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Why
Can I Sing Great One Day,
but Sound Horrible the Next?
Q&A with Yvonne DeBandi
Q.
Dear Coach - Last week I learned a new song and the first day working
on it, I thought I sounded great. It was easy and the notes were
not difficult to hit. Unfortunately, this morning when I sang it
for some friends it didn't go nearly as well. This has happened
before to me. Is this normal? Emily
A.
Hi Emily,
While this is a phenomenon that challenges new singers more than
trained professionals, it is very normal. Singers are much
like athletes in that the amount of sleep, dietary choices and physical
fitness play a big role in performance abilities. When
I explain this to students in private lessons there are two analogies
that seem to work the best: The first concept helps you understand
the overall idea and the second concept is more specific on how
to improve your consistency.
UNDERSTANDING
the OVERALL CONCEPT:
Think of the old-timey elevators that used something like the
arm of a clock to tell you what floor they were on. The basement
would be shown as the arm pointing to the left (like 9:00) and the
penthouse would be shown with the arm all the way to the right (like
3:00). Think of the penthouse as your goal - this is the point where
you are able to balance out all of the vocal mechanics and support
it with performance energy to get the best possible performance
you can give.
Now....what
floor did you wake up on this morning? If you woke up in the basement
you might have to do some extra cardio exercises or lengthen your
warm-up routine to make it up to the penthouse in time for your
performance. However, for those that maintain their voice and stay
fit...they wake-up closer and closer to the penthouse every day.
To summarize, because our bodies/vocal instruments are greatly affected
by outside influences, we have to learn to recognize the needed
balance - those sensations and mechanical functions required to
consistently perform in best voice. Once you can identify and recognize
those sensations, you can specifically work to improve your consistency.
IDENTIFYING
and APPLYING:
Think of a swing or a pendulum and imagine it moving back and from
left to right (like swinging DOWN from 9:00, to 3:00 and back).
Now think about 6:00 - straight down as being your goal. When you
are able to balance everything needed (vocal mechanics and performance
energy) the swing/pendulum will manage to remain perfectly still
in that down (6:00) position.
So next time you are singing and you go to hit that high note, and
overshoot just a bit -- think about it like you overshot your balance
point. Now how far past it did you go - did it swing all the way
to 3:00 or did it just swing over to 5:00? Try to be very specific.
What caused it to overshoot? Too much air, too much force, too much
tension, etc.?
And
when you undershoot the pitch/phrase or your vocal tone collapses
or cracks...what caused the breakdown? Too little air, too little
support, too little energy, etc.? Was it a big error swinging you
all the way to 9:00 or just a slight miscalculation?
CONCLUSION
Your ability to understand that you gave too much or too little
is a big part of managing your vocal development. The more specific
you are with your analyzation, the faster your singing progress.
In conclusion, only when you learn to balance your vocal mechanics
and performance energy will you be able to consistently sing in
your best voice.
If
the idea of vocal mechanics is foriegn to you, consider reviewing
the Singing is Easy curriculum. It provides specific information
with regard to each vocal mechanic and can help you pinpoint your
weak spots as well as help you develop a plan for improvement. You
can learn about this independent study course at http://SingingIsEasy.com
and http://SingSmart.com.
Good
luck to you and hope this helps!
SINGcerely,
Coach
Yvonne
http://SingSmart.com
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