Karaoke Forums

Thank you Fiery. I suppose I'm learning MANY new things, and this also means psychological change which is the toughest element I'm struggling with, or establishing some balance between humility and relentlessly beating on myself. Well, I suppose on the plus side I'm refusing to say "I'm too old to learn how to sing".. It's reconditioning myself and change, and these aren't easy areas for me.. I'm trying, I really am... As odie said not prefacing each song with "This one really sucks" will likely need to be the start of this process..

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

Yeah... not good advertising hehe.

I think once you get comfortable with your voice and used to singing a lot you'll find that the urge to browbeat yourself gets less and less. I was hypercritical of myself in the beginning (still am at times) but for the most part I just sing and whatever comes out, comes out. It's about making yourself feel good, not about trying to impress people... remember that and you'll always project soul instead of sounding like a machine.

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Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure. (I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.)

how about the musician that wishes to develop a skill that can be used in a performance setting to impress others ? I think from what I am hearing, this has been the challenge (in my own mind) I've been facing. I'll list this as FACT vs FANTASY


FANTASY- To be a cutting male tenor in the Arena rock genre
FACT- I have a softer voice better suited for a different style

FANTASY- To be able to nail covers of those I like to hear
FACT- ????

FANTASY- To mimic singers such as Brad Delp of Boston and Gary Moore
FACT- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


See my problem Fiery ? I need to do some thought restructuring here ! My objective in learning to sing was creating what would likely be a crash course for
myself. I was trying to become "among the best" but also in a genre that would require the ability to mimic, or perhaps even surpass my idols. I want to in time develop a competitive rock singer ability, NOW given the unlikely chances of that being in the cards for me- I wish to train to be an impressive harmonizing vocalist.
So, Assuming I settle for the REALITY of being a "6" rank when all is said and done, I still wish to blend as a much better accompany vocalist..

Point being, Whether I can EVER achieve being an impressive vocalist, I wish to train and be treated initially as a newbie in a setting who wishes to become among the best. This means accepting that I am perhaps a 1 or 2 in a pro-singers realm in reality at present, and remaining humble among singers and taking my hard-knocks as they come..ESPECIALLY INITIALLY. Because to get a fathead would be devastating and totally counter-productive, however I have set VERY high goals/expectations for myself. I have been putting in A LOT of time in hopes of progressing as a competitive rock/ballad male vocalist (in terms of my ability)

I wish for the *opportunity* to become a professional male cover vocalist, and I accept "what is" graciously from those with more skill.. Because I wish to grow in THEIR environment, and train accordingly, and KNOW my place among them even assuming I don't currently rank at all in their area, that's how I wish to train..

My thoughts are, that if I am performing for all to hear singing, that means I am a "performing artist", however to sing for my OWN enjoyment solely would mean I'd never be exposing my level of ability in hopes of becoming "a singer".

I think this is where I am confused, but my sights are set on BECOMING an impressive performing singer in time, NOT singing for enjoyment. THIS is why I am hard on myself and wish for BLATANT honesty. I don't wish to do this "JFF". If I do this publically, I want to become the BEST possible.

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

I have set EXCEDINGLY high goals for myself BUT realize I might need to take a different direction as a singer- So, perhaps this is the point I must reconsider and deal with realities ? Maybe this is the point I must give up my fantasy and with some direction plant both feet on the ground and restructure ?

You nailed my problem. I wish to BECOME an impressive vocalist. This has NOT been about enjoyment. None of my musical training ever was. But I had a few crash course eye-openers too ! and while I still love being a musician, I ONLY perform if it's the best I can do !

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

Hehe... I know what you're saying. I have a friend who learned to play drums as a whim... not because he had any passion for music but because he wanted to be able to say he played something - and now he wants to learn to sing metal to help his chances to get into a band. I know it's different with you because the music passion was already there - but I could never figure out his reasons for wanting to play drums.

Although I prefer to sound good when I get up on stage and sing.... because most my performing has been at karaoke so far I don't sweat it really. I do plan to take it to another level as soon as my living situation allows me to - then I will probably stress like mad all the time - when people expect me to sound decent .

I guess some folks really are more about technique and sometimes mimicking... I used to do it without meaning to, now I try not to. The techniques I've developed have helped me but I am certainly not a technical singer. My friend Michael (who is very much a technique singer) insisted I don't get vocal lessons... said the same about my son, who is already a better singer than me . He said it would change things about my voice and it was fine the way it was. I suppose all those people I listened to growing up have rubbed off on me... I actually WANTED to have my own sound and don't mind my voice having some imperfections.

The difference between you and I I guess is that that I have been singing as long as I've made noise. I was 2 years old and singing along with my little record player - ironically "I'm not Lisa" haha. At the time I was singing Seesaw and Jooie. My son is the same way, I've watched him sing/hum nonstop since he was old enough to make noise... it's made me realize how much he and I are alike in that respect. Singing is like therapy for us both... if we're stressed, mad, sad ... whatever, it's a pick me up. I hope that at some point that feeling hits you... I assume you get it when you're playing music? There is no better reason to sing than because it makes you feel good.

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Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure. (I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.)

I think a BIG part of the difference also is that Karaoke (having been in existence as entertainment for over 20 years now is a big part of many younger individuals lives (who sing). However, those of us over 50 who were brought up from a very young age to be performers by family that was in the performing arts learned a VERY different concept of what it means to be on stage. Performing without having at least the capacity to perform a "10" rank work of art wasn't public audience worthy the way I was trained, Classical was so stressful I left it.. I never even had the oppt or exposure to the Suzuki training method (wish I did), but it was extremely conservative no matter what you did assuming you studied music. However recitals (among peers also studying the same style) and critique were the extent of performance behind closed doors, we were ranked and graded strictly and I dreaded that (although recitals for me stopped pretty young) Critique never stopped.. Some recitals were open to friends and family, but getting up in front of the general public meant YOU ARE there to entertain or impress them, unlike the Karaoke era, it wasn't for OUR fun, it was to give the audience their moneys worth. There was no in between, but how about school ? How many of us were raised when we gave reports and lectures and were graded ? When you got up in front of people during my upbringing things were raised to a whole different standard..

NOTHING I did was allowed to have "Kappy" in it. They style and music was already composed to be nailed with exactness.. Which is why I loved rock and left classical but even by that time, classical just helped me to be a better cover multiinstrumentalist.. and now (of course I don't have the desire) I don't think I would ever be able to deal with the rigors and focus and conservative nature of classical. 1/2 an hour a day of two handed major, natural minor, Harmonic and Melodic minor scales up and down the keyboard (it sucked), another half an hour of Bach counterpoint and Hanon stuff, and an hour of the compositions I was supposed to be learning... BLECH...

Now, assuming I had anything to do with Karaoke 20 years ago I can understand it's time "I get over myself".. BUT, first time I ever tried Karaoke was 2003 and it was alone in a closed door room with a CAVS Jukebox and talk about self-contempt..HAHAHA... NOONE ever heard me sing anything lead until November around 10 months ago... ALL I did with Karaoke was behind closed doors singing occasional falsetto 3rd harmony. but alone I tried it and that just confirmed to me I'll never be able to sing, so I'm trying again but I'm trying much harder with support... and I'm making progress and that's all that matters Still I beat on myself.. I feel I should I guess..HAHAHAHA

This is brand spanking new to me.. Not blending is a VERY new concept, not following the leader is pretty much unheard of (although in a sense we must follow the backing comp at least rhythmically)..Additionally, the last month or two really is the first time I didn't hide my voice behind something else.... So yeah, I'm scared and feel exposed, feel like what I'm doing is blasphemous to performance etiquette, and I do truly feel like a laughing stock BUT.. I'll get over it of course, and I'm going to try VERY VERY hard to ALWAYS keep proper perspective as to where I stand in this new form of music that seems SO totally unlike learning a musical instrument.. but currently this is raw and different.. I had a conservatory level training, My college advisor was a concert pianist and Julliard Valedictorian so "that sucked Kaplan" is nothing new to me..HAHAHA.. but that attitude since I'm no longer in a competitive setting as a learner in a just for fun venue has no merit or place, and it's counterproductive because at this phase it does me no good... So, I'm confused, that's as honest as I can be.. I'm confused.. Evolving to music as a game and being fun is a GOOD thing for me at this phase, but I'd still like to be as good as I can be someday

Regarding why your friend plays drums.. Well, a good drummer is not only impressive, but can be quite flambouyant with fills and frills.. He'd be noticeable. But a "good" trap drummer is as tough as any other instrument, wish I had the legwork.. I don't.

I'll chill in time, just bare with me.. The fact I've set my standards to be like Brad Delp, Gary Moore, Klause Meine, etc is probably just mid-life crises..HAHAHAHA

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

I've always had tremendous respect for Singers. They were the front folk that we followed ! I never even pondered actually being able to attempt to be one, let alone thought about the shift in mindset and presence required being the frontman. That is tough to develop too btw.

To date I have NEVER held a microphone as lead singer in front of ANYONE in real life, I have never been a stage or in front of anyone singing Karaoke in real.. Just online.

Getting up in real and singing is NOTHING I will do as a solo act until I'm much better. I think two in here were the first to ever hear me in public in November-

Fortunately, the feedback was "We can't hear you"...HAHHAHA

Regarding the "vocal lessons", I think getting the right instructor (like anything else) for you is what matters.. Often the first few aren't "the right" instructors for those of you that have developed natural ability.. My mom was telling me the other day that my niece had a nice natural voice (that whole part of the family acts and does show and sings) and she got this teacher that turned her into a contrived overly-processed sounding boring individual... Billy was saying the same thing, and some awhile back were concerned that in their genre, an instructor can do damage too by trying to get the individual to give up a knack for an aspect that is genuinely good (but the teacher doesn't like it).. So, finding the right coach or instructor is what matters, as opposed to just having an instructor for the sake of taking lessons.. I think I'm at a point where any instructor would be able to help me with basic technique worse case scenerio (meaning he trains me to sing like Tiny Tim or Willian Hung) It'd still be an improvement..HAHAHAHAHA

OK, over to the showcase to do some listening, taking today off from singing, I need a break

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

Aren't there studies that have shown that singing DOES in fact release dopamine or some neurotransmitter ? (I'm sure as you've stated all music does but I think especially singing releases certain chemicals and is VERY therapeutic)

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

I've not really done any official research, just speaking from personal experience. First time I can remember getting the buzz from performing I was over in England. I think that on top of whatever feeling you might get just from singing... if you have an audience that feeds it back to you it makes it all the better. Sometimes even the karaoke crowd (who are quite often too drunk to care ) can have that effect... depends on the song and the people listening I guess. That's why I want to get a band together and gig.... I want to feel that. I don't care if I ever get rich, or if I ever play to big crowds, I just wanna sing

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Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure. (I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.)

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

I don't know this song at all so you've got yourself a clean palette with this one. I think you picked a great song for your voice, it just naturally blends in with the music. Again the folky feel in your vocals... and lots of soul. You have a very soothing voice Kappy, I'm glad you've decided to start exploring it.

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Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure. (I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.)

Fortunately I DO like Muzak (or elevator music) so I guess that's where I will focus for awhile. Maybe I can get a gig in a dentist office...HEHEHE.. No seriously, I do like easy listening or cocktail genre music...

Appreciate the listen and your time fiery, What I'm trying to do is support my vocals..I'm using a microphone that's not flat like the Shure SM-58, I'm using an older Shure high impedance 565.. It has features of it's own and it's not a flat microphone

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

I wish I knew how to add vibrato :/

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

I did some Rhybm'n blooze

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... y/bdc3dda5

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

It's me Kappy. Probably don't recognise me cause I'm typing on a motel system from the road again ! What I life, OY... and Art Garfunkle snores, I can't take much more of this



http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... /b7106ad73

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... /c312e8a0b

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

This is bizarre how this works, I'm listening to these songs 4 days later, and that rendition of "Sounds of Silence" sounds way off to me, higher notes very strained, and off... Yet I wasn't able to hear that when I did that song or even the next day... Is how we hear ourselves (or NOT hear ourselves) commonly THAT different from day to day ? meaning what we can't hear a day after we attempt a song we can hear VERY differently perhaps 4 days later as being off ? This is the strangest stuff to grasp...How long is it going to take before I can hear myself ? 90 years ? Next month will be one year that I've been trying to sing... I should be a "10" by now.... How come I don't sound like Billy yet ??

I enrolled in my first duet content. I was paired up with an excellent vocalist, VERY VERY skilled singer. Should I do the manly thing, and run ? Poor girl, this is going to be like pairing Anita Baker with Alfalfa (of the little rascals)... She deserves a singer...Does somebody here wish to be so kind, and appear on Singsnap as me ? I'm getting cold feet... I thought Duet contest meant I submit a Simon and Garfunkle song, not ruin a contest for another person who can sing I feel ashamed of myself

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

I'm singing duets now

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... y/bbcf3811

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

Steve, are you never going to get a life? I come back a year later, and you are still talking! You remind me of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRLrznG5z90

, Hey Tony hope all is well. Nope, I got the mail two and a half weeks ago. Outside of that, nothing else too exciting

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

He's obvisously PMS'ing again Steven, it happens every few months.

By the way, sending you a PM shortly- question about a song.

(where the hell you BEEN? hiding?)

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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. ♥