Mark JW Graham: Singing Lessons Nottingham
Mark is the Midlands' leading Certified Voice Coach, providing professional singing lessons in Nottingham. Mark is known for getting BIG results in voices, fast. – 0115 871 7660 || [email protected]
Welcome to another instalment of songs from the last week!
This is an absolute marathon of a song, you’ve got to have the technique AND the stamina to get through this piece. Especially with the key change and the multiple climaxes, it just doesn’t let up!
We all have good and bad voice days, and we all beat ourselves up from time to time. The following list is not exhaustive, but represents some cross-genre vocal fails that show how we ALL have to accept some vocal fails from time to time. It’s an organic instrument, and things don’t always go to plan.
Classical: Pavarotti
Here’s one to kick off. Now, while it’s not a huge fail vocal by most standards, by operatic standards, it was a dramatic letdown to say the least.
Rock: Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell’s recorded vocals set the standard for rock vocals, but live, he could be somewhat ropey. Here’s a quick clip. If you know the song, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
Musical Theatre: Idina Menzel
This isn’t good. Wait for the horrendous missed note on the final line.
Pop: Katy Perry
Check the Youtube comments!
This list is not exhaustive, and not meant to be a slagging off of the performers, just to share that we are all human and subject to the odd vocal fail. I hope you have at least gasped, then cracked a smile in response to some of these, if so, I’ve done my job!
Oh and here’s one more that is truly epic:
I came across this whilst looking for new music on Youtube. Charles Jones is a beast vocally on this. Impressive style, great tone, and technically very sound.
Enjoy!
Reading time: 3 minutes
I once attended a voice conference where it was said from the front that generally “Women make better singers than men.”
Now, this assertion has been stuck in my mind for a long time. Firstly, is it true? Secondly, if it IS true, why might this be the case? Continue reading “Do women make better singers?”
Reading time: 3 minutes
I had a coaching session last week, and the topic of vocal science came up. Now I am ALL for further understanding of science: it is an incredibly helpful tool.
However, whenever I see a new idea presented in vocal science, or some aspect that is preached heavily by various teaching methodologies, there is invariably a problem. Science can only – at best – explain why something has happened, it does not inherently create a roadmap or set of helpful instructions for others to follow. The key question we must always ask with anything to do with voice, is how do we apply something helpfully in a singers voice.
I have met some incredibly knowledgeable vocal coaches over the years. Some of them are excellent coaches and apply what they know effectively in tools, but others seem to be acquiring knowledge for knowledge’s sake.
The voice is incredibly complex, and it is worth pursuing understanding. But, so what if you understand formants, can name every aspect of vocal musculature, measure or manipulate laryngeal tilt, etc… If a coach or singer can’t leverage that knowledge into making a voice better effectively, what good is it? Continue reading “A problem with trying to teach good singing using only vocal science”
Reading time: 4-5 minutes
Singing after illness or after bouts of vocal fatigue (especially when viruses, colds, sinus issues, mucous-heavy bugs have hit you) is a critical topic to consider. There is a certain amount you CANNOT do as you have to let an illness run its course. However, there are also things you can do to ensure your voice is as good as it can be for when the virus finishes it’s run. In this post, I wanted to take you through five key tips I use as part of my regimen to a) get my voice through a tricky throat virus or cold-based sickness, and b) alleviate how the symptoms can further aggravate your voice. Continue reading “When Throat Viruses Attack – Back to singing after illness/vocal fatigue”
Here’s another instalment of songs from the last week that have been brought in!
1. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me – Elton John + George Michael
This is a GREAT song, both lyrically and melodically. The way it builds and crescendoes is fantastic, and it’s a wonderful song for building the voice.
Watching time: ~5 minutes
This video where Michael Buble impersonates Sinatra and other singers came up in a lesson this week, and I wanted to share it with you. Primarily because this shows just how much attention to detail great singers like Buble have for those they wish to learn from. They don’t just learn the songs of their idols, they learn EVERYTHING. They fixate on tiny details that the rest of us miss, then learn to create just the right shading of that attribute. It really is incredible, and very inspiring to spend time diving into your own favourite artists.
Continue reading “Michael Buble Impersonates Sinatra, Elvis & Dean Martin”