Feb

Is Karaoke Bad for a Singing Voice?

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At one point in most people’s lives, they’ll be forced to get up at an event and sing karaoke.

For some people this is an incredibly enjoyable activity—usually for the people who either don’t care what others think or have an awesome singing voice (that’s where singing lessons come in). For other, karaoke is a terrifying experience and they would prefer to sit on the sidelines and watch (click for some performance tips). The main question people will ask about karaoke is, “how was my singing?”, most people don’t even think to ask if karaoke is bad for them?

Here are some ways to be sure karaoke does not damage your singing voice.

1. Warm up! A professional singer would never go to a gig, let alone practice, without warming up first. Performers must practice before singing or serious damage can occur to their vocal cords. If you aren’t able to warm up at the club, take a few minutes before leaving for the night and warm up your singing voice. A quick pre-outing warm up would be working on breathing techniques and then singing through some scales.

2. Keep hydrated! Drink plenty of water the day of your karaoke outing as well as at the event. Water is the best way to keep yourself hydrated and your vocal cords need the liquid to keep lubricated in order to sing. It’s fine to drink alcohol during a karaoke event, but make sure to keep a glass of water near by (remember alcohol dehydrates you).

3. Rest! Take a break between songs and listen to the other performers. Resist the urge to hoot and holler at the other performers. Yelling and even talking after a performance is not advised, as your voice needs a rest.

For more karaoke or singing tips, call Lesson Match to speak with a vocal instructor.

Nov

Tips to Extend the Life of Guitar Strings

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Overtime, guitar strings will have to be replaced; it’s inevitable. Natural stretch and wear will require you to replace your guitar strings regularly, but here are a few tips to keep your guitar strings as long as possible.

1.   Wash and thoroughly dry hands before playing. Washing and drying hands removes oil and buildup from your hands that would otherwise get on the guitar.
2.   Keep away from smoke or smoky places.
3.   Keep hands as dry as possible when playing the guitar. Wet or sweaty hands will break down the strings and cause them to have to be replaced more often.
4.   Try not to strum or play your guitar too hard (avoid heavy grip on fretting hand and aggressive picking). Some guitarists have a tendency to play their guitar “hard” and that wears out the strings faster.
5.   Obviously, the more guitars are played, the more often their strings will need to be replaced. If you’re not going to be able to change your guitar strings anytime soon, then avoid strumming away for hours on end, otherwise you will have to change your guitar.

Here are a few tips to tell when it is time to change your guitar strings.

1.   When the strings start to look dark or tarnished, the probably should be changed. Oil and buildup will cause strings to become tarnished and in need of replacement.
2.   When the strings start to sound dull, they’ll need to be changed to keep a nice fresh sound.
3.   If the guitar tone sounds flat, the strings will need to be changed. Strings are responsible for keeping the sound of your guitar in tune.
4.   If you have a harder time tuning your guitar and getting it to stay in tune, the strings should be changed.
5.   If one string breaks after a long period of time, it’s a good indication that all strings should be changed. Otherwise, they’ll all start breaking.

Keep your guitar sounding great by taking guitar lessons!

Nov

10 Drum Tips

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Interested in taking drum lessons? Or do you already play the drums but are looking for some drum tips?

Here are a few tips to refine your technique and keep your drum set sounding great.

1. Keep your drum clean. Use a can of compressed air to get the dust out of hard to reach places like in between lugs.

2. Listen to different kinds of music. This will boost your creativity and allow you to learn new techniques. The more styles and techniques you can master, the more interesting your sound is.

3. Warm up. This is important for all instruments including the drums. Always warm up before lessons, practicing new songs, gigs etc.

4. Air drums. You don’t always have to have a drum set to practice the drums. If you’re sitting around bored with nothing to do, play the air drums. This can help refine patterns and increase your muscle memory.

5. Check your form. Make sure you’re using correct form for optimum sound. Are you holding the sticks at best place? Are you hitting the drums straight up and down?

6. Stick twirling. All crowds love stick twirling and it’s a great form of showmanship. If you don’t know how to twirl your drumsticks, there are how-to videos all over the Internet.

7. Learn to read music. Even if you are able to play the drums perfectly without reading music, reading music is a great way to expand your ability. Reading music allows you to read a song out of a book and be able to play it without having to continually take drum lessons.

8. Write down what works for you. Keep a log of practice techniques that work for you. You can also write down ideas that you’ve heard about and want to try. Keeping all these ideas together will assure you don’t forget about them and they are readily accessible.

9. Record/Videotape yourself playing. This will help you understand your form and see things you cannot see when you’re playing. Do you have a snarl on your face when you play? Is your snare drum titled?

10. Take lessons. While it may seem like you can learn anything online these days, there are things that will be easier for you to learn from an instructor. Drum instructors have been where you are and may have some helpful practice tips and techniques.

For more information about drum lessons with Lesson Match, call us at 612-460-7653.

Oct

10 More Vocal Tips

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More ways to keep your vocal cords sounding refreshed and healthy.

1. Practice slowly and daily to keep your voice in perfect shape. Practicing too much or trying to learn difficult techniques too quickly could strain your voice.

2. Drink a warm (not hot) soothing drink in the morning, like an herbal tea. Anything too hot will cause your neck and throat area to swell, which affects your vocal cords.

3. Drink lemonade to clear your throat of mucus. Lemonade is acidic and breaks down any unwanted mucus in your throat so you have a clear crisp singing voice.

4. Never hold your breath while singing. It is important to keep air moving through your body. Different breathing techniques will help you learn to keep breathing.

5. Never raise or hunch your shoulders when breathing. Instead, strengthen the muscles in your rib cage and breathe from there. This allows you to take fuller breaths and breathe longer.

6. Avoid straining and abusing your voice by knowing when to stop singing. Never sing to the point of vocal fatigue or your voice could be out of commission for a few days.

7. Make sure to get enough sleep the night before a performance. Fatigue will cause strain to your voice or will cause you to revert to bad habits in order to stay awake. Caffeine and sugary sodas dehydrate the body and should be avoided.

8. Practice singing in front of a mirror. This will help you discover any poor posture problems or bad stage habits you might have.

9. Don’t smoke, scream or talk too much, especially the day of a performance. You want to rest your vocal cords as much as possible so you don’t overuse or abuse them.

10. Always practice the basics of singing and breathing to develop your technique. While practicing the basics you might learn some new techniques to better your singing voice and performance.

Enroll in vocal lessons to keep your instrument in top shape!

Oct

10 Tips for Beginning Acoustic Guitar Players

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Some people are able to just pick up an acoustic guitar and instinctively know what to do with it; others might need some tips.

Here are a few tips for beginning acoustic guitar players.

1. Learn how to fingerpick your guitar and play with a pick. Each technique has its place in the music world. Finger picking is used more for classical music, while a pick is used more for rock and metal. Learning both will make you a better acoustic guitar player.

2. Learn how to change your own strings. Dirt and oil from your fingers break down the strings so it’s very important to change them as they lose their sound. Washing your hands before you play and cleaning your strings after you play will lengthen the time between changing your strings.

3. Learn how to use a capo. A capo is a clamp you can apply to different frets of your guitar to change the pitch.

4. Learn how to tune your acoustic guitar. Playing an out of tune acoustic guitar will be a waste of practice time.

5. Build up calluses on your fingers. Playing the guitar, especially the acoustic guitar, will hurt your fingers at first, but after a while you’ll build up calluses and the pain will go away. The more you practice, the quicker you’ll build up calluses.

6. Stretch and warm up your fingers before you play. Warm ups are important for all instruments to make sure you don’t injure yourself during practice. Loose stretched fingers will also make for better guitar playing.

7. Learn the parts of your guitar. Being a good guitar player means knowing the ins and outs of your acoustic guitar.

8. Don’t over do it. Practicing and playing too much can cause extreme discomfort in your hands and might take some time to recover.

9. Go to live performances. You can learn a lot by watching professionals play the guitar. Live performances can teach you new techniques to better your skills.

10. Find a good guitar instructor. While it is possible to learn using books and online tutorials, guitar instructors will be able to give you guided practice and recognize your strengths and weaknesses. A guitar instructor is a must for beginners.

For more tips or to sign up with acoustic guitar lessons, call Lesson Match at 612-460-7653!

Oct

Always Ask a Piano Salesperson These Questions!

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A piano is a great instrument to invest in if you’re truly interested in learning it.

If you don’t know a whole lot about pianos or buying pianos, here are a few questions to ask the salesperson that will tell you a lot about the piano you’re buying.

How long since the piano was last tuned?
This is an important question to ask because problems can arise if a piano has gone too long without tuning. If you purchase a piano that has not been tuned in over a year, be prepared to pay for repairs.

Has it had any serious issues or repairs?
Be sure to ask if the instrumebnt has had any previous problems, special tunings or serious repairs. Always consider the piano’s ago when asking these questions. A 40-year-old piano has probably had some work done and might play just fine. A 10-year-old piano that has had serious repairs done is suspicious and something to watch out for. If you purchase a beat-up piano, be prepared to pay for repairs and upkeep.

How long has the piano been in its current environment?
Pianos are sensitive to temperature and light; take note of where the it is currently being housed and find out where else it had been before. A consistent, stable environment out of direct light and humidity is the best place for a piano. Be cautious if it has ever been housed in a less than desirable climate.

How has the piano been cleaned and maintained?
Pianos are delicate instruments that need to be cleaned with care; otherwise they can suffer interior and exterior damage. If your buying a used piano, ask how the piano has been cleaned in the past. If any harsh chemicals have been used on the piano, it could have internal damage.

Who is responsible for moving?
Most piano retailers will help you make arrangements to move the piano. If you’re buying from a private seller, you will most likely be responsible for moving the piano yourself. If you have to move the piano yourself, it is important to hire professions to make sure your new piano is not damaged.

For more information about pianos and piano lessons, contact Lesson Match!

Oct

Tips for a Healthy Singing Voice

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Keeping your voice healthy means keeping your body healthy.

Here are a few tips to keep your singing voice sounding its best.

Drink water.
Drink lots of water! Keeping your body hydrated is the most important thing you can do for your voice. Water helps your body create the lubrication that allows your vocal cords to function properly. Try to drink at least the recommended amount of water each day, but drink more if you can.

Quit Smoking.
Smoking removes the necessary moisture that allows your vocal cords to function properly. Smoking also reduces normal breathing capacity, so if you smoke, you may not be able to hold those notes as long.

Warm up.
Your vocal cords require a warm up before each time you sing. Singing for long periods of time can cause permanent damage. Always try to warm up for at least 10 minutes before each performance to stretch and relax your vocal cords.

Reduce dairy consumption.
Dairy products coat your throat and reduce your vocal range. You don’t have to completely cut out dairy products, but avoid them right before a performance.

Limit alcohol and soda.
Do not be fooled by thinking since you’re drinking a soda you’re hydrating your body; alcohol and sodas dehydrate your body. Dehydration is the worst thing for your voice. Limit your alcohol and soda consumption, but if you do need a soda or a beer, try to balance it out by drinking an extra glass of water. Just remember to always stay hydrated!

Exercise.
Exercise improves your core muscles and allows you to sing better. Exercises like yoga will improve your posture and teach you breathing techniques. Remember, a healthy body means a healthy singing voice.

Your voice is a delicate instrument, keep it healthy to ensure top performance.

Sep

10 Tips for Buying a New Piano

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New pianos are a big investment; so before going out and buying the first piano you see, there are a few things to consider.

1. Shop around. Pianos are not all the same and every one will not be right for you. Make sure and look at as many pianos as you can before making a decision. Always remember to play and inspect a any instrument before you buy it!
2. Placement. Make sure you have a space ready for your new piano before you buy it. Factors such as room size, carpeting etc. will make a difference in how it sounds. When buying a piano, be conscious of the space you’re going to put the it in; if you’re not sure how a piano would sound in your space, don’t be afraid to ask.
3. Moving. Before purchasing a piano, find out who is responsible for moving it. Private retailers usually expect you (the buyer) to do the moving yourself, while large piano manufacturers will often handle the moving for you. Always remember to hire professionals to assist with the moving. Moving a piano by yourself will cause expensive damage to your new instrument.
4. Hire a professional. Having a professional help you choose a piano is a good idea if you don’t know a whole lot about pianos.
5. Play. Don’t be afraid to play and test the piano thoroughly before you buy it to be sure it is in good condition.
6. Age. Pianos have a long life span (30-60 years), so don’t be turned off if a piano is 20 years old, it could still be in pristine condition.
7. Be cautious. If a seller is trying to turn your attention to the new finish on the exterior of the piano rather than telling you about the life of it, be suspicious. This is a common trick to distract buyers from actual problems with the instrument.
8. Initial call. Before taking the time to drive over and look at a piano, call the seller and get some background information about the piano. Information like age and value of the piano will help you decide whether or not to actually take time to look at the piano.
9. Tune. Before taking lessons with your new piano, be sure that it is properly tuned. Practicing on an out of tune piano will get you nowhere.
10. Price. Plan on spending at least $100 on moving and tuning the piano (this is on top of the cost of the piano). Don’t try to save money by moving the piano yourself when a professional piano mover can safely move it.

Once you have a piano, contact Lesson Match to enroll in lessons!

Sep

Woodwind Instrument Care

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Like all instruments, a woodwind instrument need to be cleaned and cared for.

With proper care you can get several years of optimal performance out of your woodwind instrument. Proper instrument care begins with daily care, then monthly and yearly maintenance. The daily care is up to you, but there are some things you should leave to a professional.

Here are some things you can do yourself and things you should let professions do to keep your instrument clean.

Daily Care

1.   When removing an instrument from its case, never pick it up by the keys! Remove it by picking it up by a sturdy place without keys.
2.   Be sure to rub all the joints with a soft cloth to remove any debris or build up. For clarinets, apply a small amount of cork grease to the tenon corks.
3.   Put the instruments together using slow back-and-forth twisting motions. Never push or pull on the instrument when assembling or disassembling as this can damage the tenons (joints).
4.   When tightening the screws on the ligature, be careful not to over tighten as this can also damage the instrument.
5.   After you’re finished playing, pull a cleaning swab through all parts to remove moisture. Remember to carefully wipe off the outside of the instrument as well to remove any oils caused by your hand.
6.   Always store instruments in their cases! Do not put anything else in the case as this can cause damage to the keys.

Monthly Care

1. Check all screws and pivots to see if they’re coming loose. If they are, take your instrument to a repair shop to have them adjusted. Do not try to adjust them yourself as this can cause over tightening and damage to the instrument.

Yearly Care

1.   You take your woodwind instrument to a repair shop once a year to have your instrument checked.
2.   If you never find anything wrong with your instrument during your monthly checks, it is still recommended that you have it checked yearly. A professional might see something you don’t and repair it.
3.   Yearly checks are necessary to ensure optimal performance of your instrument.

If you’re ever not sure about the proper instrument care, ask a professional to ensure no damage is done to your woodwind instrument.

Sep

Moving a Piano

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While a piano may seem like another piece of furniture easily moved from one room to another with some force, it is not. The piano is a delicate instrument and if damaged can result in hundreds to thousands of dollars in repair. Here are a few things to consider before moving your piano.

Room to room
Before moving a piano from one room to another, really decide if it needs to be moved. Pianos weigh hundreds of pounds and are not easy to move. Think about when you’re moving the couch (typically about 100lbs.) and something happens and you accidentally drop the couch. No big deal right? Now think about the same thing happening when moving a piano (300-1,500lbs.). Piano legs are the most likely thing to get damaged and can be high cost to get fixed. A simple drop of the piano can result in external and internal damage. Instead of planning on moving the piano, really think about where you’re going to put it before it arrives. Pianos should be placed in a room where there are little or no drafts, directly out of sunlight to avoid discoloration and in a place where humidity is low because high humidity can cause your piano to go out of tune faster. If you have to move the piano to a different room, make sure you have plenty of strong people to help you.

New house
Obviously if you’re moving to a new house then you’ll need to move the piano, but consider hiring a professional piano mover. Professional piano movers have moved pianos before and know how to do so successfully without damaging your piano. Moving a piano a long distance without the help professionals can result in damage that costs thousands of dollars to repair (usually it’s cheaper to buy a new piano than to have it rebuilt). Hiring a professional may cost a little money now, but it will save you lots of money down the road if you damage your piano.

At one point in most people’s lives, they’ll be forced to get up at an event and sing karaoke.

Here are some ways to be sure karaoke does not damage your singing voice.

For more karaoke or singing tips, call Lesson Match to speak with a vocal instructor.

Overtime, guitar strings will have to be replaced; it’s inevitable. Natural stretch and wear will require you to replace your guitar strings regularly, but here are a few tips to keep your guitar strings as long as possible.

Here are a few tips to tell when it is time to change your guitar strings.

Keep your guitar sounding great by taking guitar lessons!

Interested in taking drum lessons? Or do you already play the drums but are looking for some drum tips?

Here are a few tips to refine your technique and keep your drum set sounding great.

For more information about drum lessons with Lesson Match, call us at 612-460-7653.

More ways to keep your vocal cords sounding refreshed and healthy.

Enroll in vocal lessons to keep your instrument in top shape!

Some people are able to just pick up an acoustic guitar and instinctively know what to do with it; others might need some tips.

Here are a few tips for beginning acoustic guitar players.

For more tips or to sign up with acoustic guitar lessons, call Lesson Match at 612-460-7653!

A piano is a great instrument to invest in if you’re truly interested in learning it.

If you don’t know a whole lot about pianos or buying pianos, here are a few questions to ask the salesperson that will tell you a lot about the piano you’re buying.

For more information about pianos and piano lessons, contact Lesson Match!

Keeping your voice healthy means keeping your body healthy.

Here are a few tips to keep your singing voice sounding its best.

Your voice is a delicate instrument, keep it healthy to ensure top performance.

New pianos are a big investment; so before going out and buying the first piano you see, there are a few things to consider.

Once you have a piano, contact Lesson Match to enroll in lessons!

Like all instruments, a woodwind instrument need to be cleaned and cared for.

Here are some things you can do yourself and things you should let professions do to keep your instrument clean.

If you’re ever not sure about the proper instrument care, ask a professional to ensure no damage is done to your woodwind instrument.

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