I'm a 22 year old music major at Christopher Newport University. I think I'm getting a handle on this whole growing up thing. In two years I'll be graduated with a Master's Degree in Education and hope to teach High School Chorus.
I'm a pretty easy-going nice guy. A little nerdy. Still nervous around girls. I use big words. I'm a devout Catholic and liberal, but I still have a very open mind on most subjects. I like to help people, I guess that's why I joined. As Eek the Cat put so succinctly, "I'm here to help." :-)
Website: My Journal
Gender: Male
Location: Southeast Virginia
Occupation: College Student/Music Minister/Teacher
Age: 22
AIM: musickphreek
Member Since: May 3, 2004
Answers: 12
Last Update: May 15, 2004
Visitors: 1932
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How does one keep their voice in good condition during the three-month span of everyday musical practice? {ie, practice for a musical}
I'm aiming to a lead role and I want to know how to keep my voice intact. (link)
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Here's some things that I've learned over the years from being a singer:
Rule Number One: Don't ever overdo it. Start every voice practice with a good 15 minutes of warmups. And make sure you know when to stop. The voice is a muscle, and like any muscle, it needs to be trained regularly in order to do what you want it to. Your not going to sing opera the first day, but you might tackle something challenging if you pace yourself over several months.
Rule Number Two: Breathing is the Key. Way too many young singers are singing without taking into account how important breathing is to your singing. A lot of people think that singing comes from the throat. In reality, more of it comes from the ability to have good "breath support." If you make a conscious effort to take deep, low breaths (from your low ribs and belly, NOT from the shoulders) you singing will be more in tune,you'll hold notes longer, you will have a bigger volume, and sound more free and natural. The minute the throat gets in the way is the minute that it all goes down hill.
Rule Number Three: Don't try to sound like the recording. Given that your going for the lead in the musical, bring something of yourself and your own singing style your performance. Every young woman I've heard sing "On my Own" sings it like the Broadway recording. It shows no sense of originality, and not every woman sounds like that particular vocalist naturally. Not everyone does Hamlet the same, so why should everyone sing the same as the recording?
Rule Number Three: Good Body, Good Voice. If your body is somehow out of whack when you perform, chances are your voice will be. Get plenty of rest. Water or hot liquids like tea can be your best friend. Don't have too much caffeine, alcohol, or asprin before you sing, because they all dry out your vocal folds. Eat right, and avoid greasy foods or diary before a performance. Exercise not also helps you with weight problems, but with your breathing as well. If you have neck or shoulder tension, try to stretch or massage out the kinks.
There's books worth of information, but these things I find extremely helpful. Let me know what you think, and if they help.
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Who's better?
Britney or Christina (link)
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Neither.
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Why do people who don't know shit about music insist on "answering" some of these questions, when they have absolutely nothing to offer?
I mean, if I were to ask the best way to resolve a chord progression, there would be at least 4 people who would answer by saying that they have no clue. Why? Why do these people feel compelled to answer on subjects they don't know jack-shit about?
p.s. - if you don't play guitar, don't answer guitar questions. If you don't play music, don't answer questions about how to play something or about music theory.
Thank you, that is all. (link)
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Dude, chill out. This is Advicenators, your supposed to feel like you can answer any question you want. I'm not a guitar person, but I know enough about music from being a music major for four years to know what works. A musician's a musician. Don't just write everyone off....
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Hey. Im getting a guitar for my birthday. And the sad thing is that i dont kow how to play one. Which means i need lessons. But i am lacking in the monetry department at the moment... so im gonna be a laxy screw and get them off the internet or summink.
Does anyone here use those online guitar lessons?? Do you reckon theyre any better/ worse than real live people lessons??
Any tips on starting out on the guitar would be peachy too.
Thanks n stuff...
~ Mordak, she who has moved your cheese. (link)
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Well, Mordak, I think it all depends on what kind of guitar music you want to learn. If you want to learn how to play classically, you would need to take lessons. If you have your heart set on more popular music (rock, metal, punk, ballad, etc), you might be able to pick *some* of it up yourself. There are a thousand sites on the internet (which I know none of) that have hundreds of songs and chord charts and tabs and other things. And most of it's free.
Most of the people I know that learned how to play guitar picked it up rather quickly by themselves (I, on the other hand, know four chords), in at least six months to a year. But, the self-taught people that were really good had some things in common. 1. They practice a lot. 2. They always jam with their friends to pick up new songs and techniques (this is the best free way to learn, surround yourself with people who know it better than you). 3. They learn about technique, theory, and finger positions, even if it's through a little book they bought for $9.95.
Good luck with your new instrument.
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