This show is a lesson in maintaining your vocal technique. The story is about a 30-year reunion of Follies performers when the old theater is about to be torn down and turned into a parking lot. Over the course of the evening the Follies girls perform their old songs from the show. The performers in this production range in age from 82 – Rosalind Elias to 63 year old Elaine Paige to Jan Maxwell who is 54. Not young voices!

Jan Maxwell

Every one of them was… there aren’t words – incredible. Rosalind Elias sings One More Kiss, a song built for a soprano and she does it beautifully. At age 82 she’s still a stunning talent and voice. That takes solid vocal technique. She’s still practicing every day – and meeting the demands of performing 8 shows a week!

Jan Maxwell, the youngest of the ‘old ladies’ has the most demanding songs, Could I Leave You is one. She’s a powerhouse and a great example of keeping your chops polished.

Bernadette Peters on the other hand seems to have forgotten her vocal technique. It was painful to watch her struggle with her voice. It was almost as though she was writhing in pain as she searched for her former vocal ability. Unfortunately on stage is not the time for searching, it’s the time to have it all together.

It’s not too late for Ms Peters. She can retrain her formerly glorious voice. I’d love to be the voice teacher help her.

Vocal technique, producing sound with a healthy, natural process can make, save or break a career. If you are an aspiring performer or someone who is already in the biz, pay attention to the lesson here. Even with star power, you cannot thrill an audience if you loose your ability to communicate through your art.

Keep practicing with purpose and focus! Keep studying! You are never ‘done’ learning your craft. And break a leg!

Angelica Houston

Now Steven Spielberg is bringing us a TV series about the making of a Smash Hit Musical – SMASH! Watching the trailers leads me to believe that it won’t be so much about the music or the actor/singer/dancers who work so very, very hard and long to get a chance to audition for a Broadway musical.

Judge for yourself with this link to NBC.com trailer. “SMASH” Trailer

The music does not sound like Broadway music either. It sounds like the pop music we are spoon fed from every direction in our culture. At least this show will bring a lot of exposure to a truly American art form and hopefully create a whole new fan base for Broadway.

Let me know your thoughts!

Are you a budding Broadway star yourself? Get your chops together right now! Luck is being prepared when the opportunity arises. Take a look at the fastest growing online vocal training website in the world, SingLikeYouSpeak.com

k.d. lang

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ms. lang has a technique that never lets her down. Her vocal freedom, her artistic freedom and that amazing depth of singing comes from technique. How’s your technique? If you are serious about improving your vocals, go to SingLikeYouSpeak.com to get the best in online voice lessons.

In my neighborhood there is a Live Band Karaoke night at a fun bar/restaurant, so I thought I’d be brave and try it out. You know, it was fun. A lot of fun. Was the singing good? No. Was the band great. No. But…

People out on an evening mid-week having a wonderful time singing. How can you beat that? It’s a real thrill to see a room jam packed with people who can’t wait to sing. These people were pouring their hearts into the microphone. Having a great time. How cool is that?

My grandmother was born in 1890. Before television, before radio even and certainly way before the internet. She grew up with horse and buggy and never learned to drive a car. She has a voice that could raise the dead and make you cringe but that never stopped her from singing her heart out.

She described her life growing up and even when my dad (born 1910) was a kid. Every evening they gathered around the pi-an-a (piano) and sang. It was like live band karaoke every evening. Do you suppose that modern karaoke is trying to bring back the days before media took over our lives? I certainly hope so.

Karaoke regulars who are looking to improve their singing skills have a wonderful resource in SingLikeYouSpeak.com. Take a look. And then sing your heart out!

Well here’s a dog that loves that guitar groove. Watch him bopin’ to the beat. Enjoy!

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Music is in everyone’s soul. Share it with the world, y’all!

I’d like to add to that part of the problem with pop music is that it’s not about the music any more! It’s about hype and costumes and pyrotechnics and who knows what else, but it’s certainly not about the music. As a vocal trainer, I am frustrated with the level of singing ability. You hear a vocal on a recording that’s been ‘fixed’ by all sorts of studio magic. Hearing the same singer live, without any studio help, is… well, it’s not the same singer at all.

Take a look at this video comparison of Train.

What do you think? Is it fair to the public to have pop singers who really can’t sing? I’d love to hear your comments.

Please share your comments with me. I try to respond to every one. Sing Like You Speak is cutting edge vocal technique for contemporary singers.

Sally Morgan

Esperanza Spalding

The following was taken from Ms. Spalding’s website:

“The one pursuit that made sense to Spalding from a very early age was music. At age four, after watching classical cellist Yo Yo Ma perform on an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the roadmap was suddenly very clear. “That was when I realized that I wanted to do something musical,” she says. “It was definitely the thing that hipped me to the whole idea of music as a creative pursuit.”

Ms. Spalding has followed her own beat her whole young life. Get inspired, read this page on her website, buy her music and learn the intricate details of a fabulous musician who also happens to be a singer – and bass player – and composer.

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High Notes Made Simple

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Keep It Healthy

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Project Your Voice

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My holiday wish is that these free voice lesson videos help to free your fabulous voice! Another gift for you is a 1 month free membership in SingLikeYouSpeak.com Click this link to get your free month of vocal training! Cancel at any time without obligation. Experience the joy of singing.

Happy Holidays!

Stress can end up right in your voice – and usually does. Anger loves to live in the jaw and back of the neck. Frustration loves to hang out in the throat. Fatigue takes hold of your shoulders.

To reduce the involvement of your voice in the holiday madness, notice where the stress is accumulating. For me it’s usually shoulders. When you notice muscle tension just notice it, give it a moment, then try to soften the muscles and let go of the stress.

If you are still really tight wiggle, shake and move the area that is getting locked up. The movement will keep the muscles from seizing up and referring that same tension back into your voice.

Also check in with your breathing. Make sure that you are not holding your breath. That’s a very common thing for people to do when you are stressed. Keep breath moving.

Drink plenty of water. Heat, stress, alcohol, spicy foods and all be drying factors that are not good for your voice. Drink water on a regular basis throughout your day.

A little vocal exercise can help too. With the breath moving freely through your body, sigh out an ‘mmm’. Let the ‘mmm’ move through you and feel the soothing vibrations and enjoy.

Have a warm and wonderful holiday!