaths. Slow arpeggio of a lip buzz and pay attention to your body while sitting against the wall. Use a vowel that’s easy for you and then use one note and gradually crescendo—get louder. Then do the opposite—decrescendo and get quieter using one note. Use staccato and legato back to back. Using a ha 1-1-1-1-1-2-3-4-5-5-5-5-5-4-3-2-1.   Then use an “ah” doing a half scale up and down. Using melisma—doing it quickly: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Start with a pause on 1 and then at the top on 8 and then back on the last note. Sing legato. Use vvv (a fricative) and slide 1-5-1. Pay attention to the breath pressure that you are sending.

Use warmups to pay attention to what is going on with many parts of your singing from your breath to your mouth to your tongue to your jaw and more…

You can get The Singing Straw here:

https://singingstraw.com/discount/tarab10?ref=tarab10

Use code for 10 % discount: tarab10

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today’s episode,Tara talks gives some very solid and practical tips to help you memorize songs for your shows, whether a few songs or many! 

You can get the singing straw here:

https://singingstraw.com/discount/tarab10?ref=tarab10

Use code for discount: tarab10

The article on people’s capability to memorize:

https://www.lpm.org/news/2018-01-25/how-many-songs-can-our-brains-actually-remember#:~:text=The%20short%20answer%3A%20no.,at%20the%20University%20of%20Louisville.

“Your brain has an almost unlimited capacity for memory. It can actually store about 2.5 petabytes of memory…which is a million gigabytes!”

“If your brain was a smartphone on which you downloaded TV shows, it could record 300 years of continuous TV before running out of space.”

Dr. Emily Mason (University of Louisville)

Some practical tips to memorize songs:

Finding a story in the song. Look at specific images—are their descriptions of things in the lyrics? Does anything repeat itself? Looking for those things that repeat but have subtle changes of words. Analyze the form of the song. Look at the lyrics in front of you as you listen to the song. Speaking the lyrics out loud. Starting with looking at songs and finding the ones which have the most lyrics in a song—start with the hardest one. From Lenora Green-Turner (classical artist) said that she writes out the text or doodles pictures. She also puts translations side by side (where there are other languages) to see what feelings she needs to put in the song. Look for rhymes in the words. For the music part, record yourself singing and compare to original melody recording. On the lyric sheets, writing in the note name or draw dots in the direction of the notes. Repetition. Listen everywhere to the song so it gets ingrained in your head. Create a plan. Set deadlines backwards so you know when you need to have EVERYTHING memorized.

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician

In today’s episode,Tara talks about the difficulties of doing followups and ways to make them easier to do so that you actually book the gig!

You can get the singing straw here:

https://singingstraw.com/discount/tarab10?ref=tarab10

Use code for discount: tarab10

“When people do a follow up one time and they don’t hear back from somebody, they assume they are already being rejected. They assume it’s a ‘no’.”

Mistakes often made:

Tips to help the followup process:

“The biggest thing in doing followups is to be consistent and persevering.”

For more booking helps:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/10

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today’s episode, Tara interviews two long time professional singers and gets the low down on the ups and downs of being a professional singer!

Both Lisa and Jana grew up in musical families and had singers they looked up to like Linda Ronstadt, Chaka Khan, Sheena Easton, Donny and Marie Osmond and more!

They met each other through the Rupert’s Orchestra in town in Minneapolis. With mutual respect between both of them, they went on to work with other amazing professionals like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, as well as Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, Prince and more!

(In response to nerves before a show.)

As pro singers, we have all faced at one time or another of someone asking us if we have “real jobs”. There is so much we have to do to educate others as professional musicians.

“As musicians, we definitely have to wear many hats!” Lisa Keith Bernard

Lisa Keith Bernard:

https://www.facebook.com/LisaKeithMusic

https://www.facebook.com/spencerandlisa

Better Than You song: https://youtu.be/gYPwiW4huNc

Jana Anderson: https://www.janaandersonmusic.com/

I Honestly Love You Tribute show: https://www.facebook.com/ONJAMHITS

River Tribute show: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057579875823

Crooners: https://croonersloungemn.com/

Chanhassen Dinner Theater: https://chanhassendt.com/concertseries/

Chart House Live: https://www.charthouserestaurant.com/?view=calendar&month=11-2023

The Freight House: https://www.thefreighthouse.com/events

You can get the singing straw here:

https://singingstraw.com/discount/tarab10?ref=tarab10

Use code for discount: tarab10

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today’s episode, Tara dives again into the biz side of singing. In this part two episode, she gives you criteria that will help you figure out what you should be charging for performances. She also shares about creating pricing tiers for different events and needs.

Criteria to set your price for performances:

“Every really great professional I know is still practicing!”

Create pricing tiers to help your clients. Have a starting price and then add on for all the extra criteria you decide.

Want more booking help?

Here is a link to the Booking Hub, where you get more FREE booking tips. Sign up today:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/10

Also, I’m a guest on these podcasts talking about booking:

https://tarabrueske.com/guest-on-other-podcasts

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today’s episode, Tara dives into the biz side of singing. In this three part series, she covers aspects of booking gigs. Many who are studying voice also want places to share their gift and in this week’s part one, Tara shares what are some of the best type of venues to sing and get paid.

There are traditional gigs and non-traditional gigs. The traditional gigs tend to be places like clubs, music festivals in the summer, restaurants, theaters and weddings.

“Insanity: doing the same thing but expecting different results!”

10 great places to book:

Wineries Breweries Apple Orchards County and State Fairs Rodeos Home parties like makeup, jewelry, clothing, health supplements, gadgets, products that are healthy for the environment, etc Celebrations like 90th birthday parties, wedding anniversaries, graduations, bar mitzvah, etc Art Fairs Farmer’s Market 10. Fundraising events for charities or non-profits.

BONUS place: Senior centers, senior living places—independent, assisted living, memory care, nursing home

Want more booking help?

Here is a link to the Booking Hub, where you get more FREE booking tips. Sign up today:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/10

Also, I’m a guest on these podcasts talking about booking:

https://tarabrueske.com/guest-on-other-podcasts

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

Facebook: @tarabmusician  

Today’s episode focuses on what it takes to be a professional singer. Pro singers possess many skillsets and Tara dives into many of these skills to help pro singers recognize and value all they know and have experience in. 

Here are some of the skills that many professional singers have:

Great technique to do all you need to with your voice. Being able to sightread music. Being able to improvise music. Having the ability to harmonize with others, whether it’s written out via notes or you pick out the natural harmony by ear. Knowing how to blend your voice with other singers, whether in a choir or group. Singing in other foreign languages—knowing how to read and pronounce them. Being able to pace yourself in a concert so your voice stays healthy throughout the whole show. Knowing what to do for a show if you are sick.

Want some voice lessons?

Please click here for Virtual online 30 minute lessons:

Or

You can find  The Singer’s Feedback Zone here:

 https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21

Please reach out to me if you are interested via email:

tarabmusic@hotmail.com

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic     

Today’s episode focuses on ear training—how it’s really possible for anyone no matter how they sing. Tara gives some practical tips on how to train your ear, whether you are a singer or a teacher trying to help your voice students!

“Being able to match pitch is possible for almost every person”.

Ways to help people get good pitch:

Pick our high and low pitches in every day life. Visually draw a note/pitch with a pencil and paper to help the person see the difference between two or more pitches. Sing notes to someone with them singing back the same matching notes: call and response. Listen to a song and then sing back what you just heard. This is great for teachers with a student. As a teacher, you can show people the differences in steps and jumps in pitches through actually stepping and jumping with your body. Listen to a song you know and see if you can pick out different sounds like harmonies, background vocals, guitar, drums, piano, and more. Look for physical details in your house and then look for details in the musical sounds you hear or sing. You can feel sound in your body—high and low sounds. Example: Putting your hand on your chest can help you be aware of the feeling going on when you sing. Or feeling the vibration of a train going by. To get to the center of the pitch, think of the visual of a bullseye in archery. You want to hit it in the middle. 10. Another visual way with taking steps and jumps is to show someone they have to jump or step dead center. It shows the middle of a pitch. 11.Make sure the breath is able to support a pitch. It’s not just getting a deep breath but maintaining the breath and pressure to hold the pitch.  12. Record yourself singing something to hear back if you are close to the original recording pitches. This works well in a voice lesson too.

Ear training takes time!

Want some voice lessons?

You can find  The Singer’s Feedback Zone here:

 https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

 Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic     

In this episode, Tara talks about how singing in a new situation can be stressful. She brings tools to help!

Things that can help you be calm singing at a brand new place:

Want some voice lessons?

You can find  The Singer’s Feedback Zone here:

 https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

In this episode, Tara talks about how knowing vowels and consonants and the role they  play in our warmups  can help us!

VOWELS

“All of us probably have certain vowels that are just easier to sing.”

When we start with a vowel that works and then start singing from that place on other vowels, it can help train our muscle memory to sing with more freedom!

If we start with easy vowels, it will help you get to the harder vowels in time because you build a foundation with easy ones!

CONSONANTS

Consonants can help you commit to a note and engage the breath.

G, Y, K, B, F, V are great for attacking the note.

Fricatives: S, Sh, Ch, Z, V, Th, F, Jz

Fricatives help us hold out notes—they help us with pacing our breath and phrases.

You can Find  The Singer’s Feedback Zone here:

 https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic        TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today’s episode,Tara chats about our speaking voices. As singers, we need to take equal care with how we talk so that it doesn’t cause problems for us when we sing.

You can Find  The Singer’s Feedback Zone here:

 https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21

Let me help get you to that next level of singing!

The Speaking Voice—Paying attention to it:

You may get a hoarse voice from shouting at a sporting event, screaming at an amusement park, or having to talk over other competing sounds in a restaurant. When we talk too loudly, we put too much pressure on our vocal folds—too much air pressing through, creating a tired voice. Talking too low can also hurt our voices. It puts a strain on the vocal folds by constantly putting pressed air through the entire vocal fold and having them at their thickest. We may push it out with the musculature of the throat versus good support. It pushes the larynx down—not keeping the layrnx neutral. Talking too high for your natural voice. With anxiety or nervousness, it can force you voice higher and again puts pressure on the larynx going up. Tension is created and that’s why it’s going up. It makes you have vocal fatigue or soreness. Vocal fry. Even though it’s not necessarily bad, but it can create your vocal memory doing something without enough breath support even in your singing because it’s remembering your speaking voice.  The article from John Hopkins Medicine: “When you use vocal fry, you relax your vocal cords but do not increase the amount of air you’re pushing past your vocal cords, which produces slower vibrations and ultimately results in the lower, creaky sound.”  Talking in a breathy soft sound. It’s similar to vocal fry where not a lot of breath pressure happens. But the problem is that the voice gets held back, creating tension. It tries to control so it’s not too loud and therefore creates rigidity in the voice. That creates a lack of resonance as well—resonance that “brings the voice to life”. 

“ So much of singing is about letting go of trying to control, ‘cause controlling can create that tension. We want to be tension-free.” 

“The way that we use our pitches—our brain is also remembering every day—it’s remembering how we use our breath… and so we will tend to repeat what we did the day before.”

“Your speaking voice IS your singing voice so don’t treat it differently!”

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic        TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today’s episode,Tara chats about the reasons that even pro singers should have some checkins with a voice professional. She also tackles reasons why people sometimes don’t get coaches.

Why train if you are a pro?

Think about the pro sports world. They constantly train and get better!

Reasons that people might not get training:

Based on shame. Not feeling good enough. It might make you look bad as a professional because you have to go to someone else. You might be concerned about what people think. You might think you don’t have enough time or money for training.

“What would stop you from being at the best stage of your singing?”

Examples of great students:

A couple who started in their 50’s who took for 10 years and sounded even better at the end.

A lady in her 70’s her took for 7 years who ended up recording 2 CDs in her 80’s!

My own lesson taking with other teachers has helped me incredibly.

“People that have known me for 15-20 years think that I’m singing the best now that I’ve ever sung.” I attribute this to taking lessons with a voice teacher!

You can check out The Singer’s Feedback Zone:

 https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21

Or

My private online lessons here:

https://tarabrueske.com/music-lessons

Let me help get you to that next level of singing!

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.

Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic  

 TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today’s episode,Tara chats about some commonalities that automobiles have with singers and why you shouldn’t ignore problems that come up with singing. And how to schedule maintenance of your voice!

You can still join the Singer’s Feedback Zone before it goes up. Click here:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21

Do we give our voice the same maintenance that we give to cars?

Do we just ignore what might be going wrong with our voice?

What things could go wrong if we ignore it?

“Taking care of our voices as singers…is going to help us let “them” last a lifetime and …sounding good for a lifetime.”

We have tools to help maintain our voices!

Here is a huge solution that helps with a maintenance checkup:

Go to a professional vocal trainer!

Do you want a voice that remains healthy and beautiful?

You can message me if you want to get some training or a checkup with me.

Here is my website for traditional private lessons:

https://tarabrueske.com/music-lessons

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen.

Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic  

 TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today’s episode,Tara interviews fellow piano/voice teacher Brenda Earle Stokes. They chat about some of the reasons that piano can be such a helpful tool for singers, whether you are performing or are a voice teacher!

Click here to get your Singing Straw 10% off:

Singing straw: http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw

Use the code: tarab10

For Brenda, hearing Oscar Peterson play (jazz piano) was a huge inspiration for her in music!

An avid  pianist, singer , conductor and more, Brenda had a curiosity about so many different interests in music that helped mold her as a well rounded musician.

On coming from a wholistic and variety background in music for Brenda:

”It gives me a huge toolkit to serve people…and then I pull out stranger, random things (musically) out as a pathway to helping people.”

Why piano skills can be so helpful to learn:

“I think the piano is really the basis of understanding functional theory, ear training… and more”

Brenda says that being able to do everything at the keyboard can help to have a more three dimensional experience—from seeing to hearing to playing it.

“What people need is a very simple functional set of skills (on the piano)…and be able to gather it in a very short period of time.”

Why do voice teachers need piano skills?:

“How can you nourish your offerings so that every student who comes in, you keep them?”

Brenda has a program—a membership group called The Versatile Musician

Here is where you can find it at The Versatile Musician.com: https://pianoandvoicewithbrenda.com/membership/

It includes lots of smaller courses like Piano skills for singers, solfège, jazz piano, rhythms and more, along with a once a month live call meeting.

You can also find her here:

https://pianoandvoicewithbrenda.com/

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen.

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In today’s episode,Tara talks about different qualities and characteristics that you may possess that would help you be a great voice teacher. It isn’t a complete list but a comprehensive one to check out if you are thinking about teaching some voice lessons.

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Qualities that can be wonderful for teaching voice:

Having curiosity about life. Implies you will seek out knowledge. Being able to analyze and take stock of what’s going on—what is working and what is going wrong. Being teachable yourself and willing to learn. Helping someone get from A to B—help them find a way to improve. Being empathetic, compassionate, encouraging and patient. It helps people become confident.   “You have to take them step by step…sometimes it might be three steps forward and two steps back.”  If you don’t know the answer, being willing to find out from some other source. Willing to take lessons from another teacher—getting a coach for yourself and being accountable. Being ok to be open about your own struggles in voice. Knowing how to be a problem solver—not giving up till you find an answer. “It might take many different ways to get to the solution…It’s about being willing to try many possibilities.” 10. Possessing musical skills like having a good trained ear. Being able to sing in tune and know when others are in tune as well.  11. Listening and looking for details are necessary. Paying attention to small details and focus. 12. It’s helpful to have an understanding of music theory and harmony. And the voice parts like SATB. 13. Being able to understand and define genres of music and the repertoires that would fit your individual student’s needs.

“Teaching is a helping industry. It’s making sure that they are able to get to their best self of whatever they are capable of doing.”

If you want to check out my vocal course, here’s the link: 

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You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen.

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In today’s episode,Tara chats with vocal teacher JoAnne Hart who specializes in integrating fitness and mental wellness into her instruction. We discuss how a fitness routine, including yoga can benefit you as a singer!

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JoAnne started her musical journey around age 3— she always has loved to sing from an early age. And she started taking voice lessons in 7th grade. She got her degree in the music biz and then her grad degree in vocal pedagogy.

JoAnne got her personal trainer certification her sophomore year of college because she had such a great interest in fitness as well as singing!

“Just like every professional athlete has a coach…I think as you become a more advanced singer…having someone there you can check in with…is really important.”

JoAnne had been told that weightlifting wasn’t very good for your voice. So she started researching that for grad school. And in the process also started falling in love with yoga.

There is a huge focus on breath in YOGA.

“When I started learning about bandhas I realized…this is breath support.”

“Through bandhas, we create some stability in the body in a yoga practice to maintain better alignment and make sure we don’t get injured.”

The pelvic floor lift and the stomach floor lift are just like having breath support for singing.

Some type of physical activity improves phonation.

Physical therapy helps muscles fire effectively—being able to turn off and on. 

If you want to help your breathing with your abs to be able to release and help breath support, there needs to be some abdominal training.

JoAnne encourages “Finding a physical exercise that works for you…find something you enjoy and can stick to.”

“In yoga, you are putting your body in so many weird positions while staying connected to your breath.” That’s why yoga can be so good. It uses your body weight and can help you specifically in musical theater or something similar where you are moving around in different positions.

You can find JoAnne here:

@joannehartsings on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube

You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen.

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In today’s episode,Tara chats about the question “What advice do you wish you had been given when you first started teaching?” She gives some of her thoughts as well as shares some tips from other music teachers!

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Tara’s background included “playing teacher” as a child but didn’t know that it would be a part of her life as a musician.

In some ways, her first students like for many teachers was a total learning experience.

Teaching is far more about simply knowing something that others don’t and then you can share what you know with them.

You don’t have to get through every song in a lesson. Don’t think that what works for you will necessarily work for your students. (Egita) It’s okay to give students a song that they may not like at first. Some students just want to have fun and not be a pro. (Sam) Don’t be afraid to go back to basics with a student. It’s okay to admit you don’t know the answer to something. (Nate) Don’t take a student just because you need the money. It’s important to have policies in place and let people know them upfront. (Kristen) Don’t be afraid to change how you structure your teaching.

Guest teachers who shared: Egita Gielen, Sam Reti, Nate Lee, Kristen Budde

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In today’s episode,Tara chats about ways that voice teachers can build their confidence as a teacher. She gives you practical ways so that you don’t have to wait to get started learning more and finding the courage that you need in teaching!

If you want to check out The Singer’s Feedback Zone, please click here:

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Sometimes in teaching, we can run out of ideas or get stuck and what do we do?

Take lessons with a voice teacher. It will keep you accountable and give you new ideas. Watch masterclasses. These also give you tons of new info and helps and ideas for what to do with different types of students. Read books on the subject of singing and the voice.  The OHNI Voice Book— by Dr. Reena Gupta Set Your Voice Free—by Roger Love The Structure of Singing—by Richard Miller

4. Reading and studying books about voice and singing related topics like warmups, vocal diction and sight singing.

5. Performing at a concert or recital. It can help you relate to your students and gain their trust because they know you are doing the same thing. Having their trust builds confidence for you too.

“When I have to get ready for my performances…I’m going through some of the same things that they are going through in getting ready for their performances…it can gain their trust a little more because they know that I’m in the trenches with them.”

“One of the biggest things we can give our students is helping them find their own confidence as well…that giving them confidence helps us build our own!”

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In today’s episode,Tara chats about all the benefits that happen when you watch yourself singing—from connecting with an audience to keeping your voice healthy!

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There are great reasons to look at a mirror to watch yourself singing.

With a handheld mirror:

1. It can allow you to see if there is any tension in your face.

2. It allows you to see your face and what expressions you are creating visually.

"With video…you often times are seeing very little of the person’s body and far more of their face and you want to make sure that it’s coming across—the emotion—whatever you are expressing.”

With a full length mirror:

You can check out your posture of your whole body when you are singing. You can see if there is any tension in the rest of your body. In performing, you can check out what needs to be done with your hands or if you want to do some kind of body choreography or expression.

With recording yourself singing on video:

1. Watching yourself back lets you see yourself from the side view or the back view.

2. We can see on our performance if we are being consistent with our technique and your emotion—especially with a LIVE performance.

“This isn’t about being critical in the sense of saying “look at everything I did wrong”—what it is is to say ‘let me critique myself and see what things I was doing really well and  what are some improvements I can make’. “

“A lot of singing healthier is simply that—being able to analyze what’s going on when something’s wrong, reset, and then make the change.”

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In today’s episode,Tara talks with music biz coach Lynz Crichton all about how she got into the world of virtual shows and why they can be a part of any artist’s performing journey!

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Lindsay wasn’t from a musical family but was still influenced by the music she heard played in her home.  She was given a guitar from her dad, which started her down the path of loving music. Combined with going to concerts of Brit Pop and other music, she was hooked on the performing world!

She studied languages (German) and politics instead of music. But around the time she had children, she was brought back into the world of music again and loved it!

At the time, she saw other women online who were encouraging being an indie artist. She started down that path and invested her time and money into that journey!

“You can have a music career at any age—it’s all about finding your tribe online.”

“There has never been a better time to be an independent musician.”

Lynz started live streaming before the pandemic and she started learning fully how to do the audio well so it would sound professional.

“This is the girl that did not take “no” for an answer and chipped away at things.”

“There are always going to be barriers—there are always going to be things that you’ve got to jump over and you just have to figure it out.” (On being your own CEO)

Lynz decided to go LIVE every week on Tuesdays  through multi-streaming because it fit her lifestyle better than touring or doing in person shows. She found a way to connect with others online and encourage people.

“It showed me that music lifts people up. We know this…right then, right there, they needed it.”

Lynz addressed some of the biggest barriers of people performing and singing live:

Fear—fear of failure, that people won’t show up, that you aren’t good enough and more

Overwhelm—with the tech, doing the rest of your music biz jobs

Her favorite things to do in performing:

Picking up a guitar—it lets her get into the moment of the music

The connection with LIVE audiences—getting feedback is a buzz for her! Getting people to “feel something”!

“Focus on how you make people feel…they are feeling low—they put that track on that makes them feel amazing…they put that track on that makes them feel like they’ve got a hug through their headphones.”

Lynz helps others with overwhelm, shiny object syndrome and doing the step by step processes needed for the music biz.

You can find Lynz’s program online at:

www.musicmarketingmethod.com

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In today’s episode, Tara gives you tips and tools for picking and figuring out the best songs that will help you connect with your audience whether you are doing virtual or in person concerts.

Want your copy of the free PDF “5 Food Types to Avoid before a Performance”?

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What is so important about song choice?

Listen to what Tony Bennett said: “So I make it a point to seek out quality songs that provide that kind of powerful emotion.”

Here are some things to consider:

Pick a song key and genre that fit your voice. Try to remember that you grab people’s attention in the first couple of minutes of singing at a concert. Who are the songs for? Remember they are for the audience! Include cover songs sprinkled in to help others recognize them.  If you do your own original songs, tell the story behind them If you use a cover song, don’t do one that is super obscure. Make sure to have a variety of song tempos and song keys. Make arrangements that are interesting instrumentally as well as vocally.

Putting some real thought into your performance and songs will help you keep and grow fans!  “You actually respect people by taking care to choose the songs that are going to speak to them."

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Ever thought that vocal warmups were a time waster? There are actually different schools of thought in whether warmups should be used in a singer’s life or not. In today’s episode, Tara addresses some of the opinions of warmups and why and when they can be useful and necessary.

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Why are warmups important?

“As we age, warmups are becoming more crucial…and the type of warmups you do and the time of day—those things can all affect how we do and what kind of warmups we do.”

There are exercises that build and help the vocal folds be ready to sing.

“Warmups can really help your voice get ready to tackle the gig…in a way that sets everything free so there’s not going to be tension happening.” 

Doing warmups intentionally with an order that builds on the previous ones will help you warmup more gracefully.

Don’t forget cool downs too!

Warmups have a definite purpose to keep you singing at your healthiest and best!

Check out episodes 10, 19, 26, 35 and 77 to sing along with warmups here at The Engaging Voice.

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  Tara uses today’s show to give you some fun warmups that you can sing along with anywhere—at home, in the car or wherever you have your phone. These catchy original warmups will get you singing and put an ear worm in your head for the day!

IF you want to get your own SINGING STRAW with Tara’s 10% discount, go here right now:  http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw

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Exercises:

Vv-oo, Vv-oo, Vv-oo oo oo, Vv-oo, Vv-oo, Vv-oo oo oo,  Bubba-loo, bubba-lee, bubba-lay Ziba, ziba, ziba, ziba, zoo zoo zay (Hold your jaw still) Sing a La or a Yah— la la la la la       la la la la (2x)

You can also sing harmonies with these if you find them too high!

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Tara gives some tips to help every singer build confidence in their singing. She gives practical ideas to help a singer who is struggling with confidence be able to get it going or get it back if they have lost it. Confidence isn’t something most people naturally possess but it can be learned!

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Confidence can be learned!

Some ways to learn how to have confidence:

Knowing about your vocal technique helps you to have tools to use during moments of a performance. Developing a repertoire specific to your voice and singing in a genre that fits you gives you that boost you need to do well. It can capture the essence of your voice. Having verbal encouragement from someone else also builds that confidence—through fans and a voice teacher. Having a plan for what and how you are going to perform can elevate your confidence.  Being prepared through lots of practice helps you be able to go on auto pilot because you have done it so many times. You know what to expect from your voice and how it will perform and it lets you emote well because you can be in the moment with the audience. You are not distracted by what you don’t know. When you are at a gig, find a smiley person in the room. Coming back to them time and again will give you the courage to know that you are performing and someone is liking it! You are not alone.

If you try these things over a period of time, you will not fear so much and will have mastery over your emotions in performing!

And making mistakes doesn’t mean the end of performing or not having the confidence to do it again. Making mistakes is part of being human. Keep going!

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(Music for commerical by:

Zakhar Valaha)

Tara breaks down the different types of voice teachers that are coaching people. There are many ways that people coach voice and different aspects of it. It helps to find a voice teacher when you understand the different criteria of what they teach. Tara gives you 6 types of voice teachers to help you get the best fit for you!     You can sign up here to join the monthly membership of The Singer’s Feedback Zone:

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Different types of voice teachers:

The Technician—someone who teaches about the physical structure of the voice and the physical body and how they work together. The Performance coach—someone who is all about the performance itself. They help prepare you for those concerts, whether emoting, singing a style, dealing with nerves or connecting with your audience. The Foreign language/diction coach— someone who helps you fine tune how to pronounce languages or accents, as well as understand the context of the language or the dialect. The Physical body and alignment coach—someone who helps you know how to get your body have a healthy foundation—alignment or posture or the way you move. The Mental and emotional wellness or therapy coach—someone who helps someone with the mindsets or emotional well being so they don’t become a block and hinder their singing. The Public speaking coach—someone who focuses on the oration of a speech, technique to help it stay healthy but also being expressive.

If you are a student, take time to pick a teacher. And if you are a voice teacher, take the time to assess your strengths and hone in on those.

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Tara shares from personal experience how to deal with pain while singing and performing. For those who struggle with ongoing pain, it can be a devastating thing to have to perform but there is hope and a way to get through the event and still take care of your body. Today’s episode focuses on some tips that may help.

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Some possible tips to help:

Drinking lots of water is always good for the body. Resting as much as possible before and after the performance is needed by the body. Plan a concert that will have less stress—-maybe include instrumentals or just pacing your whole concert with less high energy songs. Choosing to not engage with the audience before or after the performance will help you conserve energy that’s needed for the performance. Take time after a performance to rest again to fill up energy that was depleted. Give yourself permission to rest. Utilize a foam roller or something else to stretch your body to help relieve tightness of pain. When loading or unloading sound equipment or instruments, doing so in ways that create good alignment so your body doesn’t get further injuries in the process. Planning accompaniments with less busyness if you play an instrument and have pain is essential. Not taking long gigs or many of them in one day to reserve your body’s energy and ability to perform can be a great choice to make. 10. Make sure that you have enough breaks in your concert—either between songs or between sets.

“Ultimately you want to have longevity in playing so you can’t push your body—it will only get worse!”

“Lowering your expectations of how you perform…be okay with it. Give yourself grace. Because you can’t perform at your best when you have pain.”

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Tara shares some of the struggles about singing with a mask on and some practical tips to help you when you need to use it during singing!

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Some things you might notice when singing with a mask:

Some things to help:

Check that your alignment is stellar. Focus on getting breaths that are super relaxed and not shallow—focus on your lower back muscles too. Pace the breath and your phrases in a way that don’t give out too much breath at first. Take more breaths when you need them.  Change up a phrase/notes/rhythm to have enough energy for the song. Remind yourself to not push/over sing. Play your instrument more simply so as not to give so much energy to the instrument instead of your voice. Don’t panic because you feel like your breathing isn’t normal. Add instrumentals as songs so that all your songs are not you singing them. 10. Drink enough water to sustain energy and keep lubricated.

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Tara plays and sings some familiar Christmas songs that you too can sing along with or harmonize. This episode is a way for you to use your voice and give you practice on the concepts she and others have talked about on this show!

You can get your very own SINGING STRAW for yourself or someone else (as a gift) right here: http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw

Just use code: tarab10 to get 10% off.

Here are the song today that you can sing along with:

Deck the Halls Winter Wonderland Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Joy To The World God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen O Come All Ye Faithful Silent Night

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Tara chats today with singer Gina Morgano all about the singing voice—what ways we can learn to love it and nurture it. She gives her personal journey and then tells how you as a singer can start your journey in a way that will nourish it and cause it to thrive.

Here is where you are can get 50% off the vocal course by subscribing to this newsletter for singing! You will get the coupon code in the emails!

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Gina first fell in love with music by going to a ballet! She then started piano, later added other instruments and then fell in love with the voice after seeing musical theater at Interlochen. She knew deep inside that she wanted to be a musician.

“Each person here on earth matters. Your voice matters because you matter.”

“You get to tell stories that matter and stories that make a positive impact.” (Through singing)

Gina shares a distinction about taking care of her voice—through maintenance mode and then through training mode. Each is for a different season.

She also talks about what preconceived ideas singers have to break through to get to a healthy and easier way of singing.

She gives a break down of the 5 pillars of inner work that help singers for cultivating your voice:

Identity Wellness Growth Collaboration Service

Gina gives two books that can be helpful and inspirational to read for singers:

The Singing Athlete by Andrew Byrne

The Inner Voice by Renee Fleming

“Anything that’s a practice is something that you do regularly, consistently and that you do it in a spirit of growth—that you are always looking to go deeper and discover new things.”

“Practicing requires us to take an honest look at ourselves and that can be scary.”

Gina gives us a wonderful planner to help us in our practicing—to make it fun and helpful and to progress with purpose!

You can find it here: https://www.ginamorgano.com/planner

She is also at IG and Facebook: @ginamorgano

Website: https://www.ginamorgano.com/

Her podcast is: https://www.ginamorgano.com/the-practice-parlour

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Tara chats today about why it can be so wonderful to sing with others, whether it’s a duo, trio, choir or something else. There are benefits to doing music with other people and this gives you some reasons why!

Here is where you are can get 50% off the vocal course by subscribing to this newsletter for singing! You will get the coupon code in the emails!

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My musical start was doing music with other people—my family!

“We become better musicians when we sing with other people.”

“When you come together for creating harmony, that is music that can be so interesting and  it holds your audience’s attention.”

Benefits to you as a musician when you sing with others:

It will give you better skills as a musician. You have to listen well to the other people. If you are also playing together instrumentally with other musicians, you can learn skills to be less busy and simply add to the sound. You can sing bouncing off each other with improvisation, adding to the uniqueness and learning how to create in the moment. You can create tight harmonies which help you refine your ear for pitch. When you pick and arrange songs, you have to do it for two or more people and it makes you have to create in a more unique way. Singing with two or more people, especially choirs, you learn how to blend your voice to make it sound as one voice.

Singing with others can be like being on a team and learning how to work together musically.

Where can you find these opportunities to sing with others?

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Tara continues the final part three of delving into some basic definitions and terms that make up parts of singing. This week she focuses on the breath—the foundation behind the singing. She breaks down each part to give singers more confidence in exploring their own voice and the physical parts of their body that make up the singing voice.

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What parts work with breathing?

Lungs, voice box, diaphragm, and the muscles surrounding the lungs.

(From Britannica online:)

The lungs maintain equilibrium of atmospheric air pressure.

Breath can be both voluntary and involuntary.

The Diaphragm:

A dome shaped muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. It helps the lungs expand and contract.

Abdominal muscles help with exhalation and support—the transverse abdomenis and the obliques.

The Intercostal muscles surround the rib cage inside and outside: external, internal and innermost.

The lower back muscles: quadratus lumborum and the psoas major help with exhalation and allow the rib cage to drop lower. (From singwise.com The Anatomy of the Voice).

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In this week’s episode Tara speaks with pro music biz coaches Bree Noble and Katie Zaccardi all about the ways of exploring what skills you have as a singer and musician and then how you can turn it into teaching or coaching, adding to your income stream! They chat all about the ins and outs and finding ways to make it happen for you!

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How to know when you are ready to teach:

“It’s hard to know until you try it.” (Bree on knowing when to teach)

She says to get past imposter syndrome and be willing to acknowledge where you are at and then try it out to see if you enjoy it.

“I get lit up about teaching marketing and business.” (Bree)

“There are a lot of things that you can teach that aren’t necessarily singing…vocal performance…stage presence…” (Katie) 

Katie talks about when people start to ask YOU questions about how to do something, that can be a catalyst to know you are ready.

How do you find your strengths:

Knowing what you enjoy and feel passionate about. Looking at your own story that you have come through and could help others with.

How do people set themselves apart from others who are teaching:

By knowing your identity and your personal experience. Looking at your story and the things that are personal to you—example: being a mom or starting a career later. “You can attract them just by telling your story and talking about the struggles that you went through. They’re really going to identify with that.” (Bree)

What are some barriers to starting to teach:

Imposter syndrome—putting yourself out there—being willing to say that you can help.

People often think that the strategy is going to be the issue of starting to teach when really it’s the mindset to take the leap and do it with confidence.

What are some aspects of teaching private lessons:

One-on-one or private can be the simplest way to start out and will give you the opportunity to see how you actually coach.

“One-on-one is great because you can meet your client where they are at.” (Katie)

What are some aspects of teaching group lessons/classes:

In group coaching, they can learn from each other through someone else asking the questions that they needed.

Also, since people aren’t at the same level, they can take the pieces they need and encourage each other. There is a lot of support that can happen.

“As artists, we are in such an island mentality..It’s us against the world…we don’t have other people around us that are understanding what we are going through…” (Bree)

What are ways to get students:

In person—referrals can be a great way to do it.  Virtual—you can target anyone anywhere. So you need to be showing up on social media, and connecting with others there. Also, leaning into your identity to help people find common connection points with you.

What are things to consider in setup of teaching:

Making it easy is the best way to start. Don’t overthink. Don’t get tripped up on the tech. Just do it.

Use a Facebook group, or do Zoom calls, or Muzie, Or host a course on Teachable, Kajabi, Membervault or other online hosts.

The most important thing is to:

Know what you are teaching, have a means to meet with your clients, have a way to reach your clients!

OUT TO LAUNCH program—opening doors the fall of 2021.

Here is the link to the free video series:

http://katiezaccardi.com/videoseries

http://profitablemusician.com/videoseries

You can follow Katie here: katiezaccardi.com 

(IG) @katiezaccardi

The Out to Be Podcast

TikTok: Katie.zaccardi

You can follow Bree here:  profitablemusician.com (podcast)

 femusician.com (podcast

(IG) @profitablemusicianllc

Tara continues part two of delving into some basic definitions and terms that make up parts of singing. This week she focuses on the larynx itself—the voice box. She breaks down each part to give singers more confidence in exploring their own voice and the physical parts of their body that make up the voice.

My vocal course is NOW OPEN! Click here for access:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/12

Today we look at the Larynx—what is it?

It is also called the Voice Box and sits in the anterior neck.

The epiglottis is the valve that closes over the trachea when swallowing is needed. It lifts when breathing and phonation is done.

(From TEACHMEANATOMY.info)

The layrnx is made up of extrinsic and intrinsic muscles.

What are the extrinsic muscles?

What are the intrinsic muscles and what do they do?

Cricothyroid—stretches and causes tension on the vocal ligaments—increases pitch

Thyroarytenoid—Relaxes the vocal ligaments—loosens and lowers pitch

Transverse and oblique cricoarytenoid—closes the arytenoid cartilages during                           exhalation—they act in a sliding motion. (The area at the middle of the vocal folds in the voice box looking down.)

Lateral cricoarytenoid—The adductors of the vocal folds—closes them—exhalation.          

(Also how whispering is produced.)           

Posterior cricoarytenoid—the abductors of the vocal folds—opens them—inhalation.

“It’s more important if you simply remember the things that they (these intrinsic muscles) actually do.”

Here is a link to see the video that shows these parts:

https://youtu.be/b89RSYCaUBo

Vocal folds themselves: They are attached at the front to the thyroid cartilage and at the back to the arytenoids.

They contain the vestibular folds and the vocal folds.

Vestibular folds: (false vocal folds)

They are the vestibular ligament covered by a mucous membrane and are pink. They are fixed folds.

Vocal folds: They are white in color and are controlled by the muscles to open/close, relax/tense.

“The beautiful part of this is that all of these muscles and ligaments are working together to create all the pitches and the actual sound of what’s being produced.”

Another video to watch to help you see how these work together:

https://youtu.be/f62dqc-L36o

On all the parts of the voice box and vocal tract combining together:

“When they do work together…it becomes effortless. It feels effortless.”

Please share this episode to your social media—either Instagram or Facebook. Tag me when you do:

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Tara delves into some basic definitions and terms that make up parts of the vocal tract and the sound. She breaks down each part to give singers more confidence in exploring their own voice and the physical parts of their body that make up their vocal tone.

My vocal course is NOW OPEN! Click here for access:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/12

The vocal tract is a resonator tube that includes the throat, mouth and nose.

Johann Sundberg “The Acoustics of the Singing Voice” (Scientific American):

“The vocal tract is a resonator whose shape, which determines vowel sounds, is modified by changes in the position of the articulators.”

“The vocal tract can change shape.”

Pharynx—throat. Anything from where the vocal folds are housed on up to your neck.

Oral pharynx—mouth. The space in your mouth and includes your your articulators, your hard palate, your soft palate (velum) and your uvula.

Nasal pharynx—nose. Your nasal cavity and the area that goes down to your throat.

All three of these parts can change shape and thus can make the sound of your vocal tract different depending on each of the shapes of these parts.

The articulators are: lips, tongue, jaw

The hyoid bone is connected to the back of the tongue but it also sits right above the larynx so it can affect the voice box itself.

“As the parts of the vocal tract work together, combined with great breath support and going through those vocal folds themselves, that’s what is producing our glorious unique sounds that each of us possess.”

You can follow THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on and you can share the episode on social media. 

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If you would take a moment, please go to Apple Podcasts or Amazon Audible to rate/review this podcast:

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Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465 

Tara interviews Valerie Gabail, an amazing classical French singer and teacher. Valerie shares her musical journey from child to adult, with giving us a glimpse into what it was like to have a vocal injury and how she moved through it into recovery and beyond.

Valerie was influenced to love music as a child through her father, who brought so many styles of music into their home. 

 In high school, Valerie had a jazz group music teacher who encouraged her to keep training because “she had a voice.” 

She performed classically through the years in a lot of places and some of her favorites were the Paris Opera and Taormina in Sicily.

One gentleman, Howard Crook took Valerie under his wings and was one of her early voice teachers that really helped her in many ways of encouragement. “I want to be as important for other people—encouragement, supporting them…”

Here is the method and its main features and history:

https://vocalwisdom.com/swedishitalian-school/

The teacher she works with is David Jones https://www.voiceteacher.com/biography.html

“Being aware of the anatomy and how the instrument functions is so important.”

Valerie gives some great tips to keep your voice from getting injured:

Good technique/good teacher is so important. Daily lifestyle of your vocal health. Psychological aspect of being happy in your career.

One of the bigger issues that Valerie sees in her students is this:

Here are some tips for long term singing from Valerie:

Her website is:

https://www.valeriegabail.com

You can follow THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on and you can share the episode on social media. 

(Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! )

If you would take a moment, please go to Apple Podcasts or Amazon Audible to rate/review this podcast:

Amazon Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Engaging-Voice-Podcast/B08K5661QR

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

You can find me: @tarabrueskemusic on IG and

TaraBrueskeMusic on Facebook!

Auto-tune has been used in music circles for over 20 years as an audio processor for the voice to help keep it in tune. The question for today’s show is: should it be used by singers in their studio recordings and in live recordings if they are professional singers?This question Tara addresses and gives some insight into finding the answer based on what our voices are capable of doing.

And… here is the link to grab your FREE singing helps and be aware of when I offer my next masterclasses and vocal course! https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

What is auto-tune? An audio voice processor.

Auto-tune was created in 1997 to “disguise or correct off key inaccuracies”.

“Effects in the studio can be used to enhance.” It can make something interesting, creative, different or beautiful.

There can be several  reasons why people don’t sing in pitch:

Singing might not come naturally, maybe they don’t learn it or maybe they don’t take the time to learn it. People might also have pitch problems from a lack of great breath support. Or they might have laryngitis.

Solutions to pitch problems:

So, should Auto-tune be used in the studio to correct pitch?

If you are a professional singer, it seems you should be able to support pitch consistently without using Auto-tune. Since your voice is capable of it, then learning how to do it well is necessary. If you can’t sing with great pitch in the studio where you can do more than one take, how will you sing in tune for a live performance? You have to be able to sing accurately during a concert so that people enjoy you and see your professionalism. It’s a skill set you need to have. Also singing with other people and blending—such as choirs, bands, worship teams and more—requires the ability to have good pitch!

“Auto-tune is not going to encourage us to learn the best way to sing in tune consistently!”

You can follow THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on: 

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

You can find me: @tarabrueskemusic on IG and

TaraBrueskeMusic on Facebook!

If you are a voice teacher and have struggled with using Zoom for online lessons, then this platform is for YOU! Tara talks to the creator of Muzie, a newer platform that hosts online teaching with amazing sound, video and so many other teaching tools that make life easier for both the teacher and the student! Join her as she and Sam Reti (the founder) talk all things Muzie!

And… here is the link to grab your FREE singing helps and be aware of when I offer my next masterclasses and vocal course! https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

Sam’s background as a child was being a part of a family where his dad had been in British heavy metal bands that toured in the 80’s. Because his dad was a drummer, he would let Sam jam with him after school. It became a bonding time for Sam to his dad and to music!

At 16, Sam started recording and producing music for other friends and bands. It was good experience for the tech and music he did later. He ended up going to Berklee and got his degree in music with a technology focus.

The first version of Muzie was going to be for an on demand online lesson platform but with the pandemic happening soon after launch, Sam and his dad pivoted to what Muzie is today— a platform for music teachers to teach their students.

MUZIE—

“ We should be helping teachers grow their studios  and expanding…we want to help that instead of hinder it in any way.” Sam Reti

So many of the features of this platform help both the teachers and students save time.

“Muzie’s not only for online lessons…we are really focused on hybrid education.”

Muzie is created in such a way that teachers can use it for online or in person lessons as well. 

You can find Sam and get on this platform here (and he will give you a free 14 day trial of the PRO version):

https://www.muzie.live/

You can follow THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on: 

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts, Youtube, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

You can find me: @tarabrueskemusic on IG

and

TaraBrueskeMusic on Facebook!

If you struggle with finding time or motivation to practice voice, Tara has you covered in today’s episode. She brings you 6 ways to help you get motivated and stay motivated so you don’t just let your singing voice get out of shape. Practicing voice doesn’t have to be a negative or hard task!

And… here is the link to grab your FREE vocal helps and be aware of when I offer my next masterclasses and vocal course! https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

Some reasons people don’t practice voice:

Here are some possible ways to help with motivation:

Do you love your voice? Then practice is a way to take care of it!

You can follow THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on: 

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts, Youtube, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

You can find me: @tarabrueskemusic on IG and

TaraBrueskeMusic on Facebook!

In today’s episode, Tara delves into the topic of what happened to many people’s voices when they were not singing at concerts or in choirs or other gatherings this last year. Because much of singing was actually not allowed or cancelled during the pandemic, singer’s found themselves with voices a little bit different than they had known before. Tara breaks down why it happened and what to do about it now.

Here is the link to grab your FREE vocal helps and be aware of when I offer my next masterclasses and vocal course! https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

Here are some questions for you for your voice this year:

Here are some questions to consider that might help you to know how intentional you are about your vocal health:

Do you still sing at home? Practice? Do warmups? Do you take lessons? 

What are some things that can cause vocal problems right now?

Even if you have struggled this year with your voice, what can you do to get it back?

If you are intentional about noticing your voice and the ways that make it feel good, you are going to have better gigs!

You can follow  THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on: 

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts, Youtube, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

In today’s episode, Tara gets to interview superstar backup singer Jana Anderson. Jana’s resume is incredibly full of experience, having toured with Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, Sheena Easton, and so many more. She shares parts of her amazing journey and what it does take to be a backup singer. 

The Start of Jana’s singing:

Jana remembered singing at her grandparents’ anniversary at age 3 or 4 and that, along with singing on road trips with her family, was her start of music. But her interest  around age 17 started changing with her auditioning for a musical show and a pep rally!

At age 18, she literally hit the road as a duo and then at age 23 she started touring with well known singers.

She had great preparation to be a backup singer with her work ethic, her ability to do many genres of music, her gift of emulation to be able to harmonize and blend well, and she was super reliable!

Jana found that not every singer would share those sensibilities.

“The most talented people are almost always the least prepared.”

Jana shares all the pieces of a typical day on the road including:

Being sent a schedule for the day—meet in the lobby Do a soundcheck Go to catering Warm up voices Do wardrobe Hang with the band beforehand to get ready Get a call to showtime every so often, leading up to walking on stage Then afterwards, being husked off in a limo or car to get to the next stage of transportation to go

Jana shared this about being on stage at the concerts:

She also talks about the behind the scenes stories of touring with people like Stevie Nicks and Don Henley. One of her highlights was dancing and singing on stage with her idol, Sheena Easton.

Jana talks about her current music status in her vocation. One of the things she knows is;  “Singing is my gift but teaching is my calling.” 

 And she still doesn’t get haughty with all the success she has had. She said this: 

“Even now…it’s as if I’ve never done a gig. I work hard on my range and the health of my voice as if I have no resume whatsoever.”

There was a time when the backup singing abruptly ended. She came back to MN and did many pivots to start a different part of her career! It’s the unglamorous part of being on the road as a backup singer. It can end at any time.

You can get ahold of Jana here:

Website: https://www.janaandersonmusic.com

Instagram: @janajadesarmy     

 Twitter: janaanderson1

Friends, you can get your own mp3 FREE vocal exercises right here and stay abreast of further singing help from Tara B:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on: 

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts,  Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

In today’s episode, Tara dives into the world of studio singing. She talks about 8 helps that can make your experience as a singer be fun and productive, instead of having fear or feeling frustrated. Tara’s knowledge of the studio comes from much experience and she wants singers to enjoy this platform, whether it’s their first time or 25th time in the studio!

For those of you who would love to have The Singing Straw that I talk about, please go to my link here: http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw

 and put in the code for 10% off: tarab10

STUDIO SINGING

My background of studio singing includes, solo singing, singing with a band, background singing, voice overs for commercials, radio intros/outros, and doing some instrumentals as well. It started with humble beginnings as a child with my family being recorded via a tape recorder. And then grew into all these forms through the years!

Here are some tips to help you be at your best in the studio:

Be prepared solidly with the song you are going to sing. Know your music well. Practice singing with a metronome so you are ready to sing with a click track. Be mindful of your breath management—where you breathe, how you pace yourself and making sure your notes are supported. Make sure your voice is warmed up throughout your ranges so you are ready to sing. Have water and a green apple ready to eat to make sure your throat is hydrated and that you don’t have too much mucous. When you are singing with headphones, use one ear on and one off to get a natural sound. Remember your voice will be “dry” (without effects). “Punching in” is when you are going to sing just a certain part that you have already sung, but need to fix something on it. You may be given a few measures to hear before the line that you “punch in” on. Be intentional about singing with emotion and energy so that what is recorded sounds like the excitement that you would feel with an audience.

Also, don’t worry about getting the perfect take of a song. We often have the best take in some of the first ones we sing!

You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on: 

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts,  Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today’s episode, Tara interviews professional songwriter/guitarist/producer Michael Elsner. Michael has been in the world of sync licensing for many years now and has had such placements for shows like American Idol, The Voice,  and The Ellen DeGeneres show. Plus commercials like Audi, Verizon and a Super Bowl ad, as well as trailers like The Mandalorian. His resume is amazing with all the songs that have been placed. And he knows just how this platform can be a way for singers and singer/songwriters to be using their gifts as well.

Michael didn’t start with a musical family but was introduced to music early through a Rick Springfield TV special, which piqued his interest. Then in 8th grade, at Christmas, he got his first guitar.

Micheal thought he’d have a music career but an arm injury kept him from guitar playing for awhile and he headed into audio recording production. HIs journey took him to Nashville and then on to Los Angelos.

It was in in LA that Michael learned about the TV world and the composing that he could do in it. He utilized his drive and motivation plus continuing to improve his songwriting and made great connections with people in a step by step process.

Michael learned that changing from the mindset of pitching to the music industry to trying to think how TV music supervisors think was a huge help in his sync licensing journey.

What is sync licensing?: Syncronization = you grant permission to people to use your music to be synced with moving pictures

Michael has written certain songs where he works with other singers and then they can use songs on their albums but he can also use it for getting a song placed.

Michael’s advice is to for a week listen to the music on TV, not watch it!

*Music sync licensing can be both massive and passive income—the fee that is paid immediately and then the income that comes later over months.

Sync licensing can be about the long game!

Michael has an ebook called “ The 4 Step Plan to Licensing Success”.

You can connect with him here:

https://www.mastermusiclicensing.com

 His book on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Music-Licensing-Step-Success/dp/1098941160/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1618091921&sr=8-2

You can subscribe to The Engaging Voice on the platform you listen on: 

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts,  Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today’s episode, Tara focuses on why it’s good to work on a song until it’s ready for a performance, instead of just stopping when you are only halfway through the process. Listen to today’s episode for the reasons why this can become your practice!

For those of you who would love to also have The Singing Straw, please go to my link here: http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw

 and put in the code for 10% off: tarab10

Have you ever had a teacher who only works with technique or only works with the phrasing  and because of their one focus, you miss the time to get to the level of a song where you could perform it at a concert?

What makes up working on a song?

Why is it important to have these concert ready?

Shooting for a goal. Looking for an end result. It can build our repertoire. To be able to do something at a higher polished level so confidence is built. To have the satisfaction of completing something and feeling fulfilled. 

“Working through an entire song to get it to the level of performance can cause you to push yourself and step out of your comfort zone.”

You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on: 

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts,  Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today’s episode, Tara talks with singer/vocal coach Tiffany Van Boxtel all about training the voice and why it’s so helpful to have a plan. We also discuss the value of one-on-one trainings and letting them be a foundation for all that we build on vocally.

Tiffany’s first love of music might be traced back to playing a monster game in elementary music where she got to express dynamics of music. And then she had her first solo volunteering to sing "O Come O Come Emmanuel”  for the Christmas program.

Tiffany originally wanted to be a choir teacher, but ended up being drawn to private voice teaching.

“It’s great there’s free information out there but it really makes people think that they can do it themselves and it really sets them up for failure when they can’t.”

We chatted that people sometimes get freaked out by “formal training”. But having a one on one actual voice teacher is the way to be a solo singer  and improve yourself.

Tiffany said that the biggest thing that tends to stop people from taking voice is time and money! But she also talked about that being a professional singer requires you to have that time commitment and money to invest in your profession.

She talked about how focused technique training 10-15 minutes 3-4 days a week can really help singers get where they need to go!

When people say they don’t have time to practice, it’s usually because they:

When people don’t get results, they usually don’t want to train or keep training.

Helping people get extra feedback and then helping them listen back on their own can be the key to guidance from a vocal teacher. Teachers can help them observe and notice what is going on in small concepts.

Tiffany has her group called “The Star Singer Green Room” where people go through different stages of singing starting with a foundational stage.

You can get ahold of Tiffany here: https://www.starsinger.co/singnow

Or through her podcast: The Star Singer Podcast

Her Instagram handle is: @tiffanyvanboxtel

You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on: 

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts. And now, it’s also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

Here are the exercises you can get for free to practice with:

https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

In today’s episode, Tara talks about one of the sicknesses singers dread the most: laryngitis. She talks about how we get it, what are the symptoms, and what we need to do to get better and in some cases, sing at at gig! 

What causes laryngitis?:

(From the Mayo Clinic)—the vocal folds become inflamed through overuse, irritation or infection.

How long can laryngitis last?:

2-10 days (acute)

Over 10 days into months (chronic)

The most common cause of acute laryngitis is a viral infection.

The most common causes of chronic laryngitis are acid reflux, sinusitis, exposure to irritants, smoking, etc.

Some of the ways to help laryngitis is:

What kinds of exercises can you do if you have to sing with laryngitis?

Be sure to modify using songs within a smaller range. Transpose them to another key if you that feels better for your voice. Check out what parts of your voice feel like they are working well and those that aren’t. Use a hum and go slowly singing 1-2-3    3-2-1 Use VVVV or ZZZZ and slide slowly 1-3-1 Sing “voo” on three of the same notes with a rest in between.

“Paying attention to breath management is everything.”

You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts. And now, it’s also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today’s episode, Tara gets put in the hot seat as Lisa Gebhard asks her unusual questions about the voice and singing! Nothing is off limits here and we talk everything from animals vocal folds to how does your nose fit into your singing sound? You will definitely gain some knowledge this episode!

Lisa Gebhard (Tara’s cousin and content creator in her biz) sits down and asks many probing questions about the voice.

The first question is “Can you sing with your voice and your nose?” This is in regards to hearing some French singers as well as country music.

The second question revolves around nature. Lisa asks “Do all living things have vocal folds?”

The third question is: “Is there a norm about how someone sounds when they hear their own voice?”

The fourth question is: Is the point of singing to be pleasing and what does that mean?

The fifth question is: What is happening with vibrato—how is it made and why?

The sixth question is: Does the voice box move at all for vibrato?

The  7th question is: What is going on with African American choirs and how they sing—especially with harmonies?

“A key part of singing is paying attention, making those observations.”

You can reach Lisa here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisagebhardphotography

Her website is: https://www.lisagebhard.com

You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts. And now, it’s also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today’s episode, Tara talks with music educator/performer/songwriter Carol Nicodemi all about children’s voices and what it was like to work with children in the school system for 25+ years. Carol shares from personal experience how she worked with children ages 5-11 years old. You will be inspired by her ideas and the ways that she got children singing in super healthy, creative and fun ways!! 

For all of those who want some FREE vocal exercises to practice with, grab them through this link: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

Carol’s love of music started early as a child, from her mom and through another friends whom she could listen to music with.

At age 16, she became a music counselor at a day camp and found her love of teaching music to children. Her experience there showed her how much she enjoyed sharing what she knew about music with them.

During a student teaching experience, Carol was assigned to junior high. She had to come up with a creative way to teach the kids guitar, including them all.

Carol got her first official teaching job at an elementary school and once she got there, she was committed for the long haul, doing 25 years at this school!

Carol used many creative ways to inspire and get the kids to sing—from age 5-11.

Carol talks about the range of children’s voices and ability to sing.

Carol used several techniques to help kids learn different music skills.

Carol and her husband Ed (another music teacher) started writing songs geared towards children to give them more of a repertoire that was kid-friendly and not limited. They wanted to help address some of the kids’ needs like their feelings and self-esteem.

Carol found that working with children reinforced all that she knew as a musician. 

“At its best, it was an elating feeling…it was a magical experience.”

You can reach Carol here for teaching or other info at her website:

 www.edandcarolnicodemi.com

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NicodemiSoundtrack

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolNicodemi

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In today’s episode, Tara tackles some of the reasons that people don’t sing or stop singing. There is often a basis for people not engaging in an activity that seems like anyone could do. Singing has been going for thousands of years, but many people in today’s world do not engage in this practice. Why is that? Join Tara for a discussion about the causes and rationale behind no singing.

Also, if you want to be a part of Tara’s 3 Day Vocal challenge, click here to grab your spot now: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/16

Most kids are willing to sing and are not self conscious about it. Something changes through the years for many people.

Here are some reasons that people may not be singing any more or don’t continue:

Family culture—those where the parents are engaged in singing and encouraging music usually produce children who continue the practice. “When parents enjoy something, especially together, it often gets passed down to their kids”.   But those parents who don’t may influence children to not see that singing is a natural part of life.  Society and our culture towards singing. (THE USA) 

3. People may stop singing because someone has said something very negative about their singing—often at an early age. Even some music teachers have used language that has harmed kids because they’ve told them they can’t sing or become better.

4. Our technology competes for our attention and often trumps people singing because they are doing other things online or their smartphones.  People in the past in America used to have singing as part of their gatherings—for dance, parties, and other get togethers. Even as late as the 40’s, many families had music a part of their past time at home. But then technology took over.

We have to be intentional about singing and we can be examples to others in our country to encourage and foster singing!

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In today’s episode, Tara looks at 10 different questions that vocalists frequently ask  about singing. She tackles each one in detail to help all of our listeners.

Can anyone learn to sing? Yes. It takes a willing spirit! How do I sing louder? Resonance is the key to make sound with more volume. Should I use my mouth or nose for breathing? As we let out our breath, it is more natural to inhale through our mouth. Why do I run out of breath when I sing? Could be many reasons including shallow breath, not pacing your breath, letting out air to boldly, poor posture or pushing out your air. Will I sound like an opera singer if I take voice lessons? No, if you sing without manipulations you will sound like yourself, which may or may not be in the range of opera singers. The most important thing is to sing healthy all around and know that your voice might sound different depending on the part of your range in which you are singing. How do I find a voice teacher that is right for me? Important to look for someone that knows about the structure of the voice and yet whom you feel comfortable around. How often should I take voice lessons? At first it’s probably wiser to take every week. You want to get in a habit and establish a routine. How long will it take to hear results in my voice? It depends on your voice itself, your age, your willingness to learn, your commitment to practice, etc. Change happens slowly and incrementally. Why does my voice seem great some days and then not so good the next? Your voice is affected by sleep, stress, food, climate and other circumstances just like the rest of your body. 10. Will you listen to me and tell me what you think about my voice? This is a question that is best answered by going to a voice teacher and getting a lesson.

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You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:

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And now, it’s also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!!

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In today’s episode, Tara talks about what it looks and sounds like when a voice ages. This is a topic that hasn’t been talked about enough and yet there are ways to do something to help stop some of aging effects. And to keep singing through the years with your best voice!

Do you notice when people’s voices sound different as they age?

UT Southwestern Medical center says: Muscles and tissues in the larynx have atrophy (shrinkage of muscles), thinning of the mucous membranes and a stiffening of connective tissue.

It shows ups in these ways:

From The Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons—The aging of our muscles related to breathing, as well as our spine and its curvature can affect the voice. The heart muscle also becomes less able to propel large quantities of the blood, causing tiredness.

Helps to keep our voice singing with good quality:

Be aware of your sound and if it’s breathy, raspy, etc. Get regular exercise. Drink tons of water. Use your voice daily. Do SOVT exercises. Watch the foods you put in your body. Get a full night of sleep. Do vocal exercises that help with flexibility. Seek out finding a vocal coach.

There are some amazing singers who are singing into their senior years like:

Tony Bennett

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTdKZllVqpw

Angelo La Forese

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5JU95a2Z0o

Micheal Trimble (episode 25)

Joan Sutherland

Montserrat Cabelle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKB2wAYZTYw

Barbra Streisand-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kP-EP3ucis

Don’t ever give up on your voice, no matter your age!! Keep training and keep using it!

Make sure you grab all the free vocal helps that I have for you, including some

flexibility vocal warmups. Click here to get your FREEBIES: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts.

And now, it’s also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!!

AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today’s episode, Tara talks about the subject of being a good singer. What does that even mean and what really makes up a singer to say that they sing well? Listen here for today’s discussion on this often avoided topic.

What does good singing mean?

Good definition: “of a favorable character or tendency”,  “competent, skillful”

Good singing might be more about a number of characteristics:

Is the singer staying on pitch? Does the voice have a presence to the sound? Is the breath able to support the tone so that singing with dynamics is possible? Does the voice sound un-manipulated? Does the voice have an intrinsic tone that makes you want to pay attention the moment you hear them?

People can grow into good singing!

Each genre of music requires different qualities/characteristics of the voice.

No one can pull off every style of singing!

“Whatever qualities are natural in our voice and then added to with training, we still might only find a few genres that have that sweet spot that people love to hear.”

How to find the genres that work for your voice:

“When a singer finds a genre that fits their voice, then they can do stellar singing.”

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In today’s episode, Tara shares many of the books that she has used in teaching for  different ages and types of singers. She gives you lots of practical resources and where to purchase books so you and your students have a library to choose from. Tara has taken the pain out of trying to look through tons and tons of repertoire and nailing it down to specific music books so that you can spend more time on your teaching and singing and not research!

Please go to Products I recommend to purchase some of these books from Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate, so doing it this way also helps support this podcast!

The Very Beginning singer:

The Teenager beginner-intermediate:

The Intermediate singer:

Places to purchase music online: 

amazon.com

halleonard.com

https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/welcome.jsp

Sheet music:

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

https://www.musicnotes.com/

Great book for vocal warmups:

Building Beautiful Voices by Paul Neshiem and Weston Noble

Sight-singing/Solfegging:

Sing at First Sight by Andy Beck, Karen Farnum Surmani, Brian Lewis

For all you teachers who want to brush up on other languages:

Diction for Singers by Joan Wall, Robert Caldwell Tracy Gavilanes, Sheila Allen

For an episode on IPA—the International Phonetic Alphabet— please check Episode 023 | Dr. Melody Rich | What is IPA?.

You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:

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And now, it’s also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!!

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Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

Today’s episode features many of the different and vast benefits there are with singing. From physical benefits to emotional, social and more, this is an episode for the people who like singing but don’t do much of it themselves. 

Physical Benefits of singing:

Emotional/Psychological benefits of singing:

When you sing, you feel better because of singing releases endorphins and oxytocin. 

Cognitive benefits of singing:

Singing can help memory: More oxygen is delivered to the brain. They have found that with dementia patients, because of this, singing can improve concentration and memory recollection.

Also, another benefit is increased concentration.

Social benefits of singing: 

People want connection and singing gives people just that. It gives them a common goal and purpose. And they experience it together—the sound and the blending and the camaraderie!

Spiritual benefits of singing:

“Singing gives us permission to tell God our deepest struggles, hopes and desires. When we sing to Him, something happens in our spirit. We are changed, if only for a day.”

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Are you a person who just knew that you would be a singer? Or did it come later in life? Well, my special guest’s journey started as a wee child telling people that she wanted to sing. Here is her story from having that deep desire in her heart to how it came to be a real vocational pursuit! Her trek will inspire you!

Anaité’s journey started as a little girl where she discovered the sound of singing with her voice! She had music as a part of her family—each of them had some love for music. But the culture of Peru was not geared towards music as a profession.

Anaité started her adult journey by taking a performing arts study at the University. This degree was more about producing and being in plays, not necessarily music. Her time there led her to an exchange program in Albuquerque, NM.

It was during her time in New Mexico that she delved into her passion of singing by taking as many classes related to it!

Anaité had a wonderful teacher in Albuquerque who inspired her and helped her find her way back to singing as a profession!

Anaité’s teachers introduced her to different parts of singing (including Speech Level Singing), gave her the gift of understanding what she wanted to do and taught her about vocal anatomy.

Then, starting last year, Anaité ran into vocal issues and ill health with her voice. It caused her to not sing for 3 months. She ended up finding an otolaryngologist who helped her get to the root cause of her vocal troubles.

She started making major changes, including how she ate, slept, getting vocal therapy and incorporating stretching and SOVT’s into her daily routine!!

“If no one had listened to me, I wouldn’t have known. A good vocal coach is necessary!”

“Had it not been for me not being able to sing, I would have never stopped and checked my pain.”

“The SOVT’s have helped me to sing without straining myself.”

The beauty is that Anaité found her singing voice again in a really healthy way!

You can find Anaité on Instagram at: anaite.vocal.tips

Her Spanish blog is: https://diariodeunacantante.wordpress.com

If you want some more free helps for the voice, please click this link and grab  them all: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube, Apple Podcasts and www.theengagingvoice.com

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

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Ever feel like your voice has definite changes in it? That when you sing in different registers, they can sound very different from one another? Is it hard to switch between the chest and head voice or getting a mix in the middle? This episode Tara gives you lots of vocalises to help smooth those transitions and feel like your voice is one whole seamless voice.

Having a seamless voice is: when our sound is similar throughout the entire range.

It is when the singing sounds super easy, free and beautiful.

How do we find this consistent voice?

A lot has to do with developing both registers and also the combination of the mixed/middle voice.

Exercises to help:

Play with your vocal sound and the different registers. Relaxed throat: fog up your hand or blow out candles Staccato exercise with squat: arpeggio on “ah” Slide/siren going from top to bottom with moving your arm in the same motion Bend over in an L shape and do a slide 1-8-1 Slide 1-3-5-3-1 using a zzz or a bzz Use ee-ay-ah-oh-oo and use consonants Z, M or V—sing the same note Do an arpeggio with a V7 coming down  on a “mm” or a “mee”

Doing these exercises can help muscle memory to ensure the continuation of being consistent in your voice.

If you want some more free helps for the voice, please click this link and grab  them all: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Do you wish that it was easier for you to improvise while you sing? Do you wish you had the tools to know what to do to make up parts for your singing? Are you a classical singer who isn’t sure how to do cadenzas? In this episode, Tara breaks down improvisation and makes it simple even for the beginner.

Improvisation for singing can really be broken down to two different types of music—classical and popular.

Classical Music:

There is ornamentation such as grace notes, turn arounds, trills, or a slides.

Then there are cadenzas—a chance to make up your singing on a fermata hold.

You get to show off your voice by using ornamentations  as well as arpeggios, chromatic scales or jumps. Once you make up a cadenza that you like, you can also write it out so you have it for every time you sing the song.

“Improvisation does not have to be complicated!"

Popular Music:

(Includes any kind of genre like rock, folk, country, pop, jazz, etc)

You may use something like running two notes together, doing a turn around, slides, etc

“You still want to make sure you have the melody of the song” (even with improvisation)

The last thing to know is that listening to other great singers to gain ideas will help immensely with learning improvisation. Listen for how they add improv to their singing.

If you want some more free helps for the voice, please click this link and grab it all: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Today’s show is all about figuring out how to pick songs that best fit your voice. Sometimes we sing a song that doesn’t match what our voice can do. Tara shows you 7 ways to get it right so you can thrive in your performing.

Resources for you for getting sheet music online:

sheetmusicplus.com and musicnotes.com

Resources for apps that can be for accompanying you sing:

Appcompanist        

iRealPro

Helps for picking songs:

Look at the range of the total song. Tessitura—the pitch range that frequently occurs throughout the piece The Genre of music—some genres require different qualities in a voice. Flexibility vs holding out slow and steady—lyrical voices usually are able to be very flexible while dramatic voices are able to allow a sound to be full when it’s super slow. Syncopation vs Straight Rhythm—Figuring out what rhythms best fit your voice. Key of a song—checking the lowest and highest note to make sure it fits your range comfortably Singing in another language: If you know another language or an easily pronounce other languages, these might fit you.

If you still can’t decide on a good song for you, pay attention to how your audience responds to the songs you sing. 

“Take note of the songs that really move them (the audience).”

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You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

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In today’s episode, we focus on the concept of resonance in singing. Does everyone have it? What is it and why is it needed in singing? What does it do for the singer? How can we find it?  Tara gives you the low down and some exercises to boot for getting resonance!

Definition of Resonance (according to the dictionary)

“(of sound) "deep, clear and continuing to sound or ring” 

Also “the quality in a sound of being deep, full and reverberating”.

Why is resonance important?

The ability to bring “life” to the voice. The ability to fill a room without amplification. It creates a consistency in the tone of the voice throughout the vocal range.

“The vocal tract is the resonator!”

“The uniqueness of our voices starts all the way with each person’s unique physical make up of their body."

Why do some people have resonance and some have less?

Resonance will give us that volume and tone without creating added pressure to the vocal folds themselves.

Exercises for Finding and Creating Resonance:

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In today’s episode, Tara chats with Anne-Sofie Søby Jensen—a Danish singer. They speak about how Anne-Sofie’s musical trek took her from Denmark to the UK and the journey of really learning to own and love who she is as a singer. Her story may inspire any singer who struggles with comparison and trying to find their own niche in singing.

In her pre Academy days, she gained a love for oratorio through a workshop put on by an organist and choral conductor. It made her delve into Baroque music more and learn to love it.

She did end up going to the Royal Danish Academy of Music and after some time there, felt stuck. But another teacher—a guest professor—helped her understand her voice better and encouraged her to pursue new things. This was Professor Susan McCulloch from the UK.

So, Anne-Sofie took the leap and moved to the UK in 2017. 

Some of the hardships she struggled with as a singer was simply comparing herself to other singers.  Once she acknowledged that her voice was not a lyric mezzo but more of a lower mezzo/contralto, she found more joy.

“Finally realizing and honoring that has given me a freedom to sing the repertoire that I feel fits me. And not to feel that I have to press myself into a box that I don’t have to fit in.”

In her freedom, she could do this: “I decide what I want to do. I don’t have to do an audition…”

She also has been influenced by the book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron.

On singing and performing, she loves this: “It’s the way that we can move other people.” 

She also has found so much life in allowing herself to “play”. 

“Letting go of everything and getting back that joy and of singing through ‘messing around’. “

Her final advice to singers is this: “Stop comparing yourself to others. Own who you are.”

You can find Anne-Sofie at these places to follow:

Instagram: @annesofiesoeby

TikTok: @annesofiesoeby

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ansomezzo

Website: www.annesofiejensen.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8hMAMe7TbLNQSwBXrJOqg 

Remember also friends, that **THE SINGING STRAW** is now available for you right here: http://lddy.no/f7zu

 You can get 10% off with my code: tarab

For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com    You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

On today’s show, Tara dives into something that probably every singer has faced at some point of their career—being nervous right before you sing! She gives 10 solid and practical helps for what to do to overcome those pesky nerves! 

“Nerves can be a combo of fear and excitement.”

Getting nervous often starts in our brain and the perception we have of what’s going to happen when we sing. Lots of thoughts run through our head that make us feel afraid.

How do we calm our bodies when we are nervous?

10 Practical tips to help you with nerves:

Check in with yourself—ask yourself what you are afraid of?  "If you’re okay with ‘making mistakes is human’, your audience will be ok with it too!” Be prepared. Have a plan for your concert or audition. “Being prepared lets your body take over naturally with stress.” Come early. Way less stress because you can assess the situation. Eat some protein. Helps your body with energy. The day before you sing, hydrate your body with drinking lots of water. Research your audience. Find out what you can about whom you are singing for. Take the time to meet someone in the room before you sing. Find a smiley person in the room! If you have been hired to sing at a concert, remember that someone believes you  can already do it! 10. Remember that you have music to give to others. Focus on them.

You can get my free vocal resources and highlights of podcast episodes by signing up right here on my website:

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We’ve talked often on this show about the health of our voice and the technique behind it. Today, Tara dives into the other parts of our life that can affect our vocal health and what to do about it. This includes foods to eat, those to avoid and other practices that we can add to our lives to keep our voices going strong.

Building our immune system through:

Mucus can be heathy for our vocal tract and cords if it is clear and thin.

What are foods that cause extra mucus?

The foods that can strip healthy mucus are oranges and orange juice. 

Foods that keep phlegm away:

More helps for your voice:

You can get VOCALEZE products right here!

Get your 15% off through my link:  http://vocaleze.refr.cc/tarabrueske

For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com 

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Tara pivots this week to chat specifically to voice teachers who have been affected by this COVID-19 time. She looks at different ways to help teachers transition into online teaching smoothly and with practical helps to get started.

Online teaching can be a blessing to students who need the consistency and structure. It’s a way to continue that and the continuity with “seeing” your student and feeling connected to them.

But it also can more time consuming for the teachers themselves.

Platforms that you can teach online:

Zoom. https://zoom.us/ Skype. https://www.skype.com/en/ Facetime for iPhone or iMac users Google Hangouts is for Android users Facebook Messenger MeetFox https://meetfox.com/en/features/ 

In your actual teaching: check angle, lighting and if you can see and hear each other comfortably. Be near your piano as well. Make sure you are planning out their lesson fully with all the tools they will need.

How to prep accompaniments for students:

You will also need copies of their music—scanned photos or pics from their phones.

You will want to teach from a desktop, laptop or Ipad/Tablet.

For scheduling, you can use these apps:  

Calendly —https://calendly.com/

Acuity--https://www.acuityscheduling.com/

For taking payments: 

Paypal Stripe Venmo Cash App Zelle MeetFox—through Stripe or PayPal

Bandzoogle is a great website if you don’t have one set up yet:

https://bandzoogle.com/?memref=r4d3c4

If students need an app for practicing, I highly recommend the Modacity App!

**THE SINGING STRAW is now available for you right here:

http://lddy.no/f7zu

 You can get 10% off with my code: tarab

For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com 

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Music Artist  and Voice teacher Whitney Cytryn shares today all about the company she founded called The Singing Straw. She show us how this tiny straw tool can change the ways that we take care of our voices—both for singers and for speakers. Whitney teachers us how a straw/straws can help our singing be easier, more efficient and very healthy!

On another tour Whitney was on, she said this about using a straw: “I was using a straw on my warmups and my cool down and I was noticing that it was helping keep me less fatigued and it was helping me warmup quicker.”

On using a straw in general: “With partially obstructed airflow comes back pressure.”

“It allows you to carry less tension and sing efficiently.”

++++++Songbird Studios was started by Whitney and her husband in California to help other singers with their vocal journey. They now have 3 different studios.

Different ways that The Singing Straw can help a singer/speaker:

With fatigue in voices Warmup/cool downs Balancing a mixed voice Reduce tension in a belt Increase flexibility for riffing

What’s important in the Singing Straw is its diameter of 3mm and that there are 3 straws!

The Singing Straw is wonderful not only for singers but for speakers as well. Any job where the voice is used often can benefit from using the Singing Straw!

You can find Whitney at both Songbird Studios: https://songbirdsf.com

Or The Singing Straw: https://singingstraw.com

You can also find her at Instagram: @singingstraw

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDae_BabRlw9bIr7ysxBSqA

AND…..

**THE SINGING STRAW is now available for you right here:

http://lddy.no/f7zu

You can get 10% off with my code: tarab

For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com 

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Music Therapist, Sandra Holten, talks with Tara about the use of auditory tools that help with some of life’s physical disabilities, including the voice.  The brain is used to bypass some of these ailments and therefore create change for those who struggle daily.  “The brain is our big motherboard”, she says.  This approach is educating the brain but melds the traits in music with physical action.  Listen to this eye-opening revelation! 

Here are some practical things to do:  Sing! Join a choir!  Karaoke!   

References:

www.nmtacademy.co or musictherapy.org

Email Sandi directly:  sandra.holten@parknicollet.com

(Sandra Holten, MT-BC, Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow at Struthers Parkinson’s Center – Park Nicollet.)

**THE SINGING STRAW is now available for you right here:

http://lddy.no/f7zu

 You can get 10% off with my code: tarab

For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to:

www.theengagingvoice.com 

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Today is an episode where YOU get to sing. Whether you are on your way to audition, warming up to sing in a choir, or doing cool downs after singing at a gig, this episode will be perfect for your voice to keep up optimum health! Tara includes SOVT’s, vocalises for flexibility, and a special blend of exercises for maximum effect on maintaining a strong, rich, sonorous voice.

Exercises that are SOVT:

Straw exercise: 1-3-5-4-2-7-1-3-5-4-2-7-1 Lip buzz or rolled r’s: 1-5-1 (slides) Hums: 1-3-5-8-7-5-4-2-1  (slowly at first then speed up)

Easy vocalizing exercises:

5-4-3-2- (zing zing zing zing) 1-3-5-3-1 (zee—ee—much faster) Oo 1-2-3-4-5-3-1   Yodel—ah:     1-5-3-8-5-3-1  

bah—ah or bah bah bah, etc

Flexibility

1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5-1-6-1-7-1-8 and then back down on an “ah” Sing “ee” on half scale, then full scale, then scale plus arpeggio back down 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2          1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2      etc.

Synthezied blends of staccato/legato:

Ha ha      1-3-5-3-1-4-6-4-1-3-5-3-1-4-6-4-1-3-5-3-1

                     (staccato)            (legato).               (staccato)

11. Ya      1———2-3-4-5-6-7-8—5—1

                                                 Ha ha ha

12.  5—3—1-3-5-8-7-5-4-2-1

        Mm—ah………ha ha ha ha ha

**THE SINGING STRAW is now available for you right here:

http://lddy.no/f7zu

You can get 10% off with my code: tarab

For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to:

www.theengagingvoice.com 

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

What comes to your mind with the word opera? For many people, it can be a negative thought or at best neutral. Tara shares with you today some history and snippets on what opera is really about and why it can be a very likable entertainment option. She also talks about the singers and what makes them so amazing! 

Tara didn’t really grow up with opera and had somewhat of a a distaste for it—in her lack of knowledge and experience.

The music of opera is broken down into two parts:

Opera is similar to:

Shakespeare Stories Broadway Theater Pop/Rock/Country concerts of today in huge stadiums and auditoriums

Opera can be about: 

Comedy, Tragedy or Love

Where do we see opera in everyday life?

TV commercials, movies, cartoons, weddings

The Singers in Opera:

“Singing this amazing genre and musical art of opera requires discipline, amazing technique and a commitment to keeping the voice healthy and able. It truly desmans as much physicality as being an Olympian…”

The other beautiful part of opera is that it is reasonably priced now-a-days, so go take in one!

**I’ve got a special product for you that I’ve been using. It’s called THE SINGING STRAW. You can get your very own set of straws using this link: 

http://lddy.no/f7zu)

My code for 10% off is simply: tarab

For more info, go to:

www.theengagingvoice.com 

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Think of your own voice – how it sounds and how it comes across in your performing.  There is such uniqueness in it because you are, YOU!  In this episode you will find help to narrow down your very own niche.  It may lead you into more assurance of your style and possibly may launch you into even other genres of music that fit your voice and lead to our goal of ease, health and pure singing enjoyment!

For more info, go to:

www.theengagingvoice.com 

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, 

please click here and grab your download: 

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

Apple Podcast Review

To continue with the subject of harmony, Tara takes us deeper into the different ways it can be put together.  If you know what is happening in a musical piece, it will help you to hear individual parts and then be able to make it up.  She breaks down the components that you hear in everyday songs – the complexity is inviting and a delightful challenge.

"Harmony is much about training our ears to hear a musical part that is different from the regular melody"

“The more that you’re able to sing intervals, the more helpful it will be to finding and holding harmony.”

Recommended Apps

1.  Sing Harmonies

2.  Atonal Ear Trainer

3.  Sacred Harp Singing

4.  Solfeggio (Training Your Ear and Voice)

5.  Relative Absolute Solfegg Ear Trainer

Harmony is learned.  It also can be done “by ear”.  Try it and experiment - Harmony IS POSSIBLE!    Try these ideas:

Find parts of a choral song or hymnbook Join a choir Analyze songs   The Orchestra Song - 5 parts/different melodies (you can find on YouTube)

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, 

please click here and grab your download: 

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Today's episode explores that wonder called Harmony.  It takes some practice, but to the active listener or performer, harmony bursts out of its "shadow" and is found.  Tara gives example sound bites to help aid the listener to find that sometime-hidden harmony in so many songs.  You will learn the beginnings of harmony and that it really is an attainable goal - step by step.

Action Steps:

1. PRACTICE ROUNDS. These are songs with one melody but sung at different times.

2. START WITH:  Rounds with others or record yourself.

3. LISTEN TO FAVORITE ARTIST for HARMONY:  pick out the harmony.

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, 

please click here and grab your download: 

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Bree Noble is a well known name in the music business industry in mentoring other singers and artists. In today’s show, Tara chats with Bree about her own singing journey and how she still stays healthy and motivated in continuing to be a performer alongside being a marketing and biz expert.

Here is her take on having to memorize music:

“I could always deliver and connect with the audience more and really think about the phrasing and interpretation verses always having to look at something.”

“Your whole body is your instrument.”

“Being aware of how my voice feels in certain ranges will help me not over sing.”

On using your head and chest voice:

“Depending on where you are coming from, if you are coming from below or above (how the phrase is), you have to be able to make that choice in a split second.”

Bree’s advice to other singers:

“I just think it’s so important to get in some kind of community because a lot of musicians are operating as an island and not having that encouragement daily, weekly, monthly that you need to keep going!”

You can find Bree Noble in many places online:

Her music is available here: breenoblemusic.com

The Woman of Substance Podcast is: www.wosradio.com

Bree’s podcast: www.femusician.com

To get information about the free workshop for her Female Musician Academy, check out this link: www.musiciansprofitpath.com

You can also find Bree on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/breenoble

And Facebook:

www.facebook.com/breenoblemusic

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, 

please click here and grab your download: 

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In continuing the journey of  wholistic health for our voice and body, Tara chats with a pro musician who takes us on a little different journey of the singing voice. This episode features Fiona Flyte, the Singer’s Biz Coach. Fiona shares her story about how she became a singer and entrepreneur and how her journey has led her to help other singers. She delves into the mindset behind being a Singerpreneur and gives singers some ways that they can start a vocal studio. If you are a singer and want to look at why you sing and how you can stay healthy in your mindset as a singer making a living, this is the episode for you.

(4:06) While Fiona didn’t grow up in a musical family, she still had parents who took her to musical theater and plays. She developed a love for musical theater.

(6:22) Fiona was shy and struggled in high school with letting herself perform. She really didn’t do any performing in public until college.

(7:33)  A voice teacher who came to her glee club in college inspired her to take voice lessons and was the catalyst for Fiona pursuing some opera.

(12:18)  Performing and coaching happened simultaneously for Fiona.

(13:56) “Don’t discount the other ways in which you make money as a musician.”

(14:05) “In teaching you are providing so much service. You are lifting other people up.”

(15:20) “A singerpreneur is somebody that really understand that making a life in music is not so specific to just performing…we’re CEO’s of a business.”

(20:50) Fiona has created a video series on YouTube on helping people launch a vocal studio.

(24:49) “We only need to be a couple of steps ahead of whoever is our student.”

(30:49) “The more we believe that we have to be perfect, the more our ego will tell us that we shouldn’t put anything out because we’re not perfect.”

(34:16) Mindset, marketing and monetization are the three pillars for Fiona’s coaching.

You can find Fiona on YouTube where she has many coaching and performing videos. Search for Fiona Flyte.

Website: www.fionaflyte.com

Instagram: @fionaflyte

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, 

please click here and grab your download: 

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts and radio.com

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

Podcast Review

Today, Tara shares her journey of singing—how it started when she was a wee little girl and how it was woven through the years of being raised in a Minnesota pastor’s family. Her growing up years gave her a love for singing that eventually solidified to became her passion. She shares how she got into teaching and the journey from teen pop singer to adult classical and jazz singer. 

Music was all around Tara growing up—in church, at home through records and the radio and gathering around the piano. She was introduced to many genres, including jazz, classical, choral, pop, sacred and more.

Tara’s family traveled starting when she was age 6, doing concerts in churches in Northern MN and parts of Ontario, Canada. She began accompanying the family around the age of 8 for some songs and also started singing harmonies with her brothers. Music was a full fledged part of her young life and kept on through her high school years.

One of Tara’s favorite times to sing and listen to music was during Advent and Christmas. It fueled more of her love for music and singing because there were so many songs that she learned and enjoyed. It helped paved the way for future musical pursuits.

Tara’s early influence of Amy Grant kept a drive inside her to want to be a professional singer.

College was a time that was a shift for Tara in her musical tastes and listening. She became open to learning more about her voice and in particular the classical voice. She started to discover a bigger range and capability of her voice.

Teaching is another aspect of Tara’s singing that came into swing at age 22. She started a journey of learning and loving to help other singers. She has enjoyed the process of gifting singers with the ability to bring out their best voice and give them confidence.

“Anyone can keep up their voice, it it’s taken care of properly.”

Here is the link for the video of Angelo Lo Forese:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5JU95a2Z0o

We also are celebrating almost 1 year of The Engaging Voice Podcast today!!

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, 

please click here and grab your download: 

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts and radio.com

One last thing, if you would be so kind, please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In this episode, Katie Zaccardi helps us look at what it means to have wellness in our life as a musician. She talks about how mindset and beliefs can affect our physical health and cause anxiety or stress. In singing, this can exacerbate having tension in the voice or the voice not working properly. Join us for this discussion about our life as musicians being balanced in wellness.

(3:31) Katie started as a musical theater nerd and quickly morphed into taking non-traditional piano lessons.

(5:39) As early as third grade, Katie found her way into musicals at the Catholic school she attended.

(11:08) In college, Katie branched out to be a singing performer in solo performances.

(12:02)  Katie herself (sophomore year of college) started struggling with anxiety. She then trudged a path to find out what she was feeling and how she herself could cope with it. She researched and did experiments on herself to try and find answers.

(15:57) As time went on, Katie felt stuck and not well in her full time job. Her stress and health were not good.

(17:00) Katie came to the conclusion that there was not enough tools or resources for mental health and wellness in music.

(17:45) “If you are stressed out and trying to build your career, your stress is impacting your career.”

(19:10) A mindset block like self doubt can plague musicians and that can cause much stress.

(20:22) “You can have all of the strategies in the world but if you are waking up every day and have these negative thoughts running through your head, and the self doubt on repeat, ongoing, constantly nagging at you…you are not gonna be successful.”

(24:38) Fear of failure ca be a huge mental roadblock for musicians.

(25:29) “Take messy action.” 

(27:55) Katie stated that we are at the beginning of doing preventive care verses sick care in the music industry today.

(29:00) She does 1 to 1 coaching. Her pillars are:

1. Focus on goal setting

2. Wellness routines and habits

3. Mindset blocks and then freedom

4. Another set of strategizing

You can get ahold of Katie on her website:

www.katiezaccardi.com

Instagram: @katiezaccardi

Her podcast is called “The Out to Be Podcast”.

And her one on one coaching can be found here:bit.ly/outtobecoaching

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download: 

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts and radio.com

Please go to iTunes/Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In today’s episode, Tara explains what SOVT exercises are and then gives the listener a sampling of these type of exercises to sing along with at home. Singers can use these vocalises for warmups or cool downs on a daily basis.

(1:02) SOVT—semi-occluded vocal tract exercises

Semi-occluded  =  partially blocked

(2:23) Voice Science Works says without the back pressure of singing, our vocal folds couldn’t maintain vibration.

(3:10) Positive air pressure pulls vocal folds apart—abduction

          Negative air pressure pulls vocal folds together—adduction

(4:50) Exercise Lip buzz/trill.  1-3-5-8-5-3-1 and 1-3-5-3-1

(6:05) Straw exercise 1—blow into straw and sing 1-3-1 as a slide (slowly)

(7:50) Straw exercise 2—blow into straw and sing 1-5-1 as a slide

(8:55) Straw exercise 3—put your straw in a water bottle with water in it

          Blow through 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1

(10:46) “mm” or “hm”          mm-ah-mm-ah-mm-ah, etc 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1

(12:22) “ng” (like a muppet sound) Say “ng”, then sing ee-ah-ee-ah-ee-ah on the same note

(14:16) “v” using vvv      1-3-5-3-1 sustaining the vvv

(15:18) “z” using zzz      1-5-1 in a slide, sustaining the zzz

(16:29) “zing-ah”   1————-5-4-3-2-1

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download:

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts and radio.com

Please go to iTunes/Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

At 81, Micheal Trimble is still helping the vocal world with his great knowledge of the voice and singing in operas through the years. He reiterates time and again how breath is the core of the everything in singing—how the way you take the breath and where you take it affects everything!

(2:30) MIchael didn’t sing until he was 19. He had been on a football scholarship to college at the time.

(3:45) “The bigger the drum, the bigger the sound” 

(6:39) The secret for MIchael in staying vocally healthy was doing what the Great Singers taught him. “Breathe, breathe, breathe!”

(7:54) “You either know what you are doing when you sing or you are not going to last.”

(9:55) “The breath makes the voice or kills the voice…it’s your worst enemy, or your best friend.”

(10:39) Micheal stresses singing way down low in your back.

(12:16) Key to healthy singing: no action in the throat and no change of emission.

(13:35) You maintain the open throat through the power of the respiration.

(18:27) The traditional way to sing was to “breathe way down low in the back and then lean the breath against the diaphragm.” (from the Great Singers)

(24:29) Breathing + Good Phonation = healthy full sounds

(27:49) Michael says that the singers who have lasted for a long time are not busy in their throats.

(32:04) “Once I start singing, what do I do to not get tired?”

(39:09) Michael describers singing on the breath as only down bowing on a stringed instrument—no up bowing.

You can get ahold of MIchael Trimble on his website:

www.trimblevocalinstitute.com

Or on Youtube, his channel is MichaelTrimberTenor

His email is: tvi@ biwifi.com

Fundamentals of Great Vocal Technique: The Teachings of Michael Trimble

by inside_view_press

Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991087607/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_ReZQDbCXMMXP4

Caruso’s book that Micheal spoke about is called: Caruso and Tetrazzini on the Art of Singing

by Amazon.com

Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1511730749/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_4HYQDbSXV9TVY

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download: https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

If you want to be a part of a community that talks all things vocal, pop over to The Engaging Voice Singers (Facebook) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Music and radio.com

Please go to iTunes/Apple Music and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

This episode dives into the world of vibrato. Many people have different ideas on how vibrato is made. Tara B explains healthy ways of producing vibrato, which can be a lovely addition and facet to our unique voices. Find out how to create a vibrato that lets you feel free in the process.

(3:22) The 3 parameters of vibrato (from Richard Miller’s The Structure of Singing)

Fluctuation of Pitch

A Variation of intensity

Number of undulations per second

(4:54) There are 6.5 undulations per second for an average vibrato. A super fast vibrato is called a tremolo. A super slow one is called la voce oscilla—“the unfavorable wobble”

(6:33)  Vibrato pitch is smaller than a semi-tone, a half step.

(7:36) Unhealthy vibrato can be produced through the base of the tongue, causing unnecessary tension.

(8.58) If the laryngeal structure isn’t supported by breath flow and the right pressure, the back of the tongue may become tense. It may shake, then causing an unhealthy vibrato.

(10:16) Unhealthy vibrato can also be produced by stomach vibrato.

(13:01) Everyone can potentially have vibrato, according to Thomas Shipp.

(13:40) Healthy vibrato starts in the brain. But as it activates, it relaxes the vocal folds.

(14:35) Karyn O’Conner says in Singwise “Vibrato is a result of balance between muscle systems in antagonistic relation to each other during phonation.  When this balance occurs, the antagonistic muscles develop an alternating pulse that is a reflection of the continued energy level required of them to maintain equilibrium.”

(17:26) “Oscillations that occur in vibrato are the body’s response to mounting tension.”

(18:28) Richard Miller says that a wobbles is where the natural structural support is removed from the larynx. It takes more energy to oscillate pitch.

(20:03) Onset exercise:   1.  Ha, hee      (Sing on the same pitch)   ha-2-3-4    hee-2-3-4

(21:09) 2. Sing “ga” on the same pitch. Add your hand pointing every time you sing a note.

                ga-2-ga-4

(25:44) from Matt Ramsey and Ramsey Voice Studio

1. Put hand on belly. Vocalize like an old car starting its engine on ee. Let the stomach move at first and then not move as you keep on.

2. Ghost Vibrato:  oo       Slide around like a ghost song then settle on one note and slide. Shake or flap your hands while singing and notice if vibrato is there.

(27:56) Exercise: “the land of the free” from our National Anthem. On the word “free”, hold a straight tone once through. Then the second time hold for a bit and let go—release/relax.

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download: 

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

If you want to be a part of a community that talks all things vocal, pop over to The Engaging Voice Singers (Facebook) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Music and radio.com

Please go to iTunes/Apple Music and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

(3:00) The back story of Dr. Melody started with living in Taiwan and then in San Antonio, TX, where she was exposed to other languages.

(6:25) When Dr. Melody took voice lessons in high school, she really was inspired by her own voice teachers. “All I wanted to do was do what they did…and help other people.”

(10:35) She tells how she really had a respect for both musical theater and opera.

(13:45) IPA is the International Phonetic Alphabet—an alphabet of symbols that equal a sound. One symbol equals one sound.   Orthographs = symbols that are letters      Phonemes = symbols that equal one sound and one sound only

(15:15) In 1886, British and French teachers formed a group and put out the first version of the IPA chart for any language.

(17:15) The symbols are suggestive of the sounds they represent.  closed o = [ o ]

open o = [ ɔ ]

(20:15) IPA can give singers a real sense of clarity in how to pronounce lyrics for singing.

(21:29) IPA allows for quick notation of lyrics.

(23:55) Dr. Melody wanted to sound true to a language so teaching IPA was a natural fit for her.

(25:50) Dr. Melody recommends that voice teachers should learn IPA to be able to offer their students the ability to sing in languages that they themselves don’t know.

(28:43) You can get a subscription to IPAsource.com  (This includes spelling of words, the IPA transcription and the word for word translation)

(31:50) The YouTube sources for IPA can be good. Dr. Melody encourages people to find a voice similar in quality and pitch to your own for pronunciation of IPA.

(32:25) Using flashcards for IPA can be super helpful—especially ones that you create yourself.

If you would like to get ahold of Dr. Melody Rich, feel free to Facebook her: Melody Rich or you can email her at: mxr151@shsu.edu

Her website will be up in November 2019 and you can find her there at www.melodyrich.com

If you want to be a part of a community that talks all things vocal, pop over to The Engaging Voice Singers (Facebook).

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, iTunes and radio.com

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download: https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

In today’s episode we discuss the Feldenkrais Method with the help of Voice Professor Karen Clark. She takes us first on part of her journey in music and how the Feldenkrais Method came alive to her. She shows how it can be a foundational part of singing.

(3:25) Karen shows how music was a part of her growing up since she was young. This included having a grandfather who led singing in a church, as well as an uncle and great-uncle who traveled and taught people shaped note singing.

(5:30) She was introduced to early music through opera in college study.

(7:55)  Karen had frustration in graduate school because teachers had tried to get her to be a mezzo soprano even thought was a true alto, a contralto.

(8:45) The Contralto voice has the color in their low registration—not like the mezzo singer. That beauty is in notes lower than the mezzo’s natural resonant spots.

(15:35) Somatic = “through the body”

(15:52) Moshe Feldenkrais developed a method of help with movement by looking at the structure of his own body, after he had a knee injury.

(17:25) Moshe designed lesson of awareness through movement. He said that we learn a lot about ourselves by listening to the body.

(18:25) Karen tried a class of Awareness of movement by Feldenkrais and it turned a light bulb on for her.

(19:05) There are awarenesses we can have in our body. These 5 things include: thinking, sensing, feeling, breathing, moving

(20:42)”Your whole psyche (what we’re studying)  is how it supports the phonation of the vocal folds.”

(22:06) “You can know what you are supposed to be doing, but do you know how it feels?”

(23:35) Karen uses a Feldenkrais table to help her students explore the rib cage and what they notice.

(25:47) Feldenkrais is not fixing someone; it is saying how can we allow for movement and sensation?

(30:45) The Feldenkrais Method is used also in dance and physical therapy.

To contact Karen Clark please find her on Facebook and Youtube as Karen R. Clark

Or email her: karen.ree.clark@gmail.com

She would be happy to answer questions or refer you to someone for the Feldenkrais Method.

If you want to be a part of a community that talks all things vocal, pop over to The Engaging Voice Singers (Facebook).

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, iTunes and radio.com

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download: https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

In this part two of vocal diction series, we focus on consonants today. Many consonants can be helpful in our exercises to help engage breath, give more clarity to our tone, help in our enunciation of words, and help us sense where resonance can happen. A consonant connected to a vowel sound in warmups can help us become more efficient and conscientious singers.

(1:35) Definition of a consonant: “A consonant is a speech sound that is formed when the articulators interrupt the flow of air through the vocal tract.” ( from Diction for Singers by J. Wall, R. Caldwell, T. Gavilanes, S. Allen)

(2:20) The place of articulation explained.

(2:50)  The manner of articulation explained

(3:20) The voicing of consonants explained.

(4:01) Consonants help engage our breath. They create focus. They help us enunciate. They let us feel vibration in the chest and nasal passage. 

(5:15) Stop-plosives: p, b, t, d, k, g

(6:45) Fricatives:  f, v, s, z, th, sh, jz, h

(7:55) Affricatives:  ch, dg (fudge)

(8:46) Nasal: m, n, ng

(9:31) Lateral: l

(10:30) Glides: r, y, w

(13:10) Exercise for engaging breath: vee, vay, vah, voh, voo       5-4-3-2-1

(14:05) Exercise for creating focus in sound: zing, zing, zing, etc      1-3-5-3-1

(15:00) Exercise for enunciation: yellow leather or sausage pizza       

1-3-5-8-7-5-4-2-1        Start slowly

(16:11) Exercise for finding resonance in our nasal/sinus passages:  ming or noo

1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1

(17:25) If you are a voice teacher, you can help students by using consonants at the beginning onset of their exercises. 

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download:

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

If you want to be a part of a community that talks all things vocal, pop over to The Engaging Voice Singers (Facebook) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, iTunes and radio.com

Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Today’s episode goes into the realm of vocal diction—specifically vowels. Our use and pronunciation of vowel sounds in English can affect the tone of our actual singing sound. These vowels, when sung correctly, can give our voice added warmth, fullness and resonance.

(1:55) A PURE VOWEL IS WHEN ITS SOUND CAN BE SUSTAINED WIHTOUT MOVEMENT OF THE ARTICULATORS OR ANY CHANGE IN QUALITY OF SOUND UNTIL THE AIR FLOW CEASES. ( from Diction for Singers by J. Wall, R. Caldwell, T. Gavilanes, S. Allen)

(2:35) Pure vowel sounds—long vowels (monophthongs)      a-e-i-o-u

(4:20) freedictionary.com       Short vowels (monophthongs)

Example: bat, got, rut, foot

(5:05) A diphthong is two vowel sounds together where one slides into another

(5:25) Examples: hay, eye, toe, cute, boy, mouth, dear, care    (all diphthongs)

(7:03) Triphthongs— three vowel sounds that glide together. Often a triphthong is made up of a diphthong with an American “R”.      Examples: fire, our, pure

(8:15) Vowel sounds are produced in our mouth. Our tongue changes positions for each sound.

(9:40) Experiment with ee and ih sounds to see how your tongue changes slightly.

(11:07) Exercise:   ah + oo         Sing the same note on each vowel sound.

(11:43) Exercise: ah + ee         1-3-5-3-1       ah-ee-ah-ee-ah

(14:05) “The more that our vowels are not manipulated, the better our overall tone is going to be.”

(15:00) Singing with diphthongs and triphthongs—an example from Somewhere Over the Rainbow

(16:58) “Vowels can make or break our resonance.”

(17:35) Hold a note on vowel sounds, not the consonant.

(18:45) Words need to sound uniform when singing with one other person or several, like a choir.

(21:53) Exercise: 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 (3x through)  ah, then oo, then ee

For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download: 

https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo

If you want to be a part of a community that talks all things vocal, pop over to The Engaging Voice Singers (Facebook) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, iTunes and radio.com

On today’s episode, Tara gives singers many exercises to help keep their voices limber, flexible and free. As we age, it takes more effort to make sure that our voices are able to be agile when we sing. The vocalises here are to help each person maintain a youthful, healthy voice.

(1:55) Some of the ways our voices age are: slower vibrato and vocal runs that are not as easy for us to do.

Exercises for Keeping Vocal Agility:

(3:32) 1. Lip buzz (arpeggio) 1-3-5-8-5-3-1

(5:10) 2. Thirds up and down with a “bwa”. (Starting slowly at first) 

              1-3-2-4-3-5-4-6-5-7-6-8-7-9-8          8-10-7-9-6-8-5-7-4-6-3-5-2-3-2

(7:15) 3. Mum, mum, etc       1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1

(8:50) 4. Use “ma” first, then “ha” on staccato and then “yah” for the last one.

  1  1-2-3   3-4-5    5-6-7-8-9-10-11   11-10-9    9-8-7   7-6-5-4-3-2-1

(12:17) 5. Ya, ya (slower, then faster).    1-3-5-3-1-4-6-4-1-3-5-3-1

(13:17) 6. Intervals from the root to the 5th (You can also go to the octave and back if you want)

    1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5           5-4-5-3-5-2-5-1

(15:35) 7. You can use a “yah”, “mah” or “ah”      

                1    2-3-4-5-6-7-8       7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (2x through)

(17:41) 8. 3 different vowels to use:  “ah” + “oo” + “ee”

                1-5     4-3-2       1-5     4-3-2     1-5      4-3-2-1

                (ah)                     (oo)                  (ee) 

For more discussion and getting more useful vocal tools, please feel free to join my  FACEBOOK group:

The Engaging Voice Singers (community) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and iTunes and radio.com

Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Tara interviews speech and language pathologist Dr. Anita Kozan. She specializes in helping people with their singing and speaking voices when they run into vocal issues. She discusses how our voice works, some of the differences between male and female voices, what can happen to aging voices and how vocal therapy can help people even without surgery in many circumstances. Join me for this insightful discussion with someone who really cares about helping people with their voices and can bring hope!

(2:20) Dr. Kozan first had a friend talked to her about speech therapy—thinking that she would be good at it.

(4:20) She explains video stroboscopy—what it actually is. It has been in use since about 1985.

(7:55) Dr. Kozan would assess the voice through listening and watching a patient and using stroboscopy that could help her see the details of the vocal folds.

(10:15) She describes for us how small our vocal folds are and where they sit in our body. She also talks about the difference between male and female voices.

(11:20) Our vocal folds open and close 256 times per second at Middle C! Dr. Kozan describes our singing as an incredible athletic event.

(14:50) When a patient comes to Dr. Kozan with vocal issues, she goes through a vocal hygiene checklist with them.

(19:30) Dr. Kozan shares a story of someone who came for vocal therapy and already knew that he had to change certain ways of doing things.

(24:17) Spasmodic Dysphonia: there are 3 types

(26:04) Actress Katherine Hepburn had a vocal tremor. This can happen to people as they age.

(27:30) Dr. Kozan addresses aging in men and women and how it affects their voices.

(33:50) Jeannette LoVetri from Baldwin Wallace University helps teachers of singing with exercises that can really be beneficial for their students.

(36:35) When a patient has surgery on their voice, they are most often required to go on complete vocal rest for a time.

(38:05) In some therapy that Dr. Kozan does, she works with patients on adding breath on the onset  and releasing it in a way that helps their vocal production. Especially with the vocal fry, which tends to pinch our cords and needs a better release of breath.

(44:25) How do we know it’s time to get our voices checked out?

(47:59) The Interval Training Model means we only do short amounts of practicing, then a time of resting the voice.

(53:20) We need to cool down our voice after strenuous usage. It helps the swelling to go down and get toxins out of our system.

To contact Dr. Kozan, please go to her website: www.kozanclinic.com

You can contact her also via email on her website and she will get back to you.

You may call or text 612-669-3206.

For finding other vocal speech language pathologist, contact the American Speech Language Hearing Association here: 

https://www.asha.org/slp/

For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my  FACEBOOK group:

The Engaging Voice Singers (community) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and iTunes and radio.com

Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Ever wondered how pitch is actually made in our voices? Where do you think it starts? In the vocal folds? Or is there somewhere else? Join Tara today in this episode to see how incredibly complex our body is in producing specific pitches and yet the dichotomy of how easy it is too. Tara shares the journey how pitch is made and then gives tools to help all singers improve their pitches to become more accurate through ear training.

(1:10) Definition of pitch = The highness or lowness of a note…

(2:48) Where does pitch begin in our body? It starts in the brain.

(3:44)  The Dorsal Laryngeal Motor Cortex controls voice pitch. It sends signals to our larynx muscles and cartilage to shape our vocal cords to create specific pitches. This happens in a split second.

(7:41) The cartilage change the length and thickness of our vocal folds while the other muscles open the vocal folds.

(10:43) An interval is a distance between two pitches. There are 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths, octaves and more.

(13:10) We remember pitches because of pitch tonal memory.

(13:56) Exercise 1: Play a triad on the piano (1-3-5) , playing all the notes at the same time. Pick our singing the highest note or try picking out the lowest note.

(14:42) Exercise 2:   1-1-2-1-1-2-3-2-1, etc

(15:48) Exercise 3: Play a couple of notes and then sing them back—matching the pitch and the order of the notes.

(16:44) Exercise 4: Slides 1-3-1,  1-5-1,  1-8-1

(17:44) Exercise 5: Fast staccato—1-3-5-3-1-4-6-4-1-3-5-3-1

(18:36) Our pitches can sometimes be “pitchy”, which means flat or sharp.

(21:20 Other reasons for pitch intonation problems can simply be that someone hasn’t trained their ear enough to hear the pitches dead center. They haven’t yet learned the details of a specific tone in tune.

For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group:

The Engaging Voice Singers (community) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Radio.com and iTunes

Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In this interview with singer and vocal coach Arden Kaywin, we dive into a story of a singer who went from classical to pop, and found her true voice in her journey. She shares how her voice trek led her to helping others with their own vocal pathways through online and in person coaching. She now instructs and tutors other singers in a holistic method of teaching that practices healthy mind and body techniques.

(3:17) Arden shares of her love of music first through dance.

(6:30) Arden was very involved in musical things—summer camps, theater, etc. At age 10, she sang the National Anthem for the Miami Heat.

(9:15) Arden shows her journey from classical to pop artist. She shares how she felt like her creativity got lost in her early opera career.

(13:05) She talks about her outlet writing “cheesy pop songs” during her time in New York.

(16:15) Arden released her first pop album in 2006.

(20:05) Arden shares her journey into teaching voice—how the music industry affected her and pushed her towards teaching and coaching.

(25:20) Mindset with our voices.  We have emotions and they can come out in physical reactions, which in turn can affect our singing voices.

(30:11) Arden describes what she first works on with traditional student lessons.

(32:32) She shares 3 core pillars of healthy singing: 

(35:03) Arden addresses harsh singing and how it needs a recovery time.

(37:47) She discusses “belting”.

(41:47) “The best sound not only sounds good, but feels good too!”

(42:44) “It is not your job as a singer to recreate the sound of a good sound. It’s your job to recreate the feeling of the good sound.”

To contact Arden Kaywin, go to her website: www.ArdenKaywinVocalStudio.com

There you can join her Virtual Studio, do one of her 4 month intensives or have a lesson either in person or online via skype/zoom.

Facebook and Instagram: Arden Kaywin Vocal Studio

Youtube: Arden Kaywin Vocal Studio

The link to the Youtube video on belting is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cUo9xEfmTc

For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group:

The Engaging Voice Singers (community) 

Here is the link: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and iTunes

Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Tara interviews Dr. David Opperman, laryngologist from the Colorado Voice Clinic. He chats about when it’s time to see a voice doctor, how they can find the vocal issues and the types of treatment that are available. It’s a discussion that you won’t want to miss if you are a singer!

(5:15) The difference between an ENT (otolaryngologist) and a laryngologist (a true voice specialist)

(7:35) Dr. Opperman explains what laryngitis is and how we can become hoarse as singers.

(8:35) If hoarseness is happening more than 10 days, it is a good idea to have your voice checked.

(10:00) Dr. Opperman talks about what kinds of vocal issues he sees that are the most common. Voice overuse is one of the big ones.

(12:30) Assessing a vocal issue can be from hearing the voice and also doing a video stroboscopy

(15:01)  Injuries to the voice can happen in many ways. Often it can start in the speaking voice.

(17:01) Stress environment factors and lack of hydration can cause vocal issues too.

(18:25) Injections can help spasmodic dysphonia. It’s a disease that is still hard to figure out.

(19:30) Injections can be used for things like Parkinson’s Disease and Spasmodic Dysphonia.

(20:35) Nodules—how they form and how they are treated. Vocal therapy, botox, vocal rest and hydration can all help.

(22:19) Surgery can benefit people when the voice issue necessitates help that only removal of something can do.

(22:35) Transition using therapy after surgery or diagnosis is often administered. Speech therapy can be one aspect of that transition.

(24:17)  Also looking at bad habits and adjusting them can help.

(25:20)  If you have pain while singing, stop and get it checked out!

(26:22) Take the time to identify and observe your voice and get help sooner than later.

(27:33)  Is it wise to do a vocal checkup at the voice doctor annually or at least to get a baseline?

(28:50) Dr. Opperman can consult over the phone to help you find a way to get your issues diagnosed. If he can’t get you into his clinic, he will try to find help with a laryngologist near you.

To contact Dr. Opperman, go to his website: www.coloradovoiceclinic.com

Phone: 1-303-844-3000

Also, there is the Academy of Otolaryngologists where you can get a list of physicians around the country.

https://www.entnet.org

For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group:

The Engaging Voice Singers (community) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and iTunes

Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In today’s episode, Tara focuses on what it is like to do a vocal practice time that benefits singers. She highlights steps to start—including deciding on how long your practices will be and how to go about implementing those vocal practices. This is so singers will be able to work through issues and make their rehearsal time count. 

(2:02) Practicing an instrument takes commitment.

(3:00) Practicing helps us improve in the tiniest of details.

(5:57) Having a voice teacher to go to can help motivate you to practice.

(6:41) A typical practice: Decide on how often

3-4 times a week, for kids every day

(7:52) Break down your times of practice to what works with your schedule

            1. Decide on  how long you will practice in a given day—15 minutes to an hour

(8:53)   2. Decide on which song you want to immerse yourself in that day. It can even be just a part of a song.

(10:35) 3. Take time to warmup.

(11:33) 4. Take a song and sing it through. Notice what things cause problems for you in the basic melody, rhythm and words, as well as where you breathe.

(12:20) 5. Sing the song again and be aware of technique issues. When you figure out what might be some, work specifically on those issues until you feel like you are closer to them being resolved. 

(16:44) 6. If you have a longer practice scheduled, work on a second or third piece and or hard sections of those pieces.

(17:15) 7. If you have extra time after doing the technical aspects, you can work through the expression—the dynamics, phrasing, etc. Also, if you have a foreign language piece, spend time then to learn the language pronunciation.

(21:18) If you practice, you will improve!

For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group:

The Engaging Voice Singers (community) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and iTunes

Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In this second episode of two, Tara discusses the ways the tongue can cause tension in our singing voice and make it feel or sound different. She helps singers know what to observe to see if there is any tension in the tongue and gives them some practical vocalises to make sure the tongue stays relaxed, loose and free.

(1:10) The tongue is a muscular organ made up of 8 muscles connected to the hyoid bone.

(3:19) Where the tongue is located during certain consonants:  d or t —the tongue is by the aveolar ridge

(3;47) k or g consonants—the back of the tongue lifts by our soft palate

(4:31) th consonants voiced and unvoiced —the tip of the tongue is gliding

(5:16) American r consonant — the  tongue is curled, retracted or half suspended

(7:10) How can you tell if your tongue causes tension? There are at least two ways to tell:

1. Grabbing your tongue while it is sticking out of your mouth and trying to keep it 

forward while you sing.

2. Hold your hands in thumbs up position. Put your thumb under your chin and see if it 

feels hard or soft.

(11:54) Exercises to help release tongue tension:  

1. Glay-glah.      Say it and then sing it 1-2-1-2-1-2-1

(12:37) 2. Sticking your tongue out and holding it while doing arpeggios.    1-3-5-8-5-3-1 or

1-3-5-3-1

(14:39) 3. Tip of tongue on the bottom front of your mouth by teeth. Keep it forward. Slide

1-3-5-3-1 or 1-8-1

(16:15) 4. (from Jacob Burton) Cover your bottom lip completely with your tongue. Sing 

1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5  5-4-5-3-5-2-5-1

(16:54)  5. Say “yuk” without moving your jaw (from Singing for Dummies)

(17:37) 6. Sing yah-yah-yah, etc    Sing without moving your jaw 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1

(18:24) 7. Yah-ee,  Sing slowly 1-3-5-3-1   Put your thumb back under your chin to check tongue

For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group:

The Engaging Voice Singers (community) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, iHeart radio, and iTunes

Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In this first episode of two, Tara discusses the ways the jaw can cause tension in our singing voice and make it feel or sound different. She gives practical tips for observation and some vocalises to make sure the jaw stays relaxed, loose and free.

(2:22) How the jaw affects singing—the reason why.

(3:26) The open or closed-ness of our jaw can be an originator or tension.

(4:56) How do we know if our jaw is tight, rigid or moving when it doesn’t need to?

(5:28) One way to check for tension in the jaw: move your jaw side to side while singing.

(6:13) Check in a mirror with an “ah” vowel to see if the jaw moves by singing a short scale.

(6:51) Feel your jaw muscle if it moving while singing a vowel. Try an arpeggio. 1-3-5-8-5-3-1

(7:36) The jaw is NOT needed to sing different pitches.

(8:53) We do use our jaw for “j” and “y” consonants.

(9:13) How can we release tension in our jaw?

(9:49) 1. Relax neck—stretch it and roll head side to side

(10:18)  Massage the TM Joint to loosen.

(11:14) 2. Speak “ma-ma” and “duh” to open your jaw in a relaxed amount of space.

                Sing half scale.

(13:19) 3. Sing “la” without moving your jaw; just move your tongue. 5-4-3-2-1

(15:05) 4. Sing with a hum. 1-3-2-4-3-5-4-2-1

(15:41) 5. With moving lips, not the jaw, sing “ee” and “oo” on the same note.

(17:09) 6. Bend over at waist, holding onto a chair and sing: Ha ha-ha-ha etc

1-1-2-3-3-4-5-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-11-10-9-9-8-7-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

For more discussion and tips, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group:

The Engaging Voice Singers (community) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, iHeart radio, Spotify and iTunes

Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Tara B discusses why it’s important for singers to train and get helpful, healthy technique. She talks about how pro athletes always do training as part of their regimen. Since singing is a very physical and mental thing, we as singers can go through a similar process to make sure our voices perform at their very best. 

(1:12) What about musicians who are gifted? Do they need training?

(2:24) Two elderly singers that blew my mind with their beautiful tone.

(4:30) Olympic and elite athletes—how do they train?

(6:15) Pro-athletes are always learning and getting better.

(6:51) High school athletes and their training—why they do it. (Social time, stamina, keeping in shape, team skills, not being injured)

(9:14) Our vocal cords change through the years and so if we want to keep them healthy, we need training.

(11:02) My voice at 50 with training and technique is even healthier and freer than just 4 years ago. This is because I’m taking lessons again.

(12:40) My story of being unkind to my voice and how I got vocal fatigue.

(15:52) Elite singers—our operatic athletes. The singers who sing up to three hours over an orchestra with no microphones.

(18:56) Why DO people train their voices?

(19:19) 1. We train to have endurance and stamina to sing.

(19:42) 2. We train to sing notes with ease and flexibility.

(20:05) 3. We train to have great control over our breath.

(20:36) 4. We trying to have clear and phonated sounds.

(21:21) 5. We train to develop natural vibrato.

(21:50) 6. We train to sing with great intonation and pitch.

(22:10) 7. We train to keep flexibility in our voices.

(22:56) 8. We trying to keep up all of our range—that we don’t lose notes we once had.

(23:31) 9. We train to sound effortless as we sing.

(23:53) 10. We train to keep up the power and presence in our voices.

(25:17) The difference between a vocal “coach” and a vocal “teacher”. 

(27:18) The teachers who can help are those who teach about the physical structure of the voice and those whom you feel comfortable with them.

For more discussion and tips, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group:

The Engaging Voice Singers (community) 

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/

Also you can find teachers through lessons.com and on LInkedIn through the group “Singing coaches/teachers”.

Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful!

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Today this episode is a tool for vocal practice for the listener. Tara has included 11 different vocalises for you to sing along with her. This is a great episode to use in the car while you are driving or first thing in the morning to warm up your voice and feel ready to go.

(1:21) Exercise 1—Deep breathing. Inhale though your nose and breath out on a sustained s-s-s-s-s-s.           You can count up to 8 or any number you want. The point is to relax our body and get used to breathing and exhaling slowly and with continuity.

(2:36) Exercise 2—Using the same pitch, sing 5 times in a row this vowel sound: Ee-Ee-Ee-Ee-Ee

(4:46) Mm—huh.  Say these two sounds together like you are agreeing to something. Then after each time you say it, sing an oo on a 1-2-1 very slowly.

(6:27) Using Vee-Vay-Vah-Voh-Voo sing the same pitches but you can go to random notes when you change. It doesn’t have to be in a scale going up and back. 

(7:54) With a slide, go from 1-3-1 very slowly, sliding through all the pitches to get to each one and back.

(10:10) Using the vowel Ah, sing 1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5.    Then back down 5-4-5-3-5-2-5-1

(12:03) Chicken Exercise. Use bwak, bwak, bwak, etc on 1-3-5-3-1

(13:24) Say “Boo, boo, Boo” in your head/float voice, then sing “Boo, boo, boo” with 1-5-1

(14:25) The Boo exercise in a lower range for guys.

(15:38) Using a lip buzz or by rolling your r’s, you can do an arpeggio for singing this one: 1-3-5-8-5-3-1

(17:47) From Roger Love’s Book “Set Your Voice Free”, this is the Ga ga exercise. Use “ga” and do this pattern of an arpeggio: 1-3-5-8-8-8-8-5-3-1

(19:44)  The Star Spangled Banner exercise: with the pitches from the beginning of the song, use an oh or oo and sing the first phrase.  5-3-1-3-5-8

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I interview 80 year old Betty Miller, a lifetime learner and musician. Betty decided to keep going in life when she was widowed at age 58. This is her musical journey of stepping out, doing new things and providing a legacy for her children through a recording.

(4:36)— Betty’s first experience with piano lessons and practicing.

(7:30)—She starts more education in her 50’s.

(8:54)—Betty’s journey into voice lessons and private study. 

(12:17)—Posture and relaxation of your body has been a key takeaway for Betty in lessons.

(13:04)—Betty delves into the world of becoming a recording artist.

(14:20)—She shares what songs she picked for her CD and the reasons why.

(16:57)—Betty explains a little of her studio experience.

(19:40)—She talks about the other processes besides recording that happen with making a CD.

(20:59)—A cd can be a unique gift to give because it is a recording of you.

(30:11)—Betty’s final advice to people wanting to try something new: “Just do it!”

To reach Betty Miller, you can find her on Facebook. Click here: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.l.miller.18

To reach Tim Zhorne for any studio recording, please click here: https://www.fstracks.com

Your voice sounds different as you go from low pitches to high pitches. Tara chats about the registers of your voice and how they all work together to form one voice. She delves into the sounds we hear as we go from low to high and back again and she also chats about the feeling or sensation of our voice changing. Tara offers exercises in this podcast to aid your singing so you can capture the range you were meant to sing with and have a smooth voice that can sound seamless and effortless. 

(1:30)— “A vocal register is a range of tones in the human voice produced by a particular pattern of the vocal folds.” (Wikipedia)

(2:30)—Our voices have different colors and ranges.

(5:10)—Exploring our voice by reading a children’s book out loud.

(6:35)—Three parts to our voice—Chest, Middle (Mixed) Head

(7:40)—Chest voice—our lower register of pitches.

(9:18—Middle voice—where our voice changes and shifts—middle pitches of our range. (Zona di passagi)

(11:27)—Head voice—upper pitches of our voice and range.

(13:52)—What happens in the vocal folds as we sing higher? The zipper analogy.

(17:03)—Primo and secondo passaggi—the “breaks” that happen in our voice. Men vs women in their break areas:  men have a shorter middle voice range.

(20:10)—A way to make our throat open: fog up your hand.

(21:07—Exercise: Slides/Sirens slowly.     1-3-1 (3rds)  1-5-1 (fifths)  1-8-1 (octaves)

(22:55)—Exercise: Hummy sound to add to sirens or slides.

(23:20)—Exercise: Ga, ga.  1-3-5-8-8-8-8-5-3-1     Do it with a whiney or cry sound. You can also experiment with a nasal sound.

(24:25)—Exercise: Lip buzz/lip trill. This is easy on your voice.

(25:35)—Exercise: Chicken sound “bwak”. You can use an arpeggio or a couple of notes 1-3-5-3-1

(26:15)—Exercise:  Mum, mum.     You can use a scale   1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

In this episode, Tara focuses on an issue that some people struggle with in singing. It’s called monotone singing or tone deafness. She gives the listener the true facts of this topic, chats about a real disorder called Amusia and discusses ways that people can learn to sing on pitch and in tune. This is for any listeners who have grappled with the stress of wondering if they can sing or not. It’s also for teachers who want to help students acquire the skills in training their ear to be able to sing in tune and be confident.

(1:35)—Every voice is unique.

(2:57)—We speak in pitches that vary.

(6:33)—We measure pitches by intervals.

(7:43)—“Set Your Voice Free” (by Roger Love) story of pitch intervals in speaking and how people in certain occupations speak differently.

(10:35)—A story of someone who learned to sing pitches correctly.

(12:04)—The musical disorder Amusia— a disorder of pitch discrimination in the brain. An explanation of it here (via The Journal of Neuroscience)

(18:34)—To sing, start with songs that are simple and don’t have many different pitches.

(19:25)—Good singing starts with observation!

(19:52)—1st exercise to help train yourself to become a singer. Observe physical details.

(21:12)—2nd exercise—Observe your environment for sound details.

(22:47)—3rd exercise—Observe two pitches to see which is higher and which is lower.

(23:36)—4th exercise—Tonal pitch memory.

(25:55)—5th exercise. Choose a song and try to pick out contrasting vocal parts or instrument parts.

(27:22)—6th exercise. Going higher and being able to shift your voice to sing all the pitches.

(28:36)—Hummy sounds, a cat’s meow and dogs whimpering are all ways to get to higher pitches.     1-2-3-4-5 scale or same note 1-1-1-1-1

Tara’s special guest, professional singer/vocal instructor Amy Mathews-Muttwill, shares about the many avenues that her musical journey took her.  In this episode, she tells the story of how she would veer off the path of music only to return through the encouragement of key people who helped stir in her a desire to come back. Her pathway took her from the USA to Austria and back with new vision for what she could and should really pursue. Enjoy her inspiring story and some tips about the voice from a very engaging and empathetic vocal teacher!

(7:05)—The beginning of a singer’s musical journey. Amy became enamored with those who sang in church at the tender age of 7.

(11:05)—College becomes a path totally different than the rest of Amy’s family.

(12:35)—Amy relates how a job sharing fragrances turned into her being nudged to come back to music.

(15:10)—While on a music education path, Amy clarifies what her heart wants to do as a singer.

(17:39)—A realization comes to Amy after completing her music education degree. “I really need to be out there on the stage performing!”

(20:40)—Someone else is again the catalyst for Amy to follow her gifts.

(23:05)—The twists and turns of studying with many voice teachers.

(27:42)—Amy’s first experiment in teaching private voice lessons.

(30:55)—Rotary Clubs are in every city and they provide scholarships. Amy got an Ambassadorial Scholarship for study abroad in music. This took her back to Austria.

(36:15)—In the midst of taking huge risk in music and being away from the USA, Amy confesses still her lack of confidence that so many of us experience.

(39:03)—A romance blossoms in Austria amid hardships back in America.

(45:17)—Amy describes bel canto/beautiful singing and what is can entail.

(47:40)—Appoggio breathing starts with the breath housing in the rib cage. Amy speaks to this concept and helps us understand it.

(51:37)—An issue in many students is when they just want to imitate another singer’s sound. 

(53:46)—“Am I making a decision that is good for me and my voice?” A question singers need to ask.

(55:15)—The vocal fry. Amy tells how this trend is used often in our vernacular.

(56:49)—“Speak on the voice”