Category: Singing

It has been a struggling moment of practicing my singing for so long. I read much, book, article and from forum. I tried out things. I put into practice what I read but still so hard to sing. The output the bad.

I know it is breathing problem but don’t still the same. I don’t know exactly what breathing problem. The problem also I got distracted to think or learn other thing like resonance, pitch matching etc.

But, I think I got to identify the problem in these few days. It wasn’t about me not using diaphram (because I can feel and use it when holding a pitch but not got mess up during singing a song) but the problems are a few like me holding the breath, mouth/nose breathing got mess up and etc.

Just now, read a book in Mid Valley. Btw, found out that there are a few vocal book over there. I found at least 3 books and one with CD book type. I browse through one of the books and found these execellent point about breathing.

These are the point that I’m going to bang them in my head at least for these few weeks.

• Never take a breath and hold it.
• Never take as much breath as you can hold.
• Always begin singing on the tail end of a inhaled breath.
• Always get rid of all your breath before taking in a new one.

I want to particularly focus in the first and third point because 2nd and 4th is quite hard and not get it yet.

Thank you God for helping me in singing.

Just now, sing around 45 minutes of karaoke at home. Feel that time time, better output compare to last time. But song still too high for now. Feel like I need to use maximum push from my diaphram to output those continuous high notes. After a while, diaphram can’t tahan liao.

Also tried out something new, using falsetto to hit low notes. Seem can work. Just gotta practice more. When I change to use falsetto to hit the notes, so much easier and comfortable.

Just gotta keep train myself in my support/breathing. I think hearing is not that bad. I can’t hear myself out of pitch.

Forum

Today, during work, type out “singing forum vocal” and from then realize that I can learn much from here. And just now, went to the forum again. But, seems a lot of forum and much to read. But, I settle down in this forum called, http://singing.eblah.com

I spend quite a long time in this “Rate my singing” category. Wow, learnt much from the comment. Great tips from the experts there. Also feel a little comforted because hearing some less better than me when I got a hang of myself. But, I shouldn’t be proud and laugh at her which I did in my heart. No good. Repent.

Some really sing very well there like law77. Hope to hear more great singing from there to get inspired. I think hearing normal people singing inspire me more than the real singer. I think this inspiration insight began when I went to S.H.E singing competition yesterday. Indeed, I got inspired. And gotta bear in mind not to chase after to be a singer nor popularity but rather a better motivation, to sing better for my church and to inspires others because I’m not very talented. I think I give myself 2 out of 5 talent (Parable of the talent).

I think I will do the same, record myself down and post it for feedback. It is a good way. Actually, just by hearing myself I can give comment to myself but some I can see/hear it, blind spot.

I think I will also add some good website and forum link to my http://music.findingsteve.net for the help and benefits of others who go to my website.

Notes

Gotta record down the things I learnt from there.

• Use nose instead of mouth. Reason is because using mouth will dry out the vocal cord. But, mouth is used for quick breath taking.
• Remember resonance. It is like wood and guitar. Keyword is relax. To create voice of a fuller voice and ‘ringing quality’. Allow air in your wind pipe, lungs, facial sinus, nose and mouth (vibrate in the same wave cycle) more.
• the need of accompanient or vocal teacher.
• sing right types and range of songs. It is pop or others?
• there is something called raw material which is the voice. Is there any talent? How much?
• Use vibrato during warm up and straight during performance, to protect vocal cord.

Question to find ask about myself

• What kind of voice I have? Rich deep? Normal?
• How much is my voice talent? 1 to 5. [ self-awareness. honesty from others can really hurts here. ]

Realize that today Vivian and Nicole will participate S.H.E singing content. After I finish my PA meeting, when I am about to leave and watch the clock. It’s 3pm and then thought about their singing contest which is at 3pm. So, just go for it.

When I reached there, the place is so crowded, with mostly teens and young people. Their turn is 43 and at time when I reached there is only around 10 plus. Listening to those contestant, I am actually blown away. They really sing in accurate pitch. Some, not only sing in pitch but can hear the maturity of the voice and they also dance. Wow. How can they dance and sing at the same time? Sing already not easy. Another scene is just so cute to see little girl sang and she can sing in pitch! One very funny one is a girl duet with a boy. I think he is the only boy contestant. I think they are siblings. Hehe.. Back to great singing, one group sang so harmoniously, create the kind of Boyz 2 Men effect. Amazing! And I love it. Some sang with risk level, high and loud, making their singing powerful in my opinion. Awesome. That should be the way. All the way and not holding back. And they are also very confident, shouting, communicating with the crowd.

And at the end, is Vivian and Nicole’s turn. I actually feel nervous. At the end, I feel that their singing is normal compare to their many strong competitor. I always like Vivian’s voice and singing. She has the talent (voice). But, not powerful. I believe due to not yet use diaphram to output the voice. When she managed to get a hang of this diaphram breathing, she can sing more powerfully and more beautiful tone. Same goes with Nicole.

Also, I thought that in order to win this kind or any kind of singing competition, we need not only can sing well but many other things all needed like motivation or mental strength which leads to confidence and not to be nervous or afraid. They also need to record their singing many times to listen to themselves back. And many more things like strategy, selection of songs.

But, I believe this is a great experience and need to compliment them for taking out the courage to try. Many try also too afraid. These are the one who will regret much at the end.

Other than that, I think I begin to like this group of singers. Nice songs. 🙂

I realize that my singing has gotten so one kind. I can’t even sing normal. When I sing certain way or normal, I short of breath. I need to think about breathing. Yes, it’s true that I get it more and more the diaphram breathing but I need to strongly focus on the basic and need a lot of practice, with the help of good wall. So, that I can hear back myself and thus keep me aware where am I. And those echo from them helps a lot.

What in the world … one week later … I’m going to sing in front of many people for Kuantan service with this one kind singing?

What in the world … a ‘song leader’ for my church in this worse-than-normal people level?

Gotta really hardwork to practice and practice and practice.