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A friend asked me yesterday: "How can I learn to sing (or improve my current level of singing)?"
I didn't have a good answer but I knew where to come for suggestions. You wonderful folks have all the answers and never flame anyone for asking a legitimate question.
A free source would be great but not essential.
TIA
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Formal voice lessons at the beginning. This starting stuff is not intuitive. After that - sing, sing, sing!!
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.
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As jazzmandan says, lessons and sing. Also learn to breathe properly. I know we all think we know how, but most of us do not. When breathing for singing or playing a wind instrument, the diaphragm should go down, the lower abdomen should extend outward, and the chest should not expand. Look at a newborn baby or a sleeping dog and you will see what I mean.  Like this. If this isn't the first lesson your teacher shows you, get a new teacher. If you breathe improperly you can severely damage your vocal chords, and you will never get your best singing tone. Insights and incites by Notes.
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
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Before any of that other stuff, it is very important for them to find out what kind of an ear they have.
Can they sing or whistle back a simple melody - in tune?
If not, the starting place is for them to start doing a lot of listening to simpler songs and trying to duplicate what they have heard.
--Mac
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One more note on the breathing bit (above). The famous Broadway and movie actress/singer, Julie Andrews was a "chest breather" instead of a diaphragm breather. She got nodules on her vocal chords, had the risky operation, and it failed, she can no longer sing. That's how important proper breathing is.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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There is rather a big difference between someone working almost nightly and someone who is asking the kind of question posed here, I should think.
First they should find out how to "carry a tune".
Don't get them all tied up in that breathing stuff at this early juncture.
--Mac
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Yup..... either a good local vocal coach or perhaps one of the courses on DVD.
I lean towards the in your face personal vocal coaches because they will hold your feet to the fire on getting it right, and practicing.
Singing, while a natural thing many people do, is, without a doubt, also a skill akin to playing a guitar or the piano or any other instrument for that matter. Techniques and skills that would take years to develop and discover that must be practiced to refine into second nature can be learned with a proper and experienced teacher. This can save years of practicing the wrong thing and perhaps ruining your voice in the process.
I know one guy who can barely talk or sing now due to the way he abused his voice, thinking it was cool sounding, during the days when he was gigging for a living.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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I don't know the person's situation, but I have had some wonderful chorus directors over the years. And while it's not 'one on one', it is singing instruction.
Seeking out a community or open college choir that practices often and performs in public is a good way to immerse yourself in singing and learn about the singing techniques mentioned here.
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If you live in a big city, like l dId for most of my life...in Chicago...
When Frank D'Rone, one of the greatest singers and jazz guitarists, left for NYC to perform in the finest jazz Bistros, I decided to pick one of the best professional voice coaches to attempt to improve my vocal control.
It was money well spent, as she was great guiding me through songs from Broadway, and especially ones that were very popular for singers who wanted to perform live, in bistros and other professional type targeted venues which were draws for the good-sized audiences that were "out there"...
Big Towns with dozens of bars, cocktail lounges, including Bistros, where the patrons came to listen to great tunes, and the jazz accompayist, who was usually the same woman or man...like Nat King Cole's brother, who I believe is still gigging at the Windemere West hotel, in Chicago.
I've been listening to one of Shirley Horn's streaming albums that I have streaming down in the background!!
I'm listening to the coolest rendition of "Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire", that I've heard since Mel Torme wrote it.
And now she's into "Black Magic"....'i hear your name, and i'm aflame'...and every time your lips meet mine...down and down i go...round and round I go...
In a spin, lovin that spin i'm in...under that ol Black Magic calle love"!!!
Come FLY WITH ME...COME TAKE OFF WITH ME...THERE, INTO THE BLUE!! OF COURSE MY FAVORITE FROM SHIRLEY IS, "ESTATE"!
Last edited by GDaddy; 03/27/14 10:58 AM.
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She has a good ear and can listen to a song segment or passage then sing it back virtually error-free.
My chief concern is in her learning the fundamentals incorrectly.
I remember one trick used to learn diaphragm control...to sing into a lighted candle without extinguishing it.
That also teaches the direction the breath takes when singing. Important for proper microphone placement.
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GDaddy mentioned Shirley Horn - Shirley and Mark Murphy are my two favorite singers for jazz music. I learned a lot about both singing and sax playing by intensely listening to them.
And that is another point. Listen - don't just hear - singers from all genres. How do they get their expression, what subtle nuances do they do to ornament notes, how is their phrasing, when are they ahead of the beat, when are they behind, how do they vary their vibrato (or not).
Intense, purposeful listening is perhaps the most important learning tool after the fundamentals.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Intense, purposeful listening is perhaps the most important learning tool after the fundamentals.
This is where its at, regardless of what the instrument may be. The human voice is the 1st instrument... --Mac
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Hi, Don !
This is in fact not an easy question to answer. We all know that
singing is about having the ability to hear what you
are producing and tune the production correctly. I happen
to know guys that can sing 60-90 % in tune and then suddenly they
fly out of tune. Singing in an a cappella quartet will surely
reveal if one can tune it or not. When one sings backed by
instruments it tends to forgive more than a cappella ever will do !
She might want to sing a tag or two with some barbershoppers close to her
site ? We barbershoppers have developed tags that will pretty fast
define if she can tune it or die (as Charlie Metzger - father of two sons
Tom and Frank of the world champion quartet Realtime would have said)!
And.....if she is willing to try, I can help fixing the necessary contacts naturally !
Cheers
Dani
Last edited by dani48; 03/30/14 12:38 AM.
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Dani, thank you but she went to a voice coach nearby in Chicago. She's also taking guitar lessons. Certainly more energy than I have.
Thanks for your suggestion though, amigo.
Donny
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Holá Don !
and as we say in spanish: .... de nada.....
But, my offer stands, You see
we barbershoppers are like a big world wide family.
It would be very simple for me to connect to a Sweet Adelines
Chorus close to her !:))
Cheers
amigo Dani
Last edited by dani48; 03/31/14 02:17 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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