The Deli NYC #55 - Half Waif, NYC MixCon 2018

nyc mixcon 2018 - MIXING Tips
from
sonicscoop.com
Tip #3 3 Studio Techniques to Get
Better Vocal Performances from Any Singer
by Sally Morgan
There are many small ways a producer or engineer
can inadvertently yet deeply undermine a singer’s
ability to perform in the studio. Let’s take a look at
some specific practical techniques a producer can
use to help a singer through a recording session.
1. Mindful Breathing.
Breathing can keep singers in the present moment, keep
them in the music, and keep them from freaking out about
the end result. Mindful breathing lowers the heart rate and
blood pressure while increasing brain function.
To give your your singer a nearly instant mental and physical
“reset”, guide him or her through this simple mindful breathing
exercise that can be taught in a moment, with benefits
that will show after just 3 repetitions.
[A] Inhale by opening down into the body to the count of 4.
[B] Suspend the breath by suspending the open body to
the count of 5.
[C] Actively blow the breath out to the count of 6.
[D] Repeat a minimum of 3 times.
3. Help The Singer Catch Their Breath.
When a singer is running out of breath way too fast, it’s usually
due to nerves that interfere with getting a deep inhale. I
have 2 very simple exercises to unlock a singer’s breathing.
Pant like a dog. This forces the singers breath down into the abs
that are meant to propel breath and sound through the body.
Be Santa! Say, “ho, ho, ho!” imitating a good belly laugh.
Even better yet, real laughter will always do the trick. Just be
sure not to make a joke at the singers’ expense or you too
could find yourself with one less vocal client coming back for
deeply productive and supportive sessions with you.
Read the full arfticle here: http://bit.ly/TipsForVocals
2. Help The Singer to “Sing to
Someone They Know.”
A singer who isn’t really in the song, who is just
phoning it in, instead of really getting down and
dirty with the song, is a singer who isn’t communicating.
And if music is about anything, isn’t is about
communicating an authentic emotion or perspective
to an end listener?
Here are 2 simple instructions to get a singer communicating
through the song, and singing like they
are talking to their BFF.
Ask the singer to decide who
she or he is talking to and what
is his or her relationship to
that person. If the person they
choose does not bring out the
best for the song, ask the singer
to use someone else just for
giggles and listen to how their
tone of voice changes.
Ask the singer to “say” the
lyrics very clearly, and with
meaning. This does not mean
over-enunciating by working
the jaw too much. It means focusing on getting the
simple, clear meaning of the words across.
Ask the singer “What makes you begin singing this
song? What happened the moment before singing
this song that you are responding to?” This helps
them get into the “story” behind the song and focus
on what the performs really means.
34 the deli Summer 2018