The Engaging Performer

In today's episode, Tara gets put in the hot seat as Lisa Gebhard asks her unusual questions about the voice and singing! Nothing is off limits here and we talk everything from animals vocal folds to how does your nose fit into your singing sound? You will definitely gain some knowledge this episode!

Lisa Gebhard (Tara's cousin and content creator in her biz) sits down and asks many probing questions about the voice.

The first question is "Can you sing with your voice and your nose?" This is in regards to hearing some French singers as well as country music.

• Tara answers with explaining about the vocal tract and the parts to it.

The second question revolves around nature. Lisa asks "Do all living things have vocal folds?"

• For sure birds and mammals do and they utilize their whole body in sound.

The third question is: "Is there a norm about how someone sounds when they hear their own voice?"

• We as people hear our voices both internally and externally.

The fourth question is: Is the point of singing to be pleasing and what does that mean?

• Some factors are staying on pitch, having breath support and sounding like your natural self—for example, when you talk. Also, to make sure your voice has freedom.

The fifth question is: What is happening with vibrato—how is it made and why?

• Vibrato comes from a relaxation of tension in the voice and supported by breath

The sixth question is: Does the voice box move at all for vibrato?

• Tara addresses how the voice box needs to stay neutral.

The 7th question is: What is going on with African American choirs and how they sing—especially with harmonies?

• The harmonies and style of how they sing can often be because of the culture people have grown up in and listened to—whether in church, family, etc. We all tend to emulate what we hear.

"A key part of singing is paying attention, making those observations."

You can reach Lisa here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisagebhardphotography

Her website is: https://www.lisagebhard.com

You can subscribe to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts. And now, it's also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

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In today's episode, Tara talks with music educator/performer/songwriter Carol Nicodemi all about children's voices and what it was like to work with children in the school system for 25+ years. Carol shares from personal experience how she worked with children ages 5-11 years old. You will be inspired by her ideas and the ways that she got children singing in super healthy, creative and fun ways!!

For all of those who want some FREE vocal exercises to practice with, grab them through this link: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

Carol's love of music started early as a child, from her mom and through another friends whom she could listen to music with.

At age 16, she became a music counselor at a day camp and found her love of teaching music to children. Her experience there showed her how much she enjoyed sharing what she knew about music with them.

During a student teaching experience, Carol was assigned to junior high. She had to come up with a creative way to teach the kids guitar, including them all.

Carol got her first official teaching job at an elementary school and once she got there, she was committed for the long haul, doing 25 years at this school!

Carol used many creative ways to inspire and get the kids to sing—from age 5-11.

• She used creative fun melodies like nursery rhymes and traditional children songs to start the kids and test their voices for pitch, range, rhythm and more.
• What was unique was that she would choose children who had a gift in their singing to stand next to and help those who struggled more. She arranged the seating so that the children with the best voices sat close to those who had more difficulty.

Carol talks about the range of children's voices and ability to sing.

• For children's songs, kids shouldn't sing below middle C and then maybe an octave or so above that.
• "Don't sing louder—try to sing a little lighter." Kids can't sing louder when it's in a part of their voice that they can't phonate well.

Carol used several techniques to help kids learn different music skills.

• She used marching, moving, clapping exercises and percussion to help with rhythm.
• For older kids, she used round clapping.
• For pitch, she used Kodaly hand signals, as well as made up exercises that drew them in. Plus scales, more hand signals and moving their body according to pitch.
• She also made up songs about each skill they were learning to help them remember.
• She addressed breath with the older kids and let them feel it, sense it, hear it and try it.
• "When a baby breathes—when a baby lies on his or her back, its little tummy moves up and down and that's the natural way to breathe…now the only thing you have to do is try that standing up."
• With harmonies, she would use the kids who were able to hear harmonies to help the other kids. (On average, harmony is introduced in 3rd or 4th grade.)

Carol and her husband Ed (another music teacher) started writing songs geared towards children to give them more of a repertoire that was kid-friendly and not limited. They wanted to help address some of the kids' needs like their feelings and self-esteem.

Carol found that working with children reinforced all that she knew as a musician.

"At its best, it was an elating feeling…it was a magical experience."

You can reach Carol here for teaching or other info at her website:

www.edandcarolnicodemi.com

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NicodemiSoundtrack

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolNicodemi

You can subscribe to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on: Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

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In today's episode, Tara tackles some of the reasons that people don't sing or stop singing. There is often a basis for people not engaging in an activity that seems like anyone could do. Singing has been going for thousands of years, but many people in today's world do not engage in this practice. Why is that? Join Tara for a discussion about the causes and rationale behind no singing.

Also, if you want to be a part of Tara's 3 Day Vocal challenge, click here to grab your spot now: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/16

Most kids are willing to sing and are not self conscious about it. Something changes through the years for many people.

Here are some reasons that people may not be singing any more or don't continue:

1. Family culture—those where the parents are engaged in singing and encouraging music usually produce children who continue the practice. "When parents enjoy something, especially together, it often gets passed down to their kids". But those parents who don't may influence children to not see that singing is a natural part of life.
2. Society and our culture towards singing. (THE USA)

• Sports seems to take a precedence over music in schools.
• Many parents focus their children on taking all the right sports and making sure they are inundated with all the training and teams they can do.
• Sometimes in America, singing is not associated with manliness or coolness by certain people.
• In some churches, because of the music coming across as a concert more than a participatory time, people stop singing and just watch.
• With our US country becoming more secularized, less people go to church where there would normally be common public singing.
• In other countries, singing is more a part of a natural past time for more of the population.

3. People may stop singing because someone has said something very negative about their singing—often at an early age. Even some music teachers have used language that has harmed kids because they've told them they can't sing or become better.

4. Our technology competes for our attention and often trumps people singing because they are doing other things online or their smartphones. People in the past in America used to have singing as part of their gatherings—for dance, parties, and other get togethers. Even as late as the 40's, many families had music a part of their past time at home. But then technology took over.

• Radio
• TV
• VCR's, DVD players
• Laptops and the internet
• Smartphones

We have to be intentional about singing and we can be examples to others in our country to encourage and foster singing!

You can subscribe to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts.

And now, it's also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!!

AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today's episode, Tara looks at 10 different questions that vocalists frequently ask about singing. She tackles each one in detail to help all of our listeners.

1. Can anyone learn to sing? Yes. It takes a willing spirit!
2. How do I sing louder? Resonance is the key to make sound with more volume.
3. Should I use my mouth or nose for breathing? As we let out our breath, it is more natural to inhale through our mouth.
4. Why do I run out of breath when I sing? Could be many reasons including shallow breath, not pacing your breath, letting out air to boldly, poor posture or pushing out your air.
5. Will I sound like an opera singer if I take voice lessons? No, if you sing without manipulations you will sound like yourself, which may or may not be in the range of opera singers. The most important thing is to sing healthy all around and know that your voice might sound different depending on the part of your range in which you are singing.
6. How do I find a voice teacher that is right for me? Important to look for someone that knows about the structure of the voice and yet whom you feel comfortable around.
7. How often should I take voice lessons? At first it's probably wiser to take every week. You want to get in a habit and establish a routine.
8. How long will it take to hear results in my voice? It depends on your voice itself, your age, your willingness to learn, your commitment to practice, etc. Change happens slowly and incrementally.
9. Why does my voice seem great some days and then not so good the next? Your voice is affected by sleep, stress, food, climate and other circumstances just like the rest of your body.
10. 10. Will you listen to me and tell me what you think about my voice? This is a question that is best answered by going to a voice teacher and getting a lesson.

Make sure you grab all the free vocal helps that I have for you, including some

flexibility vocal warmups. Click here to get your FREEBIES: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can subscribe to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts.

And now, it's also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!!

AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today's episode, Tara talks about what it looks and sounds like when a voice ages. This is a topic that hasn't been talked about enough and yet there are ways to do something to help stop some of aging effects. And to keep singing through the years with your best voice!

Do you notice when people's voices sound different as they age?

UT Southwestern Medical center says: Muscles and tissues in the larynx have atrophy (shrinkage of muscles), thinning of the mucous membranes and a stiffening of connective tissue.

It shows ups in these ways:

• Higher pitch in men
• Lower pitch in women
• Loss of projection and resonance
• Volume and endurance is reduced
• Vocal tremors
• May sound weak or raspy or breathy
• Voice is drier

From The Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons—The aging of our muscles related to breathing, as well as our spine and its curvature can affect the voice. The heart muscle also becomes less able to propel large quantities of the blood, causing tiredness.

Helps to keep our voice singing with good quality:

1. Be aware of your sound and if it's breathy, raspy, etc.
2. Get regular exercise.
3. Drink tons of water.
4. Use your voice daily.
5. Do SOVT exercises.
6. Watch the foods you put in your body.
7. Get a full night of sleep.
8. Do vocal exercises that help with flexibility.
9. Seek out finding a vocal coach.

There are some amazing singers who are singing into their senior years like:

Tony Bennett

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTdKZllVqpw

Angelo La Forese

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5JU95a2Z0o

Micheal Trimble (episode 25)

Joan Sutherland

Montserrat Cabelle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKB2wAYZTYw

Barbra Streisand-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kP-EP3ucis

Don't ever give up on your voice, no matter your age!! Keep training and keep using it!

Make sure you grab all the free vocal helps that I have for you, including some

flexibility vocal warmups. Click here to get your FREEBIES: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can subscribe to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts.

And now, it's also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!!

AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today's episode, Tara talks about the subject of being a good singer. What does that even mean and what really makes up a singer to say that they sing well? Listen here for today's discussion on this often avoided topic.

What does good singing mean?

Good definition: "of a favorable character or tendency", "competent, skillful"

Good singing might be more about a number of characteristics:

1. Is the singer staying on pitch?
2. Does the voice have a presence to the sound?
3. Is the breath able to support the tone so that singing with dynamics is possible?
4. Does the voice sound un-manipulated?
5. Does the voice have an intrinsic tone that makes you want to pay attention the moment you hear them?

People can grow into good singing!

Each genre of music requires different qualities/characteristics of the voice.

No one can pull off every style of singing!

"Whatever qualities are natural in our voice and then added to with training, we still might only find a few genres that have that sweet spot that people love to hear."

How to find the genres that work for your voice:

• Listen to yourself in different genres and see what your own ear hears—if you like the sound or not.
• If you sing different styles, pay attention to how your voice feels when you perform those songs.
• Ask close friends to listen to types of songs that you sing that really resonate with them.

"When a singer finds a genre that fits their voice, then they can do stellar singing."

You can subscribe to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts.

And now, it's also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!!

AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

www.theengagingvoice.com

In today's episode, Tara shares many of the books that she has used in teaching for different ages and types of singers. She gives you lots of practical resources and where to purchase books so you and your students have a library to choose from. Tara has taken the pain out of trying to look through tons and tons of repertoire and nailing it down to specific music books so that you can spend more time on your teaching and singing and not research!

Please go to Products I recommend to purchase some of these books from Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate, so doing it this way also helps support this podcast!

The Very Beginning singer:

• Folksong books: Folksongs for Solo Singers, Vol 1 and 2, and one of my favs is International Folk Songs for Solo Singers. All of these are by Jay Althaus. In these books, you can find high, low and medium high so it really helps for range.
• Broadway anthologies for kids: KIDS' BROADWAY SONGBOOK by Hal Leonard publishing and the KIDS' MUSICAL THEATRE COLLECTION – VOLUME 1 or VOLUME 2 also by Hal Leonard Publishing.
• Classical songbook: 36 SOLOS FOR YOUNG SINGERS by Joan Boytim

The Teenager beginner-intermediate:

• Artsongs and Spiritual songs books: Spirituals for Solo Singers by Jay Althaus or the series entitled Classical Contest Songs by Hal Leonard publishing (Soprano, Mezzo, Tenor and Bass)
• More classical: LOVERS, LASSES & SPRING (soprano), ROSES, LAUGHTER AND LULLABIES (mezzo) , YOUNG LADIES, SHIPMATES AND JOURNEYS (Tenor and Bass) all by Joan Boytim
• Broadway books: TUNES FOR TEENS FROM MUSICALS (Young Men's Edition) and (Young Women's Edition) both by Hal Leonard publishing.

The Intermediate singer:

• Classical series—Joan Boytim songbooks: THE FIRST BOOK OF SOPRANO SOLOS, THE FIRST BOOK OF MEZZO-SOPRANO/ALTO SOLOS, THE FIRST BOOK OF TENOR SOLOS, THE FIRST BOOK OF BARITONE/BASS SOLOS
• Classical series—Soprano Songs, Mezzo-Soprano Songs, Tenor Songs, Baritone Songs (all by Boosey and Hawkes) but now in the NEW IMPERIAL EDITION.
• 24 ITALIAN SONGS & ARIAS OF THE 17TH & 18TH CENTURIES Schirmer's version but you can get many versions of these.
• Broadway anthologies: SINGER'S MUSICAL THEATRE ANTHOLOGY by Hal Leonard and edited by Richard Walters.
• Jazz standards (American songbook) THE SINGER'S BOOK OF JAZZ STANDARDS - (Women's or Men's Editions),

Places to purchase music online:

amazon.com

halleonard.com

https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/welcome.jsp

Sheet music:

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

https://www.musicnotes.com/

Great book for vocal warmups:

Building Beautiful Voices by Paul Neshiem and Weston Noble

Sight-singing/Solfegging:

Sing at First Sight by Andy Beck, Karen Farnum Surmani, Brian Lewis

For all you teachers who want to brush up on other languages:

Diction for Singers by Joan Wall, Robert Caldwell Tracy Gavilanes, Sheila Allen

For an episode on IPA—the International Phonetic Alphabet— please check Episode 023 | Dr. Melody Rich | What is IPA?.

You can subscribe to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts.

And now, it's also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!!

AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

Today's episode features many of the different and vast benefits there are with singing. From physical benefits to emotional, social and more, this is an episode for the people who like singing but don't do much of it themselves.

Physical Benefits of singing:

• Posture can be improved.
• spacecoastdaily.com says this about singing: "When you sing, you're pushing a great deal of oxygen into your lungs, which can result in better blood flow throughout your body."
• sciencedaily.com "Singing for an hour was associated with significant reductions in the stress hormones, such as cortisol, and increases quantities of cytokines—proteins of the immune system—which can boost the body's ability to fight serious illness."
• Malcolm Hilton (an otolaryngologist) said they found that singing certain exercises every day helped strengthen the throat and palate muscles, which often cause snoring. (from dailymail.co.uk ) So, it can help sleep!

Emotional/Psychological benefits of singing:

When you sing, you feel better because of singing releases endorphins and oxytocin.

Cognitive benefits of singing:

Singing can help memory: More oxygen is delivered to the brain. They have found that with dementia patients, because of this, singing can improve concentration and memory recollection.

Also, another benefit is increased concentration.

Social benefits of singing:

People want connection and singing gives people just that. It gives them a common goal and purpose. And they experience it together—the sound and the blending and the camaraderie!

Spiritual benefits of singing:

"Singing gives us permission to tell God our deepest struggles, hopes and desires. When we sing to Him, something happens in our spirit. We are changed, if only for a day."

You can subscribe to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:

Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts.

AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

Are you a person who just knew that you would be a singer? Or did it come later in life? Well, my special guest's journey started as a wee child telling people that she wanted to sing. Here is her story from having that deep desire in her heart to how it came to be a real vocational pursuit! Her trek will inspire you!

Anaité's journey started as a little girl where she discovered the sound of singing with her voice! She had music as a part of her family—each of them had some love for music. But the culture of Peru was not geared towards music as a profession.

Anaité started her adult journey by taking a performing arts study at the University. This degree was more about producing and being in plays, not necessarily music. Her time there led her to an exchange program in Albuquerque, NM.

It was during her time in New Mexico that she delved into her passion of singing by taking as many classes related to it!

Anaité had a wonderful teacher in Albuquerque who inspired her and helped her find her way back to singing as a profession!

• "I looked up to the sky…and I said, 'God what do I want and what do You want me to do'?"
• "I just knew…I felt really strongly in my heart 'I want to sing. I feel joy when I sing'!"
• "Go away ,society, that says I cannot sing!…I want to live full!"

Anaité's teachers introduced her to different parts of singing (including Speech Level Singing), gave her the gift of understanding what she wanted to do and taught her about vocal anatomy.

Then, starting last year, Anaité ran into vocal issues and ill health with her voice. It caused her to not sing for 3 months. She ended up finding an otolaryngologist who helped her get to the root cause of her vocal troubles.

She started making major changes, including how she ate, slept, getting vocal therapy and incorporating stretching and SOVT's into her daily routine!!

"If no one had listened to me, I wouldn't have known. A good vocal coach is necessary!"

"Had it not been for me not being able to sing, I would have never stopped and checked my pain."

"The SOVT's have helped me to sing without straining myself."

The beauty is that Anaité found her singing voice again in a really healthy way!

You can find Anaité on Instagram at: anaite.vocal.tips

Her Spanish blog is: https://diariodeunacantante.wordpress.com

If you want some more free helps for the voice, please click this link and grab them all: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube, Apple Podcasts and www.theengagingvoice.com

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Ever feel like your voice has definite changes in it? That when you sing in different registers, they can sound very different from one another? Is it hard to switch between the chest and head voice or getting a mix in the middle? This episode Tara gives you lots of vocalises to help smooth those transitions and feel like your voice is one whole seamless voice.

Having a seamless voice is: when our sound is similar throughout the entire range.

It is when the singing sounds super easy, free and beautiful.

How do we find this consistent voice?

A lot has to do with developing both registers and also the combination of the mixed/middle voice.

Exercises to help:

1. Play with your vocal sound and the different registers.
2. Relaxed throat: fog up your hand or blow out candles
3. Staccato exercise with squat: arpeggio on "ah"
4. Slide/siren going from top to bottom with moving your arm in the same motion
5. Bend over in an L shape and do a slide 1-8-1
6. Slide 1-3-5-3-1 using a zzz or a bzz
7. Use ee-ay-ah-oh-oo and use consonants Z, M or V—sing the same note
8. Do an arpeggio with a V7 coming down on a "mm" or a "mee"

Doing these exercises can help muscle memory to ensure the continuation of being consistent in your voice.

If you want some more free helps for the voice, please click this link and grab them all: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4

You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts.

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465