A Comprehensive Guide
Every song is a window to an entire world. The emotional world and story it tells can come with different challenges. What are you working on right now and what song could help enrich your vocal goal?
Here are 5 examples to show you the importance of choosing the song for you wisely:
Short Breaths
Some songs have very little time to breathe in between phrases. Managing to do so is a very useful skill for a singer.
Example: Don’t Stop Me Now/ QUEEN
Long Phrases
You’d work on your breath management, dynamic control, and other tools to help you sing them with stability and control.
Example: Don’t Know Why I Didn’t Come/ Nora Jones
Fast and clear articulation
Working on the strength and flexibility of the articulatory muscles for a clear pronunciation in fast songs.
Example: Getting Married Today/ Stephen Sondheim
Irregular phrasing
Sharpening your sense of rhythm and abilities to stay in tempo while singing around the beat or/and beginning a phrase in an unexpected place.
Example: A Case of You/ Joni Mitchell
Dynamic control
The ability to control your volume, to sing with crescendo and decrescendo, can have an emotional impact you can add to a song.
Example: I Will Always Love You/ Dolly Parton (Whitney Houston)
Finding the right song can depend on many things. Ask yourself and your teacher/ coach, what are the elements of vocal technique you wish to work on.
Make a disticntion between a song to learn from, and a song for a recording/ show/ audition.
In lessons, we'll often chose challenges.
For a song that will be "performance ready", choose a song that will highlight your strengths and different sides of your voice and singing style. Make sure that it's not very challenging and will be ready in time.
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