VOCALS
MIRROR , MIRROR ON THE WALL | Sheri Gould
Most of the people I work with are folks serving in their local churches . These people , of which you are mostly likely one , are typically singing , leading worship , heading up worship teams , and working very hard to make the times of worship in their church meaningful and powerful . They are dedicated and hard working . What they are not doing is taking a lot of time or spending a lot of energy working on their own voices . They are more than likely NOT taking private voice lessons , nor do they have access to a vocal coach . Therefore , it ’ s very difficult to get honest , objective feedback about how they are doing vocally . They often rely on random pieces of feedback that may trickle in , but these are more often than not simple expressions of gratitude and appreciation rather than a candid assessment of how they are doing vocally . So how can we get the feedback we need ? The answer is simple-look in the mirror !
Sounds easy enough , right ? But you know what ? Most people won ’ t take advantage of this essential part of becoming a better singer . In October of 2017 I wrote an article about getting feedback via recording yourself . If you missed that article I suggest you read that in addition to this one , as it explains the importance of self examination and some of the pitfalls . Reviewing your voice through a recording is an excellent way to grow , but what can best prepare you while you practice is to sing in front of a mirror . But why is this simple technique so often overlooked ?
Sadly , many of us are not thrilled with how we look , so the prospect of studying our facial movements , or our bodily movements for the duration of a warm-up session and then on to singing the songs we are preparing seems tedious as well as uncomfortable . Often when I tell a student to watch themselves in the mirror as we are working together , they simply won ’ t do it ! They will look down , around … anywhere but at themselves ! The time to fix something you are doing wrong is in the moment . When you notice an issue on a recording you make a note to yourself to do it differently next time and this is important . But what ’ s even better to correct it on the spot and start to create a good habit . It ’ s much easier to create a good habit than try to undo a bad one . So , it ’ s important to get over any insecurities we have about how we look so that we can take advantage of this vital aspect of preparation .
It ’ s much easier to create a good habit than try to undo a bad one .
There are so many things we ( perhaps inadvertently ) do with our faces , our mouths , and even our bodies while we are singing that are not only distracting for our audience but can also even be vocally unhealthy . But here ’ s the good news ; most singers recognize these behaviors immediately . Once they see them , they fix them . The problem is that the minute they turn away from the mirror they often return right back to the old behavior ! That ’ s why it needs to be done regularly . Then , new habits can be established .
WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR ? Like I said before , the good news is that many things are obvious to most singers , and they immediately fix them . But just in case you ’ re unsure , here are a few things that you should be keeping your eye on :
ANY FACIAL TENSION Stay completely relaxed ! Facial tension can be distracting and also add unnecessary tension to your tone . Make sure your facial expressions are natural and relaxed as you are singing .
RELAXED AND OPEN VOWELS SHAPES Two fingers is a good gauge for how open your mouth should be .
POSTURE Make sure you are standing straight and tall . Keep your rib cage up off your diaphragm so it can move freely and give you the power you need .
SHOULDER POSITION Relax your shoulders . It ’ s easy to carry tension in your shoulders , and that can carry into your overall body tension .
NECK TENSION Pay close attention to any veins popping out , or strain you might see in your neck . These are indications that you are not supporting your tone properly from your breathing muscles , but are instead using your throat to support your tone .
If you play an instrument while you sing , then make sure you get feedback while you ’ re playing as well . I always recommend practicing with and without your instrument to make sure that you develop and maintain good habits .
So , it ’ s important to watch yourself in a mirror ( if at all possible ) while you are practicing . If it ’ s not feasible , then get a recording while you are practicing . Stop and review throughout your practice session . This will be the next best thing to a mirror .
Sheri Gould An internationally acclaimed vocal coach . She ’ s been helping artists ad worshippers find their voice for over 40 years . For help and resources visit ... www . SheriGould . com
54 June 2018 WorshipMusician . com