Back in September, we had a post called Healthy Belting Technique, Part 1. As often happens after a part 1, we have a part 2 for you. To recap, in the last Healthy Belting Technique post, we discussed developing a mix and then gently adjusting your headmix notes to create more of a chest-dominant mix. […]
Here's a guide to selecting the songs that should be in your musical theatre audition repertoire before you get that audition notice. As always, common sense audition song rules apply for these selections: don't pick something too overdone and make sure to pick a song that you sing well and that isn't too hard to sight-read on the piano.
Whether you need one song or five arias, let’s break down the steps to figuring out how to learn a song. As an added bonus, you can use some of these steps to learn a monologue as well!
It may not have reached "Let It Go" acclaim quite yet, but "Into the Unknown" is exploding in popularity, and nobody is that surprised. When Frozen 2 came on the scene, everyone was already waiting to hear what the next big Idina Menzel hit would sound like. "Into the Unknown" is catchy and fun to sing, but those choruses and that bridge are high and on fairly unfriendly vowels. If you're ready to stop ignoring the whispers and want to try journeying into the unknown vocally, start with this post to make your trip a little less perilous.
A few years ago, I wrote a post with 11 choirs that adults can join in Orange County, California. The post was met with so many wonderful singers writing in with their own choir for me to add that I decided to write a new post that included all the additional adult choirs I’ve learned […]
Make informed aesthetic choices, and don't let previous habits and training dictate your style. Just because you were trained to sing Broadway music doesn't mean you have to sing 90's rock like you're Barbara Streisand.
Figuring out how to shape the song in a way that can maximize a powerful performance takes a lot of thought and preparation--not to mention that the low notes are just so low for many female vocalists!
If you've ever been to a major opera house, you may have noticed that the singers are able to make their voices carry over an orchestra without amplification. Why is this?
For kids and teens growing up in Orange County with a passion for musical theatre or choral music, there are many performance outlets. But what if you sing commercial music and want to hone your pop music performance skills? Check out this list of 11 OC Venues for Kids and Teens to Perform At!
If you've ever signed up for any kind of singing class, you were probably told that the first step in learning to sing is learning to breathe correctly. That isn't wrong, but it isn't nearly as simple and concrete as they make it sound.
After the award-winning remake of A Star is Born was released, "Shallow," the movie's central musical theme, was catapulted to widespread popularity. I began getting a lot of requests to sing it, from female solos, to mixed gender duets. It quickly became clear that "Shallow" isn't quite as easy as Gaga makes it sound and that it deserves a place in our Hard Songs to Sing collection.
Recently, someone asked me on Quora whether people with loud voices are using their larynx differently than people with soft voices. In other words, if you have a loud voice, are you doing anything different with your voice box (that protrusion on your neck that houses your vocal folds). Or is something else going on? […]