Singing
Tip for the Week from Brian
Gilbertson (FREE) Singers
and teachers from 130 countries continue to visit this site regularly
with around 35,000 hits each month!
|
Singing Tip
for the Week
(From
an early email which inspired Brian to continue these free tips.)
" I
had thought that the art of teaching singing was forgotten until I
read your lessons on the computer. God bless you. I sang when I was
a young girl and managed to maintain my voice until 70 because of
a teacher such as you who taught me many years ago."
Selection
of comments from visitors to this site
Testimonials and Forum. To read some early forum materials you need
to scroll down the page. The forum is no longer updating as the new
format for weekly tips includes email requests with Brian's responses.
Testimonials
Thank you
to all who take the time to send kind messages of thanks to Brian.
It gives him great satisfaction that so many people from around the
world are finding these tips so useful. Here is a small selection
from the hundreds of messages of thanks...updated July 05
April
2008 Posted on another website.
I was grateful of my first teacher, she was
a delightful person and we got along well. I thanked her for taking
me so far, so I begun to search for a new teacher.
This
time I wanted a top notch expert. Someone renowned for getting results.
I asked around for a few months and finally found the guy. Now this
man was truly unique! He was an amazing fellow with a equally amazing
track record. In fact you can read about him (link to Brian Gilbertson
singing tips site). His
name is Brian Gilbertson, and he had quite a spiritual approach to
teaching vocals. He had previously studied with some of the greatest
singers. His voice was simply stunning, and he had a way with words
as well.
I
took lessons with Brian for a few months. I had a great time and I
learnt quite a bit about the voice. He used many visualization methods,
helping the sound to flow through me. Geoffrey Williams USA.
Since
May 2007 there have been many letters of thanks and testimonials of
successful outcomes. There has been little time to update this page
.
May
2007
Hi
Brian, I just want to say, THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for your advice &
suggestions. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help. I can
understand how people speak so highly of you and look up to you.
Thank you for the reassurance and confidence I have gained back because
of your knowledge, experience and understanding.
I have listened to some of your demo's and I absolutely love how you
sing. You have an incredibly "beautiful" voice. You sound
so graceful and sing with such ease. "Music to my Ears".
I'm guessing that your website will have your gig dates & details.
You are gigging I hope! I would just love to come to one of your concerts.
King Regards and Many Thanks! Sylvia
January
2007
Dear
Mr. Gilbertson, I agree that every singer has an unknown quality in
their voice. ...... I have all but quit singing and done the exercises
only--for weeks--and my voice has changed dramatically! There is a
sound there I never knew existed! We as singers always need to keep
and open mind while learning to sing. We must be willing to take chances/risks,
and not listen to the sounds we make in the sometimes upsetting process.
Thanks for the great advice. Hearing it from someone else besides
my instructor makes such a big difference. I'm amazed at how much
I understand now! Sincerely, Rebecca from April 2003
December
2006
...Brian,
You are the coolest man ! I just came on board here a few days ago
and have learned a ton , your vocal info and insight is by far and
above the best I have found on the internet.
You are too kind to pass this along to us . (!) Ps please keep the
archived tips on the sight , I've stored them in files but others
will always get something from them. Ted .... Arizona US
October
2006
From
April 2003
Dear
Brian, I just wanted to let you know that when scooting about the
'net looking for singing tips recently, I came across your site. I
can't tell you how lucky I feel to have done so! It's pure gold! I'm
a 29-year-old music theatre baritone, and have trained classically
for the last four years .... having performed roles such as Javert
in Les Mis, Jud in Oklahoma and Emile in South Pacific. I'm currently
rehearsing for Annie, in which I'll play Warbucks.
Trying
to sort out the seemingly perennial problems associated with 'the
top' led me to look around the 'net to see what I could find - and
sure enough, there was your site!
I've
been working on the breathing technique tips you've detailed, esp
when coming to a big note or a high phrase. When running towards a
big note, I imagine that I'm just standing around, waiting for a bus
or something , so as to put 'singing' out of my mind. Sure enough,
with normal, relaxed breathing, the note comes out brighter, rounder
and of a richer quality I could scarely have thought myself capable
of until trying your techniques. It's absolutely magic!
It's
a slow grind of course, changing years of habit, so I do slip back
into 'singing' mode fairly regularly without even realising it. If
I do suddenly find myself in 'singing' mode during a particular peformance,
I'm switching to 'plan B' ie) convincing myself that I'm quite bored
with the song, so start breathing in the 'bored' way you suggested
between phrases. This does help, but I like to look at as a last resort,
as it's not really a patch on your 'non singing' approach to singing.
Still, it is handy to have a back up in case things go wrong.
I
can't thank you enough for putting your site together! I'll certainly
be visiting it each week!
Cheers
again, Kindest regards, peter ...
September
2006
Some
early thank yous.
Dear
Brian, My name is Robert ..... I am a Tenor, Lyric, Countertenor actually.
I have not sung in many years. I have recently gotten back to sing
and have used some of you tips to Re-introduce my voice. I have been
auditioning for a professional barbershop group here in my home town
and so far have passed 2 of the 3 auditions. Thank you for you help.
I was a voice major at Humboldt State University in California 20
years ago, I wish you had been my coach then, I would have gone so
much farther. Sincerely Rob
June
2006
From
June 2006:
Dear
Mr. Gilbertson, My
name is Andreas ..... I come from Athens, Greece. ....I ...sing Greek
Church Music (Byzantine Music) ....I have been in choirs and I have
helped chanters by singing some easier melodies or by keeping the
base line of the melody (called isokratima). Recently, I have changed
my attitude. I am not trying anymore; I am chanting....
One
of my priorities is to get closer to people who help my voice in any
way, technical, practical or psychological. I
feel proud to say that you have dramatically influenced my voice (not
to mention my will and my attitude). I wish to thank you for your
valuable help, which I have received through your tips for singing
in the last couple of years. For
me the journey just begins. Respectfully,
Andreas...
December
2005
From
2001: Dear Brian, I am a Tenor. I have been singing for many years
and must say that your tip is a true saying. Quality takes time, and
when I meet ambitious beginners I faint at knowing how long-winded
their quest will be. I myself have no patience to teach. I like your
voice. It is stronger than mine and very even and refined.
It is great to see how generous you are in providing singing tips
and handy hints. This, to me, shows your own personal vocal security,
-not something which all singers posess. I missed out on meeting you
after one of the performances of "Turn of the Screw." Anyway,
keep up your good work and hope to meet you face to face sometime.
Saw you on tv too.
November
2005
Blessings
from Scotland .
I am average as a singer I have a little bit more than a tune in my
head but average. I have never had a lesson in my life I am a 50 year
old male . I came from an extremely deprived background in the slum
buildings in Glasgow. One day my father made me a guitar from a fish
box a square box and fuse wire , wonderful how it all begins don't
you think. Then I took a job as a milk boy and at aged 12 bought my
first guitar what joy. Then one day I learned my first chord then
the next and the next.
So
I set out to teach my friends what I knew . I had to pass it on .
We have a saying in Scotland ( you gote tae gee it a way tae keep
it ) or you have got to give it away to keep it in English (ha ha)
. And that is what you are doing here on the net brian giving it away
and may god give you health and long life to do just that . you see
here am I at 50 years old still learning from you . my mother and
father are both dead now god rest them and my life has been one of
poverty trial and sadness, but here I am still as you so rightly put
it, immersed in my music. music was my tool to sanity and still is
. many thanks for you web pages god bless you . I just thought I would
share myself a little with you all and let you see we are all beginners
each and everyday and let you know what goodness comes from your web
site god bless you and many thanks john from Scotland
Dear
John
Thank you for taking the time to correspond and thank you for your
blessings. We all need them from time to time and to have them come
from across the seas from someone I have never met is special and
adds to making the tips worthwhile. You certainly have experienced
LIFE because without the hard we cannot know soft and without the
struggle we cannot fully appreciate at that deep level which brings
someone like you to writing the memo you have written to me. God bless
you . The tips shall continue with your wishes added to strengthen
my endeavour. Kind regards, Brian Gilbertson
July
2005
Dear
Brian
Thank
you for making your amazing wisdom on singing available to the public
in this way. I received vocal training according to the 6000 year
old Indian tradition.
As
a person who has received over ten years of intensive and intermittent
personal training under the Guru-Shishya parampara (teacher-pupil)
tradition of the culture I come from, I have personally discovered
and experienced most of what you are revealing through your tips on
singing. I am the richer for it because, under our tradition, the
training is based on 'hearing' only (and without any attempt to 'analyse'
).
My
guru, who has a divine voice and amazing vocal skills (acrobatic skills
at that), only corrects mistakes of his pupils by him 'correctly'
singing over and over again until we get it right. Most of us are
usually able to expand our range to three saptaks (octaves) and improve
diction through effective breath control, as essential for raaga singing
following this method. Words like diaphragm, clavicular or other forms
of breathing are never mentioned.
As
a person trained in the sciences, I am now able to understand the
scientific basis of the traditional training I have received, though
not necessarily improve on it because of the more melodic and rhythmic
approach we aim for, rather than striving to 'hit' high notes. (In
fact , developing the base and baritone (in your terminology) end
of the range is more important for singing some of the ragas since,
on higher scales they generate different emotions).
I
have found your comments extremely insightful and they make lot of
sense. Thank
you for your website.
Kamal
...
June
2005
Thank
you very much for your response. It absolutely helped especially when
you said about being light and right because i've noticed after singing
now...it doesn't hurt as much nor as long. Mumbi
April
2005
THANK
U BRIAN ITS WORKING............IF U HAVE ANY MORE PLEASE SHARE WITH
ME ......MY HAPPINESS IS MY VOICE......ITS PRECIUS THING I HAVE........
ONCE AGAIN THANKU BRIAN...........
February
2005
First
of all thank you for your marvellous site. It is full of such good
advice and tips. Flora
October
2004
I
am a fan of yours and of your website. I check it as often as I can,
since I discovered it. El Ghali, 24 from Morocco
January
2004
I
really like the new format--the opportunity to read the whole discussion
is illuminating! The tenor's questions about high notes & your
replies were especially helpful to me --it feels risky to let go,
open up,& really let that high sound out -- but when I do , it
sound good! Jack-Colleen Gilbert
October
2003
I
really enjoy some of the physical to mental relations you make in
your singing tips. Keep it up! Matthew Holter, Director of Choirs...
September
2003
I've
been reading your tips for quite a while now. You are the most
> articulate person I've read when it comes to trying to explain
the
> difficult task of singing properly. [Thank you.] I've been to
two
> voice teachers, both of whom frustrated me to no end ...Matt
from Canada
Thanks
so much, you've really made my day. I have rehearsal in 2 hours
and you just gave me a big push. Can't tell you how much I appreciate
it. The bored thing was a great idea ... really helped me breath
without even thinking about it. In any case, thanks again, and I'll
definitely continue to frequent your site. Take care!..Matt from Canada
after receiving email advice.
Mr. Gilbertson,
This past week in my voice lesson is when I first tried the falling/catching
excercise with my voice teacher. It was very hard to trust the teacher
to catch me so I ended up falling up against the wall, but it really
produced a freeing sensation in my voice I have never felt because
I am famous for regressing back into singing with my throat and inhibiting
the air flow and sound. The sound was just so much fuller and the
sensation was so much into my forehead and I had forgotten what that
felt like. My voice soared! It was neat that you wrote about that
particular singing tip this week. Also, I have tried just going down
into a squat (not a deep one)as I'm going into a tough spot where
I tend to lean into the throat. It has helped alot. Thanks again for
the great and timely tips! Rebecca
August
2003
As
always, I can't thank you enough for maintaining your website. Your
wisdom and insights are an inspiration. No matter which tip I'm working
with at any given time, the voice just seems to take to it like a
duck to water...Peter New Sout Wales, Australia
May
2003
I recently came across your site while searching for singing tips.
Thanks for putting up such a great site, and for taking the time to
share your knowledge with us all. Neil, Australia
thanks
for your continued tips - I keep them in a folder for myself and they
are always great to look forward to! No longer having time & money
for lessons, I keep teaching myself and your tips are the central
input I use!
As have read them over the past couple of years I am getting a stronger
sense of the tings that you would have singers strive for - I wonder
if you ever feel that you are repeating yourself...I hope not because
each new angle is always helpful!
I just wanted to say the photographic negative (20/4/03) idea has
been very ver good for me! The idea of feeling vibration/energy/activity
all around the outer surface of my head has drawn several threads
of technique together. I have eagerly extended that active area down
the neck, shoulders and arms, making palpable the idea of singing
with the whole body, and of being sung rather than singing myself.
Thank you! Tony New Zealand.
April
2003
Hello
Brian - great to hear from you! As luck would have it, I'm just refreshing
my memory of a couple of your tips at the moment - one from 2000 re
listening the silence, and a more recent one, about not being so concerned
with the sound one makes, rather being aware of the air moving into
the bones of the face. I'm finding combining these two ideas is really
helping the sound at the moment. I've
also just been cast as the Pirate King! Woo hoo! Peter, NSW Australia
March
2003
You
are the coolest man ! I just came on board here a few days ago and
have learned a ton , your vocal info and insight is by far and above
the best I have found on the internet. You are too kind to pass this
along to us . (!) Ted, Arizona US
November
2002
Dear
Brian,
How are you? I am a singer-songwriter from India and a regular
visitor of your site. I have been also taking advices from you and
want to say thank you very- very much for your help. Anurag, Singer
songwriter, India
Hi Brian...I wrote you several
weeks ago about my teacher and her un-natural
way of breathing. Well, I have been reading everything you have to
say about
breath and I am singing SO much better now. I decided that her way
was not
working for me and even though I still study with her, your ideas
work better
for me. She is also pleased with my progress. Thanks so much!
August
2002
Brian,
I love your site. I was always embarrassed that it was so easy for
me to sing, but that's what it's all about, isn't it? I can see that
I've been making things complex, where they really are simple and
natural. Thank you. Megeath, Scottsdale Az
You have a great website. It is very generous of you to give such
great tips FREE!...surely a sign of a great artist and a teacher who
teaches because he cares about his students and considers music a
gift. Thanks!!!
I have read all your tips and have been trying some of them. Typically
I have been plagued with my throat tightening, not having sufficient
volume/strength and getting breaks. The thinking higher (ie above
hard palate and imaging the roundness of vowels) certainly provides
immediate - freedom, - volume - strength,
- and eliminates the breaks in my mid range ie middle E and this helps
me from being stuck and therefore I want to practice and experiment
more...YEAH!! Sneha,
India
June
2002
I
must add my thanks and appreciation to your growing list, having just
found your website and singing tips. I
find the analogies you use and the excercises oh so very useful. I
have just tried out the ball squeezing exercise which helped me to
understand the feeling of the face mask (which up to now has been
largely miss than hit!) Much
of your advice is similar in tone to that of my teacher who is also
concentrating on telling me when the sound outside is good while my
job is to understand what I am thinking and feeling when the sound
changes between good, bad and indifferent. Well
done and please keep up the great website.
Carol
May
2002
Thank
you for the response. It is extremely good of you to take the time
to answer all the emails you recieve, I'm sure they must pore in every
day! Yes, your response did help me understand much better. It's nice
to know someone with your classical background is familiar with Robert
Plant, he's one of my all time favorite singers. If you get a chance
you should definitley give Steve Perry a listen, he has an incredibly
beautiful voice and range. Unlike Plant, Perry sings much more correctly
from a classical point of view. Thank you once again for all the knowledge
you've shared with me and everyone else, you have an incredible gift
for teaching! Sincerely,
Mark
Nobody could verbalize what the
voice does better than you. My teacher will love this. THANKS for
affirming the emotional basis of voice. Jenna, Ohio
March
2002
Thank
you so much for your website. I only ran across it today. By coincidence,
I read the tip about singing above the upper teeth, having just learned
this sensation within the last two weeks. Now I truly know what it
means to sing into the masque (previously, I had been directing my
sound more toward the hard palette thinking that was the sensation
I was after). Thanks for the confirmation! Janelle
...Brian,
You are the coolest man ! I just came on board here a few days ago
and have learned a ton , your vocal info and insight is by far and
above the best I have found on the internet. You are too kind to pass
this along to us . (!) Ps please keep the archived tips on the sight
, I've stored them in files but others will always get something from
them. Ted, Arizona US.
January
2002
Dear
Brian, Thank you sooooo much. I am a Tenor. I have not sung in many
years. I have recently gotten back to sing and have used some of you
tips to Re-introduce my voice. I have been auditioning for a professional
barbershop group here in my home town and so far have passed 2 of
the 3 auditions. Thank you for you help. I was a voice major at Humboldt
State University in California 20 years ago, I wish you had been my
coach then, I would have gone so much farther. Sincerely Rob
Heya
Brian, I've only recently started taking up singing (from October
2002) as myself and a few friends have formed a band, and I'd just
like to say thanks for the time and effort you put into running your
site. Even though I am something of a singing novice, many of your
tips have helped me to progress quickly (and yes, I have a weekly
lesson from a vocal tutor). We're planning on putting on our first
local gig in the Summer, so I still have plenty of time to learn.
I know you receive plenty of mails so there is no need to reply to
this one; I just thought you'd like to know that you have one more
grateful admirer. Erm, that's about it really. All the best to you
and yours, -- Matt .....
December
2002
Wow.
I actually understood what you were trying to explain this week. Naturally
when I was a beginning voice student I would've said you had a few
screws loose. However, trying this has really produced a different
feeling for me. Courage and fear are what I definately struggle with
every time I sing. Thanks for the neat explanation. My ability to
sing has really improved after reading and practicing your tips! Sincerely,
Rebecca
November
2002
I
have only recently come across your web site and I have found it to
be extremely informative and helpful. Especially the part where you
have to rely on your imagination more than any other function to sing.
I have always had a problem trying to reach the head voice without
a break in the register. Your suggestion of visualizing the voice
floating on top of the air overcame that problem. Brian
October
2002
im
finding myself getting better at singing now i think i sound really
good and others do and thats thanks to you for your tips thank you
for your help... Kevin
September
2002
First
off, I just want to say thank you for making a singing site like this.
Its very informative and helpful. Thank you Steve
August
2002
Part
of my joy as a singer is to immerse myself in different styles - from
Country, R&B, Blues, to Pop and Opera. I find the emotional expression
is the same and the level of technique required is the same as well.
Passion is passion whether you are a Musetta or a cowgirl. All styles
require flexibility, accuracy of tone and rhythm. What seems to be
different is the palette: the coloring, textures and attitude, rough
or soft, pointed or round, full or light. Brian, I love your site.
I was always embarrassed that it was so easy for me to sing, but that's
what it's all about, isn't it? I can see that I've been making things
complex, where they really are simple and natural. Thank you. Megeath
"Riding
the Dolly" Hello Brian, I have been reading your tips for some
time now & this one is the best!!! Thank you for your wonderful website.
I look forward to each new tip! Cordially, Colleen
Thankyou
for your prompt response to my enquiries regardind the Estill method.
I went to the rehearsal room tonight and decided to focus less on
what was happening inside and who I wanted to sound like. Instead
I just opened up with the joy of what I was doing. And Kept your fantastic
image of an open topped triangle in my mind. My voice and I mean MY
voice came out smaller and lighter than I am used to but my top range
just soared up and up. The notes were always there but it never felt
like this. It felt real, free and open. As a Baritone low F to High
bA I have always tride to get that rich dark sound but still have
access to the top G,s etc. I realise now that I must have sounded
like a fraud. Sorry I'm rambling. Many thanks for your site and the
advice within. Gary
Dear
Brian, thankyou so much for your considered reply to my question regarding
tongue position and singing. Your answer was very intriguing to me,
as my teacher also studied in Italy, and advocates the method which
you describe, which has left me with a voice that travels totally
on air and has no register changes, for which I am most grateful.
Rhiannon
Hello
Brian, You have a great website. It is very generous of you to give
such great tips FREE!...surely a sign of a great artist and a teacher
who teaches because he cares about his students and considers music
a gift. Thanks!!! Sneha.
July
2002
I
must add my thanks and appreciation to your growing list, having just
found your website and singing tips. I find the analogies you use
and the excercises oh so very useful. I have just tried out the ball
squeezing exercise which helped me to understand the feeling of the
face mask (which up to now has been largely miss than hit!) Much of
your advice is similar in tone to that of my teacher who is also concentrating
on telling me when the sound outside is good while my job is to understand
what I am thinking and feeling when the sound changes between good,
bad and indifferent. Well done and please keep up the great website.
Regards Carol Eades
May
2002
Thank
you Jenna for:
Nobody
could verbalize what the voice does better than you. My teacher will
love this. THANKS for affirming the emotional basis of voice. I have
taken weekly lessons year round since September 1997. I started lessons
at 44 and people always ask me what I'm going to do with it and I
say, "It's an emotional outlet." Now I can say it with total conviction.
April
2002
Thank
you Simone for the following;
While
trying to determine the difference between a lyric and dramatic coloratura,
I stumbled on your site. All I can say is "What a wonderful breath
of fresh air!" I throughly enjoyed reading your singing advice. Brought
back memories of many things I struggled with. At one point I became
so paranoid about breathing, my whole body would tense up and my ribs
would hurt. How totally unnatural! I even had a time where I was singing
nasally which started to sound shrill because my vocal teacher told
me to sing in the nose/bring the sound forward. I really was tied
up/obsessing about vocal faults. Consequently, my voice became tight
in every way. So I gave up singing for 4 years after leaving college
aside from singing in a few weddings and church events. But the phantom
will not leave me and so I'm starting to sing again. I totally concur
with your advice to concentrate on thoughts rather than singing. I
find that when I let my emotions explode the music comes to life.
My body relaxes and the music soars. I also find that when I really
get the song in my ears many of the vocal problems disappear.(Instead
of reaching for notes my body knows where they are mentally and puts
them there.) Now, I try to focus on the music's power before isolating
diction to work on.March 2002
After
reading last week's singing tip I began to "investigate" and experiment
using your visual and mental instruction. How amazing it is to be
able to use words and descriptions to learn by! My breathing became
even more deep into my body and I could really feel a sensation of
openness. This site continues to amaze me.....thank you, thank you,
thank you! Don't worry about replying, I know how busy you are...just
wanted you to know that I get a lot from your instruction. Sincerely......
February
2002
I
wanted to say thank you SO much for your site..I learned a ton on
it!!!
Love, Holland :) from North Carolina, USA
December
2001
Thanks
for the reassurance of the basic tools of character one needs in learning.
Sincerely.
November
2001
Hello,
thank-you for the great singing tips they have helped me a lot.
Thank
you for your very interesting website and useful (and kind) advice
to aspiring singers.
October
2001
Brian...thanks
so much for providing a weekly tip and for answering my questions.
I appreciate your work so much!
GOD
BLESS!!!! KEEP THE FLOWING SOUL ALIVE. RESPECT TO U.
Congratulations
on the first anniversary of singing tips. I've found them to be invaluable
and easy to understand and implement.
OH
MY GOSH, A LIGHT BULB JUST WENT OFF IN MY HEAD!! You explain everything
so well, it's exciting to learn this way.
September
2001
...came
across your site a little while back and am very impressed! Thanks
your generosity in sharing stuff about singing.
Hello,my
name is Mark and I am a singer from Kentucky(USA) and I want to thank
you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge with the rest
of the world. I have been singing for a few years and took private
lessons from a classical voice teacher. Your insights have been so
helpful in giving me a better understanding of the concepts she teaches.
I
forgot to tell you!!!! Even though I am slightly confused, I can tell
a difference!!!!!! I sound more on tune, and I really wanted to thank
you for that!!!!! I guess I just need some work on "not trying as
hard." But I really wanted to thank you for that!!! I would have never
guessed that it was because I was trying TOO HARD!!!!!!!!!
Hundreds
more emails of thanks and congratulations have been received. QPM
will post a selection of messages from site visitors from time to
time. Thank you from Brian for your interest in the wonderful gift
of singing.
Discussion
Forum
Sorry!
I have overlooked this forum for a while now. If you want your information
entered in the forum, please make a note of that on your email.
April
2003
From
Claire
Thank
you so much for sharing your knowledge. I have found your tips very
helpful. One visualisation I found (on a barber shop choir site) was
to imagine that you have noses around your waist and you use these
noses to inhale. This sounds bizarre but I have found it works for
me because it stops any interference with breathing in the neck and
throat and gets the breath nice and low. I imagine I have about ten
noses most of them in the lower back area bit a few dotted around
the front of the waist. I would be interested to know if this helps
anyone else! Regards and thank you again
July
2002
From
Rebecca
I
absolutely agree with your insight on discipline and thinking "in
the moment". I too will be performing soon--actually, I will be auditioning
for one of the best universities in the nation in August. I know that
I can not be worried about my fears and what-ifs. I just have to take
my time and think about my practices as I do them everyday. It's is
hard because I definately feel the panic often, but I have to tell
myself that I have to concentrate on the here and now so that I can
prepare at my fullest ability. I do believe, however, that a little
panic/worry can be helpful. It seems to help me stay on task. I hope
I'm right! It has been a small battle to train myself to become this
disciplined, but I know that it will eventually pay off (If I can
pull all of this off it will be a miracle!). I just have to have faith
in my instructor and allow her to guide me in this journey of learning
to sing; and in addition, to learn to listen to myself as well. If
I rush I will miss something or possibly mess things up! Patience
is a virtue! Thanks for the timely advice.
From
Rhiannon
Thankyou
so much for your considered reply to my question regarding tongue
position and singing. Your answer was very intriguing to me, as my
teacher also studied in Italy, and advocates the method which you
describe, which has left me with a voice that travels totally on air
and has no register changes, for which I am most grateful. However,
he does insist that I sing using an egg in my mouth in order to train
the tongue to stay flat during singing,and I find this very difficult.
I recently read that the Italian-Sweedish school of singing did not
advocate having a flat tongue, in fact they say it's dangerous for
the voice. Instead they advocate the "ng" position of the tongue during
singing, and state that singers such as Kirsten Flagsted and Jussi
Bjorling used this tongue techniqe. What do you think about this?,
do you think a flat togue is neccessary for singing? what do you think
about using an egg to train the tongue, I would really appreciate
your comments.
April
2002
Great
response to 28/3/02 tip on breath....Thank you Rebecca
When
I take in a breath to sing a phrase, I am expanding not only my belly
and back, but my ribcage as well. The way I put it is to think of
"filling up the barrel with the air". I have learned to feel and imagine
filling up my pelvic region then immediately letting the air be "drawn
out of my head", and this seems to help me get the air going as I'm
tuning my voice before I sing. In addition, my ribs must feel like
they are being pushed out and kept open, even though they are automatically
going back into their pre-breath state (To my instructor,"You mean
there is something else you want me to think about in addition to
this?"). Just learning to get this breath has taken years; however,
it is what fuels the most important part of learning to sing---air
through the vocal cords, which in turn produces the sound. When I
have breath, I have my body working for me in such a way that allows
the sound instead of making my body do what I ! think it should....
This is basically the way I am learning and I'm just at the tip of
the iceberg! Any comments? Sure do love this site and your valuable
explanations! Hope you have blessed Easter.
Decemberr
2001
A
great story in response to recent tip discussing patience.
blessings
from Scotland . I am average as a singer I have a little bit more
than a tune in my head but average. I have never had a lesson in my
life I am a 50 year old male . I came from an extremely deprived background
in the slum buildings in Glasgow. one day my father made me a guitar
from a fish box a square box and fuse wire , wonderful how it all
begins don't you think. then I took a job as a milk boy and at aged
12 bought my first guitar what joy. I sat on the stairs all alone
in my own world wrapped in me my sound and my voice. then one day
I learned my first chord then the next and the next man oh man was
that something. then I made a wonderful discovery all on my own ,
that these chord sounds I could use to let my voice flow with oh Brian
what a discovery , so I sang to my mother she said that's good in
her own humble way . so I set out to teach my friends what I knew
. I had to pass it on . you see we have a saying in Scotland ( you
gote tae gee it a way tae keep it ) or you have got to give it away
to keep it in English (ha ha) . and that is what you are doing here
on the net brian giving it away and may god give you health and long
life to do just that . you see here am I at 50 years old still learning
from you . my mother and father are both dead now god rest them .
and my life has been one of poverty trial and sadness . but here I
am still as you so rightly put it body immersed in my music, music
and me one . I wish it was like that all the time but distractions
put aside me and that little boy wrapped in music still lives on .
music was my tool to sanity and still is . many thanks for you web
pages god bless you . I just thought I would share myself a little
with you all and let you see we are all beginners each and everyday
. and let you know what goodness comes from your web site god bless
you and many thanks john from Scotland
Another
on patience
Dear
Mr. Gilbertson, Here are my thoughts when speaking to another beginning
singer: Don't I know all too well to have patience while learning
to sing! It is one tough road, but it is a journey that should be
a (mostly) happy one as we singers learn about ourselves and our voices.
I had no idea what learning to sing would entail; however, it's wonderful
to have a teacher who is so understanding and patient. I have learned
so much about myself! Wanting to do something "so bad" is so difficult
to wait for, but rest assured, it will come with work, patience,(which
we sometimes must learn from others) and determination. I have expierenced
some tough times throughout my years of lessons, but looking back,
I would not be the singer I am today had I not done the work, expierenced
the difficulties,etc. Learning to sing and sing well takes time, and
I am having a ball in the process! The love of singing, the love of
others and of yourself will shine through in due time. Thanks for
the reassurance of the basic tools of character one needs in learning.
Sincerely, Rebecca
November
2001
Tony's
assessment is in previous tips 16/11/01.
There
were not many responses to Tony's comments last week regarding Opera
v Pop. I thought there'd be more. However, a thoughtful insight from
Dan.....
I
concur with Tony's assessment of pop vs. opera. In opera, proper technique
is the most important element. Pavoratti getting boo'd for cracking
comes to mind. Even though emotion is an important element in opera,
it takes a back seat to technique. Conversely, the exact opposite
is true in pop music. A cracking voice may be exactly the desired
effect if the emotion is revealed. Technique is also important in
pop, but takes a back seat to emotion and a personal involvement with
the listener. Good observation, Tony. I do think, though, I disagree
with Tony's assessment of a less-than-perfect voice is desirable for
the pop listener so that they can relate or sing along better. If
a technically perfect (opera singer) voice can convey sincere emotion
and intimate communication then they should be successful in a pop
song.
Dan
....... Michigan USA P.S. Thank you for this great forum, Brian.
Tony's
assessment is in previous tips 16/11/01.
If
we have more incoming emails on this question, I will address it in
more detail once I have completed my current series on Opera singing
taking a long time.
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