Love Notes ! I’ll be playing my sax tomorrow night @ Falconetti’s East Side Grill and next Friday @Rickshaw Theatre – both in VanCity with Buffalo Jones – if you drop by plz say hi – next hypno-show is for The BC Children’s Hospital in Sept.. sending love & looking forward to seeing everyone soon – S
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As parents, we would want our children to succeed in school because an education is vital to their success, but oftentimes, we do not know what we can do to ensure their success. Yes, we would send them to school, … Continue reading
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Local bands are constantly looking for ways to develop huge followings in their home town. A group’s very first show, the battle of the bands, and record release parties are three easy yet extremely effective events that bands can use … Continue reading
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In a world overwhelmed with information, everyone is looking for that one singing tip that will help them gain a little higher range, or produce a more pure tone. Whether you are a novice vocalist looking to improve and develop … Continue reading
Performance Update !
I’ll be playing @ Solinski’s this Friday and Saturday evening (Jan 3 & 4) – on Commercial Drive, Vancouver. If you drop by please say hi !
Wishing everyone a beautiful day
– S
It is often easy to forget how physically demanding playing the guitar can be. It is not uncommon to see guitar players who are suffering from a variety of problems, including tendonitis (an inflammation of the tendons) and carpel tunnel syndrome (when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, leading to pain, paresthesias, and muscle weakness in the hand).These can be debilitating problems, but they are preventable. There are some important things you can do to protect yourself from having these problems now or later down the road.
First and foremost it is important to stretch before you play or practice, which not only helps to prevent injury, but will also allow you to play more effectively.
The best way to do this is to start off by stretching the fingers one by one.
Start by placing your left hand thumb against your right hand palm and pushing back slightly, not so far that it hurts but far enough so you can feel a stretch. Hold for about 30 seconds. Do this with the rest of your fingers on your left hand, and then repeat the same stretch for all the fingers on the right hand.
This next stretch is great for both your wrists and your forearms. Start by putting your palms together in front of your chest. Slowly push out your elbows and bend your wrists, holding once you feel a good stretch. Next, rotate your wrists forward so your fingers are pointing away from you. Stop and hold when you feel a stretch. After stretching it’s always a good idea to warm up by practicing a few scales, riffs, or chords.
There are some things to keep in mind when you are playing that can help to prevent any problems. First of all, try to keep your wrists as straight as possible when you are playing. When your wrists are bent it will cause unnecessary strain, and also makes it harder to move your fingers. While there are some chords or passages that require you to bend your wrists slightly, it will be better in the long run if you can keep them straight for as long as possible. Just do your best. Also, try not to press on the strings any harder than is absolutely necessary, as doing so will cause a great deal of strain.
Another important tip is to take a break. 15 mins for every hour of playing should do, but take a longer break if you have to. And if you feel any pain or discomfort whatsoever while playing it is important to stop. Trying to play through the pain will only make things worse, so do yourself a favour and stop as soon as you feel any discomfort.
Take care of your hands and wrists and you will be able to experience the joy of playing the guitar for many years to come.
Michelle is a guitarist from Québec, Canada. She is currently completing the master certificate program in guitar at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
If you liked this article and would like to read more, then head on over to Michelle’s blog, The Guitar Player’s Guide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Monette
Whether you are a beginning vocal student or a seasoned professional, these 10 pre-singing tips apply to all. If you want to be a singer, you have to think like a singer. Take these 10 little tips to heart and you will be more successful than half the people that are out there singing today.
1. Drink a glass of water –
Do not sing with a dry throat. Why, because you sing with your vocal chords and if they are dry, they can be damaged. By drinking at least 8 ounces of water you will properly lubricate your vocal chords and avoid the damage. Also keep a glass of water handy while singing to keep your vocal chords moist.
2. Get plenty of rest –
When you sing, your throat and muscles should be loose. When you’re tired you tend to tense your body. So do not sing if you are overly tired.
3. Wear comfortable clothing –
If you wear tight fitting clothing then you will not be able to breathe properly, and singing is 70% about breathing.
4. Wear comfortable shoes –
As you will see from the next steps, your feet placement is critical to proper singing and it is best to learn to sing with your feet fairly level. High heals will tend to put you in the wrong singing position.
5. Stand up straight –
Singing utilizes your whole body, but most importantly your diaphragm. If you are slouching, you do not have full control over your diaphragm.
6. Shoulders should be down and your chest should be raised –
Imagine that a long cord hanging from the ceiling is connected to your upper chest area. This may feel a little funny at first, but it will give you the correct posture for singing.
7. Position your feet under your shoulders –
Your feet should be a foot or so apart. This gives you more control over your body and will allow you to express yourself with slight body movements while singing.
8. One foot should be 6 to 8 inches in front of the other –
It doesn’t matter which foot. The general rule of thumb is if you are right-handed then your right foot will be in front. This also allows for greater body control.
9. Slightly bend your knees –
It should not be an obvious amount. This is to prevent you from locking your knees while you sing. Locking your knees will cause you to put your weight on your back foot and this is wrong. You want your weight over your body but with a slight emphasis on your front foot.
10. Do not have anything in your mouth when singing –
This sounds strange to have to say, but I have seen many people try to sing with gum in their mouths. You can’t sing properly if you are trying to keep a piece of gum from falling out of your mouth. So get rid of it before you start.
Every professional vocal instructor will tell you that these 10 little tips are the physical and mental preparation needed to begin any voice lesson and certainly every vocal performance. Remember that singing is a physical activity and you must be physically ready to play. With these 10 pre-singing tips and you will go far.
Susan Grubbs has been studying voice for 30 years and has been teaching beginning voice students for 15 years. She is a degreed professional singer as well, having studied under many types of vocal coaches over her career. Here are some vocal products [http://socialsinging.com] that she recommends.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Grubbs
Today, to be successful, a person must have a good command of language. They must be able to express themselves clearly and fluently in ordinary business conversation, across the meeting room table or from the speaker’s platform. The rules that apply to success in public speaking also apply to the person who wants to move up the organisation.
In most situations, public speaking is private conversation raised to a larger audience. Effective communication in ordinary business conversation or public speaking is mostly about the effective transmission of ideas rather than the art of performance.
By applying the following tips you will become a more successful speaker who effectively conveys ideas either in public speaking or in private conversation.
Observe other Successful Speakers
Study what they do and how they do it. Also observe how the audience reacts to them. Emulate the speaker’s good points in your next speech but do not imitate the speaker.
Analyze Your Own Delivery
After you have spoken ask yourself – What went well? And, what will you do better next time? If possible record yourself for later review. When analyzing your performance you are looking for ways to improve. The objective is to find ways to enhance your delivery not to condemn it.
Seek Feedback
Ask other successful speakers and friends to comment on your speech. But be careful. You are looking for people who will want to help you succeed not to tear you down.
Keep the Audience in Mind
Ask yourself the following questions when preparing your speech – Why have I been asked to speak? What is their viewpoint? What type of organisation do they belong to? Is it a professional organisation etc? What age group?
Keep It Simple
Unless you are explaining a technical subject to other technical people, use plain everyday language. If the listener does not understand what you are saying they can become listless and bored. If you have chosen to read your speech or are delivering a memorised speech ensure that you are using spoken language rather than written language. Just because it reads well does not mean it sounds great when spoken.
Be Sincere
A part time speaker with something worthwhile to share, believes in what they are saying and enthusiastically delivers can outperform the professional speaker in the audience’s viewpoint.
Be Brief
Your talk should be long enough to cover the essentials fully but like good literature it should leave the listener wanting a little more.
Thorough Preparation
Preparation is of key importance to effective speaking. Being thoroughly prepared is key to building your self confidence.
Identify the principle reason for your speech. Research your idea fully so that you have mastered your subject. Logically set out your ideas so that your speech will convey your ideas effectively. And finally practice, practice, practice.
Success in business today is about effectively communicating ideas. By applying the above basic techniques you can quickly become adept at conveying your ideas. Being fully prepared, sincere in your delivery, to the point in your speech and considering the listener’s viewpoint you will soon improve your effectiveness.
Edward Hope is the editor and publisher of the recently published e-book “The Art of Great Conversation“. To claim your free preview at http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Hope
Sunny's Music Studio :) Professional Music Lessons now Online ! 