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Vocal Play

Singing is supposed to be FUN –says Mister Tim

The American a cappella vocal band Naturally7 uses the term “Vocal Play” to describe their skills of instrument imitation and all-vocal funky sound-making.

The phrase reminds me that singing is supposed to be > read more

Take Control of Your Environment

What change can you make so that your rehearsal or performance space works for you? -asks Mister Tim

My son has a habit of letting his glasses slide down to the end of his nose, then craning his head into a strange position so he can see through the lenses.

He is very skilled at being able to walk, read, even use a computer with his glasses in this strange position. Still, it would be a lot easier if he just > read more

Building Your Vocalist Vocabulary

The singer’s toolbox contains an ever expanding list of terms –says Mister Tim

“A person’s vocabulary is the set of words within a language that are familiar to that person. A vocabulary usually develops with age, and serves as a useful and fundamental tool for communication and acquiring knowledge.”
-Wikipedia, “Vocabulary”

If you will indulge the thought, let us expand this definition to include any set of skills used to communicate.

In the case of a singer, that means that you have a > read more

Believe Them – Don’t Believe Them

Understand the true meaning of your performance feedback –says Mister Tim

Here’s the thing: people will say nice things about you.

To stay happy, DON’T BELIEVE THEM.

Or rather, believe them, but be careful how you believe them.

Honest words are not always accurate. Nice words are not always honest.

Understand the Context

Just because someone says something does not make it so, even if they think it is so.

Comments and feedback must always be judged by perspective and context: who is saying it, why are they saying it, how does what they are saying fit into a larger perspective? (Check out this page for some examples)

No one will ever seek you out after a performance and tell you how terrible it was. The people who hated what you did will just go home.

Anyone who is going to speak to you face to face after a show is going to compliment you.

Most people who come to hear you perform are already your fans, so they are hardly objective observers.

Enjoy their compliments, appreciate that these people really are speaking their truth, but don’t think that means you are the best thing ever.

Getting Accurate Feedback

Friends and family in particular want you to feel good. That’s great! They are supportive, and they should be!

But that means they may not be the best source for accurate feedback. They don’t want to hurt your feelings, nor should you demand brutal honesty from them and put them in the position where they might hurt your feelings.

Let them be supportive and positive, and seek out feedback and coaching from a professional.

Professionals are always working to get better, which means they are constantly doing the difficult and uncomfortable work of identifying the flaws in themselves and working to make them better.

Professionals have also been doing it for a long time, so don’t think that your natural talent is going to trump their natural talent plus years (or decades) of hard work.

So enjoy the compliments, and believe them… to a point.

Believe that you made someone’s day brighter, which means you are succeeding to some degree in your mission to share music. Compliments are usually sincere.

But be very, very careful what conclusions you draw from the compliments, lest you set yourself up for disappointment or become negatively warped by the positive attention.

My Reactions to This Week’s Peer Review Vid

Meghan – Rolling in the Deep (cover)

Super work, Meghan! You are very brave and have a strong, developing voice. I think you will benefit greatly from spending the next few years singing songs from great writers and singers like Adele. Keep up the great work! You have plenty of time to develop your voice. Don’t feel like you have to sound like anyone else. You are going to go through several physical voice changes in the next decade. Allow yourself to grow and progress, and allow your voice to be your voice. Take voice lessons, and be brave enough to let your teachers help you get better. Always be open to new ideas, and you’ll go far!

-Mister Tim

Mister Tim is a modern voice artist who respects the history of the vocal arts while not being afraid to push into new, uncharted territory. He artistic directs an eclectic array of vocal ensembles that range from traditional choral to cutting-edge, technology-based, ultra-modern vocal rock bands. A published composer, award-winning recording artist, and in-demand performer and teacher, Mister Tim is also a viral video star, sponsored kazoo player, and dedicated husband and father. He created and sings with 2010 Harmony Sweepstakes champions Plumbers of Rome, internet sensations moosebutter, beatbox online teachers and performers Mouth Beats, and all-original vocal band THROAT. He also tours with his solo vocal live-looping/beatbox shows.
www.mistertimdotcom.com and www.vocalitysingers.com

Submit Your Own Video for Peer Review

New Year’s Revolutions

Difficulty is the fertilizer of the bonsai tree of achievement –says Mister Tim

The planetoid I call ‘home’ has circled the star I call ‘Susan’ one more time, and almost a year to the day after I wrapped up my last stint as Voice Council Vocal Coach in Residence I’m back – and as excited as ever to hear and comment on great singers!

A lot happens in 365 days, but far more does not happen.

Years are full of accomplishments, but also failures; milestones reached through effort and determination, but also missed opportunities; miraculous turns of events, but also great promises that fail to materialize.

The natural progression of events determines that nothing ever turns out exactly the way we hope, or dream, or plan.

There are simply too many forces at work, too many variations caused by influences we cannot control.

However, the changes to our original expectations are just as often good as they are bad!

I do not believe anyone has achieved something truly great without passing through experiences that are deeply, truly, soul-crushingly difficult.

But that is fine: we do not pursue great things because it is ‘fun,’ but to satisfy greater needs and longings, so periods of difficulty, discomfort, or disappointment are worth it because the reward we get later is so much greater.

To start our new year, some thoughts and suggestions:

* Difficulty is the fertilizer of the bonsai tree of achievement

* Don’t mistake movement for progress

* Don’t mistake confidence for knowledge, or talent, or expertise

* Embrace the things you can control as well as the things you cannot

* Never pass up the opportunity to use a trebuchet to hurl a piano

- Mister Tim

My Reactions To This Week’s Peer Review Vid

Lauren Tate – Speechless (cover)

Let’s start the young year with a young singer! Lauren, so much you are doing well! Big voice, big personality –truly excellent work. You display an ease of voice and of delivery far beyond your years. You have a collection of gestures, both vocal and physical, that often come across as learned but not understood. Think about the ways you move your hands, eyes, face, and voice, and make sure you are serving the song. Most basically, begin by deciding what you want to focus on while you sing: the camera, or a person, or someplace in the audience, and direct your energy there.

(also be sure to check out next week’s topic, which applies especially to young talented singers –like you.)

If you’re signed up to VoiceCouncil’s Peer-Review, you’ll be receiving unique coaching feedback from Mister Tim for the next 8 weeks. You can sign up now.

Mister Tim is a modern voice artist who respects the history of the vocal arts while not being afraid to push into new, uncharted territory. He artistic directs an eclectic array of vocal ensembles that range from traditional choral to cutting-edge, technology-based, ultra-modern vocal rock bands. A published composer, award-winning recording artist, and in-demand performer and teacher, Mister Tim is also a viral video star, sponsored kazoo player, and dedicated husband and father. He created and sings with 2010 Harmony Sweepstakes champions Plumbers of Rome, internet sensations moosebutter, beatbox online teachers and performers Mouth Beats, and all-original vocal band THROAT. He also tours with his solo vocal live-looping/beatbox shows.
www.mistertimdotcom.com and www.vocalitysingers.com

Submit Your Own Video for Peer Review

Bring Your Song To Life

Don’t mentally end the phrase until it’s actually over –says Jeannie Deva

It’s a Wrap! In the past eight weeks I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing 16 singers share their artistry.

As I now complete my final Voice Council Residency week for 2011, I’d like to > read more

What’s Breath Got To Do With It?

Improve your tone and control with natural breath support –says Jeannie Deva

Many singers have been told through the years to “use good breath support.”

While we may instinctively want to agree with this statement, we may be confused by the many interpretations, opinions and approaches on the subject.

To sort this out, it will help to > read more

Command Your Performance

You are creating a multimedia, multisensory experience –says Jeannie Deva

Each of us sings for our own reasons, but usually we share one main motivation — we love it.

We have something we want to share with others.

This is a wonderful thing. To give to others is honorable and audiences certainly respond favorably to this quality in a singer.

But let’s take a wider view of what we give to > read more

Your Audience Connection

They’ll like you if you like them first –says Jeannie Deva

As a performer, you have a special power.

Your audience is granting you this power just like you’ve probably granted it to other performers; it’s up to you to master it and use it well.

Otherwise known as stage projection or performer charisma, the ability to command your performance space is an essential ingredient of your > read more

What Do Lips Have To Do With It?

Don’t say “cheese” when you’re singing –says Jennie Deva

For many, the application of just one vocal tip makes the difference between singing with ease and expression versus singing with strain and restriction.

Today’s tip has to do with reducing muscle tension around your mouth so that you can sing with passion and freedom.

A Range Challenge or a Tightness Challenge?

I’ve often heard singers tell me certain notes are out of their range.

But on examination, I find their experienced restriction to be the result of tension they’re creating, originating from a lack of understanding as to the natural requirements of their body when singing.

Specifically, some have been educated to believe that tightening the lips can assist the creation of vowels, especially the vowel “ee.”

This idea is encouraged when you’re told “say cheese” (big smile) as your photograph is taken.

When you tighten your lips side to side as you sing, certain fundamental muscles in your throat and jaw react and tighten.

This makes singing more effortful; it will feel harder to get the pitch and sound like you’re struggling to sing the note.

Try This:

Practice any song without accompaniment with your hands on either side of your face. This placement of your hands is your reminder to relax your lips and disengage the idea of lip tension as you sing. It may take some repetition. Let your mouth and lips move naturally as you sing the song; just keep a check on and eliminate any tendency to tighten your lips or face. The usual result: reduction of strain, richer vocal tone and greater freedom of expression.

My Reactions To This Week’s Peer Review Vid

Alec Drow – Dreams to Remember (Otis Redding cover)

Hi Alec! I love that you’re using the VoiceLive 2 and in such a tasteful way – great choice and use of harmonies. I felt your connection to the meaning and message of the song – which is a big part of what it’s all about to sing. As video performance is a visual, not just an audio experience, the next time you perform a song on video, zoom out so that we can see your whole face, not just your nose and mouth. What you do visually (or have your camera focused on) can aid or distract from your audience being able to fully connect with the song. At times you tensed your lips to get a note or sing a certain word. This tension traditionally tightens throat muscles and creates strain. For more on this, see my article above: “What Do Lips Have to Do With It?”

-Jeannie Deva

© 2011 All Rights Reserved. This article is adapted for VoiceCouncil Magazine from Jeannie Deva’s soon to be released eBook: “Singer’s Guide to Powerful Performances” which includes hundreds of linked video examples, over 200 pages, 23 information-packed chapters, 55 exercises and numerous practice and application tips. For a few of the exercises available, go to: www.YouTube.com/PowerfulPerformances and subscribe for updates. Follow @JeannieDeva For info on Jeannie Deva and her other vocal products, visit: www.JeannieDeva.com

Jeannie Deva is a celebrity voice and performance coach and recording studio vocal specialist with a list of impressive clients and endorsements. Jeannie teaches privately in Los Angeles and in the very near future to students worldwide via her Online Vocal Academy. Visit her new singer’s performance development channel: www.YouTube.com/PowerfulPerformances and her voice enhancement for vocalists: The Contemporary Vocalist Book and CD series and The Deva Method® Vocal Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs CD. www.JeannieDeva.com www.Facebook.com/JeannieDeva – www.Twitter.com/JeannieDeva

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