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vocalfire

TMV World Legacy Member
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Everything posted by vocalfire

  1. There is a great Clint Eastwood quote regarding over thinking about what you're doing artistically - "never get caught in the paralysis of analysis". So true. Think of The Beatles singing to 55,000 people at Shea Stadium - a STADIUM full of non-stop screaming girls, a PA system rated at about 1000 watts by today's standards - NO MONITORS and NO SOUNDCHECK. Yet they were able to sing on pitch and nail their harmonies. How? Easy...it was confidence. (and to a slighter degree muscle memory from years of singing almost every day for months on end) half the battle of singing on key/pitch is hearing the note a fraction of a millisecond before you sing it. Its like a weightlifter who envisions himself already completing the lift as he grasps the barbell in his hands. Its a mental psych-out. another great example is Luke Skywalker in the Death Star trench in "Star Wars" - as Luke approaches his target he turns off his computer and trusts his own instinct to fire the shot. He "sees" his action before he makes it and lets his brain tell his muscles what to do. He lets himself "go" and in one fell swoop the Death Star is dust. Anyone believe Bono is up on stage thinking about his vocals? Nope. He just lets himself go and lets his brain and body connect and guide him. It actually takes practice to be able to let go of the apprehension and doubt but it mostly comes with confidence. Tiger Woods envisions himself making the shot before he swings the golf club and then lets his brain guide his muscles. Confidence comes from knowing your foundation/technique is sound. Once your technique is sound you can let the music take you - or as athletes call it "get in the zone". "The zone" is a perfect connection between mind and body. Trusting Yourself. I remember in school my teachers would often say for tests to avoid correcting yourself as "your first answer is the usually right one". Same concept. I hate to admit I read it or advocate "Dianetics" because I think the rest of Scientology is dangerous, but part of the overall concept of "Dianetics" is silencing the "reactive mind". That part of you that gets "caught in the paralysis of analysis". Instinct is your best ally. Your "little voice". Your "Spider sense". Singing is all about letting go. Even if you hit a bum note, if the feeling is there and its true, audiences won't even notice. They'll be too engaged in your performance. I have seen many a blues singer hit some questionable notes but the feeling behind it was true, it actually added to the performance. Let go and your mind and body will connect. When that happens, sharp or flat won't matter. You'll be "in the zone" and oddly enough you'll find yourself singing on pitch. Its not magic - its trusting in yourself. Kevin Richards www.rockthestagenyc.com
  2. Spot on - Steven nails it - when you are adducting correctly it should feel "weightless", "bright" and "free" - NO STRAIN. There should be no feeling of "pulling or pushing" the notes forward in pitch. I don't use the term "up" when referring to pitches as that is misleading and psychologically discouraging. Always think of singing notes out in front of you - not "up" or "down" - just closer or farther away from you on a straight line. A good way to know if you're adducting correctly is try to sing a song like "Communication Breakdown" from Led Zeppelin exactly as recorded - match Robert Plant's pitches. If you can sing "I'm having a nervous breakdown, drive me insane" at the end of the choruses without ANY strain or "push", then you're adducting correctly. That song requires proper adducting to replicate Plant's high notes without strain. Adducting is applicable for virtually any kind of music. Even if you're a SLS follower - adducting can really help achieve a super high "mix". Kevin Richards www.rockthestagenyc.com
  3. This is probably an arguable point but just as some people are born with certain talents to play an instrument or a sport or even figure out quantum physics therein lies an ability to adduct in some people. Some singers can easily add grit/rasp to their voice, while others like myself had to learn how to do it. So it follows that some singers can sing over their passagio easier than others. The brain is hardwired the exact same way for every human being, but how that brain sends electrical impulses to dictate muscle coordination is different for each of us. Their "God given" talent so to speak. So it is with adduction and contraction. Part of the ability is natural and part of it is learned (or never learned). I agree with other posts that say some of "natural ability" can be attributed to not learning bad habits over the years, but if the trait is in a small child then its probably hard wired into their brains. I used to get very jealous of the guys who seemed to just look at a set of weights and grow muscle. As for me, I had to struggle just to look toned and fit. Its not in my DNA and I accept that. I just had to work harder that's all. No sense in getting jealous or envious of another singer's apparant natural abilties. Most skills can be learned by anyone. The trick is using what you've got (natural or otherwise) to its fullest potential.
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