31 October 2003

Recording success for two LHSS students

Jac Dalton and Jake Nickolai, have each recently recorded and released CD's.

Jake Nickolai's CD single called Faster is currently being played on numerous country and community radio stations across Australia. In addition to his vocals you can also hear some great guitar work by Jake.
Jac Dalton's CD is a 4 song compilation including original tracks Exhale and Second Time Around, and a cover version of Elvis Costello's Girl's Talk, and the 4th track - Nobody Wins - an original by writer Radney Foster from Nashville.

Both CD's are available at good record stores.

To see pics of Jac & Jake and to find out more.

30 October 2003

Singing in a group

Part 2 - Learning to sing your part in a harmony

Part 1 - Benefits of group singing

Singing in a choir, group or ensemble can be technically rewarding as well as personally satisfying. It also teaches you additional singing skills.

Today we look at the process of learning to sing your harmony part in a song.

1. Learn your part of the harmony in isolation from the others. There is no substitute for practice, practice, practice. It is critical that you are able to sing your part without any help. Good harmonies depend on each individual being secure in their mastery of their part of the song.

2. Sing your part with the group and learn not to be put off by the other
parts being sung at the same time. This can be more difficult than it
sounds. Its easy to get lost when you are surrounded by strong singers who
are singing other parts. Keep hold of your part of the harmony at all costs.

3. To combine the performance requirements such as movement or clapping is a skill in itself. If at first you have trouble combining the singing with the movement, master them separately then combine them.

Next I will give you examples of songs that have harmonies. Keep watching this space!

29 October 2003

Singing in a group

Part 1- Benefits of group singing

Part 2 - learning to sing your part in a harmony

Singing in a group can be technically rewarding as well as personally satisfying.

As soon as the student has enough basic technique, we encourage them to be involved in our group items which we present at our Showcase concerts each year. The student does not have to be technically brilliant and does not need to be naturally talented.

The benefits of singing in a group are:

• you gain harmony/part singing skills which are necessary if you want to be in bands and musicals
• that a group provide a forum for potential solo singers to gain necessary performance experience in a less threatening environment
• you extend the enjoyment of singing beyond the fours walls of your lesson and you share your enjoyment of singing with others
• you will be more employable as a singer due to the versatility

Tomorrow we will look at the process of how an individual learns to sing harmonies.

Singers wanted for bands

Male or female singer wanted

Popular band Glam Bang require a singer to sing 70's - 80's 90's & popular music. They have regular corporate and commercial gig work.

Requires a singer to be dedicated, responsible and committed.

The first gig the singer is required to sing at will be on November 29 and 15 songs will need to be learnt.

Singer will receive $120 - $150 per gig.

Please call Andrew Fermor ph 8370 4456, mobile 0412 706 330 for more info and to arrange an audition time.

Female singer wanted

Popular band Mumbo Jumbo require a dedicated and versatile female lead vocalist to perform a large range of music (mostly popular No. 1 hits).

Songs range from The Beatles, Cold Chisel, Abba to Anastacia and Superjesus.

Band works approximately 2 nights a week and sound gear is provided (singer will eventually need to purchase for themselves a high quality microphone)

Singer will receive approximately $110 per gig.

Please contact Sam Nemy ph 8374 4567 for more info and audition.

28 October 2003

Australian Idol "Big Band" Programme results

Australian Idol big band performance

A few things happened yesterday which almost brought me to the point of despair. The first thing was we lost a huge part of data from a software programme we use to run the teaching side of the business. Fortunately however, due to the excellent back-up systems we have in place, we recovered this and I survived!

Secondly, Paulini was the next singer to be voted out from the current series of Australian Idol. Paulini in my opinion showed herself to be the better singer and performer on Sunday night and for this reason I was surprised she did not get the votes. Even though I voted, I have concluded I am not the target market who is voting.

Good luck to Cosima who is truly a 'diva', our Adelaide boy Guy who can improvise a melody to perfection, and Shannon who I must say is very cute and has a dreamy voice to match.

Keep watching for my weekly comments on Australian Idol.

26 October 2003

Performer's Concert No.3 - 24 Oct 2003

Congratulations to all who took part in the 3rd Performer's Concert of the year last Friday 24 Oct.
Everyone did a great job and all performers are progressing in technique and confidence.

24 October 2003

What songs to sing?

Part 4 - Advanced Songs

Part 1 - Beginners song list 1

Part 2 - Beginners song definition & Song list 2

Part 3 - Beginners song list 3

Continuing this week's series, we'll look at some of the characteristics of an advanced song, and give you some ideas of what songs would be considered 'advanced'.

Advanced Songs

An advanced song is one which is vocally demanding to sing in terms of:

• it extends the range of the singer with the inclusion of unusually higher and/or lower notes
• the distances between notes are larger, awkward and possibly more frequent
• it may demand a quality/style of singing which is technically difficult to sing such as belting quality

Examples of songs which could be considered advanced as originally written:

23 October 2003

Choir opportunity

After a successful launch of the National Students Honour Choir in Queensland in 2002, the Australian National Choir Association (ANCA) is launching Honour Choirs in every state in 2003.

It is made up of secondary school age students up to 19 years. It is a state-wide initiative. Country students are strongly encouraged. It is an opportunity for skilled students to extend their choral experience in a large choir of equally talented and motivated singers.

To be held on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 April 2004.

To register your interest download entry form, or call Mrs Helen Marsh, P.O. Box 372, Blackwood, South Australia 5051, email: cadbury@chariot.net.au for more info.

Australia Idol...review to date

Firstly, I must apologise for falling behind over the past 2 weeks with the entries on my thoughts on Australian Idol.

A singing student at our Studio said a girlfriend of hers loves the Australian Idol entries here. Therefore I assure you, there will be no slacking off for me until the end of the series!

I must say, I do love the series and the positive things it is doing for the performers.

Great opportunities

On the Australian ARIA Awards last night, I noticed the singers (and judges) of Australian Idol attended. They had their own table, and I thought "what an opportunity for these guys, yesterday a struggling performer, today a national household name and attending the ARIA awards!"

Negative exposure

I have noticed some cynicism about the Australian Idol concept. However I still stand by a remark I made in an earlier entry- Australian Idol is giving performers  experience and exposure they would not otherwise have.

I was a little disappointed today when I received a call from a national current affairs show. The caller was trying to get some information pertaining to the show which would create a negative story. Regrettably he may get the info he wants (from other sources) and create yet another story focused on the negatives. Its a shame that some areas of the media resort to such tactics in their grab for ratings.

Public votes

I have found it fascinating to see how the public votes. In the last couple of weeks I have found myself wondering who is actually voting. Is it the young teens sending their SMS's, and repeatedly pressing the 'redial' button? Is it a slightly older age group which may be able to look at the performance objectively? As the judges have commented: on what basis are people voting?

I wish Cosima, Paulini, Shannon and Guy all the best for the remaining weeks. The only differentiating factor between them in my view is their style and uniqueness. I don't see them as better or worse than each other, they are simply different. But they are all fantastically talented.

Good luck guys!

22 October 2003

What songs to sing?

Part 3 - Beginners Song list 3

Part 1 - Beginners song list 1 

Part 2 - Beginners song defined & Song list 2

Advanced Songs

Following on from yesterday, here are some more beginner songs:

Keep watching this page for more...

Congratulations...

12 year old Madeleine Arthur for receiving 2nd placing in the 12 - 16year old category at the 2003 Campbelltown Mayoral Talent Quest, held last Friday 17 October.

21 October 2003

What songs to sing?

Part 2 - Beginner songs defined & Song list 2

Part 1 - Beginners song list 1

Part 3 - Beginners song list 3

Advanced song list

Following on from yesterday, we'll look at some of the characteristics of a beginners song are, and give you some more beginner song ideas.

What is a beginners song?

A beginners song is one which a beginner can sing without too much difficulty. During the process of learning to sing, the beginner should be given songs which only present challenges that can be achieved in the short term.

Some characteristics of such songs are those which:

• keep within the vocal range of the singer (not to have notes higher or lower than the singer can manage)
• have small distances between each note (small interval leaps)
• do not require the singer to sing a style they do not have the skill to execute, such as belting quality

Here is another song list with more ideas following on from yesterday:

Stay tuned for more song ideas tomorrow.

20 October 2003

What songs to sing?

Part 1 - Beginner songs list 1

Part 2 - Beginners song defined & Song list 2

Part 3 - beginners song list

Advanced song list

Would you like some ideas on suitable songs to sing for beginners and advanced singers? Over the next few days I'll give you some song ideas. Today we start with beginners songs:

Stay tuned for more song ideas tomorrow.

Search For A Star & Battle Of The Bands GRAND FINAL

LHSS is one of the proud sponsors of this long-running Talent competition held at Fellini's Cafe, North Adelaide each year.

The Grand Final this year is at the Campania Club, 5-9 Famechon Crescent, Modbury North.

Friday 31 October 6 - 6.30pm

3 Course Dinner & Show

$39 per head

ph 8239 2235 for tickets

Compere -  John Dean

Featuring: The Australian Elvis Show

The judges who are professionals in the industry include myself (Leanne Hoad), and LHSS teacher Katie Packer. Grand finalists include bands and singers.

We (LHSS) will give away an encouragement award of a 1 hour singing lesson.

All proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish foundation

Judges table

L-R: Leanne Hoad, Steve Foenander, John Dean (Channel 7), Ses Granozio, Tony Carpenter, Urszula White, Katie Packer

Click image for large versions

30 September 2003

Singing Workshop...session 1b

Session 1a  Session 1b continued  Session 1c  Session 1d  Session 1d continued  Teaching males  Sing&See  How to teach

Last weekend, the staff and I attended a singing workshop held by ANATS and conducted by Dr. Jean Callaghan, a lecturer, singing teacher and researcher of the singing voice.

We did four sessions over two days. Over the next few weeks I will be covering what we did in the sessions, so keep watching this page.

Day 1 - Saturday 27 September, am

Session 1b

In the second half of the section on vocal technique we covered more areas relating to the singer's voice. Today I am looking at one of those subjects, vibrato:

Vibrato

Vibrato is an aesthetic feature in singing which adds colour to the tone (sound). It can be described (incorrectly) as a wobble, but it sounds more like a very quick wave-like movement of sound very slightly either side of the note.

Although there is little research on this subject in terms of how it is done, Jean did mention vibrato happens at the larynx (voice box) level and the larynx moves to create it. Therefore the larynx cannot be high and tight which is necessary when belting for example. Therefore, if vibrato is required when belting, the larynx will need to be relax but still maintaining stability (which comes with the application of neck support).

Vibrato can be heard in the following spots in these songs:

Born To Try Delta Goodrem

"Doing everything that I believe in, going by the rules that I've been to-ld. More understanding , of what's around me, and protected from the walls of love"

Fallin Alicia Keys

"oh, oh, oh-I never felt this way, how do you give me so much pleasure, give me so much pain..."

I Turn To You Christina Aguilera

"When I'm lost, in the rain, in your eyes I know I find the light to light my way. When I'm scared, loosing ground..."

I'll tell you more tomorrow...keep a watch on this page.

29 September 2003

Singing Workshop...session 1a

Session 1b  Session 1b continued  Session 1c  Session 1d  Session 1d continued  Teaching males  Sing&See  How to teach

Last weekend was one of learning and networking for myself and the teachers.

The Australian National Association of Teacher of Singing (ANATS) hosted a singing workshop which was conducted by Dr. Jean Callaghan, a lecturer, singing teacher and researcher of the singing voice.

We had four sessions over two days. Over the next few week I will let you know what we covered at each session, so keep watching this page.

Day 1, Saturday 27 October, am

Session 1A

Vocal Technique

Jean Callaghan covered the all important subject vocal technique. This included the physical skills required for singing such as posture, breathing, resonance and articulation.

Some interesting points I got from this session were:

• correct and efficient breathing technique is required for singing, especially when singing classical as these singers start a song at 70% lung volume. Speech-like quality which is heard in contemporary singing requires about %40 lung volume (more is used when belting).
• before singing and breathing the singer must first 'set-up' the technique mentally. This means the student should 'hear' the note in their head, set up the articulators (lips, tongue, teeth, jaw) and all necessary technique before the first note is sung.
• technical terms for the body parts singers and singing teachers use (and refer to) are: costal=ribs, mandible=jaw, internal costal muscles=muscles in between the ribs, (well, I found this interesting!)
• learning how to sing in the abstract can be boring for the student e.g. only doing exercises and technique for long periods without singing (applying it to) songs. I (Leanne) believe technique can be applied to songs soon after learning it. Admittedly, the technique should be isolated and taught to the student until they have  grasped it, but once this has been achieved, they can apply it to the context of a song (which can be different to the context of the exercise).

Keep watching this page daily for reviews on the remaining sessions.