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Voice Lessons for Kids – Recognizing the Signs Your Child is a Singer!

Written by Dan Cropper on . Posted in Music 101, Voice.

Proud parents, If you’ve noticed your child singing their heart out all the time, trying to harmonize with the radio, or belting out tunes at school, you might wonder if they have a hidden talent waiting to shine. Well, wonder no more! In this article, we will explore some of the signs your child might be interested in singing and how you can help them embrace their passion/nurture their interests by starting voice lessons!

Voice Lessons for Kids: Spotting the Signs of a Singer

Does your little one hum while playing with their toys, sing in the shower, or even serenade their stuffed animals? If so, you’ve got a singer on your hands! If your child loves to sing along with songs on the radio and can effortlessly harmonize with the tunes, it’s a strong indicator of their musical inclination. Pay attention to their enthusiasm for school choir or music classes. If they eagerly participate and look forward to these activities, it’s a sign that they’re drawn to singing.

Voice Lessons for Kids: Embracing Their Passion

Now that you’ve recognized your child’s interest in singing, it’s time to help them embrace it. 

Start Voice Lessons and Music Classes

Depending on your child’s age and readiness, consider enrolling them in voice lessons. Many music schools and vocal coaches offer tailored classes for kids, helping them develop their singing skills from an early age.

Alongside voice-focused lessons, explore other music classes for kids, as well. These classes can cover various aspects of music, from rhythm to instrumentation, and complement your child’s vocal training.

Online Access – Children’s Music Lessons 

Online music lessons are a fantastic option if you’re looking for convenience and flexibility. They allow your child to learn from the comfort of home and work around their schedule. Learning an instrument can enhance your child’s musical abilities and understanding. Consider piano or guitar lessons to help your child round out their comprehension of singing and music. 

Voice Lessons for Kids – Boosting Their Confidence

Embracing your child’s passion for singing can be incredibly rewarding. Not only will they develop their musical talent, but it will also boost their confidence and help them feel good about themselves. Singing is not just a hobby; it’s a fun and fulfilling way for them to express themselves and connect with others.

As a parent, your support and encouragement can make all the difference in nurturing their love for singing. Attend their recitals, listen to them practice, and cheer them on during performances; your enthusiasm will show them that you believe in their talent!

If your child shows signs of being a singer, don’t hesitate to take the next steps. Explore music classes, consider voice lessons, and let them dive into this exciting world of music. 

Who knows, you might be witnessing the beginning of a musical journey that will bring joy to their entire lives! So, nurture that passion, and watch them shine like the stars they are destined to be! 🌟🎶

Get in touch with us today!

Singing With a Cold

Written by Dan Cropper on . Posted in SuperJAM, Voice.

It seems like colds always have a way of hitting right before a big performance. Those first few sniffles days before a show can bring a feeling horror. Unfortunately colds are a fact of life that not even superstars can escape. I recently saw a world famous band play a sold out show where the lead singer was complaining of a cold, and watched an interview with Alicia Keys who came down with a cold days before her Grammy Award performance. Do not fret, there are measures you can take from the first sign of a cold to ensure the speediest recovery.

If your cold is in your sinuses (i.e you just feel “stuffed up”) and not in your lungs it means your vocal chords are probably healthy enough to sing. If you start getting a bad cough and are getting hoarse it’s best to rest your voice and if at all possible cancel your show. 

The best way to deal with phlegm is with light vocalizing. This will keep your voice supple and flexible and cause the phlegm to vibrate off. Practice singing at a low volume on EE vowel scales and glissando’s (start from you highest pitch and slide down to your lowest pitch). 

Try to move the the keys of your songs down. When you have a cold you lose clear access to your high falsetto notes and passagio notes (notes in the “break” of your range between chest and head voice). The voice will tend to be shifted lower, with a thicker tone. If possible, move your songs into a lower key.

You know the drill when you’re sick: sleep tons, drink tons, have some chicken noodle soup, and wash your hands. Here are some other tricks of the trade: 

Neti Pot

A neti pot looks like a small teapot. You fill it with special salt and warm water and  gently rinse out your nasal passages. This is a great natural way to clear out your nasal passages. It is recommended that you use a neti pot regularly even when your not sick. It clears out bacteria to help prevent  you from getting sick and also helping with allergies. Make sure to only use the special salt intended for neti pots.

Inhale Steam

Inhaling steam is a very effective soothing method for you vocal cords and lungs, especially is you have a lot of phlegm in your lungs. Remember, drinking tea and water is great for hydration but it does not touch your vocal cords directly. The only way to get moisture directly onto your chords is by inhaling it. 

Zinc

Take zinc as soon as your first symptoms occur. Zinc can shorten the duration of your cold and make you less contagious. You can also try zinc spray for your throat and zinc swabs for your nose. 

Mucinex (Guaifenesin)

Guaifenesin is in a class of medications called expectorants. It works to relieve chest congestion by thinning the mucus in the air passages to make it easier to cough up the mucus and clear the airways. Remember to drink lots of water with this medication. If possible, avoid “cough suppressants” and stick with expectorants like mucinex. Cough suppressants will just make the phlegm stay in your lungs for longer delaying recovery.

In the end, there is nothing fun about singing with a cold. Do your best to prevent sickness by getting proper rest, plenty of fluids, washing your hands often, exercising to circulate blood, and monitoring stress. If you have to sing with a cold, be sure to go home and rest your voice straight afterwards. 

How to Develop Proper Singing Technique

Written by Dan Cropper on . Posted in Voice.

Show Some Love To Your Cords

We depend on our vocal cords all day and between phone-calls, shows, sports games, parties and everything in between they can take a beating. These are measures we can take to make sure our vocal cords are healthy and performing at their best ability.

Be Mindful in Noisy Environments

Every time we yell or push our speaking voice, our vocal cords bang together. This irritation creates swelling and mucus on the cords which causes a hoarse, unclear sound. Avoid holding prolonged conversations in noisy environments. If you have to talk in a noisy environment, stand as close as you can to the person you’re speaking to and avoid raising your voice over the sound. Avoid yelling at sports events or concerts, clapping your hands always works!

Use Proper Breathing Technique

Support your singing with good breathing technique. Proper breathing technique will take pressure off your vocal cords and give you more stamina. Click here for more information on proper breathing technique. 

Warm-up every day

Just as you would stretch before and after running, it is important to always warm-up and warm-down for singing. Vocalizing with also improve your range and vocal resonance. Think of your vocal cords as a muscle…a weight lifter wouldn’t expect to lift 400 lbs without working up to it day by day. Don’t expect to sing difficult notes without training your vocal cords everyday.

Sleep

Getting proper sleep will keep you healthy Your vocal vords get a chance to heal from irritation when you sleep. Aim to get 8 hours of sleep a night. 

Drink Water

Drinking 8 glasses of water a day will keep you healthy and hydrate your vocal cords. Remember that nothing you eat or drink directly touches your vocal cords when you swallow. The water goes into your system and in turn hydrates your vocal cords. For every caffeinated beverage you drink you should compensate with 5 glasses of water. 

Watch Your Diet

Everyone is affected differently by foods. Right before you sing it is best to avoid foods high in dairy as they can clog your throat. Foods that are high in spice, citrus, and oils can cause acid reflux. Acid reflux causes mucus production and can cause inflammation on the vocal cords. One of the best ways to avoid acid reflux is to avoid eating 3 hours before you go to bed. For more information on acid reflux click HERE. 

Don’t Smoke

Smoking will destroy your voice, simply not worth it!

Breathing Basics for Singing

Written by Dan Cropper on . Posted in Voice.

Breath support is the most important element of proper singing technique. Proper breathing will help you maintain a clear singing voice and develop a greater range. It will also give you greater stamina for long shows and recording sessions. It is helpful to practice breath technique on its own before applying it to your singing. Your vocal chords will thank you!

Good Posture

Place with your feet below your shoulders with knees slightly bent. Stand with your shoulders supported and rib cage expanded. Make sure you are comfortable and not forcing your ribs out.

Inhale, expanding around your waistline

Keep your ribs and shoulders relatively still and breath into your abdominal region.

Exhale without collapsing

The key when exhaling is to keep your rib cage expanded and breathing from your abdominals. Try placing both thumbs at the bottom of your rib cage and exhaling without letting your thumbs move inward. Keep your abdominal region supported as you push the air out (see picture below).

Breathing Exercise:

1. Stand in front of a full length mirror.

2. Take in a good breath (without “overfilling”) and breathe out on a sustained S sound as in “hiss.” Hold until you are completely out of air.

3. Take in another supported breathe and exhale with the sound “mah” on a single note. Hold until you are completely out of air.

4. Keep you abdominal muscles firm and make sure to keep your ribs expanded and chest supported even when you are at the end of your air supply.