Some techniques, ideas, and inspirations to help us all sing better
Who? Me? Sing?
Some say singing is a natural talent, but if you ask most singers, they'll tell you that it is a skill developed over
time with a lot of work.
Here's a YouTube video from a voice teacher, Eric Arcenaux, giving
his thoughts on the question.
And another from Broadway actress Felicia Ricci.
Some things that you can try
Singing
is an art, not a science. There are some things that can be explained using scientific terminology, but in the end,
it is a form of expression, and techniques that work for one person, may not work for another. People approach singing
and learning in different ways. I tend to prefer the engineering details, and you're certain to notice a lot of details
in these pages, but some people prefer imagery or metaphors. If you don't find what you need here, please be assured
that there are other approaches available. Asking questions is a great place to start, and a great place to go from
there. Try some things. Ask some questions. If you're not "getting it," just move on. Many times I
have had the moments when I suddenly understood what someone was trying to tell me in different ways for years. Singing
is an art, and you are an artist. Keep searching for inspiration.
So, here are some things
you can try. Click on one of the topic lines (in black just below) and then scroll up and down those pages to find something
interesting. The topics are separated primarily to make the web pages more manageable, and you don't have
to go through them in order. There are some items that refer to others, but for the most part, each item is self-contained.
There are plenty of other resources out there that you can try. Getting different perspectives helps you to find a
sound that you like and to develop your own voice.
Some Books Worth Reading
Set Your Voice Free: How To Get the Singing or Speaking Voice You Want
by Roger Love
A good book, but an excellent CD with vocal exercises that helped me extend my range, which is also great for warmups
and regular practice.
The Inner Voice: The Making of a Singer
by Renee Fleming
She describes the book as the autobiography of her voice. This is a good book if you've every wondered what it's
like to sing at the professional level. You don't have to even like opera.
More Resources
You can also check out more videos from Eric Arceneaux here, Mark Baxter here, and Justin Stoney here. They have a lot of good ideas.
If you want to get really technical, check out the articles by "The Voice Teacher," David Jones here.
Let us know if you find other good information on the internet that we can link to, or if you'd
like to add some information here.
