Singers Do You Make These 4 Common Errors

Singers Do You Make These 4 Common Errors Suzy S. The long-hyped premiere of NBCs new show Smash aired on Monday night, and 11.5 million viewers reportedly tuned in.   Critics have been giving it mostly positive reviews, despite a few flaws (The Atlantic called it messy, cheesy and a bit of a letdown).   Readers, what do you think?   Will the show be the next smashing hit?   At the very least, we cant wait to hear more of Katharine McPhees powerful voice. For the uninitiated, singing may look easy you either can sing on pitch, or you cant, right?   Not so fast.   Without proper training, its common for beginners to make simple errors, and if those turn into habits, they may make or break your future as a singer. Here are a few common singing mistakes, as written by Teresa Radomski, an operatic soloist and professor at Wake Forest University: 1.   Poor posture The efficient alignment of the body is of primary importance to voice production.   Problems in posture range from the collapse of the chest and rib cage with corresponding downward fall of the head and neck, to the hyper-extended, stiff posture of some singers that results in tension throughout the entire body. 2. Poor breathing and inappropriate breath support Some beginning voice students gasp for air and exhibit clavicular (shoulder) or shallow breathing patterns.   Trained singers, on the other hand, use primarily diaphragmatic breath support.   The muscles of the lower back and abdomen are engaged, in conjunction with lowering the diaphragm.   As the breath stream is utilized for phonation, there should be little tension in the larynx itself. 3. Limited pitch range, and difficulty in register transition All singing voices exhibit an optimal pitch range.   The term register is used to describe a series of tones that are produced by similar mechanical gestures of vocal fold vibration, glottal and pharyngeal shape, and related air pressure.   Some common designations of registers are the head register, chest register, falsetto, etc.   Singing requires transitions from one register to another.   Lack of coordination of the laryngeal musculature with the breath support may result in register break, or obvious shift from one tone quality to another.   Regardless of the style of singing, a blend, or smooth transition between registers, is desirable. 4. Poor articulation Pronunciation with excessive tension in the jaw, lips, palate, etc., adversely affects the tonal production of the voice. The longer duration of vowel sounds in singing necessitates modification of pronunciation.   Retroflex and velar consonants (such as American r and i) need careful modification to allow sufficient pharyngeal opening for the best resonance, and the over-anticipation of nasal consonants (m, n, ng) may result in a stiff soft palate and unpleasant tone. Of course, the best way to fix these errors is to work with a professional relying on YouTube videos alone will give you some tips, but wont give you the one-on-one feedback necessary to really improve.   Were here to help find a music teacher near you, and start working toward your goals! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by ataelw.