One of the last things I've been working on before going on the road (start gigging) is trying to fix my vocal chops. I know now, it should have been the first thing! I would rate my vocals in the advanced amature/semi-pro league as C- or C at best. By far my weakest link, but I want to sing.

The good news: C isn't that far from a B... I'll settle for a B (maybe B+). Also, I started voice lessons a few weeks ago. What I've learned so far is that I've been doing it wrong - breathing, that is - and after singing awhile, my throat feels and sounds strained. I'm confident tho, that sooner or later, I'll get it.

The bad news is - later won't cut it. At age 60 it's gotta be now. This breathing thing just doesn't seem to connect. In fact, I don't always know if I'm doing it right or wrong. She teaches mostly by visualization, which doesn't always work for me.

Last time around, ~ 25 years ago, it didn't matter 'cause I was playing to a bunch of drunks and they always thought I sang great (or maybe I was drunk)... or maybe I'm just more demanding on myself this time. I know some of you are darn good singers. If anybody has any thoughts, suggestions,ideas, or short-cuts, I'd be greatful!

Glenn

Some people are just not singers, no matter what they do to achieve it. Same with dancing. Most importantly are these things:
Singing on Key...Staying on Tune...Singing in the best posslible & non straining comfortable Key for the song, Audience Eye contact as much as possible, knowing the words too.
As far as practicing, I would record your songs to SMF...then let them play & sing with them over and over again until you get it right. Then try doing it together playing and singing live. The record yourself and listen back to it .......does it sound good to you? Does it sound good to your family and friends? See what the consenses is and try to correct the problems if any. Singing is a gift...it can ruin your performance for sure...being just an instrumentalist is not a bad thing...or maybe a mix of both thruout the gig too.
Most importantly is that you Must have CONFIDENCE on stage or you will give off an insecure image to the audience and that my friend is Suicide out there...You MUST be in control or they will eat you up. This a very small part of the total Entertaining package required to be succesfull out there.
I wish you luck!!!!

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www.donnypesce.com



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 10-20-2003).]

I sing in an oldies band and sometimes we gig doing acapella. Talk about putting yourself out-there!

The biggest advice I can give is to warm up before your gigs, practice your scales, practice your phrasing and breathing along with your phrasing.

I have noticed practice makes a HUGE difference in my singing. It purifies your voice, extends your range, and keeps you on key. I sing in the car to the radio all the time. I practice songs out of my range both HIGH's and LOW's and I'm starting to hit some of those notes which were once out of my range.

Hope that helps a bit.
Al

Glenn,
The voice lessons will help quite a bit with breath control and expanding your range--at least it did for most of the folks I know, including myself. However, if you're singing results in a sore throat, you're doing something wrong. I would suspect that you're either singing a note or two higher than you should be, or trying too hard to project your voice.

Only perform songs that don't cause you to strain your vocal-folds (cords), learn to use a mic effectively and practice as much as possible. Two hours a day is just about right for practice, but if you haven't been performing for sometime, begin with just one hour a day, then gradually increase it to two and then three or more. It's a lot of work, but it pays off in the end.

As Donny said, record a couple midi files, then sing along with them, and if possible, record the performance on a tape recorder or CD. Then listen to your performances and be objective. You'll quickly hear the mistakes, and with additional practice, you'll be able to correct them.

As for the lessons, some instructors cannot play a song in any key other than the one it was written in. If this is the case, this could be the root problem with the sore throat. If the song seems to make you strain, have them play it in a lower note where it's more comfortable. That's why they put transpose buttons on keyboards.

Final thought. When you get a sore throat, one of the things that soothes your throat instantly is a dill or sour pickle or onion. Years ago, when I was a newscaster for a local radio station, I learned this little trick and it saved my bacon dozens of times.

Good Luck,

Gary

I suppose I would be a better singer if I had taken voice lessons. I just started singing because the singer didn't show up one night, and I wanted to get paid. I learned under fire.
I have almost always taped (now digital) myself, for more than 30 years. I am my own worst critic, but the sound has improved to the point where it's not painful to listen to.
Over the years I've learned not to hurt myself and to sing more or less on key.
I had some good encouragement from friends when I first started trying to sing. Something like, "that's not so bad, stay with it," etc. As you get experience, you learn what you can or can't (at least SHOULDN'T) do. I'm still learning to sing after all this years, and I'm lucky enough to have a few close local entertainer friends, such as Hank The Lurker, who continue to pass on their knowledge.
I can't do Piano Man, but I love the song. I can do Merle, Elvis, Conway, George Strait and others who were kind enough to sing in the correct key for me.
Most valuable advice you will ever get:
DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL WHEN YOU WORK. The doctors, lawyers, bankers, etc. don't get drunk at work (at least most of them don't) and neither should you. It doesn't make you sound better, but it can make you THINK you sound better and can make you try things you shouldn't. Also it will almost certainly shorten your career and life.
Look at me being serious.
DonM

Many well known pro singers vow they never had a singing lesson in their life, but that is more the exception than the rule, as most professional singers have had at least a few vocal lessons. Many great vocalists got their vocal experience (lessons) singing in church.

I'll never forget attending a music seminar given by Harry Connick Jr where he told us he never had a singing lesson in his life, but after later checking into his background, found out he's had a number of vocal coaches and vocal teachers. Many pro singers like to give their fans the false impression that they were just born good singers, but the fact of the matter is that a voice coach will not only teach you the basic mechanics of vocal production but also help you 'fine tune' your unique vocal style as well. I recommend everyone here (even the best singers among us) to consider at least a few brush up lessons with a 'GOOD' vocal coach. You'll be amazed how much they can help you take your vocals to another level. - Scott

AT Temple (in the 70s) I studied diction and phrasing in a voice training course. I was a woodwind major, and playing the clarinet was by far, the best thing I could have done to develop good breathing habits.
The diction part was important, but more than that is something that I have stated many times here:

LEARN THE WORDS.

You can't fully deliver a tune if your eyes are glued to a chart. You need to understand what the lyric means before you can transfer those words into an emotion that will touch the listener.
Many great singers, dont have great voices.
It's all in the presentation and the honesty of the delivery. Listen to Jimmy Durante or Sachmo sing a love song ..... it's beautiful, moving and inspiring on ANY level.
Take a finely trained voice, and subtract the emotion and you'll get "Ho Hum".

Guys like Jim Nabors and Andy Griffith have beautiful natural voices, but I can't get into the phrasing and delivery that they use. It's the tool INSIDE your head that you can reach people with. The mechanics are the easiest part to master.

Of course, if you have NO ear for pitch and bad timimg .... you're going to need to be VERY charming to sell the tune !

Record your self as much as possible ..... it really DOES help to show you the correct path. You can learn alot from a recording. (sometimes, a hard pill to swallow!)

Good luck, and don't aim for a "B" ..... shoot for the stars, and you'll get the best you can from the effort.

Great advice dave...

Memorize the words & Memorize all the music
This will leave you eyes, voice and entertaining abilities directed at he audience. No one wants to see someone looking Down when they perform...they want to see a big smile and eye contact
[very important] if you want to sell the song. What you project to the audience comes back to you...it's a two-way battery!!!

Thanks, guys... there are some good suggestions here and I'll soon implement some of them. I have to cool it for awhile since my pipes are raw, but on the mend. Frustrating, since I'm fired up.

I'm in the process of memorizing lyrics. You don't have to convince me of the importance of performing to your audience. I've seen performers both ways... and yes, it makes a huge difference.

Has anybody ever seen Cat Stevens perform? 20 some years ago I saw him... and even tho it was only a TV performance, I was so knocked out by his enthusiasm and passion that I'll never forget it. Yea, memorizing lyrics isn't the easiest thing in the world, but easier than changing the way you've been breathing all your life, for me, anyway. Think I'll go have a pickle.

I saw the CatMan at the Spectrum in Philly (long before First Union/Walkoverya ... )and I loved it too. The acoustic guitar sound was awesome. I've been a fan forever, and still do a few of his songs today. I love Father & Son, Wild World, Sitting, Hard headed woman ... the guy is great.