Our independent music scene is largely made up of aspiring singers, some of which have more desire than talent to be the latest emerging independent artist of the moment (we still love you though)
For this, ILana Martin, founder of Vocal Workout Singing School and vocal trainer for Grammy-award winning entertainers Alicia Keys, Barry White and Patti LaBelle, as well as R&B artists Sean Combs, shares her tips on how aspiring singers can practice striking all the right chords before belching out in front of a crowd.
According to Martin, a real need for great vocal teaching has emerged as the older generation of singers has passed away, and new singers are having trouble increasing their voices. With her tips, she assures that singers will remember what it feels like to ‘ah’, have a bell like tone, and be able to last through long rehearsals and double bills at smoky cafes.
1. Use a mirror to see your posture and the way you use your mouth and throat. See that you use your diaphragm to create the sound and use your mouth in an open “o” shape.
2. Find a simple melody you can remember (a favorite song or nursery rhyme that’s simple) and sing it a capella, keeping the same tempo and melodic center as you go.
3. Sing the song line by line, paying attention first to breath, then to posture, then to volume and pronunciation, until you have each line correct.
4. Repeat on consecutive days until the song is mastered. Then sing the whole thing, with each piece intact to the whole.
Find more of Ilana Martin’s tips here.
