Thom Flora, Judy Rodman

singing background vocals at Eclectic Studio, Nashville

Doing your own background vocals on your recording project can be a very good idea, or can limit or even sabotage your project. Here are two big factors that should be…

Breath is the power source for the voice. Not having enough breath or not having control of breath for singing or speaking can cause all kinds of vocal problems, including:

1. running out of breath (can't finish phrases well)
2. not having enough volume (weak, quiet voice)
3. strained or…

Well, actually singers can learn lots of things from master musicians, but I want to highlight this one today: The secret of the light-just-right touch. Great musicians know that pressure matters, for instance...

• When drummers hit drums too hard, they lose tone from their drums.…

Have you ever been told (or noticed yourself) that you have a numb or lifeless singing voice? Getting to the cause is the only way to change ineffective, lifeless vocal performance into a voice that is understood at an emotional…

I got a great question about allergies through my Facebook page (and if you're on FB, pls join me there!)



Rita asked about warding off allergies before a singing engagement. Of course it's best to deal with the allergens before they can trip the inflammation trigger. Here are some tips I've found helpful:



[Medical disclaimer... I am most decidedly not a doctor.…

I don't know about you, but the recent advertizements for Black Friday shopping (having to compete with  Black Friday Ninjas?!!) leaves me... well... afraid! I decided to stay home, play with my…

Did you know that talking on the phone for any extended length of time can sabotage your singing voice? Yep, it's absolutely true. Why? No one can see you. Therefore, you don't use the same kind of facial and body language that you would if communicating visually.

Here's the typical phone talker:

• Your face upper face goes inactive. When you don't use your eyes, eyebrows and mask area while sounding your voice, your vocal ceiling (soft palate, back of nasal…

• When phonating (making a vocal sound) the belly should go out.

Dear friends who record and release music... I'd like to help protect your interests by sharing the following cautionary tale:

I got a frantic message from an indie artist this week. She had a very upsetting note from one of my cowriters, saying to have her attorney contact her. He had been surfing the web, noticed that she cut his song and released it to radio. Problem was, he had not received any mechanical money or signed a…

There is no substitute for experience. I've done every one of these things wrong... that's how I know what to tell YOU about giving a great performance...

1. Sing full voice when rehearsing/preparing for a gig, don't just do vocal exercises. You have to have not just correct form, but also sheer vocal stamina to
   
   perform well.
2. Wear shoes your feet feel great…

Vocal strain is unfortunately a common issue for active live performers who are not doing good, consistent vocal training. Someone recently asked me this question:

I think that I overused my voice last week. I had a couple of extra gigs I picked up and am just not used to the extra singing and now my throat is all kinds of jacked

up... Any tips you can send my way to help me make it through tonight

and tomorrow night?…

Vocal Warm Ups: What They Should Accomplish