Vocal Rest for Singers

As a singer, sometimes you just need to give your voice a break-- be quiet and go on vocal rest! A couple of weeks ago I had a really awful sinus infection.. my ears were clogged, my nose was stuffy and I had a really uncomfortable itch in my throat that made me sound hoarse when I spoke. I tried to sing a couple of times and it wasn't pretty. So how did it go away? Well, I cancelled all of my sessions that week and refrained from practicing any songs. I also limited my talking and went on vocal rest. Within 5 days of taking medication and literally not singing, I walked into my gig on Sunday and sang effortlessly and beautifully. It felt so amazing to have my real voice back!

According to the NYU Voice Center, vocal rest is a time of introspection and delegation. Vocal rest gives your voice time to heal, settle and relax. When your voice is fatigued or if you're trying to overcome an illness, the fastest way to let your voice heal is to refrain from using it. Believe it or not we use our voices for just about everything... when we cough, sneeze, clear our throats, hum and even whisper. During vocal rest, try to limit or even avoid doing all of these things to expedite your recovery. 

If you have a really busy performance schedule that requires you to sing almost on a nightly basis, try not to speak the entire day leading up to your call time. As it gets later in the day, closer to when you have to go on stage, gently start to warm up your voice (starting at the middle of your range, slowly working your way upwards and downwards) and take two shots of honey. Honey will lubricate your voice and will give your cords an awesome coating to help facilitate the production of sound with a lot more ease. If you're not at 100% during your gig, amp up your monitor mix or sing your song in a lower key. Always listen to your body when your voice is trying to tell you something. If it hurts, stop and take a couple of days off so that you can rest. 

Giving your voice the respect that it deserves is an amazing investment in your future as a vocal professional. If you can incorporate small bouts of vocal rest during your practice and performance schedules, then you will be able to accomplish the following things:

• The avoidance of more severe vocal problems that may require longer periods of vocal rest, therapy and even surgery.
• Stronger vocal muscles. Strength in muscles comes from stress AND recovery, and adequate recovery time is just as important as your training. 
• A longer lasting vocal career!

I hope this helps and if you have any questions, please let me know. Also, I would like to know if you have any vocal rest tips of your own!?

Twang Vocal Technique

When singing contemporary music styles, some singers utilize the twang vocal technique to bring their sound a lot more forward and create a space for the voice to project in a louder and more controlled manner. This is particularly utilized in the top register of the voice to create more resonance, brightness and power. In other words, it is one way a singer can create a belt sound.

Basically, the twang sound occurs when you narrow the area in your throat at the level of your larynx. The singer brings the sound extremely forward and sings with a closed epiglottis. Below are two very informative videos that will explain this Twang Vocal Technique in more detail.

Vocal Coach Sarah Bickel shows us how to create that twang resonance during our practice sessions.

Vocal Coach David Combes does a great job of demonstrating the difference in sound when you use and don't use the vocal twang.



The TWANG is not a register, but merely a color in the voice.. a color that we can add to our palate when we are painting with our voice and performing a song. I agree that this technique is a little funky at first, but its amazing how much power and resonance it will add to your higher register if you keep practicing!

What do you think of the Twang Technique?? Have you tried it? =)

Audition Tips: How To Give A Successful Pop Vocal Audition

If you are looking for some tips on how to give a successful pop vocal audition, whether it be for American Idol, The Voice or for a casting call at a studio or theme park, look no further. As a Casting Director, I have facilitated thousands of auditions from singers hailing from all parts of the globe, and have worked with voices of all ages and skill levels. Auditions are scary--I know! But they are necessary in order for singers to seek different opportunities, make a living and grow as an artist. During my experience being on both sides of the table, I have compiled several observations. Below is a list of tips that will hopefully help to give you more confidence for your next pop singing audition:

1- Make an impact right away.

Typically a decision is made within the first 5 seconds of your song. When you only have 30 seconds or 16 bars to make a great impression, you must start with a dynamic introduction. A solid, powerful beginning will grab the panel's attention and increase your chances dramatically. These first impressions make a significant difference. If you take too long to get "cooking," the other person's interest may have already been lost and the "no" may have already been decided. Start strong!

2- Dress to impress.

Wear something that makes you feel confident but is not going to distract from your performance. The way you look should be complimentary to the way you want others to interpret your style. Be age appropriate and don't be afraid to be "you." Embrace who you are but still be professional. Auditions are sort of like job interviews and even though you want to look professional, you still have to be authentic to who you are. 

3- Be in love with your song. 

Make sure that you pick a song that you are obsessed with--a song that you have sung millions of times,  and that you can rely on even under pressure. If you sing with passion and enjoyment, the nerves go away. If you sing something that you are extremely comfortable with, you have nothing to be nervous about. And if you sing a song that allows you to connect to every lyric, you transform your audition into an artistic performance.

4-Song choice is very important.
Stay away from anything that has ever been sung by Adele, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. You may be a diva, but I doubt your rendition is going to be better than the original! Try picking something that shows off your voice, range and style. I love it when girls sing guy songs and vice-versa. Add your own flavor to whatever it is that you perform. It'll make you memorable. 

5-Have a great attitude.
We are judging you from the moment you walk into the room. Be natural, confident and genuinely happy to be there. Before your performance, introduce yourself and the name of your song. Don't try to shake the Casting Director's hand unless they initiate it. Sing your song, smile when you are finished, and take criticism (if given) gracefully. Don't push back, show respect and appreciation for the opportunity, and simply say thank you before you leave the room. 

6-Body language is key.

Stand up tall and look confident. Make eye contact and do not look at the floor. If you smile sweetly, it softens the situation and makes you seem less nervous and more real. Don't do anything with your hands that will distract from your performance. Keep them at your side or use them as authentic gestures during your performance. 

7-Keep an open mind.

Expectations lead to disappointments. Walk into the room feeling like you have nothing to lose. You are a winner just by giving it a try. SO many people just *think* about doing something but chicken out when it actually comes time to deliver. 

8-Be proud of yourself. 

Whatever the outcome may be, know that you are one step closer to reaching your goals just by completing your audition. You're gonna receive a lot of rejection before you make it to the top, but keep your head up and be proud of yourself for having the courage to move forward.

Success is not always the destination--it is the journey. Just because you did not get the part, does not mean that you failed. Success is measured by the amount of growth that you made as an artist, the experience that you gained, and the people that you met. So much of this business is based off of so many other factors that we have no control over. Auditions are not just solely based on talent, but based on timing, subjectivity and "types." You may just not be what they are looking for, no matter how well you think you did. Get over it and don't take it personally! Keep auditioning, keep learning new songs and you're gonna keep getting better and better- I promise!

Do you have audition tips from your own experiences????