Vocal Singing 101 Bekley Program

Voice Technique 101 course, you can familiarize yourself with our online classroom and the features that contribute to making all of our online courses dynamic learning experiences. Before you get started, acquaint yourself with some of the classroom's most exciting features.

Syllabus The syllabus not only provides a complete week-by-week road map of the areas covered in the course, but also allows you to navigate your way to specific topic areas.

Student Introductions Among the first activities you'll participate in when class starts, the student introduction allows you to introduce yourself to your classmates and instructor, and share your interests and questions with other students. You can even post a picture or a sample of your music.

Course Content Course content comes in many forms: course-related text, an accompanying textbook, interactive examples, practice exercises, audio and video lessons, quizzes, and more. All of these elements allow you to learn concepts in a number of ways.

Class Forum The Class Forum is the primary vehicle for communicating with your instructor and other students, as well as the main method for uploading your assignments. It will allow you to view other students work and exchange feedback.

Chat Once the class has been assembled, the instructor will schedule live chat times, during which the class can get together to expand on concepts raised during the course and ask specific questions.

Instructor Feedback An important component of the Berklee Online course experience is access and feedback from Berklee's renowned faculty. In all of the Berklee Online courses, you will receive one-on-one feedback on your assignments from your professor, just as you would if you attended the physical college. ---------Course Introduction

Course Goal

The goal of this course is to teach the basics of vocal technique to singers of any age. At the end of this course the singer will have learned how to have better breath control, sing with more freedom, be able to sing simple harmonies, and have a basic understanding of how to take care of their instrument. Vocal Techniques 101 is a beginning level singing class for developing singers of any age.

Course Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

use breath control to improve their singing

sing with more freedom

sing simple harmonies

take care of their instrument

Topics Covered

singing with consistent, accurate intonation

developing coordinated breath support to help stamina, and increase control

developing a free tone quality with minimum tension

establishing beneficial practice habits to help growth and development

learning how to take care of the voice

simple melodic embellishment

singing in harmony with prerecorded tracks

Singers will submit examples of their singing of vocal exercises and songs to prerecorded rhythm tracks. Each weekly lesson will cover a specific topic and have an assignment related to that topic. The goal is to teach the basics of vocal technique to beginning singers.

Backup tracks for the course will be provided:

melody prep tracks with basic melody and chords provided for learning melodic independence on assigned songs

sing along tracks with rhythm section accompaniment with no melody doubled provided for final assignments (in high and low-voice keys)

Everyone knows that voice study is the secret to success for many contemporary vocal artists. Here are some of the questions that many singers have that will be addressed in Vocal Techniques 101:

How can vocal technique help me to expand my range and expression?

What vocal warmups should I use to allow me to sing at my best every time?

How do singers incorporate work with a teacher without sacrificing individuality?

I know I should practice, but what should I practice?

How can I become more confident in my vocal performance?

How do I make my voice sound more powerful?

Berkleemusic's Vocal Techniques 101 allows vocalists to expand their singing skills, providing guided study in the areas including:

breath management skills

vocal health and anatomy information, through a weekly Health Forum topic

singing with contemporary vocal style and diction

melodic embellishment

creating a balanced tone through blending registers

weekly "Mirror Check" assignments for self assessment

All of these topics are illustrated through extensive use of state-of-the-art video demonstrations, animated illustrations, and hundreds of notated and recorded examples.

At the end of the course, students will be able to sing in various styles with greater facility and awareness in the areas of breath control, idiomatic embellishment, pitch accuracy, rhythmic flexibility, and style. Students will demonstrate these abilities through performance-based musical examples each week, recorded and uploaded for review by their Berklee Voice 101 teacher. Participants will also hone their critical skills through their capacity to post comments and suggestions for fellow students. -----------Course Textbooks

The Contemporary Singer: Elements of Vocal Technique by Anne Peckham. --------Computer Requirements

General Requirements

Assignments in this course will require you to use a webcam to record yourself singing along with backing tracks. In order to record your performances with backing tracks successfully, you will need a computer, microphone, webcam (either built-in to your computer or an external device), webcam recording software, and speakers.

Software Requirements

PC Web browser: Firefox 3.0 or higher, Internet Explorer 7 or higher

Macintosh Web browser: Firefox 3.0 or higher, Safari 3.0 or higher

Flash Player (current version)

QuickTime Player (current version)

Acrobat Reader (current version)

A basic audio recording tool that will allow you to record yourself playing along with a background track and save the recording in MP3 format. You will have a tool to use for this purpose inside the learning environment. Alternatively, you can use software like Audacity (PC) or GarageBand (Mac).

For help using either Audacity or GarageBand, visit the Berkleemusic Technical Assistance page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to download and watch tutorials about using each of these programs.

Hardware Requirements: PC Users

Windows XP, Vista or 7

Intel Pentium or higher

1 GB RAM

500 MB hard drive space recommended

Sound card

Hardware Requirements: Mac Users

OS X 10.5 or higher

Intel Mac

1 GB RAM

500 MB hard drive space recommended

Hardware Requirements: All Users

Webcam (with webcam recording software)

Speakers or headphones for your computer

A built-in microphone or an external microphone plugged directly into your computer (via built in ports or an external audio interface)

A printer is recommended, so that you can print out music examples used in the course

-------Class Communication

Class Forum

The Class Forum is a discussion area for you, fellow classmates, and your instructor. Post any questions, comments, or other relevant information about the course there. You can access it by clicking the Class Forum tab in the top navigation bar of the course.

Guidelines

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when posting to the Class Forum:

Check the Class Forum often and contribute! It is a wonderful way to make connections with your classmates and instructor, and will enhance your learning experience.

Don't be afraid to share your questions about a specific topic with the class. Often times, other students will have the same question and will benefit from the exchange of ideas that take place in the Class Forum.

Post messages that add to or enrich the lesson at hand.

Treat your fellow classmates with respect. You share a common goal—to learn as much as you can from the course.

Read previous messages in the Class Forum before you post, so that you fully understand the context and direction of each discussion.

Previous activity

Next activity

--------Class Communication (Page 2)

Chat

Chat is another useful communication tool. You can access it by clicking the Chat tab in the top navigation bar of the course. Chat allows you to interact with fellow students and your instructor in real time. Your instructor will hold office hours via Chat throughout the course—look for announcements from your instructor about when they will be scheduled.

Chat Guidelines

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when using Chat.

Keep your posts short. Use one to three sentences, the same as in a spoken conversation, to allow the dialogue to flow back and forth between you and other participants.

Allow enough time for others to read, think, and type before posting new remarks.

Don’t worry about proper spelling and grammar, so long as you make yourself understood. It’s more important to get your point across as efficiently as you can. ---------About Grading

Final Grading Policy

Below is a chart outlining the Berklee Online grading system. If you are taking the course for academic credit, you will receive a letter grade (the range is from A to F) for your final grade. If you are not taking the course for academic credit, you will receive either an "S" for satisfactory completion or a "U" for unsatisfactory completion.

Grade

Percent

Grade Point Average

A

93-100

4.0

A-

90-92

3.7

B+

87-89

3.3

B

83-86

3.0

B-

80-82

2.7

C+

77-79

2.3

C

73-76

2.0

C-

70-72

1.7

D

60-69

1.0

F

0-59

0.0

W

Withdrew

S

Satisfactory Completion

U

Unsatisfactory Completion

Your final grade will be based on the following:

90% Assignments, complete and on time

10% Overall class participation, including chats

You can find more information on academic policies by clicking here.

Viewing Assignment Grades

Your grade for each assignment appears at the bottom of your post. Alternatively, you can view the grade for any assignment from the Grades tab at the top of any course page.

Completing the Course

In order to receive academic credit or a satisfactory completion for the course, you must finish all work by the end of the course and complete the Final Course Survey, which appears in the final lesson. Please note that once a course officially ends, you will have an additional 30 days to post inside the course. After that 30-day period, you will continue to have "view only" access to the course for an additional 11 months. During this time, you will not be able to interact with the instructor or post any messages/discussions, but you can continue to go through the course material. ------------Orientation Movies

Please take some time to view the four orientation movies on navigating the course environment, using the record live (audio/video) tool, the chat tool, and embedding video.

How to Navigate the Course Environment play 00:00 00:00

play stop mute max volume

repeat

How to Use the Record Live Tool

How to Use the Chat Tool

How to Embed Video

Previous activity -------Welcome to Vocal Technique 101

If you are looking for answers to your vocal questions, you will find them in this course. We will work on developing your vocal skills, including:

developing your breath support to help build stamina, and increase control

understanding how your instrument works in order to use it more efficiently

singing in tune consistently

developing a free tone quality

establishing good practice habits to help growth and development

learning how to take care of your voice

using your voice to express yourself

This course is designed to help you to work toward your goals.

I hope you will have some fun discovering your voice while exploring why singing one of the most popular pastimes in the world. Let’s get started.

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

improve your mental focus

understand the breathing process and adjust yours to enhance your singing

optimize hydration for vocal health

understand how caffeine, alcohol, your environment, and medications can affect your voice --------Meet and Greet by Sharon Brown

Tell us a bit about yourself.

What part of the world do you live in?

What’s your musical background and what are your vocal goals?

What are you hoping to get out of this course?

Posting Instructions ---------Breath Support

The one common element in all great singing is skilled use of breath support, the management of your breath for singing. Breath support is not only essential to sound; it is critical to sustained life as a professional singer.

I’ve listened to thousands of auditions and test performances and if good breath support is not in place, then I’m listening to a singer who has not realized his or her instrument’s full potential. Even with a well-established tone quality, many singers need to do maintenance work on their breath support in order to be sure they are not going to damage their voices.

We will start with some exercises to introduce basic concepts. Even if you find the first exercises easy, please don’t skip them. It is not difficult to understand how to sing, but you’ve got to work through the process. In other words, your brain will take in the information much faster than your body can develop ease and coordination. So don’t rush. Take your time and enjoy! -----------Mental Focus

Find a quiet place to practice without distractions.

Set aside a period of time when you can sing without interruptions. Let any roommates, or family, know that you’d like some privacy while working.

Your practice time is a time to focus on you. Enjoy the freedom to sing without interruption a little each day.

So much of singing is about mental preparation. Feeling relaxed will help you focus and sing better.

Take a moment at the beginning of practice to put away the cares of the day while you sing. This only takes a few seconds, but will help you focus better for a full practice session. Previous activity --------------

Next activity

Exercise: Relaxation

Deep breathing can help you gain mental focus. This will prepare you for singing, an activity that requires a lot of concentration.

Sit in a chair or lie on the floor with your eyes closed and let your body relax.

Take a deep breath through your nose, filling your lungs completely.

Release that breath through your mouth in a big “whoosh!”

Repeat the deep breath and release it to clear your mind.

You should feel better already!

Video --------Preparation for Singing

Quick Tension Release

Check your posture and release tension before you start with this quick exercise. You should do this each time you get ready to sing. The goal is to energize you and help you gain body awareness in singing.

Inhale and raise your arms above your head.

Exhale and drop arms to your sides.

Repeat, releasing shoulder and back tension on the exhale/arm drop.

Drop your upper body forward in a “forward fold.” Let gravity help you release your shoulders and the back of your neck, so you hang loose like a rag doll.

Take a deep breath while you’re hanging forward and further release the back of your neck and shoulders on the exhale. Your head and shoulders should feel heavy.

Slowly roll up to a standing position, one vertebrae at a time from the base of your spine. Use your legs to support you, or place your hands on your thighs to support your back as you roll up. ----------Breathe

If you haven't done so, read chapter 2, pp. 11–22 in The Contemporary Singer (purple book) and chapter 2, pp. 8–15 in Vocal Workouts for the Contemporary Singer (green book).

Breathe and Sing!

Breath is the generator of sound, and we have to control the air in order to control the sound effectively. When singers have problems controlling their voices, I first look to their breath support to see if it is working correctly.

Since I can’t see you every day, you will need to watch yourself in a mirror to check on your breath action. Previous activity

Next activity

--------Mirror Check: Breath Action

Watch yourself in the mirror with your hand on your belly. Have a watch or clock with a second hand close by. Lengthen your spine and let your shoulders hang off the sides of your body, not rolled to the front of your chest.

Take a deep breath, imagining that you’re filling your lungs from the bottom up. (When your belly expands, you’re making room for your lungs to fill up with air.)

Exhale on a hiss for 15 seconds, watching the clock. Your abdominal muscles should feel firm, but not too tight or hard while you exhale. Move enough air out on the “hiss” to be empty in 15 seconds.

As soon as you have expelled your air, take another breath, expanding around your waist. Do not raise your chest as you inhale.

Repeat process three times, and then rest. ------------Mirror Check: Make Some Music

Take a breath the same way, and sing the following exercise.

Checklist

Your belly should expand outward, away from your spine when you breathe.

Your belly should contract slightly as you sing.

Your throat should feel relaxed.

Sing at a medium volume level. -------------------Health Forum

One of the most common voice problems is dry vocal folds. If your body does not have enough fluids, then your vocal folds become dry and your voice will not function properly.

Speaking and singing with dry vocal folds often results in vocal problems such as voice breaks, excessive throat clearing (which further irritates your vocal folds), loss of volume control or range, vocal fatigue, and voice loss.

A person who doesn’t make a lot of demands on his or her voice might not notice the symptoms of dry vocal folds. Most professional voice users, including doctors, ministers, lawyers, and teachers, know how a dry, tired voice can impact daily work.

Your vocal folds require a thin layer of mucous to keep them vibrating properly. If your vocal folds are not well lubricated, then voice use generates a lot of friction, which can tire out your voice.

Just as a car engine needs oil to keep it running smoothly, your vocal folds need to be lubricated to function smoothly. Your vocal folds become lubricated when your entire body is well hydrated.

The best lubrication can be achieved by drinking plenty of water well in advance of heavy voice use. This gives your body time to absorb the water

and distribute the fluids to all the tissues of your body, including your larynx. A good rule of thumb (if you have normal kidneys and heart function) is to drink at least two quarts of water daily. -----------Hydration (Page 2)

Some singers follow this rule: “Pee pale, sing clear.” This means that if your urine is light colored or almost clear, it can indicate that your body is well hydrated. Certain medications and vitamin supplements can affect the color of urine, so speak to your doctor if you have questions about this.

You can hydrate your vocal folds systemically (internally) by drinking water, as mentioned above, and topically (on the surface) by inhaling steam.

There are gadgets made to sit on a tabletop that create a controlled amount of steam that you can inhale through your nose and mouth via a plastic mask, or you can stand over a pot of simmering water.

These tools are useful if you have a cold and want to clear some of the thick mucus secretions from your nasal passages and throat. For most people, they are not necessary to use daily, unless you live in a particularly dry environment.

Even if you drink enough water each day, there are several other causes of a dry voice. -----------Caffeine and Alcohol (Page 3)

Caffeine and alcohol pull water out of your system and deplete your vocal folds of needed lubrication.

Caffeinated drinks include coffee, tea, some fortified vitamin waters (usually identified as “energy drinks”), and some soft drinks.

Wine, beer, and hard liquor are all drying to the system as well. Small amounts of these beverages can be tolerated, but should be counterbalanced by drinking more water to compensate for the diuretic effect of caffeine and alcohol, especially if you are making singing and speaking demands on your voice.

Other noncaffeinated beverages such as juice and decaffeinated coffee/tea will hydrate your body too, but water is the best choice for pure hydration with no additives, acids that can irritate, or ingredients that can coat your throat, such as sugar. -----------------Environment (Page 4)

Another factor that can affect hydration is a dry air environment.

Home heating season can be very drying to our bodies. The cause can be gas, oil, or electric furnaces, or in the summer, air conditioners, as well as climates with a low amount of moisture in the air. Using a humidifier at night can help compensate for the dryness in the air.

The air in airplanes is extremely dry. It is recommended that you avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages, and drink at least 8 ounces of water per hour before and during flights. ---------------Medications (Page 5)

Some medications can contribute to dry voice as well.

Antihistamines and cold medicines control the watery secretions of colds and allergies, but also can dry you out excessively. Inhalers used for asthma can dry and irritate your throat as well, but are a necessary medication for some people.

Some antidepressants can cause dryness as well, but the benefits can outweigh the side effects. Never stop taking a prescription medication without consulting your doctor.

Many times medication-induced dryness can be remedied by increasing water intake. ---------------Quiz: Hydration ----------Discussion: Breath Support Due: October 2

Sharon Brown Discussion: Breath Support by Sharon Brown

How does good breath support affect your singing?

Some people say that good breath support gives their voices stamina and strength. Others report a feeling of ease that comes with correct breathing.

Have you had any issues in the past with developing proper breath support?

How do you think breathing technique impacts or will impact your singing?

Which of the following best describes how breath support helps you the most?

Ease of tone—a pleasurable feeling of an effortless throat/neck when singing

Projection—singing at a medium to loud volume without strain

Stamina—the ability to sing for a period of time without tiring.

Steady tone—your voice goes where you want it to—high, low, loud, soft, fast, slow

Better pitch control—pitch that stays centered and in tune

Other

Posting Instructions -----------Song: My Lord, What a Morning

Download sound files and notation for low voices

Download sound files and notation for high voices

Choose the high or low key and practice with the melody guideline.

Choose the same key and then record yourself singing along with the track. Breathe only at the (‘) marks or on the rests in the music. Focus on expanding around your waist when you breathe. If you don’t want to sing the song’s words, which are of a religious nature, sing on “loo” or “lah” instead.

I've recorded myself speaking the text of "My Lord What a Morning" for anyone who needs extra help in pronouncing the words.

Download the sound file "My Lord, What A Morning"

A note on breath marks: A comma above the bar is a breath mark. I would like you to try to take breaths only at these marks. Sometimes when singers interpret songs, breaths are taken at commas in text.

For example “My Lord, (breath) what a morning.” I want you to try not to break the phrase in this way. Part of the lesson of this song is that phrases are uniform for all singers in the class, and that you are working to sing through the phrase by managing your breath well.

A note on melody interpretation: Many of you will already know some version of this song, because it is a well-known and popular spiritual. In fact, this version is slightly different than the one I learned as a child. Even though there are many different versions of the melody, please sing the melody as written.

I have included a melody guideline on one track, and a version with no melody guide on another. Learn the melody just as it is written according to the guide, and then record it for the final assignment without the melody guide. Try not to change it or interpret it with embellishments.

A note on tone: this song has a somewhat limited range, but I don’t want you to sing too hard, even if the low range is comfortable for you. I would like you to sing with a quality of tenderness and thoughtfulness rather than belting it.

For dynamics, I will leave this interpretation up to you. As an example, you might try singing the beginning medium soft, the middle section a bit fuller, and ending softer. I will be interested in hearing the musical choices you make.

Remember to practice along with the track that includes the melody, and to record the MP3 you submit for this assignment using the track without the melody.

You will be using audio editing software that will allow you to import a playalong track in MP3 format, record yourself playing guitar along with the track, and save the piece in MP3 format. If you have not already purchased audio recording/editing software, you can use Garageband (Mac) or download the free program Audacity (PC).

Note: For a full video tutorial on how to use Garageband or Audacity, please visit our Technical Assistance page. ------------Summary

Prepare your mind and body to sing with quick, simple exercises to calm your mind, to bring your attention to your breath, and to release tension. A few minutes spent preparing will enhance your practice.

Singers need to be well hydrated to sing their best. Check your level of hydration with the quiz, and if necessary, take steps to improve and maintain your vocal folds’ condition.

One common element in great singing in all styles is breath support. Breath

support is essential to developing your best sound. Good support helps you sing in tune consistently and sing with freedom. It also helps give your voice power and will help prevent vocal injury. How else does it help your singing?

Breath support takes minutes to learn and a lifetime to perfect. Be patient, and be aware of what you’re doing with your body when you sing.

Your challenge over this course is to practice the proper breath action enough to make it an automatic function that you don’t have to focus on intently while you’re singing.

If you learn this first basic step well and internalize it, you will be free to relax and sing, knowing your voice is working at peak efficiency.

It isn’t quantity of air you take in; it is the quality of the breath action that you’re working to perfect. A small amount of breath can go a long way when you are using your body correctly. ------------Lesson 2 Developing a Balanced Tone and Strengthening Your Range October 7 - October 13

Introduction Resource

Enhancing Tone Quality with Resonance Resource

Practice: Resonance Exercise 1 Resource

Practice: Resonance Exercise 2 Resource

Range and Registers Resource

Register Terminology (Page 2) Resource

Transitional Passages (Page 3) Resource

Practice: Easy Blending Resource

Practice: Intermediate Blending Resource

Belting Resource

Balanced Tone Resource

Placement (Page 2) Resource

Tone Colors Resource Due: October 9

Discussion: Imagery Forum

Improving Tone Quality Resource

Practice: More Easy Blending Resource

Practice: Advanced Blending and Range Extension Resource

Vibrato Resource

Fast and Slow Vibrato Resource

Encouraging and Training Vibrato Resource

Practice: Long Tone Exercise Resource

Great Performance: Sarah Vaughan Resource

Mirror Check: Legato Singing Resource Due: October 13

Assignment 2: Ye Banks and Braes Forum

Glossary of Terms Resource

Summary -------Lesson 3 Anatomy and Health October 14 - October 20

Introduction Resource

Vocal Parts Resource

Vocal Anatomy (Page 2) Resource

Vocal Folds (Page 3) Resource

False Vocal Folds (Page 4) Resource

Vocal Fold Size (Page 5) Resource

Viewing Vocal Folds Resource

Why You Should Know Vocal Anatomy Resource

Quiz: Vocal Anatomy Resource

Quiz: Vocal Anatomy (Page 2) Resource

Vocal Health Resource

Three Typical Voice Problems Resource

Reflux (Page 2) Resource

Treatment of Reflux Resource

Special Considerations for Singers (Page 2) Resource

Medicine (Page 3) Resource

The Speaking Voice: Use, Abuse, and Care Resource

Avoiding Glottal Attacks Resource

Practice: Avoiding Glottal Attacks Resource

Care of Your Spoken Voice Resource

Quiz: Health Self-Assessment Resource

The Singing Voice: Use, Abuse, and Care Resource

Care (Page 2) Resource

Medications Resource Due: October 17

Discussion: Maintaining Vocal Health Forum Due: October 20

Assignment 3: Jazz Ballad Etude Forum

Practice Tip of the Week Resource

Summary ------------esson 4 Creating an Effective Practice Routine October 21 - October 27

Introduction Resource

Building a Balanced Practice Routine Resource

Singing and Feeling (Page 2) Resource

Your Practice Plan: Warmup Resource

Technique Study Resource

Song Study Resource

Cool Down Resource

Practice: Create a Practice Plan Resource

The Four Ps Resource

Workshop: Amazing Grace Resource

Gaining Independence As You Practice Resource

Practice Tip of the Week Resource

How to Burn an Exercise CD Resource

Practice: Latin Long Tones Resource Due: October 27

Assignment 4: Scarborough Fair or How Can I Keep from Singing? Forum

Summary ---------Lesson 5 Let Your Star Shine! Simple Melodic Embellishment October 28 - November 3

Introduction Resource

Range and Registers Resource

Chest Voice (Page 2) Resource

Chest Voice Examples (Page 3) Resource

Own the Voice You Have (Page 4) Resource

Practice: Tone Color Resource

Pitch Bends Resource

Practice: Pitch Bends Resource

Add Scoops (Page 2) Resource

Fast Track (Page 3) Resource

Added Notes Resource

Single-Note and Multi-Note Ornaments Resource

Health Forum Resource

Constructive Rest (Page 2) Resource

Practice Tip of the Week Resource Due: October 30

Discussion: Practice Routine Forum Due: November 3

Assignment 5: Amazing Grace Forum

Summary ---------Lesson 6 Effective Diction for Singing November 4 - November 10

Introduction Resource

Quiz: Progress Check Resource

Good Diction and Ease of Singing Resource

Transmitting Emotion (Page 2) Resource

Practice: Diction and Singing Resource

Speaking and Singing Resource

Phrasing (Page 2) Resource

Classical Music and Jazz (Page 3) Resource

Mouth Shape and Position (Page 4) Resource

Vowel Modification (Page 5) Resource

Diction and Microphone Use Resource

Without a Microphone (Page 2) Resource

Style in Singing Resource

Vowels and Consonants Resource

Practice: Vowels and Consonants Resource

More on Vowels and Consonants Resource

Extra Vocal Sounds Resource

Tone Quality Resource Due: November 6

Discussion: Voice Quality Forum

Health Forum: Pushing the Limits of your Voice Resource

Rest and Hydration (Page 2) Resource

Mirror Check: Lyric Interpretation Study Resource

Practice Tip of the Week Resource Due: November 10

Assignment 6: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Forum

Summary Resource Due: November 10

Midterm Course Survey --------------Lesson 7 Singing Harmony November 11 - November 17

Introduction Resource

Harmony Examples Resource

Singing Harmony Resource

Harmony Workshop Resource

Practice: Doo Wop Harmony Resource

Diction Challenge Resource

Practice: Diction 1 Resource

Diction Challenge 2 Resource

Practice: Diction 2 Resource

Vibrato and Style Resource

Vibratoless Voices (Page 2) Resource

Analyzing Your Singing (Page 3) Resource

Practice: Vibrato Resource

Vibrato and Harmony Singing Resource

Vibrato and Harmony Examples (Page 2) Resource

Mirror Check: Legato Lines Resource

Health Forum: Herbal Supplements and Health Tonics Resource Due: November 14

Discussion: Herbal Supplements and Remedies Forum Due: November 17

Assignment 7: Harmony Singing Forum

Practice Tip of the Week Resource

Summary ----------Lesson 8 Advanced Breath Management November 18 - November 24

Introduction Resource

Quiz: Breathing Concepts Resource

Breath Support vs. Breath Management Resource

Breath Management Problems (Page 2) Resource

Breath Support Issues (Page 3) Resource

Practice: Pop / Rock Slide Resource

More on Breath Management Resource

Aerobic Activity (Page 2) Resource

Practice: Staccato Notes Resource

Practice: Staccato Notes 2 Resource

Objective Listening Resource

Practice: Self-Assessment Resource

More on Objective Listening Resource

Practice: Audio Recording Resource

Troubleshooting Resource

Self-Assessment Checklist (Page 2) Resource

The State of Your Instrument (Page 3) Resource

Singing Should Feel Good Resource

Singers of a "Certain Age" Resource

Vibrato Problems Resource

Shortened Breath Resource

Lower Range and Less Flexibility Resource

Hearing Loss Resource

Perception (Page 2) Resource

Mirror Check: Breath Action Resource

Health Forum Resource

Voice Professionals (Page 2) Resource Due: November 24

Assignment 8: Wayfaring Stranger Forum

Practice Tip of the Week Resource

Summary -------------Lesson 9 Performance Polish November 25 - December 1

Introduction Resource

Stage Movement Resource

Performance Space Characteristics (Page 2) Resource

The Natural Progression (Page 3) Resource

Practice: Gesturing Resource

Practice: Looking Natural Resource

Warming Up Your Body (Page 2) Resource

Speaking and Moving (Page 3) Resource

Using the Mirror (Page 4) Resource

Performance Tips Resource

Phrasing and Movement (Page 2) Resource

Posture and Hand Placement (Page 3) Resource

Acting Out Words (Page 4) Resource

Great Performance: Liza Minelli Resource

Performance Microphone Technique Resource

What Kind of Singer are You? Resource

Striking a Balance (Page 2) Resource

Feelings (Page 3) Resource

Singing with Emotion Resource

Practice: Balanced Expression Resource

The Water is Wide (Page 2) Resource

Inner Dialogue Resource

Great Performance: Nancy Wilson Resource

The Song's Story (Page 2) Resource

How to Gain Confidence Resource

Singing and Playing (Page 2) Resource

Health Forum: Understanding Performance Anxiety Resource

Reducing Performance Anxiety (Page 2) Resource

Developing a Pre-Performance Routine Resource

Food Intake and Sleep (Page 2) Resource

Relaxing and Meditation (Page 3) Resource

Supportive Lifestyle Resource

Mental Rehearsal and Imagery Resource

Practice Tip of the Week Resource Due: December 1

Assignment 9: Ain't Nobody's Bizness Forum

Summary -------------Lesson 10 Flexibility, Control, and Stamina December 2 - December 8

Introduction Resource

How to Develop an Agile Voice Resource

Staccato Resource

Staccato Examples (Page 2) Resource

Practice: Agility Resource

Practice: Staccato Resource

Practice: Agility and Staccato Resource

Melisma / Riffs Resource

Practice: Major / Minor Triplet for Flexibility Resource

Practice: Minor Pentatonic Pattern Resource

Dynamic Flexibility Resource

Varying Dynamics (Page 2) Resource

Practice: Single-Note Dynamic Exercise Resource

Practice: Multi-Note Dynamic Exercise Resource

Practice: Singing Skips Resource

Great Performance: Shankar Mahadevan Resource

Health Forum: Consulting a Doctor Resource

Hoarseness and Clinics (Page 2) Resource

Practice Tip of the Week Resource Due: December 8

Assignment 10: Latin Vocalise Forum

Summary ---------------Lesson 11

Essential Building Blocks of Vocal Training December 9 - December 15

Introduction Resource

Moving Forward with a Look Back Resource

Mirror Check: Pentatonic Pattern Resource

Creative Development: Imitation Resource

Practice: Imitation Resource

Summertime Resource

Assimilation Resource

Innovation Resource Due: December 12

Discussion: Self-Evaluation Forum

Practice: Wait for Me Resource Due: December 14

Discussion: Ella Fitzgerald Forum

Health Forum: Longevity Resource

Steps for Vocal Health (Page 2) Resource

Practice Tip of the Week Resource Due: December 15

Assignment 11: The Water is Wide Forum

Summary ---------Lesson 12 The Grand Finale December 16 - December 22

Introduction Resource

Holistic Practice Cycle Resource

Step 1: Practice Solo Resource

Karaoke (Page 2) Resource

Step 2: Practice with Others Resource

Step 3: Set Up Performances Resource

Step 3: Scheduling a Recital (Page 2) Resource

Planning a Recital Resource

Step 4: Record Yourself Resource

Review of the Cycle Resource

Beyond the Practice Cycle Resource

Increase Your Musical Knowledge Resource

Tools (Page 2) Resource

Singing Skills Review Resource

Great Performance: James Brown Resource Due: December 22

Assignment 12: After You've Gone or House of the Rising Sun Forum

Summary Resource

Final Grades Assignment Due: December 22

Final Course Survey ----------