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Valde Voice Studio

12 Questions to ask yourself at the end of 2014

12/11/2014

Take a moment to sit with a cup of tea and answer these questions for yourself.

1.) What was my biggest vocal challenge of 2014? What did it teach me?
2.) What was the largest obstacle I faced in maintaining a regular vocal practice?
3.) In what way was I vocally brave in 2014?
4.) What was my greatest vocal achievement this year?
5.) Where did I feel stuck this year?
6.) When did I feel most creatively inspired?
7.) What song in my book needs to be replaced?
8.) When did self-doubt overtake me?
9.) What was my greatest disappointment this year? How did I heal & move forward?
10.) What were the three most important things I learned about my singing this year?
11.) What singing experience brought me the most joy this year?
12.) What did I do this year that I've never done before?

the Secret ingredient

5/13/2014

I have a tip for you that will advance your singing by leaps and bounds and is FREE. Yes, that's right, it is absolutely free! It's something most elite singers do or have done instinctively and is so much a part of who they are that they don't think to mention it. LISTENING! Singer are always listening and asking themselves questions about what they are hearing.

When I was in college and grad school I learned so much from my teachers, coaches and conductors but I gleaned an enormous amount of information by listening. My friends and I would spend countless hours listening to recordings together and discussing what we heard. In this way we learned about style, phrasing and use of language. "Did you hear how he lingered on the M of that word?" "That pause was orgasmic," "I love how she chose to float that high B flat." We shared new rep we'd discovered, we learned about artists old and new and we learned about the history of our art form.

One can also learn about technical strategies other singers employ: "She belted that note but mixed that one," "He did that all in one breath," "She modified that vowel."

If you want to learn from the master of this way of listening watch some of Seth Rudetsky's Deconstructions. Then, start deconstructing things for yourself. Listen with a discerning ear, not the critical, I'm-going-to-leave-a-nasty-anonymous-comment kind of way which is all to prevalent these days, but, with the intention of learning and understanding.

Now - go make some playlists and start LISTENING!

the problem is usually not the problem

5/6/2014

Today I flipped out about a tea kettle. Yes, you heard right, a tea kettle - such a silly, simple thing. The tea kettle was, of course, not the real problem. The problem started hours before with the fifty other things that occurred throughout the day that had not been deal with properly and had led to built up tension and stress.

The same is true for singing. So often we will pinpoint a note or passage and label this "the problem." In fact, the problem started measures ago with vocal issues not properly addressed. Under less demanding circumstances these issues could probably fly under the radar but when met with more challenging notes or passages they become exposed. When I bump up against a problem as a singer I have learned to back up a couple of measures to see what I'm doing to hinder my success. Now, if only I could learn to do that more often in life.

Why you should take voice lessons

4/21/2014

You're a grown-up, you've had great vocal training and you have a solid vocal technique, so, why do you need lessons? For the same reason athletes have trainers and dancers continue to take class. It's easier and more efficient to stay in shape when you have someone holding you accountable. With the very busy lives we all lead, it's too easy to push our creative goals to the back burner, no matter how much our emotional survival may need them. It's much harder to do that when you have to carve out time and money AND stand in front of someone to be answerable for how you have or have not honored your goals.

It's also helpful to have another pair of ears. Voices are inextricably interwoven with who we are. It's almost impossible not to be blind to what needs help and/or be overly judgmental and harsh with ourselves. A voice teacher can help keep things in perspective, gently helping you to appreciate your gifts or giving you a kick in the butt when you need it.

Most importantly, singing is about communication. We spend so much time texting, tweeting, Facebooking and emailing, but, singing goes deeper. It speaks to the soul. It is a much richer experience when you open up your heart to sing to have someone standing beside you as witness, cheering you on and saying, "Yes, I hear you."

5 Things You Need to bring to your next audition

4/15/2014

You've chosen and rehearsed your songs and you have your headshot and resume ready to go. As you're getting yourself organized for your next audition, consider bringing these five additional things with you.

1.) Your back-up plan. The call may have asked for two songs in contrasting styles but are you ready for Sophie's Choice when they cut it down to one song? How about 32 bars? 16 bars? 8 bars? I'm not kidding. I've had it happen to me more than once and it's not the kind of decision you want to make on the fly.

2.) Your water bottle. Please help cut down on the plastic and get a quality reusable water bottle to bring with you. It may be a little heavier to tote around but the planet will thank you!

3.) Earbuds. Use your phone to it's full advantage while waiting. Listen to a lesson you've recorded, an audio-book, an inspiring playlist, play games - whatever helps you block out the chaotic energy of the waiting room. Just stay off of social media. Studies have shown that many people experience a dip in confidence after spending time on social media sites and an audition is NOT the place to try to deal with that. Try the Self Control for Study app for droid users and just plain old self control for those of you with iPhones.

4.) Money for parking, tolls and passes. Maybe it's just me, but I spend so much time focusing on the artistic preparation for the audition that I forget the practicalities of actually getting there. Having to deal with last minute distractions and hassles can throw you off your game so be sure you have money on your train pass, gas in the car and money & a plan for parking.

5.) A snack - personally, I like some sort of protein and some fruit. Sometimes you're lucky enough to be called into the audition room right away or find out that you have enough time to leave and come back but there are often times when you are just stuck there. It's good to have a little sustenance and to do a bit of stretching & deep breathing to help keep your energy up.

BONUS ITEM FOR WOMEN: A second pair of shoes. Heels are great for the actual audition. Flats are great for getting to the audition AND to have on hand when they are typing people out and you are taller than all the men.

Be Zen

4/7/2014

"You have all the attributes to do this thing right now, Valde. What you need to do is go study Zen."
-Doug Duncan
This was said to me by my undergrad voice teacher in a moment of frustration. The technique of singing is something one spends a lifetime perfecting but it is easy compared to getting out of your own way. There is a difference between knowing what to do and knowing how to do it and there's an even bigger difference between knowing how to do it and being able to do it. In singing you need to be aware of your mind's patterns so that you can change them. You need to be able to practice concentration and detachment and you have to be able to let go enough to allow singing to happen. So, if you are stuck, if there is something about the technique of singing or auditioning or performing that you can't quite get - stop, breathe. It probably goes deeper than you think but the solution will probably be easier than you think once you stop banging your head against the brick wall.

Practicing

3/30/2014

I know you're probably thinking, "Oh no, here comes the lecture about practicing." Don't worry, we're all grown-ups and I know you each take your own approach to practicing and that different people set different priorities for practicing. So, this isn't a lecture, this is an invitation, an invitation to enjoy practicing. So many of us, myself included, approach practicing as a chore rather than a musical experience. Remember the passion, that initial spark that drove you to sing in the first place and let that lead you to a new perspective, one in which practicing is play, experimentation and an opportunity to do what you love - SING! Be spontaneous! Of course, there are warm-ups and technical exercises but it's OK to trust your own intuition - do the ones that feel best to you on a particular day OR warm-up and then get to work on a song you love to sing. Be curious. Is there a song you've been wanting to try out? Do you wonder whether you can do that phrase in one breath now? Sing! Sing your heart out and enjoy the sensation of singing. Practice singing. Practice confidence. Practice joy.

It's Called the LaRynx Not The LarNynx

3/25/2014

It's a pet peeve of mine. The larynx is a key component in the production of your sound, you should know how to pronounce it properly.

I won't get into a detailed explanation of the larynx here, there are many other sites you can find that will do that for you if you are interested, like this super cool site HERE. What I believe is most important to know about the larynx (other than how to pronounce it)is that it houses, protects and is connected to the vocal folds. If it is tense, your vocal folds will be tense and therefore will not be able to operate freely and properly. For healthy vocal production the larynx should be relaxed, not creeping upward nor forced down. Learning to recognize and correct a tight larynx will help you solve many of your perceived vocal problems. Keep in mind that these are reflexive muscles. If you are tired, sick or emotional they will react in kind therefore allowing them to relax will require keen observation and intention.