Vocalist.org archive


Date sent: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 10:50:10 EST
Subject: Re: Vocalist Topics
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

In a message dated 01/28/2000 9:45:28 AM Central Standard Time,
DANIaka007-at-aol.com writes:

<< << I was wondering if anyone knew some of the "bad habits" these singers
have
and how to break them, because I try to sing like my favorite singers, and
sometimes I really don't know if what I'm doing is good or bad!
>>

I do the same thing (try to do some things they do) but can anyone point out
some things?
Danielle >>

Well, there have been quite a few things pointed out to date, but to quickly
summarize - if there is tension involved, it's no good. If your jaw is
shaking, your tongue is pulled, your shoulders are heaving up and down, it's
not good technique. Remember, these singers all have mikes which are
changing their basic sound - unless you have a recording studio in your home,
you are singing without amplification, and to create the sound that they are
creating amplified, you may be manipulating something. If you heard them
off-mike, you would hear a very different sound. This really hit home when
Rachel Lebon at the University of Miami gave a mike technique session -
without the mike, when she sang her pop stuff, the voice was tiny and could
not be heard. With the mike, the sound was full and rich. It was enhanced
by the mike. You are imitating people's enhanced sound, not their REAL sound.

Chris Thomas
Mezzo-Soprano
Wauwatosa, WI

"I love to sing-a, about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a"