Every vocal style has its own language of inflections, riffs, mannerisms and traditions that you can only acquire if you immerse yourself into it. In all styles of music, spending lots of time listening to and imitating artists of all eras – not just the current stars – will help you build and develop your…
Posts Categorized: Advice for Singers
Singing Authentically in Every Style: Part III
Continue learning about the different styles of singing in the third part of our series “Singing Authentically in Every Style”. Before you start reading Part III, refresh yourself on Part I and Part II. Pop Style Pop is short for popular, the style of music that most of the general public tends to listen to…
Singing Authentically in Every Style: Part II
Earlier this month, we shared some tips on singing authentically in every style. Here are some further words of advice on the subject: Diction and dialect also contribute to making the sound more authentic. Country Style Country singing is filled with dropped final consonants such as G; in country music you would say singin’ rather…
Singing Authentically in Every Style: Part I
Practicing singing in different vocal styles will help you to develop a unique style of your own and will widen your scope of potential paying gigs as a singer. Learn how to sing authentically in every style with advice from Sing Like a Star! Listen to singers in various vocal styles: R & B Country Pop…
Learning Style with Imitation
Once you have learned the basic elements of good vocal production and have learned the basic components of improvisation, the best way to improve your library of potential style elements is imitation. Just as we learned to speak as babies by imitating single words, then phrases, eventually learning to creatively form our own sentences, we…
Riff Without Fear!
Riffing, like any other musical skill, can be learned. Just like we learn to speak as babies by imitation, we can learn the scales that riffs and runs come from and then learn the language of riffs by memorizing and practicing some of the more common riffs. After awhile you realize that most of the…
Effective Practice
Effective practice involves reflection and self-analysis. Effective practice is consistent, focused practice. It is not a “warm-up”- it is deliberate, intentional, goal-driven hard work. Vocal practice should be a part of every day, at the same time every day if at all possible, with one day per week off for rest and recovery. This is…
Practice that Pays Off
PRACTICE THAT PAYS OFF Tricia Grey, MM “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ― Lao Tzu In the previous article I discussed the need for physical repetition and focused, deliberate practice as a way of developing myelin in order to excel at a specific skill. This chapter will focus on the power of…
The Talent Show Syndrome
The Talent Show Syndrome Tricia Grey, MM “Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” ― Lao Tzu The huge success of shows such as The Voice and the Idol shows worldwide has done a great thing for young singers- it has given them hope. Hope that, no matter where you come…
The Myth of Talent
The Myth of Talent Tricia Grey, MM “Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.” ― Lao Tzu “The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.” ― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching Three books that you should own and read if…