| Home recording and general music post from the archived Yabb Recording Website Message Board. Some of the info here may be outdated but many of the audio recording and home studio tips are still good. Note: The only tags I made and attempt to convert are italics, bold, center and underline. So if you see some gibberish surrounded by brackets, just ignore it.
Recording Website Archived Yabb board Post
Febuary 2001 Yabb Message Board Archive
Subject: Improved Vocal Performance
by Jon_B | 03/07/01 at 08:39:24
What do you/ don't you, will you/ won't you do?
I've been doing vocal excercises over the past couple of years which are a bit tedious at times, but the payoff has been increased range, control, and stamina as well as improved sound. But there are also breathing exercises, I think based on yoga, that are supposed to help expand your ribs, and there are other exercises as well. And you are supposed to drink a quart or 2 of water a day and/or eat a lot of high water content foods.
Then, there is a list of no-nos: Don't smoke ( I gave up toking, I mean, smoking about 3 1/2 years ago, major improvement); alcohol irritates the mucous membranes of the vocal folds, also dries you out; coffee also dries you out(diuretic); avoid excessive yelling, loud talking, etc. Some people "get away with" more bad behavior, and less good behavior than others, and I guess it also depends on what you hope to accomplish with your voice (style, material).
Subject: Practice, Practice, Practice
by GirlFriday (what I meant before :) | 03/07/01 at 13:27:01
Wow. Thats a loaded question. The list of do's and don'ts is long -- and often based on opinion.
First off, if you don't have a coach and you're serious about singing--get one. Hopefully your shedule and budget allow for this. It's easy to do vocal excercises incorrectly and not get the full benefit. My coach still corrects the way I do some excercises after 2 years. Also, Find a coach who knows how to teach the style of singing you want to do. I'll probably set off a huge debate by saying this. But if you want to sing pop style songs, don't get classical training. I've posted some breathing excercises below.
There's a huge list of diet rules to follow. Everything you mentioned sounds correct. Here's a couple more...
1. Avoid dairy on performance days. Coats zee throat.
2. Avoid sugar. Makes you swallow a lot.
3. Drink room temp liquids (cold fluids especially cause your muscles to contract)
Additionally, avoid misusing glottal attack (or glotta scrape). Many recording artists over use this very cool effect and they temp the rest of us. Too much grinding can cause you to develop nodules on your chords. If a singer "gets away" with breaking the rules, they're just lucky. Many famed ones have dissappeared because they ruined their instrument. If you want to sing long term, play it safe.
Wow, I could say sooo much on this subject.... :) but I won't.
Good luck in your vocal journey!
Some breath excercises:
-----------------------
Sing a scale from 1-5-1-8-1 in rapid succession. This forces you to breathe. Be careful here not to sing beyond your range.
On the 5, sing Ah for 1 beat then breath in deeply for 1 beat. Sing ah again for 1 beat. Breath. Ah. Breath. Ah. Breath. 4 times--with each breath, try to take in more air. Then sing ah down the scale (5-1) and hold the 1 as long as possilbe. Try to keep your air flow even. Do about 8 of these.
Breathe in as deeply as possible and hold for 1 beat. Place your tounge behind your teeth (like you're forming an "s") Release the air evenly and slowly a little at a time making a hissing sound. Do this about 3 times.
Cover one nostril. Breathe in for 4 beats (fill up as much as possilbe). Hold for 4 beats. Exhale evenly for 4 beats. Switch nostrils. When you feel lightheaded... stop
Subject: Re: Improved Vocal Performance
by Jon_B | 03/08/01 at 10:25:59
Thanks for sharing some of your knowledge!
I know that getting a coach is the best way of getting results, but my schedule alone would prohibit this, and my funds are mostly being allocated to improving my studio. I have been seeing marked improvement,gradually of course,using books,tapes and video cassettes put out by professionals. I think for what I'm doing I can "get away with"(that phrase rears it's ugly head again) this approach. I don't plan on entering any singing contests against anyone of your apparent caliber anytime soon ;D.
When you mention recording artists misusing or overusing vocal fry, I think a key word here is 'recording'. Putting aside the subjects of electronic processing and editing for now, there are still things you can do in the studio that you can't "get away with" live (especially true if you are the engineer and default producer). Like "beating on" your voice for the 4 minutes it takes you to get thru the song and simply taking off the headphones and calling it a day if you feel you are doing damage. I think it has already been alluded to on this board that folks will stop at nothing in pursuit of that "killer" recording.
Is there a difference between that low growl ("cornbread singing") and that high register distorted sound, vocal production wise? Mitch Rider (& the Detroit Wheels, circa 1960) used the latter extensively and eventually ruined his voice,permanently. George Thorogood is getting away with it for now. Is it a coincidence that Julie Andrews voice was ruined during or after performing Victor Victoria or did the role force her to sing too low, too loud, for too long? And I keep hearing of performers singing themselves hoarse repeatedly, a couple of recent examples being Faith Hill and Sheryl Crow. Aside from the obvious effect this has on the performance, aren't they flirting with doing physiological damage to the vocal mechanism - maybe permanent damage? Par for the (touring) course or breaking rules?
I dont expect answers for these questions, but they are food for thought, no?
Thanx for the excercises. What if you're lightheaded b4 you start? Just kidding! Well, I guess I'll go now and have another cup of coff... I mean, room temperature distilled water! ;)
Subject: Re: Improved Vocal Performance
by Ally | 03/09/01 at 05:33:50
Thanks for all the info. I haven't had any vocal training at all and would like to improve my high range.