Those individuals who are psalm singers tend to be faced with the issue of singing worship songs which are not true to our personal experience. For example, there are lots of psalms which discuss about it suffering, poverty, oppression, and persecution. How can we sing them while we are going through points in the joy, peace, and also prosperity? Here are six strategies we can sing psalms that don't reflect our present reality.
1. Remember suffering Christians across the world. When we sing “suffering psalms,” we are able to be praying for suffering Christians around the world. We can turn these songs into intercessions to the persecuted in North Korea and Iraq.
2. Remember suffering Christians sitting beside us. It’s besides faraway Christians whorrrre suffering; there are a few in the same pew who require our words, our touch, and our practical help. These psalms remind us to succeed in out and reach inside their painful world.
3. Remember what we should deserve. Because of our sin, we’ve forfeited all rights to every security in this world. Therefore, each day of happiness, everyday of painlessness, daily of sanity, can be a day of grace and mercy. With such psalms we're also therefore praising God for his undeserved favor everyday.
4. Remember that which you’ve been saved from (and). These suffering Psalms impart us with an insight into eternal sufferings and as a consequence remind us it doesn't matter how great our suffering on time, we’ve been saved from forever of much worse. In our pain, we also bear in mind, in God’s kindness, your day is coming when sighing and crying won't be any more. And neither will these psalms.
5. Remember to plan for trouble and trial. Although we might have days, years, and in some cases decades of the relatively trouble-free life, every one of us eventually and inevitably will face tough times during the aches and pains, of sighs and groans. Suffering psalms are able to become our song. In the meantime, we can easily still sing them in a preparatory way, asking God to ready and equip us for such occasions when they do come.
6. Remember Jesus Christ. Whatever sufferings the psalmist experienced, they aren't compared to what Jesus Christ endured on our behalf. What agonies of body, mind, and soul. What excruciating misery he passed through for sinners that you and me. He could and did sing this psalm as not one other. We can therefore sing it in praise of Christ who suffered pretty much everything and worse in your place as well as on our behalf.
My latest singing tips video breaks down and teaches you how to sing "Somebody to Love" by Queen! Trying to sing like Freddie Mercury can at first seem like an epic challenge, but it's my job to help you break it down and find some easy, effective strategies for approaching this song.
In this video you'll learn:
(1) How to break down the song "Somebody to Love" in stages so it's easier to sing
(2) Some key vowel and lyric modifications that are going to help you sing higher without tensing or cutting off the sound
(3) Tips for getting your head voice to be stronger, louder, more focused and powerful
(4) Tips for contrasting that head voice with a full, impressive belt sound, since belting is perfect for rock singing (like Queen)
I hope you enjoy this video! Let me know how your practice goes, or if you find these tips helpful.
This video is a sick-singer's guide to staying healthy when you're not feeling 100%. How much should you practice (or not practice) while you're sick, and how can you tell if it's the type of sickness that can support some gentle warmups?
This video is all about sick singing and how to avoid making the mistake of over singing when your sinuses are blocked or your throat isn't cooperating.
Lots of you have asked me, what's the best way to sing with a sore throat?
Unfortunately, the answer is....don't. Singing with a sore throat is a definite no-no.
Phlegm, a blocked sinus, and other symptoms have a bit more grey area, which I'll explain in the video.
And when you're bed ridden or feeling sick and you want to still practice your singing, the best way to stay in touch is to do some simple breath exercises or lip trills.
I hope this video is helpful! Don't get down on yourself when you're sick. The best thing you can do as a singer is not to attempt strained or uncomfortable "sick singing," but to let your sickness run its course.
I lost my voice this week, so I decided to post a "Strategy" lesson from Singing Transformation 2.0, my elite singing training program, since it's an interesting topic that I think you'll find helpful!!
This video answers a question I get a lot which is -- "How can I tell if I'm singing something 'right'?" Lots of singers are worried about "correct singing" and frequently feel somewhat lost when practicing alone.
The video outlines three principles, which are:
1) Singing should never feel PUSHED, FIXED, or FROZEN, or like it hurts,
2) You can always use audio and visual feedback to gauge your sound and technique (i.e. record yourself, and look in the mirror!)
and, third (and most importantly)...
3) Learn to trust yourself and embrace being self taught!
Let me know what you think of this topic... I'll be back soon with a new song breakdown video!
This video is all about riffs and runs, and how to achieve riffing as effortlessly as possible. You will first and foremost learn how to riff by practicing and breaking down certain patterns, but this video offers some key technical adjustments to make riffing easier.
When it comes to learning how to riff, there are a few measures you can take to ensure your voice is as agile and supported as possible, including:
(1) Practice your riffing on a narrow, non-breathy vowel for maximum control and focus
(2) Using "G" or "B" to seal your cord and make sure you're not leaking air
(3) Making "Fish lips" to minimize jaw and tongue tension and to keep your larynx neutral as you riff or run
(4) Using the "opposite cue" to ensure your breath energy and mouth/throat space doesn't collapse or tense when you're riffing down.
Try out these suggestions, and let me know if they help you learn how to riff!
My new video explains the most common reasons why singers fall or sing flat (beneath pitch) which breaks down to: (1) Not enough breath support, or, more commonly, (2) not enough space in the face and mouth to allow the pitch to resonate.
Staying on pitch for singing requires also that you anticipate jumps in notes, like ascending intervals, and it's important to get your "landing gear" out and ready BEFORE you land (sing a note).
If you've been told you have "pitch problems," don't worry. Learning how to stay on pitch is simpler than you think. Learning how not to sing flat takes some practice so your cords have more control, but it also is a mental process. And the more you can utilize these mental cues, the better pitch you will have!
My latest singing tips video is all about how to find a singing voice that is uniquely "yours." It offers my top 3 tips for doing so...some of which might surprise you!
1) Pay attention to the natural variation in "color" (or resonance, or tone) when you speak in the day-to-day. Become aware of all the variations that are possible, and what kind of emotional intention or context usually prompts them.
2) Start by imitating! This one might be a bit controversial, but even the seemingly most original singers had influences that turned to inspiration, that eventually led to their creating their own sound.
3) Don't be afraid to be weird and look silly! Get rid of those blocks of what you're "supposed" to sound like will allow you to experiment more freely, which will unlock tones you didn't know were possible.
What do you think about this topic? Don't forget to leave me a comment! xo Fel
This one answers top questions asked by you guys! Those of you who took my singer survey asked me quite often about my own experience singing and other more "personal" questions. I realized that while you may have gotten to know me through my singing lessons, courses and YouTube channel, you might still be curious about the Fel on the other side of the camera!
This video is a big departure from me, but I figured I'd give it a shot. Let me know if you'd like more videos like this or if you'll pass in the future :)
In this video I answer the questions:
(1) When did you start singing, and was it natural for you? (2) Were you always this self-confident on camera, and in life? (3) What drives you to be a voice finder?
In the video I also mention my nonfiction book UNNATURALLY GREEN, which chronicles the time I was in the musical Wicked, and you can learn more about it here: http://www.UnnaturallyGreen.com.
My latest video addresses voice classification, or voice part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and answers a common question I get from singers, which is: what's my voice classification, and does it matter?
Basically, it doesn't really matter. Voice classification describes the thickness of your vocal folds. Sopranos and tenors are born with thinner folds, while altos, baritones, and basses are born with thicker vocal folds. This means you are naturally predisposed to sing higher (in the case of tenors and sopranos) or lower (altos, baritones, basses), and you can usually tell which voice part you are based on the natural tone of your speaking voice.
Check it out!
What I want to stress in this video is that your voice classification is a starting guide. It's like saying: "I have long legs." It describes your body and the way you were born, but it does not determine your ultimate range or what you will be able to sing in your career as a singer. It may describe what is *easiest* for you at first -- but just as someone with short legs can learn to run fast, so can someone with thick vocal folds learn to sing high. Loads of baritones and altos can sing high, and likewise many tenors and sopranos have impressive lower ranges. So don't get bogged down in assigning a label to yourself. Any singer can successfully grow his or her voice and learn to increase their range.
Hope you like the video! Please leave me a comment. xo Fel
This video breaks down "Black Widow" by Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora and recommends vowel and lyric modifications that help you place the sound for Rita Ora's tone and styling, as well as pop out your belt singing voice.
The sung hook and "pre-chorus" of this song is belty and hefty sounding, it's important to know where to place the sound to be able to bust tension and get the notes to flow.
Altering the lyrics with new vowels, consonants, and phrases will help your wrap your mouth around the sounds. When it comes to singing and creating a signature sound (like Rita Ora), you don't manipulate the cord, you manipulate the resonant space in your face and mouth.
Hope this is helpful! Leave me a comment and let me know. Complete lyric modifications below... xo Fel
BLACK WIDOW BY IGGY AZALEAN & RITA ORA Lyric Modifications by Felicia Ricci
I'm gonna love ya Until you hate me
UMKUNAH LAHVYA UHN TEHYAH HEH(T) MIH
And I'm gonna show ya What's really crazy
UNUMKUNAH SHUHYAH WUH ZRIHLIH KREHSIH
You should've known better Than to mess with me, honey
YUSHUHDUH NOH BEDAH THEDUHMEH SWITHMEE HAHNEH
I'm gonna love ya, I'm gonna love ya Gonna love ya, gonna love ya Like a black widow, baby
This is the web, web that you weave THISIH DAH WUHB WUHB DACHOO WIH(EE)V
So baby now rest in peace (It's all over with now) SUH BEHBIH NAHRESTIH PIH (S)
(P.S. Background track is a "karaoke" version of the song I arranged myself on GarageBand, dubbing vocals over afterward with my computer microphone. But most of the sung parts in the video are live. Kind of low budget for now but hopefully it does the trick so you can get the feel for the song.)
Here is my newest video explaining how to approach and use a mixed voice. Mixed voice means singing "between" chest and head voice by accessing your nasopharynx (which lets the sound vibrate in the "mustache" region of your face). Accessing the mixed voice technique itself is not super complicated, but sometimes using muscle memory to master it can be tricky. This video explains some simple exercises that will help you practice.
Let me know if this video helps you access you vocal mix!
Are you looking to beat stage fright and be more confident when it's time to perform a song? This video offers three main tips to help singers be more confident. No more choking up or freezing when you sing in front of people!
This new singing tips video is a response to some of the confusion I've heard/seen around YouTube and in general surrounding singing and how to sing!
Specifically, I want to debunk three lies:
(1) That singing is "natural" and in order to sing like a pro, you just have to forget about technique and FEEL the music! While this is, to some degree, part of the art and craft of singing, so many people underestimate how much time and effort goes into finding your singing voice.
(2) That if you can't learn how to sing a song the very first time you attempt it, you'll never be able to sing it! This is a huge mental block people experience, and I want to explain how this is simply NOT the case.
(3) That belt singing or big hefty sounds require a ton of TENSIONS and EFFORT in the face and throat. This is a misconception! Even though performers make "belting faces" and emote in their faces when they hit high notes, it has nothing to do with the production of sound. In fact, when done correctly, singing should feel basically effortless (except for the breath production down below).
What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Leave me a comment!
Here is my newest video on how to sing low. Remember that it is important to utilize breath support and getting the resonance in the mouth. This video teaches healthy ways to accomplish these singing tasks!
This new video breaks down Taylor Swift's Blank Space and offers appropriate vowel and lyric modifications that help you place the sound in a way similar to Taylor's clear, resonant tone. This isn't necessarily the highest or most challenging song, but it's a great way to practice practice opening the back of your throat and not tensing so you know where to place the sound -- that way it won't fall flat while you're singing.
This new singing video will help you go from "bad singer" to good singer (or at least decent!). Included are some basic tips for beginner singers who don't know exactly where to begin. This video is geared toward answering the questions that unexperienced singers often ask. So if you're just starting out at the very beginning of your singing journey and feel like you might "suck" (haha), then be sure to tune in because I don't want to leave you out in the cold.
Here is my newest singing tips video on how to strengthen that HEAD VOICE of yours! Watch this video to learn (1) how to find your head voice, (2) migrate it more forward in the face, and (3) eliminate breathiness and "aim" the sound to maximize volume, without strain.
Hello my singer friends! I've recently received a lot of questions from singers who find their default singing voice is airy, breathy, and seems to pop up into a more soprano-y head register that's difficult to control or make powerful. For some singers, it seems almost impossible to locate a grounded chest voice. This new video of mine addresses the top 3 ways to find a grounded, resonant CHEST VOICE. You can find the link to this video below. Enjoy! xo Fel
