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Conference napalm::heavy_metal

Title:HEAVY_METAL - Talent Round-Up DayDay
Notice:Rules-2.*,Directory-7.*,Roster-3.*,Garbage-99.*
Moderator:BUSY::SLABB
Created:Thu May 05 1988
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1238
Total number of notes:65616

288.0. "How to SING" by ASAHI::COOPER (MIDI-Kitty-ADA-Metaltronix rack puke) Thu Feb 08 1990 13:47

    Can someone explain to me what breathing techniques are ?
    
    I'm not really a singer, but I always find myself out of breath
    when I do sing...  Ya know, like "gawd, just one more note before
    I can breath...gasp"  I run out of wind, ya know ?  Or sometimes,
    I can't *quite* hit that high note... How do I fix it ?
    
    I've talked to singers who HAVE been trained and they tell me I
    need to work on my breathing techniques.  Please explain.
                                                           
    jc
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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288.1MILKWY::SLABOUNTYLife Is Just a Fantasy ... baby!Thu Feb 08 1990 13:487
    
    	Step #1:
    
    	If you smoke, then quit.
    
    							GTI
    
288.2ASAHI::COOPERMIDI-Kitty-ADA-Metaltronix rack pukeThu Feb 08 1990 13:534
    Besides that, Shawn.  :)
    
    jc 
    
288.3USCTR1::KGALLANTTake me to the moon, Gus...Thu Feb 08 1990 14:007
    
    
    	Step 1, quit smoking.  (; (; (;
    	(Just had to reiterate that fact)  (; (;
    
    	Tigga~~~ who doesn't know how to sing for a hoot either but
    		 would certainly like to!
288.5SeriouslyLANDO::QUEBECI see your face looking back at meThu Feb 08 1990 14:129
    
    
    Quit smoking JC!!!!  8^)
    
    
    Another thing to keep you from getting breathless is don't wear
    tight clothes that won't allow your diaphragm to expand.  
    
    Rae
288.7ASAHI::COOPERMIDI-Kitty-ADA-Metaltronix rack pukeThu Feb 08 1990 14:255
    I've smoked since I was a little varmint in grade 7.  It's aweful,
    I know.  You dudes and dudettes, I just wanna reach ONE note thats
    out of my range !  I don't want Geoff Tates job !
    
    :)
288.9PFLOYD::ROTHBERGEverybody'sGot2DeviateFromTheNormThu Feb 08 1990 15:5022
                Actually, I  used  to  take vocal lessons from an
                opera singer named  Joseph Polecki (sp?).  He has
                been on several albums  and  has  quite a resume.
                From what I was taught,  smoking will affect your
                singing ability, but not a great  deal.   Some of
                the  world's greatest singers smoked up a  storm.
                Another thing he told me is this breathing  stuff
                is  a  big sham.  Your voice in singing does  not
                come from  your  lungs.   What the main thing you
                have to do  is  learn to build up certain muscles
                in your throat that  nobody  is  used  to  using.
                These  muscles allow you to  produce  louder  and
                stronger tones with much less air flowing through
                your throat, therefore allowing you to hold notes
                longer and also switch from your natural voice to
                a  falsetto  without cracking or losing any power
                (this is TOUGH).  
                
                - Rob, recalling what he can from his lessons -
                
                
288.10DECXPS::BOURQUEThe cries in her eyes are all lies!Thu Feb 08 1990 16:1310
    
    
    Rob You went to Joe Pelekki No Kidding I know a few friends who
    went to him,Rick was one oh them,He was telling us that he did 
    a spot on Jesus Christ super Star, He has a great voice, We asked
    him who he thought was one of the most talented sings in music (HM)
    is reply was.....
                      Ronnie James DIO
    
    tama
288.11PFLOYD::ROTHBERGEverybody'sGot2DeviateFromTheNormThu Feb 08 1990 16:187
                That's the  man,  he loves Dio and last I knew he
                was going to chck out Geoff Tate (he doesn't like
                Steve Perry, FWIW).
                
                - ROb -
                
288.12DECXPS::BOURQUEThe cries in her eyes are all lies!Thu Feb 08 1990 16:2414
    
    I know a couple of years ago he was also said Perry was gonna lose
    his ability to sing the way he has,only because of how he did it,(He
    strained)  HE DID! 
    
           I get a charge out of how that guy talks....
    (insert slow deep voice)   He----------llo this is jo-----e !
    
    
    he does have a good voice,but the people I know who went to him
    are not anymore for certain reasons
    
    tama
288.13PFLOYD::ROTHBERGEverybody'sGot2DeviateFromTheNormThu Feb 08 1990 16:359
                
                I  myself  stopped  going  because  of  finances,
                transportation, time and  interest  :').  I think
                Mike (RAVEN1::) Butkus went  to  him  for  a  few
                before he moved down yonder...
                
                - Rob -
                
288.16SSDEVO::GALLUPgo ahead...make my day!Fri Feb 09 1990 15:4223

	 Singing.....breathe should be deep....I was taught that when
	 you breathe in, you should breathe from the bottom of your
	 diaphram.  Your shoulders should not move with your
	 breath...you should feel it deep in your lungs (lower
	 diaphram) instead of in your chest area.


	 Breathing is really important in singing...the object is to
	 not take quick shallow breaths, but rather to take deep
	 breaths.....you take less breaths and you don't get out of
	 breath so easy.

	 It's a learned technique and not so easy to master when
	 you're singing....

	 Also, it's helped me to be able to hit a wider range of
	 notes.  I used to sing soprano as well as tenor.......

	 Practice makes perfect, it's really awkward.

	 kath
288.17PracticeCSC32::G_HOUSEKittymania's running wild!Fri Feb 09 1990 15:466
    I think that one of the most important things in expanding your range
    is to *practice*.  I know that one guy I play with had a much more
    limited range before he started singing a lot.  His range has improved
    quite a lot over the past year.
    
    Greg
288.18PFLOYD::ROTHBERGEverybody'sGot2DeviateFromTheNormFri Feb 09 1990 15:5014
                
                not only  does  practice  help your technique, it
                also  helps  build    up  those  muscles  that  i
                mentioned earlier.
                
                - Rob -
                
                BTW, don't know about  you,  but  my  diphragm is
                nowhere near my lungs.   Maybe  she  means  birth
                control...
                
                :')
                
288.19what worked for meNAVIER::STARRNightmare in the land of dreams...Thu Mar 08 1990 17:0125
When Sorry! played at the Rendezvous last week, that night was the best I had 
sung to date. For the first time, I was able to hit all the notes I wanted to, 
nice and clearly and strongly. Even songs from bands that usually give me 
trouble like The Police and Led Zep just came out without any effort. Here's a 
few of the things I did that I think may have helped:

1. I stayed in the night before. No drinking, and made sure I got plenty of
   sleep (8 hours, when I normally only get 6).

2. The next morning I had a large hot drink (I prefer hot chocolate to coffee, 
   but I suppose it doesn't really matter). Hot drinks open up your vocal 
   chords.

3. All day long I kept hitting the water cooler to keep my throat moist.

4. The night of the show, I sang for about a 1/2 hour as a warmup, but without
   straining at all.

5. During the show I kept a squeeze bottle of water onstage, and kept my 
   throat moist all night.

These are not 'professional' advice. These are just tips that I notice helps
me sing a little stronger.....

alan
288.20Sound adviceFACVAX::BUCKLEYTNT on I-25 at 85Thu Mar 08 1990 17:094
    I agree with what Alan has posted (me...agree with Alan...I know,
    another first! (^;)...I esp. like a nce cup o coffe before a set.
    Lots of caffine for Yngwie licks, and it really fine tuns the vocal
    cords!  (not too much milk though...milk coats the vocals cords!)
288.21TCC::COOPERMIDI-Kitty-ADA-Metaltronix rack pukeThu Mar 08 1990 18:0614
Good advise...

But do I have to not drink for just two songs that I sing ??
;)

Check this out...

Be a simple kinda man
Be somethin' you'll love and understand
Baby be a simple kinda man
                 ^^^^^
(My voice kinda croaks right there... Although I do okay on the junk I write...)

jc
288.22just find a different note to sing thereNAVIER::STARRNightmare in the land of dreams...Thu Mar 08 1990 19:3511
> Be a simple kinda man
> Be somethin' you'll love and understand
> Baby be a simple kinda man
                 ^^^^^
> (My voice kinda croaks right there... 

Easy solution there - just find another way to sing it that doesn't require 
you to hit that note - it'd be easy enough to find a lower note for that song.
Why kill yourself if you don't have to???

alan
288.23JETSAM::MATTHEWSOk, so *like WHEREZ the mail!?Thu Mar 08 1990 20:3812
    buck?? 
    milk???
    I dont believe in milk, i think it makes your singing worse...
    
    well not yours but mine :^}
    	
    
    re. allan do you do an voice exercises liek maybe three times or more a
    week? You know build up the ole' abdom. musculs "^}.......?
    
    			wendy o'
    
288.24nothing 'formal'NAVIER::STARRNightmare in the land of dreams...Thu Mar 08 1990 21:5014
>    re. allan do you do an voice exercises liek maybe three times or more a
>    week? You know build up the ole' abdom. musculs "^}.......?

Well, I've never had anything like singing lessons, so I wouldn't know any 
exerices to do. However, (as silly as it sounds), I have an hour-long commute 
to work everyday, and I usually use that to sing along with the radio. That's 
two hours every day, so at least 10 hours a week of singing (not including 
band practices and gigs). I guess that helps to build up the vocal chord 
muscles - I can sing for a lot longer without any strain now.

'Course, I always get funny looks from people driving by, but I just laugh and 
wave at them!  8^)

alan
288.25DASXPS::SASCHROEDERFrom the Moon we're comedyThu Mar 08 1990 22:325
    
     I once heard that Tom Jones used to each day lie flat on his
     back with something like 100lbs on his chest and sing for an hour.
     His voice trainer used to make him do it. 
    
288.26Call me guitar-bo 8)CSC32::H_SOFri Mar 09 1990 00:056
    
    Hmmm, maybe tying a 100lb weight to my hands would help me with 
    my guitar playing?              8) X100,000,000
    Nah, my playing is probably beyond repair/help!  8(
    
    J.
288.27PATS::MATTHEWSOk, so *like WHEREZ the mail!?Fri Mar 09 1990 13:2917
    ALLAN 
    
    try taking a piece of paper and against the wall hold it there with
    your breath, (note not brushing your teeth before this exercise doesnt
    count :^})
    
    
    also sing and hold the note as long as you can, and try to increase it
    longer and longer..
    I think the key to a good voice is building the stomache muscles to
    sing with first...
    (jmo)
    
    umm, I see if there are other things i used to do..
    and i'll list em here.
    		wendy o'
    
288.28LOOKUP::BUCKLEYTNT on I-25 at 85Fri Mar 09 1990 14:0511
    RE 100 lbs
    
    That's stupid!  You don't sing from your chest, the support comes from
    your stomach.  Also, you wouldn't want weights on your stomach either
    cuz you need to fully dialate it to get enough air to support a  strong
    tone.  That's where most people blow it, they sing from their
    throat...wrong!  you have to sing from your stomach.  Then there is the 
    whole issue of tone...you are supposed to resonate the tone in the 
    upper back part of your throat (near the nose area), but not sing
    through your nose, or from your throat.  It's hard, but that's the 
    proper way to do it.
288.30USCTR1::KGALLANTYou can sleep while I drive...Fri Mar 09 1990 14:468
    
    
    	What difference does it make how you do it if you sound
    	good when it's done??
    
    	Tigga~~~ doesn't understand why it's gotta be so complicated.
    	)8
    
288.31sue you reading what bucks saying :^}PATS::MATTHEWSOk, so *like WHEREZ the mail!?Fri Mar 09 1990 15:0312
    re. tigga..
    what differnece does it make??
    
    well you could lose your voice... (for life)
    
    re. buck .. exactly.. only i listen for the tones to bounce between my 
    ears..:^} i cant explain it, just feel it...
    and another thing on the throat, is to concentrate on relaxing your
    neck muscles... otherwise you restrict yourself..
    
    		wendy o'
    
288.32USCTR1::KGALLANTYou can sleep while I drive...Fri Mar 09 1990 15:1810
    
    	Ahhhhhhh.... good point! (;
    
    	I just can't see how people can sing when they're so busy
    	relaxing throat muscles and singing from the stomach and
    	using tones from your nose!
    	
    	Tigga~~~ (8                           


288.33the easy way RAVEN1::WHITBYshould I change my personal, again?Sat Mar 10 1990 04:339
    
    
    	How to sing 101...
    
    	Buy effect's!!!!!
    
    	agagaga!!!!!
    
    
288.34NAVIER::STARRSRV.....I can't believe you're gone.......Thu Sep 20 1990 21:338
re: .9

Rob, can you send me the phone # of the guy you mentioned in this note 
(Polecki?). I'm a little interested in vocal lessons, and thought I might
talk to him about it. Tried to send you mail, but PFLOYD wasn't reachable...

thanx,
alan
288.35PFLOYD::ROTHBERGOnly 11mo till I can drive again!Wed Sep 26 1990 18:367
                Joseph Pielecki: 882-9759 in Hudson, NH

                Sorry it took me so long, I don't use this conference
                that often anymore.  PFLOYD also had some problems.

                Cheers, Rob
288.36sustain for daysFRETZ::HEISERit's the *ECONOMY*, STUPID!Wed Feb 10 1993 14:571
    Anyone get circular breathing down yet?
288.37POWDML::BUCKLEYRide the CycloneWed Feb 10 1993 15:285
    >Anyone get circular breathing down yet?
    
    I did at one point -- haven't shedded it in years tho.  Indeed, it's
    great for that "endless sustain" kind of thing.  Like the ending on
    that Sheriff tune..
288.38that lady can sing!FRETZ::HEISERit's the *ECONOMY*, STUPID!Wed Feb 10 1993 16:502
    Is anyone else fascinated by Whitney's performance on "I Will Always
    Love You"?  
288.39NEWOA::DALLISONWed Feb 10 1993 16:527
    
    Fascinated ?
    
    Whip-me Houston has a great voice but I dunno if I would stretch to
    'fascinating'.
    
    -tony (shes cute too)
288.40BUSY::ESCOBARWherever I May RoamWed Feb 10 1993 16:536
    
    I think her voice is incredible in that song. 
    
    I'd marry 'er.
    
    
288.41no argument hereFRETZ::HEISERit's the *ECONOMY*, STUPID!Wed Feb 10 1993 16:553
    Re: Tony, Chris
    
    
288.42gross!PMROAD::BUCKLEYRide the CycloneWed Feb 10 1993 16:575
    EWwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww -- Whitney RUINED a perfectly good Dolly
    song...may she burn in hell for it!
    
    
    That arpeggio she does at the end makes the hairs on my back stand up!!
288.43gives me goose bumps too, Buck!FRETZ::HEISERit's the *ECONOMY*, STUPID!Wed Feb 10 1993 16:581
    
288.44.....i have no opinions at all........AD::FLATTERYWed Feb 10 1993 17:0316
    ...i agree with buck....i sang that song in the show that it came from
    "BLWIT"...and even *I* did a better job than whitney...she throws way
    to many notes in there to try to *impress* the uninformed with her
    vocal calisthenics ...what comes out is a mish mash/hodge podge of drek...
    .dolly did a much better job in my opinion.....when i hear this song
    come on there is no calculation time small enough to guage how quickly
    i hit the button/station to change it.......when i first heard this
    song all i could think of was "shoot the b*tch to put me out of my
    misery"........can i be anymore clear on my position here??..i think
    not....whitney has a lovely capable voice but someone sold her a bill 
    of goods awhile back about packing in as many notes as possible and
    bending a whole bunch of stuff in *every* tune and she's been doing it
    ever since....it ruins this song for me......p.s...we had this same 
    discussion in music..................................../k
    p.s.s i also hate the way her mouth warbled while she's holding a note
    ,,.,..i mean, what's up with that sh*t?..............;')............
288.45you're not that badFRETZ::HEISERit's the *ECONOMY*, STUPID!Wed Feb 10 1993 17:065
>    song all i could think of was "shoot the b*tch to put me out of my
>    misery"........can i be anymore clear on my position here??..i think
    
    We respect your humility, but you shouldn't call yourself names like
    that in public.
288.46or should that be ;^PNEWOA::DALLISONWed Feb 10 1993 17:066
    
    
    >> p.s.s i also hate the way her mouth warbled while she's holding a note
    >> ,,.,..i mean, what's up with that sh*t?..............;')............
    
    *that* part sends goose bumps down *my* back ;^) 
288.47MR4DEC::JWHITMANHere I come, I come, I come.Wed Feb 10 1993 17:077
    
    
    
    Well, she must'uv done something right, she was #1 on the MTV countdown
    a few times.. just beating G&R and Megadeth! ;')
    
    
288.48GOES11::G_HOUSEIt's NOT a tumor!!Wed Feb 10 1993 17:096
>    Is anyone else fascinated by Whitney's performance on "I Will Always
>    Love You"?  
    
    Yeah, facinated with avoiding it at all costs...
    
    gh
288.49what a womanFRETZ::HEISERit's the *ECONOMY*, STUPID!Wed Feb 10 1993 17:091
    Well if she beat GnR and Megedeth, she's all the more beautiful.
288.50I crack myself up etc.. etc.. and so on and so forthrNEWOA::DALLISONWed Feb 10 1993 17:091
    Yes yes yes, very whitty I must say 8^)
288.51Low standards!GOES11::G_HOUSEIt's NOT a tumor!!Wed Feb 10 1993 17:101
    Doesn't take *much* to be more beautiful then GnR and Megadeth...
288.52NEWOA::DALLISONWed Feb 10 1993 17:101
    tart!
288.53especially after she beat those poseursFRETZ::HEISERit's the *ECONOMY*, STUPID!Wed Feb 10 1993 17:101
    
288.54If I had a dog...METALX::SWANSONBorn to metalizeWed Feb 10 1993 19:254
    Whitney?  Blah!  She doesn't do anything for me....   I wouldn't let my
    dog marry her!
    
    |KS|
288.55Janis Joplin could singBOVES::FENNELLCold gin time againWed Feb 10 1993 19:303
She should have married Michael Bolton.  Both do aerobic versions of all
songs they do...
288.56I mean that nicely!LACV01::MCCARTNEYLike Paul, without the moneyWed Feb 10 1993 19:341
    Janis could wail!
288.57WMOIS::MAZURKASon_of_the_SwaggerWed Feb 10 1993 20:517
    Re: Mr.Mac                  Indeed.
    
    Re:Whit_Knee.."And IiIIIiIIIIiiIiIiiiIiiI__I_IIIiI_II_Will All_Ways_
    LOvVEvVVvevEVEE______UUUUuuuuU_OWWwOWoWOoW_owowo_OWwaaaAAA_Will_ALL_ways_
    LLOVea_A..YopUoUouOUoUouoUouOOOO.OOWoOWOWOOWOWOW.
    
    Crazy_Sorry_Al
288.58GOOEY::JUDYThat's Ms. Bitch to you!Thu Feb 11 1993 11:456
    
    
    	re: Al
    
    	bahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaa!!!!
    
288.59POWDML::BUCKLEYRide the CycloneThu Feb 11 1993 12:204
    JANIS ROCKED!!
    
    
    Great rendition, AL!
288.60GOES11::G_HOUSEIt's NOT a tumor!!Thu Feb 11 1993 15:447
    I should have mentioned before that I hate that vocal style where they
    feel like they have to embellish every word they sing by adding a bunch
    of superfluous extra notes that aren't in the original melody. 
    Whitless Houston does it, Michael Bolton does it, Chris Robinson does
    it (when playing live).  I can't *stand* it, it drives me nuts!!!

    gh
288.61Stop that or I'll get madBOVES::FENNELLCold gin time againThu Feb 11 1993 16:043
Chris Robinson in the same camp as Whitebread Houston and Myego Bolton???
Shame!

288.62TOO much vocal improv!GOES11::G_HOUSEIt's NOT a tumor!!Thu Feb 11 1993 16:394
    Tim, go listen to that live version of "She Talks To Angels" and get
    back to me, ok?
    
    gh
288.63WMOIS::MAZURKASon_of_the_SwaggerThu Feb 11 1993 16:494
    I Think we talked about this A_Few years ago...But How_The_Hell
    does one Sing outta their Nose?
    
    
288.64KDX200::COOPERHello me, it's me again!Thu Feb 11 1993 17:221
Just ask Lou Reed...
288.65everyone wants a turnFRETZ::HEISERRomans 10:9Thu Feb 11 1993 18:132
    I don't understand it, Greg.  I know you prefer live improvisation when
    it comes to guitar players.  Why not with vocalists?
288.66Umm..GOES11::G_HOUSEIt's NOT a tumor!!Thu Feb 11 1993 20:077
    re: Mike
    
    I don't know.  I don't mind a little improvisation, or *changing* the
    melody a bit, but I don't like the massive embelishments the
    aforementioned vocalists do.
    
    gh
288.67that would be heavenFRETZ::HEISERWHERE'S MY PROZAC!?!?Wed Feb 17 1993 15:121
    I wish Whitney would do a cover of "Unchained Melody."
288.68METALX::SWANSONSo come on.... jump in the fire!Wed Feb 17 1993 15:262
    I wish Whitney would do a cover of Van Halen's "Unchained"!
    
288.6969 69 69 69 69METALX::SWANSONSo come on.... jump in the fire!Wed Feb 17 1993 15:272
    In honor of 'Pril!
    
288.70POWDML::BUCKLEYsometimes salvationWed Feb 17 1993 16:144
    >I wish Whitney would do a cover of "Unchained Melody."
    
    Superfluous -- Ann Wilson of Heart has already done a killer cover
    of this song!
288.71still want Whitney to do itFRETZ::HEISERWHERE'S MY PROZAC!?!?Wed Feb 17 1993 17:071
    What Cleavage Sisters(tm) album is it on?
288.72great lp!POWDML::BUCKLEYsometimes salvationWed Feb 17 1993 17:093
    >What Cleavage Sisters(tm) album is it on?
    
    Heart's "Live/Greatest Hits" double album