Karaoke Forums

Yup, read before I bid. Replacing that is not such a biggie- that's the same thing that was wrong with my current guitar I play. Easy enough fix. I didn't just bid cause it's "purdy". I'm a firm believer that some of the fugliest guitars sometimes have the best sound and action:) ..... (hey-kinda like men) Muahaha



I peeked;)

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

You would know Charm!!!!

BWAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Woo...ok...lessee what I can do with this. *laugh*  



Ok....yeah, I'd agree with you that it is probably a combination of not breathing correctly and tension as well as not taking in enough air and/or not utilizing it properly.  When you sing higher, you are more likely to get light headed - singing in head voice creates more space up there.  I remember some earlier voice lessons where I would get REALLY dizzy while doing higher scales and needing to sit down before I fell down! *laugh*

Let's try this: take a song you are really comfortable with and write out the lyrics.  Then go back and mark in where you breathe - or where you THINK you should breathe.  It should look something like this:

Listen to me I have beautiful dreams I can spin you/Dreams to linger within you/Close your eyes and we'll ride my carousel/etc.

Now, stand and breathe properly.  Look at the lyrics and sing acapella being very strict to breathe where you have it marked.  See how that works out.  If you get light headed, determine of it's due to improper technique or trying to get too long a phrase in one breath.  Maybe take just one or two phrases and sing them over and over again until you have "perfected" just that small bit, and then move on.



The more "legit" something is for a soprano, it's probably sung more in head voice.  Most of what I sing in opera is head voice - and of course no belting. *laugh* In musical theatre...eh...it depends on the show.  There's also quite a bit of "mix."



In general, voices are divided out (from low to high) as bass, baritone, tenor, alto, soprano.  For most genres of music, that's "good enough."  Now, when you get into opera, things get broken down even further depending on range, timbre, color, etc of the voice.  The most common for women's voices are contralto, alto, mezzo-soprano, lyric, and coloratura - and there are even further break downs from there.  For classification in opera, I am a lyric-coloratura soprano.  I have a fairly "light" voice that is very agile and I have high notes that are ridiculous - my performance range is from about an E below middle C to a G# above high C, and I can vocalize to the top end of the piano keyboard, but, really, where is THAT practical? *laugh*  In musical theatre, I am classified as a soprano with a belt.



Are you looking for vocal exercises or for classical tracks?  As far as vocal excercises, several voice teachers put out CDs.  Even the American Idol people put something out a couple years ago.  I've never used any, but, look into www.voicetraining.com  That was produced by my first voice teacher.  

If you are looking for classical tracks, Music Minus One puts out some good things - full orchestrated "performance" quality tracks as well as basic piano tracks both for opera arias and art songs.  Cantolopera also produces some decent tracks - most of their tempos are pretty slow, though.

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

So standing on one foot all night playing with the volume pedals with the other doesn't lend itself well to strong vocals. Well at least now I have an excuse

 Ah yes, that happens to be another Floyd thats in our repertoire. Floyd tunes we do are Young Lust, Wish You Were Here, Comfortably Numb and Time, their might be one more but it's not jumping out at me right now.[/quote]

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

Only if you're Placido Flamingo <HAW HAW HAW>

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Thanks Opera Kitty.  The stance sortuh reminds me of the tennis receiving stance.. squared to the net is it ?  Is it normal for folks beginning to apply breath control to worry about throwing off  phrasing to tempo ?



London Live..  I think today I'd do a cover list of something like the following..

Opening with this type of set  (first few songs piano samples splittins since into string ensemble and piano)


Kappy's Kovers

Bloody Well Right-  Supertramp
Wond'ring Aloud- Tull
Silver, Blue and Gold- Bad Co.
for a younger crowd,  Mathew Sweet- Girlfriend
Sample in a Jar- Phish
I love you- Climax
Reminiscing- Little River Band
Lady- Little River band
Peg-  Steely Dan


At which point I'd want to pick the crowd up..

Aint that Kindness- Johnny Winter/ R Derringer
Love Hurts- Nazareth
Juke Box Music- Kinks
Bouncing around the room- Phish
Perpetual Change- Yes
Work to do- AWB

I'd wind down to slow again with

and ending set would be something along the lines of

Share the Land- Guess Who
Come Monday- Buffet
Memphis Tennessee- C Berry
Brown-eyed girl- Van Morrison
Abbey Road medley- Beatles
Angie-  Stones
Last song would be a real slow ballad-  You can have me anytime- Boz Scaggs


It'd be this type list.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Ha!  Never thought of it that way, but.....yeah...kinda....except with a tennis stance, you would be slightly bent forward.  DON'T DO THAT! *teasing grin*




I don't know - I didn't worry about it, and haven't heard anyone else say that they did.  You may be over-thinking it.  Although, when you are working acapella - either in this instance where you're applying a new technique, or when working on brand new material - phrasing and tempo shouldn't be too much of a focus.  The goal here is to get you used to how it FEELS.  Right now, you have to think about it - which may have you stopping and starting when you normally wouldn't.

For example, I had an audition a couple years ago that required me to sing in a way I was not used to.  I coached with a friend of mine who was in the cast.  It was 2 solid hours on about 32 bars.  I would literally sing the first word and hold it, the next word, the next, etc...sing the first 5 words, not like what I heard, and go right back to it, singing it really slow to be very aware of EXACTLY what I was doing, and what it felt like when I heard what I wanted to hear.  Eventually, I could pop it off at any point the way I wanted with out thinking about - it becomes muscle memory and second nature.  I actually had a little bit of trouble writing the other two messages because I don't really think about those things anymore - I just DO them.

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

Excellent point !  Upright torso posture is critical in singing, shoulders slightly bent forward holding a tennis racket with a forearm grip is different in that respect.



Another good point, I tend to screw myself before I've even begun with analysis paralysis.



Something else I never knew !  Thanks !


Would you believe that my FIRST exposure to the concept of muscle memory was believe it or not three years ago when I was discussing melodic minor, harmonic minor and other two octave scale SERIOUS problems I have on piano regarding fingering, and speed, or just DOING them two octaves at all because of certain coordination difficulties ?  I NEVER even knew such a concept existed... I assumed you cognitively had to VERY well know everything in your head or else you could never do it.. THIS fear psyched me out throughout my WHOLE upbringing..  I really NEVER knew that there was such a thing as muscle memory, in my classical training it was NEVER brough up and that's a sin IMHO.. Because to believe in it, and understand how it works takes quite a burdon of worry off've fears such as "My memory stinks"..

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Bach counterpoint, and Hannon fingering exercizes used to drive me BATTY !  I just didn't believe my mind could ever figure out complex principles so yes,  I got psyched out due to my own fears of NOT being able to do something..

ADDED IN:

Another thing that might be of interest is that I had a RIGOROUS classical upbringing in the 50's and early 60's.  I had a problem however.. I (even as a kid) was doodling looking at my fingers before I was started in actual playing.. Pencil Play series, and coloring quarter notes, and dotting notes as well as learning which flag goes on which note was stuff I was coloring with, BUT I also started tinkering and playing by ear at a VERY VERY young age with one finger that could barely depress a key.. NOW, the problem is,  I became VISUALLY dependant on playing.. at 5 they started tieing cardboard under my chin so I couldn't see my fingers which impeded my sightreading chances.. I got REALLY REALLY angry !!  What this meant later on is I also flunked typing twice in HS, once in college, and it took me over 10 years of online chatter (this past decade) to be able to type without looking at my fingers. I NEVER thought it could be done !!  I also never understood that speed is just familiarity, as is fluid playing.. To me it HAD to be pushed... Just like why I can't golf.. Certain brain paradoxes I can't fathom.. relaxed swing propels ball furthest ?   I just have probs with certain concept such as relaxing when it appears that tension and power bet better results..

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

So here's my question. I KNOW that we are never too old to learn, and relearn.

Problem is, WHAT mindset is most beneficial when we KNOW we must learn, or relearn concepts as middle-aged adults with nasty habits already set in ?  and a life-long pattern of "That's too tough", or "How can I do that?", has set in ?  How do we begin to condition ourselves to take lessons in our craft as middle-aged adults ?  We must make certain modifications undoubtedly and train ourselves to LEARN again, right ?  A huge problem is fear of giving up what has become familiar and comfortable albeit often not productive for making progess.  I REALLY want to take jazz guitar lessons, but I feel I must make a few mindset changes before spending A LOT of money on something I haven't conditioned myself for (being absorbtion of new concepts and proper mindset for being able to learn and what's even tougher relearn)  Plain and simple, we DO become stubborn, but I don't wish to be change resistant. Is it a safe assumption that as long as we are dependant on watching our fingers while playing an instrument, we do so at the expense of dexterity and really being able to play since visual dependency hurts instrumental musicians ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Hhhhmmm...well, this gets pretty deep...*soft smile*  The thing is, I think it's a completely different thing for everyone - no two people learn things the same way.  From some of things you have said, I get the impression that you are pretty analytical and can over think things.  Middle aged or not, I think we all tend to get comfortable with the way we do things - no matter what it is - and making changes is never easy.  



This is not easy, but...the best thing to do is to just be OPEN to anything that is thrown at you.  I am VERY stubborn.  I have a hard time doing something if I think it is contradictory to something I already do - even if the new thing may be a "better" way of doing it.  I get frustrated when something doesn't come easily to me, and I have to be really careful to not just QUIT when I don't "get" something right away.  I find I have to very conciously and deliberately force myself to get through some things.  In your case, I think you really have to just let everything go - if someone asks you to do something, don't give yourself any time to think about or analyze it - just DO it.  Afterwards, when you are in your car on the way home or whatever, THEN you can think about it.  But not too much, because even if you have accomplished it, if you start thinking about it, you can psych yourself out of being able to do it again.



I think, being visually dependent will hurt you as an instrumentalist.  If you are depending on watching your fingers, I don't think you can completely let go and give yourself over to the music.  I think it may hold you back form being able to completely connect with the music, because you are THINKING too much.  Will it affect your dexterity?  Not sure, since I don't play an instrument.

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

OK,  so it's not JUST me that has this issue..  Well that's at least good to know.  I start to think that I'm still a spoiled cottled brat that wants everything on a silver platter, yet I DO get frustrated with warmup exercizes and anything tedius.. It like I want results, and I want them NOW !



Agreed.  It's humbling but when relearning we often get stuck in a ravine where we lose what we used to do well and make certain sacrifices for awhile in order to relearn technique correctly.. I suppose this might be similar to viewing as one step back in exchange for two steps forward.. Focus for me will need to be giving up conditioned comfort for positive future gain.



I think you are correct.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

OK,  I can't help myself.  It's time once again to post Kappy's top rendition (in terms of instrumental intricacy) of Wondering Aloud.  While this guitarist is noticeably having a little bit of trouble coordinating the tricky detailed guitar part with the vocals, his rendition is VERY VERY good, his ear excellent, and this is by far the most detailed guitar cover of a song I love I've heard on youtube..
While others have done it more smoothly, this guys detail is more impressive than just about all cover renditions I've seen.. Love his use of suspensions too !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0io9UWyZ8vg


OK, where's my Capo !   MAID !!!


LondonLive,  Check out Larry Curtis one man bands ear !  This guy is doing all these arrangements ALONE !  All instruments, all voices.. He's got quite an ear !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mot11fnuJc

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Oh dear gawd no! *laugh*  I don't think any of us really likes to have to WORK for these things! *laugh*  



Absolutely.  In my case, I was a child prodigy.  Since I was able to do things I "shouldn't" have been able to do, I think voice teachers glossed over a lot of things with me because they just assumed I already knew it.  Now, as my age has pretty well caught up with my ability, I'm having to go back and relearn things - as well as finding out how much I really DON'T know...I'm sure you can imagine my frustration...*laugh*

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

But two octave scales left and right hand ascending and descending.  You kow how TOUGH those can be ?   BLECH..  I assume if you studied opera you have some piano knowledge.  Voice is your only instrument ?  btw.. were you on broadway ? Just curious !   OK,  perhaps I'm getting too personal for this board




Same here,  ask me about my nuance-specific for reaching between the rails of my crib, and peeling paint chips off the wall and eating them !  Made me all I am today !



OK,  for some reason I get the image of you as a child vocalist or actress on broadway NY..  Maybe not..   btw,  I think my age caught up with my ability at around 16.. I just sat there waiting for years.  From that point on it was all a gradual decline  LOL...  While I was never a prodigy by any stretch of the imagination I did manage to do a few things at a young age few have done !  How many in elementary school have blown up neighbors electric meters with M-100's, and only in 6th grade dropped sodium into the school toilet damaging plumbing ?  I suppose we all have our place

But no seriously..I was over 75% deaf up until I was close to 6.  Chronic ear abscesses, fluid buildup, and a lot of other LD's..  I think for this reason I learned to listen, and developed an excellent ear for music.. Yet this became a deficit for me in the reading realm.. We had no Suzuki style when I was young. I'm lucky I wasn't a prodigy.  Assuming I was (given my parents critical disposition), the demands made on me would've been emotionally insurmountable.  They were regardless.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Question;

Assuming a child is a prodigy, and shows interest in performing.  Do you agree to remove the child from school, and go on tour with him/her if possible, get a coach to do-so and homeschool, or do you keep the child in school assuming the child should emotionally still be nurtured as a child without a performing lifestyle ?  How subjective is this ?  Take this youngster for instance !  What do you do ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8cvKImVadE


btw Opera Kitty,  one thing really bothered me about this... I'm curious if you can guess what it is !

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

[quote="Steven Kaplan @ Sat Sep 08, 2007 6:03 pm] I assume if you studied opera you have some piano knowledge.  Voice is your only instrument ? [/quote]

I have some pretty basic piano knowledge.  I always wanted to play, but my parents didn't take my musical aspirations seriously until I was 12 and they couldn't tell the difference between my voice and the voice on the recording I was singing with. *laugh*  Most of what I know about piano playing, I just kind of picked up here and there.  

 

I moved to NY 2 years ago to audition and study.  I haven't performed on Broadway yet - unless you count the piano bar on 46th St. *laugh*  There are a couple shows that have me on their list, but nothing has worked out yet.



Ha!  See, there ARE benefits to lead based paints!



Oh, I wish!  But, no...I wasn't allowed to really persue things until I was 12.  I did my first professional production when I was 16.  Since then, I've been doing shows and concert work fairly steady up until this year.



Ha!  We all have to have our special talents!



There is always a reason behind these things.....

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

Are you studying at Julliard's summer program ?  My college piano instructor was an honors Julliard grad.  What's even more amazing is he was patient and didn't throw me out've the studio when I showed up unprepared (which was at least 75% of the time).  Guy was fantastic,  the way he was able to transpose Liszt Hungarian rhapsody number 2 to any key I requested and play it without slicing the skin between his thumb and index finger like Franz liszt did for his amazing reach eludes me..  This guy was gifted..  Yet still,  I think in Hausmanns case he was more than a deligent student,  I think he was an absolute genius who was artistic and just had an easier time than most excelling in this area..  I don't know what the explanation is.. Nuance-specific IS a term often heard for reflex ability few others have, or physical characteristics that are uncommon in all but very few..  The ability to assimilate is also key..  In my case I was in the womb when my mom taught piano, as an infant the bassonette was next to the piano (for students), her father was an artist, she was also a classical ballerina.  Yeah, I suppose there are reasons, there must be. The kick to my head by the neighbors horse is about when I decided to get into rock, so that explains stuff too.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Oh, wow...that's tough.  By pulling a child from school and immersing them in their talent - studying music, touring, etc, they lose out on developing certain social and life skills.  They have a difficult time relating to other people and functioning in the "real" world.  I have a friend like this.  Then again, is it right to keep them from opportunities they could have?  I think, the best thing to do is keep things as "normal" as possible for them.  If given the opportunity to tour, take it.  But when you are home, keep them in school and as normal as possible.



Hmmm..only thing I noticed is that he isn't holding the drumsticks properly, but...I don't think very many drummers do anymore...

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

No, I study voice with a private teacher, and then take different workshops when they come up and I can afford them. *laugh*

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"