Singin' in the South

For a while there, most excuses in the world - especially in the South, started with the words, "Because of Covid." Although, with a Southern accent, it usually comes out, "Cuz' uh Covid."

I grew up in Alabama, and I do luv me a Southern accent.

When I visited recently, I asked my musician brother, "Why are there so many great musicians in the South?"

He thought for a while and said, "Ya know, I think it's the Bible Belt, and so many people go to church every week."

In a church setting, it's ok to sing loud - to raise your voice in song. It's ok to play the piano, guitar, or any instrument, loudly. You're there to play loudly and to make "a joyful noise."

Heck, I grew up going to church every week - my daddy was an Episcopal priest, and we had an operatic baritone that was our song leader. I was about ten years old and used to imitate him at church. My Mama would look at me with a raised eyebrow and say "Don't make fun!"

I would say, "I'm nawt!" (As any 10-year-old would say, no matter the accusation.)

Being the Son of a Preacher Man was... interesting - but more on that later.

This is not an email about anyone needing to go to church, but when people gather and raise their voices in song, it makes you a better singer.

And we're here to make you a better singer.

So, if you're not the church-going type, or everyone mumbles the songs softly in your church, here is a recipe to fast-track your voice to greatness:

• Join a great choir.

• I think a community choir that sings with other ensembles, like a local orchestra is one of the best. They almost always have great conductors, they work on challenging classical music, and you'll get decent vocal instruction and a weekly opportunity to practice.

• If you join a choir, you'll have a good reason to work on your voice between rehearsals.

• You'll want to improve your voice because parts of the repertoire will be difficult for you. Difficult is good!

Great boxers work with great trainers.

Great singers work with great teachers.

No matter your goal, you want to work with the best.

My students have been "doin real good" lately. Some symptoms of improvement are:

• Singing ranges are expanding

• Singing with confidence

• Getting cast in local shows

• Placed in local choirs

• And, just singing the way they've always wanted!

It's so cliche to say this, but, Amazing Things are Happening!

Click here for more info: ​​​www.singwithjosh.com

Best,

Josh

Be extreme in your daily quest for greatness

I have always been a person that goes to extremes. If I were going to practice stretching I would stretch until it hurts. If I were to work out by lifing weights I would lift the heaviest weight possible. Basically any technique, I would take it to the nth degree, because that’s how to do it best, right? Wrong. 

Something has changed in the last year, though. I don't know if it's because I'm just getting older, if I'm getting further along in my jiu jitsu practice, if I'm getting older as a father, or what, but I've had a pretty seismic idea, extreme, if you will, of being extreme..

Maybe it occurred to me these past couple weeks as I've been working out almost every day at the Opera Colorado office. It’s not the greatest gym in the world, but, if you just work out with what you have, and keep on the slow and steady grind on this campaign of self-improvement, one begins to see results. If I just come in every day and work and go through the motions and lift the weights do my stretches my injuries heal, my body strengthens, and I feel overall, better.

The same thing can be said regarding our singing. In the beginning of your singing journey, you are building your voice, much the same way as you are building an instrument. You can't play a violin unless it's built, and you cannot sing to your full extent unless the muscles that are directly in control of producing the sounds have been strengthened...

The muscles allow you to sing softly, loudly, to add emotional textures to your voice, to add caricature textures to your voice, singing dark, singing light, singing clear, and have a ringing tone. All of these things are the standard, the baseline, the foundation of what it takes to add artistry to your song, to your band, to your life....

Once again, we come to this idea of extreme. I can't tell you how many students I've seen in the past few years that want a major change in one lesson. It doesn't happen like that. Expecting a change in one lesson… that is extreme. One must recognize that one needs to build the muscles that are directly responsible before producing those sounds over a period of YEARS! it took Arnold Schwarzenegger a long time to get that Mr. Universe body. It's the exact same way with the voice.

Slow and steady. Steady. Steady. Constant and disciplined workouts will get you to your goals.

Oh, and by the way, I can help get you there!

Singing Lessons schedule is a bit wackadu for a little while, but sign up on the Boulder Voice Lessons website for available lesson times.

Free Piano Lesson and Daily Piano Warmups

Boulder Voice Lessons Daily 7 minute piano warm up will make you a better piano player.

Daily Piano Practice will make you a better piano player!

If you don’t know what to practice, or if you are sick of practicing your assigned song, just do this simple 7 minute warm up, and you’ll continue to improve.

It’s like 7 minute Abs, but for your fingers.

Check it here: