Cari’s Top 3 Vocal Tips: #1

by Cari Cole

Cari’s Top 3 Vocal Tips ~ #1

As one of the top vocal expert coaches in the country, I frequently hear: “what are your top vocal tips for singers?”

Well, I could rattle off a long list, and yammer on for hours.. (I’m a super nerd when it comes to vocals..)

And because I have a long list of favorite tricks up my sleeve over 20+ years of coaching singers….

But I love a challenge! (this stuff keeps me up at night!)

So I thought – if I had only 5 minutes to tell you my top secret tips – what would they be?

and I wracked my brain to come up with my Top 3,

That’s right —

my Top 3 Vocal Tips ever – (so far that is) –

and I’m going to give them to you once a week for 3 weeks –

Here goes…

One of the things I am constantly teaching my private clients, is that the voice is an instrument – inside the body and you have to learn how to use it to get the most out of it.

It’s very “physical” on the basic foundational level.

To have a strong voice and vocal consistency – there are certain things you have to know and do.

There are some really simple ways that you can, right now, to use to get a great sound out of your instrument.

And most singers (even professionals), unless they’ve trained, don’t know this stuff.

So I wanted to give them to you as if I was actually giving you a voice lesson..

Right here, right now.

So – stand in front of a mirror (because I’m going to ask you to watch your jaw and your head position to control movement as you sing)..

#1 of My Top 3 Vocal Tips Ever ~ The “Instant Fix”

This is a quick trick that makes you sound better instantly so I’ve named it the “Instant Fix”.

Say A-E-I-O-U (watch your jaw movement in the mirror)

Did your jaw close on any of the vowels? I’m sure they did.

Do it again. Watch.

Chances are your jaw closed https://halcyonstore.com/calan-online/ mostly on the E and the U – and most likely on others too if not all of them.

Take your first two fingers and pull your jaw down 2″.
(or even better – use a plastic bottle cap or a cork (wine) between your teeth to prop your jaw open..)

Speak the vowels again. If you use the cap or cork you HAVE to keep your jaw down – so that is the easiest way to train the muscle memory first.

Repeat again (since we’re trying to re-program muscle memory – the more the better).
Now sing the vowels on one note blending them smoothly one into the other… “A-E-I-O-U”.
Your goal is to keep your jaw open (long not wide) without closing for all of your vowels.
Repeat until you can do it.

Now sing a phrase of one of your songs – and make sure your jaw opens to the same position on all of your vowels. Your jaw will close on the consonants (has to) put on each vowel drop the jaw open to that 2″ position and use the tongue to form the vowels so they come out clearly and not funny sounding.

You have to practice this a bunch before it becomes natural – but the more you do the sooner this new movement is programmed into your muscle memory.

And — you might be one of those lucky ones who notice the improvement in the sound right away (it will sound louder and more resonant with less vocal strain)

If you don’t – don’t sweat it – you will. It just takes a little practice (You might have some unwanted tension in your neck, jaw and throat muscles – try loosening them up and try it again)

The next time you perform open your jaw more on your vowels (remember long not wide)– it’s a quick trick that makes you sound better instantly! Voila ~ The Instant Fix!

Practice it until it become natural!

Here’s to better vocals! Look for Tip #2 next week!

In love & support,

Cari