Voice/Singing Lessons
Students build a repertoire of songs they know how to sing and work on the elements of singing through music they love accompanied by their teacher on piano. Enunciation, pitch, tone, breath control, style and expression are all things that are worked on during the lesson. Solfege is used to teach basic reading and ear skills.
The voice is an instrument that everyone is born with and the only instrument that we all already use. Because of this, everyone comes to the instrument with habits already formed which can affect the way the voice sounds. The voice, like any other instrument can be taught. Studying voice can be one of the most exciting adventures as bad habits are stripped away to reveal the voice underneath!
What makes each voice sound the way it does is determined by where the sound resonates in the body, how words are pronounced and how air from the lungs is used to carry the sound. Although it sounds complicated, these are skills or habits that everyone already has but most people don’t have an awareness of how to control. Studying voice gives singers the ability to make choices in the sound they make.
Park Slope Music School voice teachers work on a variety of skills, empowering students to sing music they are passionate about. Our teachers are adept at adding valuable reading and ear training skills as students prepare to audition for arts middle school and high schools. The use of solfege is a powerful way to build strong sight singing and develop the ear. It can also be an easy way and fun way to introduce and perfect singing in harmony. Many singers are able to sing harmony in large groups with the support of others but struggle to hold a part when they are the only voice on their part. Our singers are armed with experience and skills singing harmony and holding their own that make them a strong anchor in any group-singing situation.
Playing And Singing
The art of playing singing (piano or guitar) at the same time is a specialty at Park Slope Music School. Using chords and comping skills are a powerful way to support singing and build overall musicianship skills that are valuable to any vocalist. This method allows singers to focus on their singing with the instrumental part adding support instead of competing for the performers attention. The ability for our singers to accompany themselves allows them to take advantage of performance opportunities at a moment’s notice and makes practicing at home or playing for others immensely enjoyable.
Basic Things We Work On:
•Enunciate– Use your lips to pronounce your words clearly so the lyrics are understood. (no mumbling)
•Pitch – Hit notes accurately. Don’t swoop or slide into notes.
•Breath– Control your breath so it is a steady stream. Take deep breaths and don’t let it all rush out on the attack.
•Clear Tone– learn to get a clear sound throughout your range. At times we may use other sounds (such as an airy sound) but most of the time we want a clear tone.
•Posture– Standing or sitting tall makes it easier for your body to take in good, full breathes.
•Project- Use air and a clear tone to send the sound of your voice strongly outside of your body.
•Chest Voice– Let lower notes resonate in your chest. This is the same as your speaking voice but with notes (pitch).
•Head Voice-Let higher notes resonate in your head voice. You can feel the sound vibrate in your head. If your not sure what that feels like, put on your pretend opera voice for a moment. That is definitely your head voice!
•Relax– Keep relaxed as you sing. Tensing up the can make your voice sound strained. You shouldn’t sound like someone is strangling you.
•Breathe– Breathe between (not in the middle of) phrases and sentences
•Hold– Hold notes on vowel sounds (a,e,i,o,u). Tack consonants on beginning and ends.
•Expression– Shape the story arc of the song using dynamics, emotion and style.