There is nothing like progress in my music that puts a smile on my face faster. I’ve been at this for a very long time, longer than I’d like to admit. I’ve had major ups and major downs, and probably a lot like the rest of you, I was hooked from an early age. Music was always a balm for life, a refuge from the storm, my joie de vivre, and my compass.  Friends and [...]

It wasn’t long ago that I, like you, was pursuing the path of being an artist and carving out my niche and persona on stage. One of the first things I teach my artists after they learn the basic logistics of the stage is how to get comfortable. 7 Ways to Getting Comfortable On Stage 1.   OVER-REHEARSE. The worst is when you can’t relax because you are worried about remembering your lyrics or unsure about [...]

“Pitch-ey” has now become a household word thanks to American Idol judges. At least now we vocal coaches don’t have to explain it! Pitch is one of the fundamental, foundational core elements in singing – so much so that it is one of the most important – perhaps the most important – quality of a great voice. Imagine pitch as a circle – about the size of a dime. Right in the center of that [...]

“Power without Strain” Who doesn’t want more power without strain? This is a simple technique to apply – easier than the one above. Most singers think more power or volume, or belting higher notes, has to do with pushing more air past the cords. They reach up with their chins and push hard to get the sound out. Sometimes they are successful — until the voice starts to burn out (usually when they start to [...]

“Magic High Notes”: There is a trick most vocal coaches know (if they’re good).  If you want a singer to sing better high notes, teach them to take a deeper breath and press down on their diaphragm. It’s true. High notes require a faster speed of breath (so you need more of it) and more resistance (so you want to keep the diaphragm down). To practice this – let’s do another vocal lesson.