[WM] Tracking vocals in the studio can be a
when it’s over.
lot harder and that often creates strain. Posture
bit more forgiving than singing on a Sunday.
is also a good indicator of whether a singer is
One key advantage is being able to punch in Lastly: stay hydrated, breathe through your breathing correctly. When your body is properly
tricky sections after you’ve gotten the other nose as much as possible. Always use breath aligned, things work best. When I see someone
parts of the song down. What insights can you support to get those notes. Eating potato chips whose chin is lifted, it’s often an indication of
share about making the most of your voice and is an urban legend (and not healthy!). Suck on improper breath support. Instrumentalists who
vocal sessions? non-mentholated throat drops (or sugar free sing are notorious for having bad posture while
hard candy) to stimulate the salivary glands they play and sing! I always tell them to set their
[Sheri] Firstly; be prepared. Don’t try to bang and keep you moisturized. Rest completely in microphones such that they must stand up
out something in the studio that you haven’t between takes (meaning no talking either!) If at straight to reach them.
effectively been able to do at home. Do your all possible, have your vocal coach with you!
work at home and build the skills you need to
[WM] Back on the subject of those big notes
perform the songs the way you want them. It’s [WM] Churches who stream their entire that take a lot of ‘production’ to pull off, I’ve
easy to get in the mindset that “they’ll fix it” in services to YouTube offer a great vehicle for seen some real cringeworthy moments of
the studio. It’s much better to “fix it” at home vocalists to see and hear what they’re doing church services on YouTube where the vocalists
and come with your skills ready to go. right… and what they’re doing wrong. What just had nothing left for the big notes and
are some of the obvious visual signs of bad they ended up sounding thin, and sometimes
technique? painful. Can you explain what laryngeal tension
Secondly; don’t push yourself too hard. I have
seen singers push themselves so hard in the
is, as well as how to approach making the big
studio that they literally do vocal damage that [Sheri] The first thing I look for is what is takes weeks or even months to repair. I’ve also happening in the neck area. Are there signs of seen singers give it “one last push” only to find muscle strain? I also look to see if someone is [Sheri] Learning what not to do is often
out that it wasn’t their last push… but their using breath support and opening their mouths. nothing more than doing the right things. Make
voice was gone. Take good care of your voice It’s very hard to project with your mouth in a sure you can sing those notes properly at home
throughout the process and you’ll be thankful more closed position, so you end up pushing a first. Watch yourself in the mirror to check your
January 2019
notes ‘happen’ in a live setting?
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