My latest singing tips video offers a super helpful tip for learning and teaching yourself how to sing - and it's all about harnessing the power of VISUAL CUES and "face shapes."
Singing can be super confusing if you think of it as an infinite number of sounds and possibilities. But if, instead, you memorize (1) where you feel the sound in your face, (2) and what that shape "looks like" to you in your mind, you'll start to internalize and memorize technique MUCH MUCH FASTER!
It also gives you an excuse to watch tons of YouTube videos of singers performing - oftentimes the way their faces LOOK can give you valuable clues about their singing technique and how they're creating their singer sound.
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
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.)
