This tip applies to all singers: next time when you look at a song that needs to scream, understand the reason why you are going in such a high pitch and think about an experience in which you have had that can be related to the lyrics. For that reason, something is prompting you to spontaneously scream. Make sure that the scream is coming from the core of your emotional base which is located in the gut. Just a reminder, the vocal chords will be screaming because breathe if passing through and not because you have grabbed it in the throat or squeezed it causing your tone to vary.
It is important for adolescents to know that letting the sound come out, rather than forcing the sound to come out, is better their long term health. Think of it this way… sound is being drawn out of your body instead of pushing it out. This actually helps the body, especially the vocal chords since it is doing the job intended. Sometimes voices do not need a lot of warm up time. If singers start on middle C and sing an octave on a “nee” moving up the scale and then back down to middle C, this will help toward the warming up process.
Never push nor force your voice because you have to let your voice do what it wants until it warms up. Usually warm up time can be up to three to five minutes. Sometimes when people start singing in the morning, their voices feels a bit heavy, but never get too carried away trying to force your voice into a pitch that it cannot yet reach. After a few warm ups, the voice will feel easier. From time t time, do not think that you are singing, but instead you are sounding or simply resonating. Think of your throat as being the size of a ping pang ball where you later allow it to grow to the size of an apple and then as a melon and so on.
This allows balance between the pressure that one has between the bones of the face and itself. There are also certain rules that singers must follow in order to find the adequate and appropriate voice that they are trying to reach. Sitting up is the first thing that needs to be done in order to achieve the voice adolescents and others singers want. Another rule is to make room for sound and to relax the jaws. Make sure that teethe are apart while singing so that the head voice can be heard distinctively. When singing, it is important for everyone to focus the vibrations and the hums inside their head and in their mind.
They have to find the same pitch that is suitable to the rhythm and tune of the song. Many vocalist teachers remind teens that their voices will always be their voices. Whatever they do, they must relax and not allow themselves to be pressured. Sometimes for girls, their voices tend to be much lighter since they are young. Let the mind activate the body spontaneously and see how your body reacts. Slowly it will start to build awareness and your body will start to naturally loosen up rather than superficially make your body do things.
Saliva build up in your mouth can actually be good depending on the nature of the saliva. Usually if it is dry or stick, this can cause trouble. On the other hand, if it is wet and thick, then adolescents will have a better understanding on relaxing their vocal chords. Saliva is used to protect the vocal chords. If saliva does cause and create a problem, then it is recommended to take bottled flat water the day before and on the day of the performance. Have in mind all the suggestions and recommendations mentioned previously.
This can help adolescents that are changing in their voice tones to become and continue becoming a proficient and marvelous singer. Just remember, it does not help to force something unless you learn how to make it come out naturally. This is one of the most essential steps of being a good singer.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Demorest, Steve M. Building Choral Excellence: Teaching Sign-Singing in the Choral Rehearsal. New Ed Edition. Oxford University Press. United States, April 10, 2003. Ihde, Don. Listening and Voice: A Phenomenology of Sound. Ohio University Press. United States, 1976.