Feb

10 Foods and Drinks Not to Consume Before a Vocal Performance

COMMENTS: 0

395613_901936081393_69211313_39480399_2132292607_n

Eating before a performance (not right before) is definitely necessary. You don’t want to be on stage hungry under hot bright lights and get lightheaded.

However, there are definitely a few food and drinks to avoid a few hours (or the day) before a performance.

1. Milk! Milk tops the list of drinks to not consume before a performance because milk is thick. Milk causes phlegm and mucus in your throat, which will lead to coughing and clearing your throat while on stage.

2. Carbonated beverages. Stick clear of carbonation right before a performance because carbonation fills your stomach with air and irritates it. Most singers stick with water before, during and after a performance.

3. Citrus fruit or juices. Citrus fruit is highly acidic which can not only cause un upset stomach, but will dry your throat out. Have you ever had orange juice when you had a sore throat and felt the burn? That is definitely not good for vocal cords.

4. Anything ice-cold. Most people know that heat expands and cold contracts and this goes for your body too. If you drink a glass of ice water right before a performance, it can constrict your throat making it difficult to sing and have a great performance.

5. Spicy foods. Spicy foods are a throat and stomach irritants.

6. Alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates your body and your throat. You wont be able to perform to the best of your abilities if you’re dehydrated. That’s why performers always have water with them during a performance.

7. Heavy food. Heavy foods are ones that make you feel full, like high carbohydrate fobs because they will make breathing techniques more difficult to do.

8. Caffeinated drinks. Caffeine dries out your throat and mouth and should be avoided before a performance.

9. Peanut butter or any other dry foods. Like I said above, hydration is vital to a great singing performance. Peanut butter and crackers are dry foods and will only dry out your mouth and throat.

10. You know your body, so stay away from food that irritate, dehydrate or upset your throat and body.

For more tips on a great vocal performance, contact Lesson Match.

Feb

Is Karaoke Bad for a Singing Voice?

COMMENTS: 0

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.

Jan

Vocal Performance Tips

COMMENTS: 0

Performing in front of an audience can be nerve-wracking, but the rush felt after a performance, during the applause is unbeatable. The key to a great performance is confidence.

If you’re nervous about a performance, here are a few tips to fake confidence.

1. Eye Contact. Maintaining eye contact with the audience helps the performer to appear more confident. In everyday life, when you’re nervous, it’s difficult to maintain eye contact with someone you’re nervous around. There’s also nothing worse for the audience than watching a nervous performer staring at the floor.

2. Enunciate. Do you ever listed to a song at a concert and realize you have no idea what they’re saying. It’s difficult to enunciate every word on stage, especially when you’re nervous, but the audience loves to hear lyrics. If the lyrics are audible, then by the end of the song, the audience might be singing along with you.

3. Convey Emotion. Performing in front of an audience is a lot like acting. Actors wouldn’t smile the whole time if they were acting in drama or tragedy. Similarly, if you’re performing a dark and somber song, try to convey the emotion to the audience. The best performances are the ones the audience can feel and relate to.

4. High Energy. Last summer, I went to two concerts; the first artist stood behind the microphone and sang beautifully, the second had back up dancers and was moving around as much as possible (without being distracting). While I prefer the first artist’s music on the radio, in person the second concert was much more fun. I loved the energy the artist was conveying. You could tell she was enjoying performing and fed off the audience.

Even if you are nervous during the performance, the audience can help you out. Try to appear confident and the audience will respond. Eventually you won’t be pretending to be confident, you actually will be.

All of our vocal instructors at Lesson Match have amazing stage presence and great performance tips.

Contact Lesson Match today to receive some great performance tips from one of our qualified voice instructors!

Nov

10 Drum Tips

COMMENTS: 0

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

COMMENTS: 0

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 Your First Recital

COMMENTS: 0

Playing your first recital can be nerve-wracking, but it’s a great way to show what you’ve learned and stay motivated with lessons.

Here are a few tips to prepare for your first recital.

Find out what music you’re playing. Some instructors allow you to choose what piece(s) you’d like to play during the recital; other instructors assign pieces. If allowed to choose your own music, choose a piece that interests you.

Practice! Try to set aside time every day to practice. Practicing for 15 minutes a day will be more effective than practicing one day for an hour.

Difficulty. Tackle the more difficult pieces you’ll be playing then move onto the easier ones. Beginning with the harder pieces will give you more time to learn and master them. After learning the difficult pieces you should master the easier ones in no time.

Warm up. Play through a few easy pieces and your recital piece before the recital. Don’t over practice right before a recital though or you’ll be tired and make more mistakes.

Play in front of an audience. Practice a few times in front of your family and friends. This will help you feel more confident playing in front of a larger audience.

Record a practice session. Record yourself, or have someone record you, playing through all your pieces. Some musicians have bad habits that they do on stage and aren’t aware of them. Watching yourself play will show you how you will look on stage and you can address any issues before playing in front of an audience.

Rest. Get a good night’s sleep the night before a recital. You may be too nervous to sleep, but if you’re tired during the recital you might forget a piece or miss a note.

Breath! Many people get nervous in front of an audience and forget to breath. Practice some breathing techniques before your recital that help calm you down.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone messes up during his or her first recital. Usually it’s just a small mistake that only you notice, but the temptation to stop will be there. If you make a mistake, keep playing like nothing happened. Remember, this is your first recital; it will go better next time.

Have fun! Playing music shouldn’t be a chore. Always remember to have fun when playing. Performers that are having fun have better stage presence than those who are not.

For more tips about the first recital or lessons with Lesson Match, contact us!

Oct

Tips for a Healthy Singing Voice

COMMENTS: 0

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 to Overcome Stage Fright

COMMENTS: 0

What do Adele, Barbra Streisand, Rod Stewart and Carly Simon have in common? They all suffer from stage fright. That’s right. Even celebrities get nervous before performing on stage. Performing on stage can be a terrifying experience, but there are a few tips and tricks to make the performance go by a little smoother.

1. Practice. The more you practice, the better you’ll feel about your talent.

2. Be prepared. Make sure that you have everything in order for your performance long before the performance is supposed to begin.

3. Analyze. Check out your performance space before the actual performance. This will ensure there are no surprises and you’ll feel more in control.

4. Relax. Find some relaxation techniques that work for you. If you have a few techniques you know will relax you before anything, this will help calm your nerves.

5. Take deep breaths. Use deep breathing to calm your body and your nerves.

6. Rid yourself of distractions. Avoid all distractions the day of your performance. Try not to have a million things on your plate that day so the only thing you have to worry about is the performance and practicing.

7. Visualize. Before the performance, take an imaginary journey of it. Close your eyes and imagine the entire performance from beginning to end. Then once the performance is actually happening, it will feel like you’ve already given the performance.

8. Nobody’s perfect. Try to accept the fact that every performance is not going to be perfect. Realize you might make a mistake every once and a while but you have to pick up and move on. That’s what helps Donny Osmond control his stage fright.

9. Encouragement. Make sure some friends and family are in the audience. Friends and family can offer silent encouragement and reinforcement.

10. Have fun! Make your performance a celebration of everything you’ve accomplished rather than punishment for being so talented.

Sep

10 Things Musicians Should Avoid

COMMENTS: 0

Like all other things in this world, there are things you should and shouldn’t do in the music industry. Becoming a successful musician is definitely a possibility for people if they work hard and avoid a few things that can harm their musical future.

1. Procrastination. If you’re constantly saying “I’ll practice later” then you’re never going to perfect your instrument or your music. If you’re thinking about practicing, get up and do it. You won’t get anywhere by putting things off until the last minute.

2. Drinking and Smoking. While these may seem like two requirements to become a successful musician, they actually harm your music. Smoking can cause a musician to lose his/her voice during a show and drinking can cause a terrible hangover that interferes with a gig.

3. Stress. Musicians should always try to avoid stress! Stress can cause fatigue, which severely affects your music and sound. During a gig, if you’re stressed or tired, you might be a little slow hitting a note and ruin the whole song. Fatigue also blocks your mind so you’re not able to be creative and write new music.

4. Not setting goals. Goals are what keep people motivated to succeed. Everyone, including musicians should set goals in their life.

5. Not having the right priorities. If you want to be a successful musician, then music should be a top priority. However, don’t let music take over you’re life. Friends and family need to be a priority as well.

6. Playing only “popular” music. Don’t only play the type of music you think people want to hear. Play the music you want to play and if others like it, then great. If not, then at least you’re doing something you’re passionate about and can be proud of that.

7. Not giving enough time to music. Becoming a successful musician takes tons of practice! Even if you’ve mastered your instrument and your songs, you should still take time to write new music or learn new techniques. There’s always more to learn.

8. Waiting to be “discovered.” If you’re just sitting around waiting for someone to discover your talent, then you’ll probably wait a long time. There are many ways to become known in the music industry. Try applying for gigs or making demo CDs of your music to get your band recognized.

9. Plagiarizing. This is a big no-no even outside the music industry. People are always looking for something new and if you’re copying someone else’s music then you won’t be unique and probably won’t become successful.

10. Giving up. Even famous musicians didn’t make it big right away. Music takes trial and error before you find your sound and niche. It’s easy to become discouraged and give up, but remember to keep trying. Eventually you’ll make it!

Aug

10 Tips to Become a Successful Musician

COMMENTS: 0

1. Have an Objective: Figure out what you want to accomplish with your music. Do you want to teach? Be a song writer? Play in a band? Figure out what it is you want to achieve and create a plan to make it happen. Knowing what you want to accomplish is the first step.

2. Have a Role Model: Most recording artists cite other artists as inspiration for their music. Looking to someone else for inspiration will help keep you focused on your goal.

3. Build an Audience: These days everyone seems to have some type of musical ability and wants to share it with the world. Play your music for your friends and family; they can give advice and constructive criticism to make you a better musician.

4. Play Live: Playing in front of others goes along with building an audience. Get your friends and family interested in your music by setting up concerts to get others interested in your music.

5. Engage With Your Fans: Include your family and friends in your creative process. That doesn’t mean asking each and every distant family member to help, but gather a few people that you trust to help you develop your skills and sound. Outsiders can often see or hear things that you miss that could take your sound one step further.

6. Know Your Instrument: Have you ever been playing your instrument and hit the chord wrong but it still sounded really cool? This is how musicians become successful, developing new sounds. Learn your instrument inside and out so you can figure out new techniques.

7. Write Your Own Music: Once you’ve perfected your instrument and are looking for a new challenge, try writing your own music. Writing music may seem difficult at first, but similar to learning to play the instrument, it will get easier.

8. Collaborate: I keep going back to including others in your music, but it’s a very helpful tool. Once you’ve written a song, meet with another musician and see if they have any advice or want to collaborate with you on this track. Artists, like Nicki Minaj, are famous for doing collaborations.

9. Think Big: Don’t settle. If you want to become a famous/successful musician then don’t let anything stop you. Do your research and find out how to make your dreams come true.

10. Share Your Music: Websites like Twitter, youtube, facebook, etc. have helped countless artists become recognized. Think Justin Bieber, his mom uploaded videos of him singing to youtube and now he’s one of the most successful recording artists today.

10 Foods and Drinks Not to Consume Before a Vocal Performance

Eating before a performance (not right before) is definitely necessary. You don’t want to be on stage hungry under hot bright lights and get lightheaded.

However, there are definitely a few food and drinks to avoid a few hours (or the day) before a performance.

For more tips on a great vocal performance, contact Lesson Match.

Is Karaoke Bad for a Singing Voice?

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.

Vocal Performance Tips

If you’re nervous about a performance, here are a few tips to fake confidence.

All of our vocal instructors at Lesson Match have amazing stage presence and great performance tips.

Contact Lesson Match today to receive some great performance tips from one of our qualified voice instructors!

10 Drum Tips

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.

10 More Vocal Tips

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

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

10 Tips for Your First Recital

Playing your first recital can be nerve-wracking, but it’s a great way to show what you’ve learned and stay motivated with lessons.

Here are a few tips to prepare for your first recital.

For more tips about the first recital or lessons with Lesson Match, contact us!

Tips for a Healthy Singing Voice

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.

10 Tips to Overcome Stage Fright

10 Things Musicians Should Avoid

10 Tips to Become a Successful Musician

Play your music!

Lesson Match Locations