Singing Instruction - To Belt Or Not to Belt

First of all, lets get on the same page when we talk about "belting". I'm talking about the way we sing when someone important yells "I can't hear you". We begin to push and shove and try to sing LOUDER. Our veins pop out in our neck, we take a fighting stance, firmly set our jaw and SING. Tension is everywhere.

Yet invariably we are still told " you're still not singing loud enough."

I suppose, if you were on stage with no microphone, and a band or orchestra behind you, and a big audience, "belting" might help you be heard a little better. But centuries have passed with opera singers doing just this, only without pushing their voices - or "belting". Opera singers have the uncanny ability to make their voices heard over the orchestra, without a mic...and they do this without forcing. This has to do with years and years of training, and some special physical equipment most of us aren't blessed with.

Think about this: do you really need to "belt"? Maybe so, if you are performing opera or musical theatre without a mic and with a small, soft voice. My only advice if this description fits you is to find other kinds of music to perform.

I'm really speaking to the singers who perform pop, rock. country and musical theatre with microphones. Mics are essential to these types of singers. So, if you have a mic, why would you ever want to "belt"?

Let's suppose you front a rock band and your vocal amp goes out while you are singing. The rest of the band is pounding away and so....you start to yell the song. Funny thing. The audience still won't hear you no matter how loud you try to sing. The human voice simply isn't capable of competing with a rock band. So, if you don't want to stop the song you might as well keep singing it at the volume most comfortable for you. They aren't going to hear you anyway.

There are exercises and techniques which will add punch, power and volume to your singing voice, but they take some time to learn. If you are too often feeling pressured by yourself or others to "belt" it out:

• Ignore them.

• Ride your mic closer or turn up your volume in the mix.

• Add more high mids and treble to your vocal mix.

• Buy a mic which is made to boost the highs and high mids.

• Find a good voice teacher and learn how to do it right.

• Purchase a good singing course and learn how to do it right.

Want to learn more easy techniques to improve your singing? Download my powerful new FREE ebook: "TIPS & TOOLS FOR ALL SINGERS" at: http://vocalvision.com/ad1.php

Al Koehn is a nationally recognized voice teacher, known for achieving amazing results with simple techniques. http://vocalvision.com

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Jimi Hendrix - A Vibrant Artist

On November 27, 1942, the US saw the birth of an amazingly talented musician and artist in the persona of Jimi Hendrix. Born as Johnny Allen Hendrix, he had his name changed to James Marshall and eventually took the nickname "Jimmy" from his father, James Al Hendrix. His father recalls the small Jimmy using their broomstick as a guitar. This prompted him to give little Jimmy a ukulele. The boy's passion for playing guitar never dwindled since then.

Although he has no formal education in this field as he was not even able to write or read musical pieces, in just four years after starting his career, he was already recognized that time by his unique and moving style. With such expertise, he was able to render vibrant and creative rock music through distortion of sounds and feedback with a combination of fuzz and other styles in a fascinating way.

During the Woodstock Music and Art Fair Festival in 1969, people who witnessed him play a renegade rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" in his own musical jive, may still smile until this moment whenever they look at the USA flag as they sing The American National Anthem.

Other than his unnerving music, he was also famous for his sense of fashion. He would always be spotted wearing medallions, scarves and rings, and, of course, his signature hairstyle.

Even in his untimely death in 1970 -- with some details still remaining a mystery -- his artistry did not die. This electric guitarist and popular 1960s icon even transcended this era as until now, his effects on the new generation is still revived every time they listen to his youthful and raving music, which has captured the kind of energy trapped in the young, and will continue to hold sway for more generations to come.

Pollux Parker is an adventurer who loves discovering secret island getaways in each country he visits. Pollux also likes to collect USA Flag and buy cheap USA Flag.

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