Simple Music Secrets

The best analogy is to liken vocalists to athletes. An athlete begins with a personal goal in mind – to achieve a level of accomplishment based on the sport they are interested in. Only then, with this clear vision in mind, do they begin to train their body on a daily basis to reach this goal. These hours of practice and training are directly responsible for the level of performance they are eventually capable of.

In the same way, singers have a goal to sing beautifully and comfortably without straining or damaging their precious voice, one that can certainly suffer from abuse and bad habits if not well cared for.

A long-distance runner does not wake up one day and suddenly expect to be able to run a ten-mile marathon. They know they must build their strength and endurance slowly to run greater distances over time. Similarly, a vocalist must care for and train their voice with diligence and patience, working steadily toward the ultimate goal of effortless singing without strain.

Jazz Solo

Improvisation is common in many types of music, but is mainly expressed in jazz. Most all players know a common set of songs called standards. These standards are know by all and can be called on at any time in a concert . A player can expect to build his own solo jazz part upon a standard usually. If you plan to be a instrumentalist, you definitely should attempt to learn the jazz standards. Only after you know the song and its chordal structure can you be an effective soloist . Reading music can be an invaluable skill when it comes to this task.

The instrumentalist usually will not begin prior to the main melody of the song being played once through by everyone. Awaiting your cue to begin your jazz solo, you are well advised to know how long the first section will be. You will receive a nod by the leader of the band to begin your solo when it is your time in any case. Often your solo will begin after the singer finishes the verse and chorus.

jazz solo

Only understanding and a good understanding of musical structure will be the building blocks of a great jazz improvisations. The chord pattern of the song dictates the boundaries of your solo. This is where all the time you spent practicing scales will bear its fruit. Learn the scales in all keys and go from one to another with a seamless transition and you will learn to build a good jazz improvisation. If you find it difficult at first to build a solo, try playing arpeggios in the key signatures as you move through the song.  A solo is not just running scales however. The jazz solo should contain dynamics, structure and have something to say. You cannot know the exact way you will get through your solo, but you can know generally how you will  get there.

Most jazz improvisations start with at least a general understanding and statement of the melody. Starting simply is the best way to leave room to move as you go through your solo. As you go on through your solo you can increase the tension, dynamics and tempo before resolving to the main melody at the end. If you examine some of your favorite solos, you will see that more often than not they follow this general structure .

Listen to other soloists to hear how they do their jazz improvisations. Go to concerts, buy recordings and learn how to build your own jazz musical solo. In time you will know what the structure of a good jazz improvisation is intrinsically without being told.
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Being humiliated while performing or speaking is the definition of stage fright. Stage fright is so common it ranks among the highest of personal fears . Not many people are born orators or performers. There are certain people that love attention and are natural performers. Some of our most famous celebrities deal with stage fright all of the time. One of the most well known performers that has a problem with stage fright is Barbra Streisand. With help and guidance you can learn to manage stage fright and its debilitating effects.

stage fright

Performing in public manifests stage fright in most people. You must learn to not think about  the audience when you are performing. If you have studied well, you need not worry about the audience. Though you may want desperately to look to see if your friends or family are watching, it is best not to look anyone directly in the eye at first because they may cause you to lose your place or make a mistake. Pick a spot on the wall in the back or a light fixture and sing to that spot, no one will notice.

Your first song should be one which you can always do without thinking, an easy one. Do not start with a piece you have to think hard about or one which requires a difficult technique to perform. Save the tough stuff for last. In order to feel good about the performance at the start, do the proper piece for the first number, the audience will applaud and that will make you gain some much needed confidence. Small successes lead to larger ones in managing stage fright.

All of us deal with stage fright but we can learn to manage it with time and help. Failing is a fear we all face and this is why stage fright is so hard. Learn how to manage stage fright and manage your own anxieties.
definition of stage fright

Vocal harmony is simply two or more voices singing together, usually in a pleasing way but not necessarily. The harmony parts are most often the third, fifth or seventh of the chord. Most common today is two or three part harmonies. To be the best harmony singer you can it is helpful if you learn a little about chord structure. You have to learn to hear the other parts in the song, to separate them. Music theory may also be learned by taking a college course if you like.

If you listen to all music with an ear toward harmony you will begin to hear more and more detail. Try to pick out a harmony part and sing along with it as the song plays out. Try to find another person who is interested in singing and practice with them. If you both trade off who sings which part, that can be fun and give you each an opportunity to sing the harmony as well as the melody. You may of course have to transpose songs into other keys so that you both are comfortable with your parts.

The local college usually has a choir you can join or class you can take. At first you may be nervous, but everyone is there because they love to sing. There are choirs, madrigals and musicals just to name a few. Another excellent choice in music for learning harmonies is folk or bluegrass.

Sing Vocal Backup