Sabado, Agosto 2, 2008

Lolo's Payo's

Natagpuan ko ang post kong ito na mula pa sa panahong ako'y medyo nakakapag-ingles pa. Nakatutuwa lang isipin na hindi pa ako nagtuturo noong isinulat ko ito, at ngayong nagtuturo na ako, [ang gulo! hahahah] ito pa rin ang karaniwang ipinapayo ko sa aking mga estudyante. Narito at baka sakaling may matutunan kayo.


According to my dad, I started singing even before I started talking. He used to be in a band too…cool ei? He taught me some tips on how to take care and improve my voice. I’ve been researching about this these past few days and here is list of what I have found, and accept as true.


1. Maintain adequate hydration. Drinking plenty of water allows vocal cords to vibrate with less “push” from the lungs, especially when reaching high pitches. Also, well-hydrated vocal cords resist injury than dry cords. I always make it a point that I have bottled-water with me during gigs. Drinking water after two or three songs is really necessary for me.


2. Always warm-up and cool-down. Warming-up your voice is important before prolonged singing engagements. I do this by humming songs that are easy to sing (for me). This helps me to have my voice in good shape when I step on stage. It is much easier to “blow it all out” after doing this. Though it is often ignored, vocal cool-downs may also be used to prevent damage to vocal cords. Again, the simple practice of gentle and relaxed humming can serve as one excellent, easy form of cooling-down.


3. Know your range. Avoid singing pieces at the extremes of your vocal range. Or songs with high or low pitch that you can’t reach constantly. This could really damage your vocal cords. To determine your range, perform light glides or lip trills to your highest and lowest notes. Record these notes by checking them on a piano. Make sure that pieces in your repertoire fall above the lowest and below the highest extremes of your range. To view average vocal ranges for soprano, mezzo soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass voices, click here.


4. Know the potential side effects of your medications. Many commonly prescribed medications can have significant effects on your voice. I’ve learned this one from experience. A certain ascorbic acid that I’ve taken not so long ago made my voice hoarse for days. Good thing my guitarist back then can sing. He sang more songs than me during those nights…haha.. For a listing of medications and potential adverse effects on your voice, click here.


5. When singing with a band, use monitors. Have some small speakers facing you on stage so you can hear yourself adequately and modify your volume accordingly. It is pretty hard to sing without these monitors, especially when performing in an open spot. If these are not really accessible for some reason, I suggest that you stay clear from the instruments – especially the drums. You can also try placing one finger in your ear but this should be done in an “artful” manner. ;P


6. Avoid vocally abusive behaviors.

- Decrease overall volume.

- No shouting/ yelling.

- Don’t whisper! It may actually make your voice worse.

- Don’t talk in the presence of a lot of background noise!

- Don’t try to talk or sing when you have a bad cold or laryngitis.


7. And lastly, Don't smoke! Don't smoke! Don't smoke! I can't say it enough.


I’ll try to look for more tips on voice improvement, and post it here. If you also have some, feel free to contact me and I’ll add it here too.

Thank you and happy singing!


12 komento:

  1. wow...vocals ka pala ng isang banda cool! salamat sa mga tips! kakailanganin ko to sa handaan mamya...tiyak may videoke na naman dun..hehe!

    you're right with STOP SMOKING: bukod sa nicotine meron din itong kasamang FORMALINE, ARNSENIC, AT CYANIDE...gogogo! napakacliched na to say 'don't smoke'...mahirap tlgang tumigil lalo na kapag dependent na yung katawan mo...ciao!

    TumugonBurahin
  2. Naalala ko rin yung huwag uminon ng malamig na tubig (ke nasa praktis ka o hindi).

    TumugonBurahin
  3. Roneiluke, musta naman kantahan? heheh.

    Tama po. Nakakapasma po 'yun ng lalamunan. Salamat po sa pagbisita Bb. Janette. :)

    TumugonBurahin
  4. --

    yehey

    makakakanta n rin ako

    hakhak

    elyens

    XXXxx

    TumugonBurahin
  5. Di ba karamihan ng singers ay smokers?
    wala ako talent sa singing kaya wala ako mabibigay na tips. Lol.

    TumugonBurahin
  6. Please Visit my site and add me to ur blog roll www.semidoppel.com

    TumugonBurahin
  7. I've always wondered how band vocalists sing like that even with their relatively unhealthy lifestyle. hmmm. gumanda kaya voice ko kapag sinunod ko to?

    TumugonBurahin
  8. hi, I agree 100%. I used to sing also (in the bathroom) and all these things are very necessary if you want to stay longer in a music and singing industry as your bread and butter. If you are not really into it, it is still the best thing to take care your voice. By the way, thank you for posting this very useful information and hopefully to have you as my vocal coach! heheheh!

    TumugonBurahin
  9. Yay! Puwede nakong sumali sa amateur singing contest sa barangay namin. Wehehehe

    TumugonBurahin
  10. lahat ng mga ibinahagi mo ay tama at totoong nakakatulong talaga sa maiging pag-aalaga ng boses.. :D

    ngunit, nagtataka pa rin ako kung paano nakakanta ang ibang mga mang-aawit kahit na sila ay naninigarilyo..

    (nakuha ko ang link sa plurk.) :D

    TumugonBurahin
  11. @Bianca Rei

    Hindi direktang nakaaapekto ang paninigarilyo sa boses, bagkus ay sa "breathing technique" ng isang mang-aawit. Ang epekto nito ay gradwal at hindi agad makikita. Isang senyales na naaapektuhan na ang pagkanta ng isang mang-aawit na naninigarilyo ay kapag nahihirapan na siyang mag-sustain o pahabain ang kanyang mga tono.

    Salamat sa pagdalaw! :D

    TumugonBurahin