Author Archive: Ramesha Nani

The Secret to a Truly Loud Voice

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Have you ever had the experience of singing in a choir, or any vocal ensemble, and it feels like everyone around you is singing much louder than you are? Like, no matter how hard you “push” you can hardly hear your own voice? Indeed, that is the common response—to push your voice out, trying to get louder. But let’s stop and ask ourselves: does that really work??

One of the surprising things you learn with serious vocal training is that the more you push your voice, the less it will be heard from a distance. To truly project your voice so that it really carries, you must place it correctly and be able to give it enough resonance by keeping your throat expanded—in a relaxed way.

Ironically, when you hear your own voice very loudly it usually means that you’re not projecting it at all. You’re forcing it out by squeezing your throat, and that blocks the sound from projecting and quickly moving away from you. That’s why it sounds so loud to your ears!

The opposite is also true: when you place your voice correctly (with a relaxed and expanded throat), and therefore project your sound out, it doesn’t seem as loud to you because the sound is rapidly traveling away from you.

This technique was developed in times when microphones didn’t exist and singers had to come up with “tricks” to be able to be heard over large orchestras, without any amplification. Think of operas by Giacomo Puccini, where the orchestra gets incredibly loud at times and yet you can still hear the soloist’s voice soaring over the top of it.

I remember being at a karaoke place when the karaoke guy invited a trained alto to sing a song. At first she tried to sing in the microphone and that was impossibly loud: the speakers were distorting the sound big time. Then she tried without the mic. The place was relatively small, so even without a microphone her voice was still overwhelmingly loud! She was trained in the art of projecting her voice and making it resonant.

Of course, this is an extreme case; very few of us need to worry about being “too loud”. Quite the opposite! Almost all of us would benefit from learning to stay relaxed—keeping our throats round and expanded, remaining completely free of stress and strain, and powerfully projecting our voices out to the world.

Watch the video below for more details!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk5w2v7VEqQ

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS ANY OF MY VIDEOS, subscribe to my YouTube channel. Click here, then click on the red button “subscribe”. If you want to be notified every time I post a new video, click also on the bell next to the “subscribe” button.

Sincerely,

Ramesha

 

How to Learn a Song Fast: Preparing for a Performance (Part 2)

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Here are a few more tips to follow when you’re learning a song from scratch:

  • If you’re having a hard time with the pronunciation of a word, drop all consonants from that word and practice transitioning from the previous word to the vowel(s) of that tricky word. Then add the consonant(s) immediately preceding the vowel(s) you’re singing on. When that feels comfortable, add the other consonants too. For example the word “blessed” has the two consonants “bl”, which, combined with “e” make the word sound a little funny. Practice singing the “e” alone first, coming from the previous word. Then add “bl”, and finally “ssed”.
  • The tendency to run out of breath too quickly usually indicates a flaw in your placement. When you place your voice correctly all the breath you use turns into sound. But when the placement is not right, the sound becomes “breathy”, as if it had a leak. So you use up a lot more air than necessary and run out of breath. Warm-ups where you focus on pronouncing and enunciating your vowels very clearly can help fix this issue.
  • If you’re not holding the pitch it usually means that you’re not relaxed enough. You’re straining your voice, or “pushing”, and when you get tired the pitch tends to drop. Long tone exercises (holding a note while consciously relaxing your throat) can be very helpful with this issue.

Needless to say, it’s extremely helpful – especially for the last two issues – to have the guidance and feedback of someone who can correct your placement and demonstrate for you the correct way to use the voice.

 

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS ANY OF MY VIDEOS, subscribe to my YouTube channel. Click here, then click on the red button “subscribe”. If you want to be notified every time I post a new video, click also on the bell next to the “subscribe” button.

Sincerely,

Ramesha                        

How to Learn a Song Fast: Preparing for a Performance (Part 1)

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When learning a new song most people tend to repeat the song over and over, hoping eventually to be able to sing it flawlessly. This approach, although helpful to memorize the melody and the lyrics, doesn’t address any “rough spot” that almost every song contains.

Here are a few tips to follow when you’re learning a song from scratch:

1) Memorize the melody

Learning the melody is essential in order to work on the song. Get a recording of the song and listen to it many times. You can also hum along with the recording to help you fix the melody in your mind.

2) Go through the song once or twice

Circle with a pencil all the “rough spots”. It can be a high note, a change of register, a word that’s particularly hard to pronounce, running out of breath, difficulty holding the pitch, and so on.

3) Address each issue separately

If you’re having a hard time with a high note, practice holding that particular note long enough to fine tune the placement and get more comfortable (long tone). Use the same vowel as the word you need to say on that note. For example, if the word is “love”, practice holding the vowel “uh” on that note. When you feel comfortable, practice saying the whole word and holding it for a few seconds. Lastly, practice singing the previous note followed by the tricky one. For example, if the words are “deep love”, practice transitioning from the word “deep” to the word “love”, until you feel comfortable and the transition is smooth.

If you’re struggling with a change of register practice going slowly from the note in one register to the note in the other register. Take the time to hold each note long enough to make sure they’re placed correctly. When that’s the case, not only will they sound good, but you’ll also feel comfortable and relaxed singing them. Then gradually practice making the transition more quickly, making sure that the quality of sound stays good and you remain relaxed. (to be continued)

 

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS ANY OF MY VIDEOS, subscribe to my YouTube channel. Click here, then click on the red button “subscribe”. If you want to be notified every time I post a new video, click also on the bell next to the “subscribe” button.

Sincerely,

Ramesha

The Importance of Vocal Training for Speaking

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Your voice is your primary communication tool, and yet, the most overlooked by public speakers! In this video I talk about the importance of vocal training for speaking and the various ways a well trained voice contributes to your success as a speaker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os81BGK6rsE

►Online Course for Speakers

What holds you back as a speaker? It could be your voice!

The voice conveys so much information about who you are. If properly trained, your voice can become a powerful instrument to convey not just words, but the energy, the ideas, and the consciousness behind the words. A strong, resonant voice is confidence-building, commands attention, conveys trust and integrity, and establishes more easily a connection with your audience.

Click here

 

“Fantastic! This is not a typical public speaking course. It is aimed at awareness and control of the sound of your voice. The benefits are instant and will last a lifetime. Thank you for the invaluable information.” –O.B., Udemy Student

Click here

How to Develop Good Pitch

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While vocal training is essential to develop good pitch, there are other important factors that are often overlooked. In this video we’re going to explore them together.

Enjoy!

–Ramesha

Ready to Take Your Next Step?

Enroll in my ‘How to Sing in Tune‘ online course and improve your pitch forever!

how to sing in tune

 

 

 

The Importance of Vocal Training

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Sometimes people ask me why they should train their voice, when all they want to do is “express their feelings through music.”

In this video I answer this question and offer a bigger picture about what the role of a performing singer can (and should) be.

Enjoy!

–Ramesha

Ready to Take Your Next Step?

Sign Up for My FREE Singing Mini Course and learn the fundamentals of singing technique in just a few, easy steps!

 

 

Are You Trying Too Hard?

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by Ramesha Nani

free singing tipsA few years ago I read a quote from a great musician and composer of the 18th century whose name escapes me. He said “Those who don’t do too much, aren’t doing enough.” Even though I couldn’t figure out why, I remember feeling that he was wrong. Too much is simply too much!

Every worthwhile goal requires a huge amount of energy, concentration, and effort, but that most certainly doesn’t mean that there’s not room in the process for relaxation. In fact, we can’t concentrate deeply if we’re not relaxed. Our efforts will only generate increasing amounts of physical and mental tension, diverting our focus toward the strain, rather than keeping it on the task at hand.

In singing, relaxation is paramount! A tense throat will never produce strong, resonant, and reliable sounds. Even while doing one’s best to work on the many details of good vocal production, we need to allow room for relaxation. I remember once, during one of my voice lessons, my teacher told me “Remember to focus on this, and that, and also that…” After a few minutes she added “You’re thinking too much! Relax!” I felt like I couldn’t win! But later on I got what she meant: concentrate, but without tension.

Have you ever had the experience of being stuck on a problem and relaxing and letting it go, only to find the solution present itself, often in an unexpected manner? This process works well with singing. When you repeatedly fail to get the sound you want, it’s often a good idea to stop and take a break. You can free yourself of the physical and mental tension blocking your efforts with a short walk or deep breathing.

Performing singers need to include practicing relaxation as part of their vocal training. Why? Because of the all too common tendency to be nervous in front of an audience. Nervousness will trigger an already existing physical tension, noticeably compromising the vocal quality. Nervousness is not always easy to control, but the conscious practice of relaxing the body and mind and make that a habit significantly lessens its influence on our voice.

[If you want to learn how to deeply relax your body and throat, click here. If you need help with stage fright, read this article.]

An important part of vocal training for most singers is ridding the throat muscles of needless tension. Vocal relaxation is essential to being a truly good singer. Without it, most of the energy and focus is directed toward the throat, rather than on the music you’re sharing with your audience. It’s like trying to write an inspired poem with a defective pen: your focus is always on on the pen, rather than on the flow of inspiration.

https://www.facebook.com/vocalbliss/UPCOMING: Free vocal coaching on Facebook Live!

Join me for a LIVE event on my Facebook page called:

“SINGING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID OF SINGING”

When: Thursday, June 22 2017 at 11:30 PDT

Where: On my Facebook Page (please go there and like it if you haven’t yet!)

How to join: ​

  1. ​Go to my Facebook page
  2. Like it and follow it
  3. Once that’s done, you will receive an invitation from me through Facebook to join the live broadcast on Thursday, June 22 at 11:30.

 

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How to Boost Your Chest Voice and Why

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Incorrect use of the low rang is one of the most common issues that I run into in working with singers. Most women resist singing in their chest voice and tend to sing everything in their head voice. I believe this is because it’s easier and the quality of the tone is more ethereal and less masculine.

There are significant problems with this approach:

  1. The voice in the low range sounds weak and breathy
  2. It’s extremely difficult to sing low notes as they simply won’t come out!
  3. It’s impossible to sing loud in the low range. Volume decreases the lower you sing.
  4. The quality of the tone is often gravelly.

There can be other reasons for not wanting to use the chest voice, ones that are rooted in our emotions and psyche. I discovered this while helping public speakers develop a strong, resonant speaking voice.

A strong, yet relaxed speaking voice is deeply connected to self-confidence. Often those who speak with a breathy voice were told many times as a child to be quieter. They may have been told to not sing, or to just lip sync because they were judged to be inadequate singers. When working with these students and we touch on making their voices fuller, buried emotions are often released, revealing the deep connection between the voice and our emotions. Working on the voice acts as a catalyst to bring deeply rooted issues to the surface.

A full voice communicates clarity of expression and conviction. If it’s forced out it’s often perceived as revealing insecurity. A voice that is full, strong, resonant, and without strain, conveys an attitude of self-confidence that is not imposing and is without ulterior motive. This predisposes the audience to be more receptive to you and what you have to share.

For a singer, a full, resonant voice means a larger “bandwidth”, better suited to sharing energy and inspiration. The correct use of the chest voice ensures that inspiration is grounded, practical, and accessible by the audience. Fullness and volume are but one aspect of what you are offering to your audience. Remember to remain open to the flow of inspiration, which can only work unimpeded when you get the ego out of the way.

Learning to balance strength and self-confidence with selfless expression of inspiration is a constant process of fine-tuning and recalibrating our intentions as performers. The reward, however, is the growing, overwhelming realization that we are part of something much greater, and through singing, we can access this and share it with the world.

CHECK OUT MY LATEST VIDEO

How to REALLY Sing – How to Be a Charismatic Singer

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Let Music Talk to You

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Are you familiar with Star Wars? It’s a series of seven sci-fi movies that tell the story of a small band of heroes (the archetypal good guys) fighting against a huge army led by an evil emperor on a campaign to conquer and rule the galaxy. The first three movies that were released starting in 1977 are fun, witty, and full of action. The characters show depth of feeling, courage, and many qualities that  resonate with us. The later three movies, although a lot more engaging from the perspective of technology and special effects, lack depth of humanity, making the characters and their experiences feel stilted, almost fake. Although the pictures dazzle the audience with incredible special effects, one leaves the theater with a sense of emptiness. Yes, the movie tells a story, but it does so without much feeling, much like the experience one can have reading a history book.

This is similar to the experience of hearing someone sing with a gorgeous, well-polished voice who lacks the ability to convey feeling. Feeling, not a perfectly trained voice, is what touches the heart.

Recently, my wife and I were in Switzerland visiting family. While there, we attended a Christmas concert performed by a family of seven singers called Gruppo Vocale Famiglia Sala. We had heard them before, but this time I had a greater appreciation for their ability to feel the music deeply together, to enter a timeless zone where they feel and breathe together, where they and the music become one entity. The church where they sang was packed and yet it was pin-drop silent. I could feel that the audience was captured and transported on wings of inspiration.

We had a chance to meet them personally last year. Beside their incredible talent, we saw many qualities they shared: an innate, child-like joy, deep love for one another and for what they do, and a sincere desire to inspire people with their music. Not much room for ego there!

I sincerely believe that this is the secret to a magnetic performance: to humbly tune into the music and our fellow performers, to try to feel and breathe together, and to remain open to what the music itself is guiding us to do, instead of egotistically using the music to show off our talent.

Truly inspired music creates a strong flow of energy. If we tune into it, it can take us and our audience soaring on wings of inspiration, upliftment, and joy. One song can completely change us, if we are receptive.

The great American scientist and botanist George Washington Carver wrote “Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough.” Using our talents in service to music, supported by our deep love and sincere desire to tune into the music, will unlock for us the secret to deeply inspiring and magnetic performances that can transform us, our audience, the entire world.

 

CHECK OUT MY NEW VIDEOS

1) How to Sing in the Low Range

2) How to Sing in the Low-Medium Range

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3) How to Improve Your Singing Tone

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Become a Singing Athlete!

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Let me start with a confession: I don’t practice my vocal exercises as much as I should! I know I can always rely on my years of training to handle any small performance in which I’m involved. HOWEVER, when preparing for a major performance, I have to adopt a different strategy. I start practicing every day a couple of weeks before the performance. I don’t emphasize the songs and solos that I’ll be singing, which I know fairly well. I focus on stretching my throat muscles, making them strong and pliable. My goal is to feel that my voice is ready for anything and responds to the slightest nuance the music requires.

A singer friend of mine wrote to me recently asking why he often gets hoarse and loses his high notes after singing for an hour or so. He’s a singer with many years’ experience. I asked him how often he sings and whether he warms up his voice before singing. Not surprisingly, he doesn’t sing all that often and most of the time doesn’t warm-up before singing.

Let’s make something clear: if you sing regularly, perform regularly and need your voice to always be in top form, strong and healthy over the years, vocal exercises have to become part of your daily activities! You need to practice a twenty to thirty minute routine of vocal warm-ups that addresses the different aspects of the singing technique. These exercises are best practiced every day, but at a minimum, five days a week.

Singers need to take care of their voice the same way athletes take care of their bodies. This is especially true as you get older. Vocal cords, just like all other muscles, tend to become stiff and need regular stretching and exercise to remain strong and flexible.

It’s also very important to warm-up your voice before singing. When I was in my twenties I could sing without warming-up and I was fine. When you are young, you can also go running without warm-up and stretching. But as you get older, you start to notice that, without proper preparation, your muscles are more prone to injury. The same is true for the voice. And don’t be mistaken: even if you talk all day, that doesn’t mean that your voice is warmed-up for singing! When you talk you use only a very small portion of your vocal range. You don’t hold any sound for very long, so you don’t really need a lot of breath. Also, many people (including trained singers!) don’t use their speaking voice very well, which makes the act of talking all day far from ideal in terms of preparing their voice for singing.

I find singing to be one of the most powerful sources of inspiration, for oneself and for others, and God only knows how much the world needs inspiration right now! I feel it’s my duty to keep my instrument – the voice – as healthy and strong as I can. I hope you will do the same.