Invest in a Starter Mic: Shure SM58

If you are looking to invest in a microphone for performing and practicing, a great starter mic is Shure's SM58.  As a vocalist, it is very important to own a microphone for the following reasons:

1- It helps tremendously with your practicing. You can't really hear yourself when you sing acoustically. Vocal subtleties, nuances and textures can sometimes only be heard through amplification.
2- Its great not to have to rely on others when you are at a gig or rehearsal.
3- It makes your more professional.
4- It calls for better hygiene. I like to get personal with my mic, so sharing with others is kinda gross.
5- It'll make you a better vocalist by allowing you to experiment with different microphone techniques.
6- It is the closest thing you have to an instrument because it amplifies what you have inside-- your voice!
7- It is an investment! This particular microphone will last you a lifetime!

Now that I have given you my spiel, if you've never owned a microphone before, check out Shure's SM58. Its sturdy, industry-standard and gives you a nice clean sound. Its great for practicing, performing live, and I've actually even recorded with it. It has an isolated cardioid which means that it picks up your sound very clearly while eliminating unwanted background noise.

If you're thinking that you might want something cheap or feel like you may need to have something expensive, think again. If you want to be cheap, you'll end up buying something that won't last you and will need to be replaced. And if you want to spend a lot of money, use your money on a nice monitor/PA system. In terms of microphones, you've got everything you need here for about $90 depending on where you buy it. 

I tend to be a very technical singer... so I get nerdy. But I hope this helps!

Til next time Divas,

Katrina =)

Record Your Practicing!

Hello Divas!

I know its been a while since I've updated the blog--I'm so sorry! I have been busy wedding planning and getting things together as I embark on my many adventures!

Well, I wanted to let you all know that I will be singing this Friday, August 19th at Full Sail's new venue with jazz musician Johnny Holliday.

I also wanted to give you a quick tip when you are practicing.. RECORD YOURSELF! As I get ready for Friday's show, I record run through's of my songs and then play back and analyze the recordings. I write down parts that I can improve on and note parts that sound awesome! Its important to keep your performance spontaneous, but if you record your practice sessions, then you'll be able to gain a MUCH better idea of how you will sound like! What you hear while you are singing is not really an accurate representation! Only recordings can recreate what the audience will hear!

Hope this tip helps! I will be back soon. =)

Katrina

Diva of the Week: Adele

Adele has the voice. She can belt a song with intense power, emotion and character. She is this generation's rising diva simply because of her absolutely, incredible voice. Sometimes, you're just born with it.

The Solution to Sore Throats: Ricola

As a singer, having a cold or sore throat can be very uncomfortable and inconvenient. Regardless of whether or not I am sick, I still need to use my voice on a daily basis. Besides my Throat Coat tea recipe, another solution to sore throats is Ricola cough drops.

I recommend the Ricola Honey-Lemon with Echinacea flavor. The combination of honey, lemon and echinacea is the most gentle on the voice. Echinacea is a natural ingredient that helps fight colds and flus. The honey serves as a great lubricant for the vocal cords and the lemon helps stimulate the immune system.  

I woke up today with a sore throat and you better believe it that I'm going to the store to get my own bag! I've been using these cough drops for years and they never disappoint! Not to mention, they are really yummy, too!

Diva of the Week: Jessie J.

Jessie J. is fresh, talented and quirky, not to mention she has an incredible voice! Being a diva is about being a great performer, not just a vocalist. Let your personality shine through your songs, no matter how silly you think you may be. We will love you!

Home Remedies For Your Voice: Steaming

During this time of the year, a lot of us suffer from allergies and congestion. One home remedy that we can do for our voice is something called steaming. Just simply do the following:

1- Boil 2 cups of water.
2- Add 1 teaspoon of salt.
3- Breathe deeply into the steam.
4- Repeat 5-10 times. Clear your nose in between if you need to.

I learned this trick from my old voice teacher in college and it works! The steam will loosen up your congestion and the salt will serve as an antibacterial. Try this whenever you feel yucky. It'll clear up your passageways and allow you to breathe and sing a lot better!

Diva Tip: Be sure to pull your hair back and take off your mascara! One time my eyelashes almost melted and that's not fabulous! Hope this helps to keep you singing this summer!

Men Can Be Divas, Too: Marc Anthony's National Anthem Performance

Being that I was born and raised in Miami up until two years ago, I was very excited that my hometown team, the MIAMI HEAT, made it this far in the series. (Even though I am technically a Magic fan, we shall wait til next season!) Anyway, I was even more excited to hear Marc Anthony sing the national anthem! I gained respect for him after I saw his portrayal of Hector Lavoe in El Cantante.

Anyway, his performance was exactly what every diva should do when asked to sing at a championship. Not only does he sound absolutely incredible, his delivery was passionate, powerful and appropriate. Too many singers butcher this song and he did it just right. Marc Anthony performed the National Anthem with bravado and confidence. This just proves that men can be divas, too. :)

Diva of the Week: Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is talented, smart and amazing--truly one of the best songwriters of our time. Her songs are like anthems for girls young and old. Being a diva is about opening your heart to your music. Being genuine. Telling us the story of you.

Vocal Warm-Ups On The Go: Lip Trills

There are several vocal warm-ups that we can do without a piano or when we are on the go. A lot of times we do not have access to a piano (or teacher!) before we need to sing. Or maybe some of us don't even know how to play the piano or don't even have a teacher to help us! Well, what we can actually do to help jumpstart our voice are Lip Trills.

The Lip Trill 3-Step:
1- Breathe in.
2- Blow lips.
3- Hum at any pitch until you hear a buzz.

Demonstration:


Hope this helps!

Keep Your Voice Hydrated This Summer

As we enter the summer months, it is important that we take the time to drink plenty of fluids and keep our voices hydrated. The hotter the weather, the more hydration is required. Just think about how much you sweat when you're outside under the hot sun, that's how much water you need to drink in order to replenish yourself--even more so if you are a singer!

When we are dehydrated, the mucous membranes in our vocal cords dry out as well. Without lubrication between our vocal cords, it becomes harder on the voice to produce sound. The wheels become creaky. As a result, our vocal cords become fatigued. This makes it harder for us to sing.

I recommend always keeping a refillable water bottle. You can fill it up while you're at home and take it with you on-the-go. I use SmartWater bottles because they are durable and can hold up to 4 cups of water. I suggest drinking at least 2-3 of these servings a day.

Trust me, your voice will thank you and singing will become more enjoyable. =)

Diva of the Week: Jill Scott

Jill Scott has an amazing ability to manifest raw emotions into her vocals. Her lyrics are poetic masterpieces from the heart. She exudes femininity, confidence and passion.

Being a diva is about being bold. Don't let other people's negativity influence you otherwise. Be strong. Be free and let them be. 

Vox Diva Studios, LLC

So I've decided to start my own business called Vox Diva Studios, LLC. We will provide on-location vocal coaching for recording studios, performances, pageants, competitions, production companies and more. Additionally, we will provide voice training in virtually all genres for students of all ages and skill levels. I'm very excited to announce that our home-base will be in Orlando, Florida, but we are willing to travel and are also in the process of establishing an online lesson platform via Skype. We're currently accepting students into our studio, so if you are interested in improving your voice, building confidence or just having fun singing the songs that you love, we'd be happy to help!

Lots of exciting things are in the works, so STAY TUNED! (no pun intended)

:) :) :)

Sing Every Day!

Sometimes I can get so wrapped up teaching my students that I forget to actually sing for myself. I realize this because the voice does get rusty if you don't use it. Seriously! It is important that we keep our instruments active! Just like we need to exercise. Even if we just sing for 5 minutes at a time, working our vocal muscles for that small amount of time is a lot better than nothing. Not only is singing great practice, its also wonderful for the soul.

Sometimes its just great to sing without even worrying about how we sound like. Don't get me wrong; we still need to take our technique seriously or we might damage our voices... But sometimes its great to just let the voice out (make sure its supported) and just sing for the sake of singing.

Ultimately, the most powerful aspect about being a vocalist is that we are telling a story and actualizing emotions. No other instruments have the power that we do. We are all truly special. =)

Alice Russell - Let us be Loving Official Video

Every Diva is unique in their own right and there are many special divas that we can look up to. This week I would like to feature Alice Russell.

Being a Diva is all about confidence. Don't be afraid of being unique and different. Be authentic. Be you.

Diva Manifesto: The Definition of a Diva

So many people use the word Diva. But what exactly is a Diva??? Here is my definition. Here is my Diva Manifesto. . . 


They say that confidence is half what you have, half what you *pretend* to have. Its best to convince yourself that you are amazing, because before you know it, you'll start to believe it. I say to myself that I am gorgeous, intelligent and empowered. I delight in the comforts of solitude and self-expression. If I am feeling a certain way, then I showcase it. I strive to be better than the shadows of myself. I breathe in the crisp air of freedom with a satisfied smile. It's so fulfilling to trust that I am all encompassing--and so are you.

You must believe that you have the potential to be absolutely incredible. You can call yourself a Diva. A Diva who is at the top of every game she plays. Her actions are what others strive to become. This Diva knows that she is capable and strong, polite and assertive, sensitive and warm. She surrounds herself with others that help her grow. Thirsty for inspiration and motivation, she glides through her dreams...

If you let your voice be the echo of your heart, you will be free. Let what you feel play on into the world. Let your words serve as anthems for those unsure. It is possible to enjoy the idiosyncrasies of moments that pass and go. It is possible to love, deeply love.

A Diva sings from her soul with her voice from within...

A Diva will conquer the world,

Shine on...

She will fly above the universe...

Let's Hear About You!

Throat Coat Recipe for Vocalists

Throat Coat Recipe for Vocalists:
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of boiling water
- 1 Throat Coat tea bag
- 1 teaspoon of organic honey
- 1/4 wedge of fresh lime or lemon
Directions
- Pour boiling water into a mug.  Melt honey into the boiling water and stir. Insert tea bag and let seep for 10-15 minutes. Squirt fresh lime/lemon. Enjoy!

Drink this special tea before singing for any special event, when getting over illness and whenever you feel like giving your vocal cords a special treat!


You can purchase Throat Coat at your local supermarket, Walgreens, and Whole Foods. You can also order directly online from their website.


Can't live without my Throat Coat! It's any vocalist's best friend!


Till next time Divas,
*Katrina*

Good and Bad Voice Days

Sometimes we have Good and sometimes we have Bad Voice Days. This simply means that on any given day, regardless of what you do, sometimes your voice sounds better than usual and sometimes it just refuses to cooperate. Some of these factors can contribute to your voice's behavior:


1- Time of the year- Weather changes, precipitation, and certain allergic reactions to mother nature affect our instrument. The dust and bacteria that we breathe in can sit in our vocal cords and affect the way we sound.


2- Lack of sleep- Our vocal cords need rest, too. When they are tired, sound becomes more difficult to produce.


3- What we eat- Certain foods cause acid reflux which burns and irritates our cords-- many times without us knowing. If we know we have to perform, stay away from dairy, red sauces and caffeine, to name a few.


4- Time of the month - PMS, Hormones.. yes that affects your singing, too! Estrogen increases mucus production in the vocal cords which might make singing higher notes more difficult and even cause intonation problems.


5- Fatigue - Using your voice a lot, talking loudly, screaming, and even singing for long periods of time can make your vocal cords tired. When they are fatigued they are harder to manipulate and your sound can seem very weak.


6- Certain medications - Some antibiotics can dry out our vocal cords, making it difficult to produce sound. Also, some medicines can also thin out our blood which actually can make our vocal cords very vulnerable if we are not gentle. To read more, you can check out this ENT website. 


7- Illness - Colds and flus in particular cause congestion, irritation of the vocal cords as well as inflammation of the larynx. Its best to practice vocal rest when you are sick. Unless you are a seasoned professional, its not worth the risk of hurting your voice by trying to sing when you are sick. Also, make sure you are fully recovered from whatever illness you may have before you start singing again. Stay hydrated and drink Throat Coat tea. (my favorite)


8- Dehydration - Drink plenty of fluids! If you don't like the taste of water (my biggest complaint from my students) squirt a couple drops of lemon into the water to improve the taste. Vocal cords naturally have a nice little layer of mucous--when we are dehydrated the mucous dries out and singing can become very tedious! Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!!!


As you can see, being a vocalist is a lot more difficult than most people think! Being that our instrument is a part of our body, we must take into consideration the different factors that come into place when we are asked to perform. So if you ever feel discouraged that you're not sounding as good as you normally can, or if you are having trouble just getting into the groove of practicing, consider the fact that you might just be having a Bad Voice Day.


Also, take advantage of your Good Voice Days--days where singing is effortless and enjoyable. Take advantage of those days and sing your heart out. =)


Till next time Divas,
*Katrina*

2011 Grammy Vocal Performances

This year I've decided to analyze my favorite and least favorite 2011 Grammy Vocal Performances.  The Grammy's were definitely full of surprises this year--showcasing virtually every genre of music. And the Academy got it right this year with most of their awards, but I enjoyed some of the performances more than others.


My Top 3 2011 Grammy Vocal Performances:

• Cee-Lo/Gwyneth Paltrow: Initially, I did not want to admit that Ms. Paltrow could sing, but it sounds like her vocal coach is doing a great job. Much improvement on her overall technique since she sang at the Country Music Awards. Her belted notes were great and she rocked that outfit! Cee-low was hilarious and did a great job performing as well. 
• Miranda Lambert: Subtle, heart-felt and beautifully done--Miranda's vocal performance proved that music does not require bells and whistles in order to sound amazing. Too many vocalists oversing and overkill. Miranda was elegant and poised. This was her year to shine!
• Muse: I've been a fan of Muse since my WVUM DJ days and it was awesome to finally see them perform in the Grammy's. Their appearance was well worth the wait, because they were frickin' phenomenal and killed their performance. Great vocals + awesome show production!

My Worst 3 2011 Grammy Vocal Performances:

• Aretha Franklin Tribute: Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, Florence Welch and Martina McBride sang a medley of Aretha songs and although some parts were extremely well done, I couldn't get passed the cacophony of oversinging--especially towards the end of the song. Christina's singing was a lot better than her Super Bowl disaster and Jennifer Hudson was pretty solid. Martina McBride was unmemorable and Florence Welch surprised me with her range during "Think." I felt Yolanda Adams was a bit harsh-sounding. I was pleasantly surprised until they all started to sing at once....train-wreck. They *almost* had it, almost.  
• Rihanna: When she wasn't singing into a live Pro Tools session, and she was actually live, she was terrible. She couldn't reach the high notes on "Love The Way You Lie" and she was just all over the place, changing keys left and right.  Unforgiveable.
• Katy Perry: Sorry Katy, but you failed to deliver. You had no stage presence, provided very little effort, and made me bored. I love her songs but her performance was definitely lackluster. 

Mind you, these performances are mainly being critiqued by their vocals. I know some opinions may differ so I'm curious to hear what you think!?

Till next time Divas,

*Katrina*

National Anthem Finals/Audition Preparation Tips

So I have an audition this afternoon and wanted to share some of the tips that I teach my students in my Diva Vox studio. Full Sail is hosting a National Anthem Competition for the opportunity to sing for the Orlando Magic at the new Amway Center. It's a great opportunity for many reasons:
(1) The promotion alone is amazing
(2) The experience of singing inside one of the best arenas in the country
(3) The endless possibilities of what could happen if I win


So, over a hundred people auditioned and they narrowed down the competition to 12 finalists... I'm on the list.. WOO-HOO! The finals are today at 4:30PM at Full Sail's fancy new venue. =)


I prepare for auditions by:
1- Drinking lots of water -- Keeping your vocal chords hydrated is extremely important. Singing with dry chords can irritate your instrument so it is important to keep them lubricated.
2- Making Throat Coat Tea-- I highly recommend this tea for anyone who uses their voice a lot. For an extra boost, add a teaspoon of organic honey and a squirt of lime/lemon. The combination of the citrus and smooth honey literally coat your vocal chords. Your voice will love you afterwards.
3- Warming-up -- Dedicate at least 30 minutes to truly warm-up your voice. Your voice is a muscle--just like how you would stretch before you play sports, you need to "stretch" and get your voice ready. If you skip warming up, you won't sound nearly as good as can possibly sound. Practice lip trills and arpeggios (tutorials coming soon) up and down your entire range. Practice singing all five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and isolate certain phrases of the song.
4- Record yourself - You never truly know how you sound like unless you listen to a recording of your performance. Record and listen to several takes of your performance and reflect on what you liked and what you did not like.
5- Dress-up like a Diva - I know it sounds silly, but when I was growing up, my mom used to buy me a new dress every time I had a performance. To this day, I take this into consideration and make sure that whatever I am wearing is going to make me feel confident and beautiful. If you feel great about the way you look, you will exude confidence and your performance will actually be a lot better. Try it!
6- Psych yourself - Its perfectly normal to be nervous! No matter how many years of experience you may have, you still get nervous! Its because nerves and excitement are chemically the same. Mentally shift those nerves into excitement. Know that you are prepared, you are a Diva, and you will shine.


Hope this helps! Time to follow my own advice and gear up for this afternoon!


*Katrina*

Songlets in Music Composition

Many times during my songwriting process, I come up with catchy 15-30 second songs. They can be as meaningful as the telling of a short story and as simple as a one line phrase.


Sometimes when I record these phrases, I get stuck and the song does not grow any further. I attribute this to writer's block, laziness and honestly sometimes I can get my musical point across pretty quickly. Ever since I started recording these mini-songs, I started collecting a library of catchy little soundbites... Hence my creation of the... *drumroll please*

Songlets

These mini songs are great for licensing opportunities for commercial spots, sizzle reels, motion graphics, and samples for other artists.


At first I thought this was a crazy idea, but I think it makes sense! What do you think???


Do you ever get your point across in 30 seconds or less???


*Katrina*

Learn to Love Your Social Media

*Ways to Love and Let Social Media Love You*

We must learn how to love and embrace social media into our daily lives. It is a relationship that needs attention and understanding. Social media gives us a way to shine through the world, be authentic and give meaning to what we do. Three great ways to catapult our business's success is by taking advantage of social media platforms such as Flickr, Facebook, and YouTube:


Flickr:
Flickr allows you to publish and create your own photo albums. You can share your pictures through the Flickr system and onto your social networking sites, websites, blogs and emails.

• Post Relevant Photos: Upload photos and create albums that are consistent with your overall brand and message. Post pictures of some of your products, customers, staff, performances and events. This puts a face behind your business.
• Insert Tags: Tag your pictures with a few keywords and phrases related to your business. Also include your username, location and industry. This allows users to find you through your pictures. 
• Photostream: Stream your photos onto your website and social networking sites because your fans and visitors will most likely want to see your pictures. This will also enable them to connect with you if they also have Flickr accounts.

Facebook:
Facebook has revolutionized the way that we connect with one another. Even my grandmother has a Facebook account! It is very easy to use this website for fun, but it is just as easy to use this website to your advantage:

• Invest in Facebook Ads: Take advantage of the affordability and flexibility of Facebook's advertising tools. Users voluntarily disclose information on what they like, which makes targeting your consumers a very easy thing to do. Your potential fans are out there, waiting for you to find them and they are just a click away!
• Use Links: Link your Facebook account to all of your other websites, as well as link other websites onto your own Facebook page. The more you share other websites, the more votes your page gets in popularity. A mutually beneficial relationship begins to grow between websites and pages that link to each other. 
• Open the Right Account: Are you a page, profile or group? If you are a business, you should open up a page. Groups are for common interests and profiles have a friend limit of up to 5000. Opening up a page gives you more flexibility. 

YouTube: 
As the largest video-sharing community in the world, youtube has replaced many distribution channels by giving everyone the power to publicly post their own content. You can find just about anything on youtube--commercials, educational material, music performances, TV shows--you name it. Posting your own videos is an easy way to promote your message throughout the world... Here are some tips:

• Put your business in action - Posting videos of my performances, events, concerts, voice classes, interviews, tutorials and even day-to-day activities enables me to promote myself in real time. A picture is supposedly worth a thousand words, a video should leave the viewer with a thousand impressions. Post videos that showcase your talents for the world to see:
• Strive for "Free"Advertising - Nothing is free, but effectively posting a video requires a little bit of effort. Make sure to include your contact information and social media links at some point in your video and/or description. Also, optimize your search by utilizing appropriate and specific keywords/tags.
• Be Consistent - Be consistent with your brand and your purpose. Establish a style for your channel that keeps people coming for more. There are many celebrities/businesses that have launched from youtube and have generated huge amounts of attention (as well as huge amounts of money). Videos can be posted by people just like me and you, and we all have the potential to go viral and become rich and famous, too:

Greyson Chance's extremely impressive rendition of Lady Gaga rose him to stardom and landed him with a record deal and television appearances on the The Ellen Degeneres Show.

*Conclusion*

Learn to love your social media. Learn to love it as if it were a pet. Provide a home for it, nurture it, and watch it grow... And watch it love you back.


For more information, you can check out 10 Cures for Your Social Media Pains to address any issues you may have navigating through this wealth of information and possibilities...


Hope this helps!


*Katrina*

Diva Conversation #1

*Introduction*

As I embark on my crazy adventures in the entertainment industry, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with socialnomics, digitalization, RSS feeds, wikis, widgets, and gadgets--you name it. I don't truly understand exactly how to navigate through all of this technology just yet, but it is worth a valid investment of time and effort to learn how to monetize my business through this platform. In other words, if you want to be successful in this world, you have to get with the times...and well, it's time I start catching up...

*My business*

Diva Vox Studios is pretty simple: I get to teach students how to find their true voice, on the stage and in real life. As a seasoned performer, I truly enjoy inspiring, mentoring and developing young talent in music and theater, as well as teaching them how to be confident with who they are. Maintaining these relationships with my little divas mean the world to me, but it is also important that I build relationships outside of my classroom and into the business world. When you meet anybody, you never know what you can do for them and what they can do for you. You never know what connections can be made and what doors can be opened...

*Meet as many people as you can, and then some*

I grew up really shy and music was always my outlet--my way of expressing myself. Even today, I find myself crawling back into my shell. If you do the same, STOP. The people around you are merely portals into many successful possibilities and opportunities for you and your business. Keep your business cards handy because you never know whom you are going to meet. Maintaining contact with people you meet throughout your entire life is relatively easy to do today. Keep in touch with old classmates, coworkers, and friends via email and/or social media—you never know what relationships can be built from them… even if it takes years down the road.

*Hone your personal brand*

A lot of my business comes from referrals from not just my clients, but from other professionals in my industry. They may not know anything about singing, but they know about me. Being consistent with the way you run your business--your style, professionalism, attitude, and charm--establishes your reputation. If you could figure out how to creatively make yourself unique and distinct, you create a message and a strategy to promote the brand called You. And more and more people will love you not just for your abilities, but also for the brand that you create for yourself.

*Become contagious*

So how does this relate to using the Internet? As I continue to learn more about business, I realize the importance of having an interactive marketing strategy in place, and the internet is a major component to take into consideration. The following are some examples of ways you can help kick-start your career and best of all, they're totally FREE!




1- Join Online Communities:




Different communities serve different purposes but what they have in common is that they represent you. Setting up a LinkedIn account is a great way to highlight your professional attributes, skills and experience. Its basically an online resume for potential employers and professional opportunities. Incorporating a Twitter account is a great way to give life to your online presence by frequently updating what you are doing. Making your Facebook consistent with your brand is also a great way to connect your friends to what you do. Additionally, you can make a lot of great contacts via specific online communities that are related to what you do. For example, as a member of Modern Vocalist I am able to connect with other vocalists and voice teachers from around the world. This site allows me to keep up-to-date information on the latest techniques, studies, methods, and equipment. It also serves as a digital billboard for my own business. Finally, my participation with Indaba Music allows me to connect with other musicians to work on collaborations and discuss relevant issues in my industry.




2- Post Videos:




Establishing a youtube channel is a great way to showcase your talents for the world to see. Video is the best way for others to see your work in action. Also, you never know who will stumble across your video(s) and really like what they see...




3- Interactive Website:




And finally, the most important attribute of them all, is to maintain an interactive website where others can find you. On your site, make sure to include your contact information, biography, testimonials, pictures, videos and links to all of your other profiles. Your website will basically serve as the hub for all of your web profiles and will solidify your brand and digital presence. Think of it as a piece of internet real-estate where people can find you, whether or not they may already know you.

*Conclusion*

So as you can see, there is a lot of work that needs to be done! Luckily, I don't need to spend any money and well, it'll help me make money in the long run. I hope this helps anybody out there who is wondering where to begin and I wish everybody the best of luck!


Stay tuned for more Diva Conversations as I continue to blog about my many adventures. =)


*Katrina*