1. Always Warm Up

The key to singing high notes without straining your vocal cords is to think of your voice like a machine…. specifically, like a car. It should be no surprise that few cars (if any) can go from 0 mph to 100 mph instantaneously. It takes time for a car’s engine to warm up and for all parts of the car to work together at such high levels. The same basic concept is true for your voice! The biggest mistake singers make is trying to belt out high notes when their voice isn’t first warmed up or properly trained. The end result is usually nothing but strain and pain (the vocal equivalent of screeching tires). Thankfully, you can avoid that unpleasant scenario by doing a few simple vocal exercises beforehand and gradually building your vocal strength over time.

2. Know Your Vocal Register

In our many years of teaching voice lessons, we’ve seen one too many singers try to reach notes outside of their natural vocal register. The reality is every singer has vocal limitations that prevent them from singing certain notes. While it’s true that singers can expand their vocal register through practice and techniques, eventually there is a cutoff point. In other words, don’t try to belt out a note that’s too far outside your normal range since your voice likely isn’t naturally equipped to reach that high. 

3. Control Your Air Flow

Another critical component to singing high notes is adequate airflow. More specifically, a steady and powerful flow of air. Not surprisingly, it takes a lot of air to not only reach high notes but reach them without running out of steam. To do that, you’ll need the right breath support which stems from the diaphragm. To master your airflow, you’ll need to be mindful of your diaphragm and learn to breathe from it. Ideally, when singing, you should take deep, steady and controlled breaths from the diaphragm (not the chest). Learning to breathe from the diaphragm takes time, but it’s so worth it!

4. Be Mindful of Posture

If there’s one thing singers hear over and over again it’s the importance of good posture! Believe it or not, good posture is critical for hitting high notes. For extra help reaching those elusive notes, be sure to stand correctly: chest held high, shoulders down, back, and relaxed while engaging the core.

Singing high notes isn’t easy by any means but it is doable. To learn even more expert singing techniques and get personalized help from professional singers, contact Scottsdale Music Academy or sign up for vocal lessons today!

Top 10 Reasons Why Your Child Should Take Music Lessons at Scottsdale Music Academy

1- It’s Fun!!

There are many reasons to get your child involved in music at an early age but there is no better reason than allowing them to have FUN! At Scottsdale Music Academy, that is our #1 priority! It has been proven that playing music can promote stimulation to areas of the brain that promote increased joy and decreased stress. Whether you are learning to play guitar or starting off with voice lessons, SMA will make sure that having fun is mandatory!

2- Build Self Esteem

In addition to the morale that the student gains from working hard at a skill and succeeding, the positive individual attention given in one-on-one lessons fosters self-esteem and self-worth in the student by showing them that they are worthy of personal attention and that others believe in their success.

3 – Make Lifelong Friends

When you become a musician or a vocalist, you become a part of a bigger community. Not only is it fun to play music that you enjoy, but it feels awesome to join together with others to create a unified sound. Friendships and relationships are strengthened through common interests and artists typically find that their most meaningful relationships are found through those they meet through the sharing their art form. At Scottsdale Music Academy we take you from private music lessons into group lessons all the way to a band creation!

4 – Learn Self Discipline

Learning to play an instrument takes time and effort, which teaches patience and perseverance. Musicians have to work through difficult sections of music multiple times in a row before they can play it correctly. Practicing often and working through the tough times requires perseverance. The best musicians in the world are masters of discipline. Our instructors will take the time with each student individually to hone their skills to become the best of their chosen craft.

5 – Develop Creativity and Artistic Awareness

Music allows children to retain (and adults to rediscover) much of their open and creative outlook on life as other areas of education and society push them towards conformance. Scottsdale Music Academy wants you to be yourself and use your artistic gifts to do it!

6 – Increase your memory skills

Research has shown that both listening to music and playing a musical instrument stimulate your brain and can increase your memory. A study was done in which 22 children from ages 6-9 years old were given either singing lessons or keyboard lessons. A control group of 15 children received no music lessons at all. Both groups participated in the same preschool activities. The results showed that preschoolers who had weekly keyboard lessons improved their spatial-temporal skills 34 percent more than the other children. Not only that, but researchers said that the effect lasted long-term!!!

7 – Express Yourself!

Develop a new and deeply powerful medium of emotional education and expression through “playing” the emotions of the composers and creating pieces of the student’s own. When the student participates in the production of quality music and really understands and connects with it, the intellect and the emotion are profoundly stimulated and the student comes away from the experience with an enriched and more meaningful life.

8 – Our Amazing Instructors

The instructors at Scottsdale Music Academy understand that each student is different. Every student has a different background, a different skill set and a unique way of learning. We take the time with each individual to improve on their weaknesses and enhance their strengths with our one on one learning sessions. Each instructor at SMA has had real life experiences with music but has also been educated in the art of music and this helps relate to each one of our students.

9 – Build Character

Studies have shown that students who study music develop stronger moral character, are much more likely to score high in their classes and standardized tests, and much less likely to engage in substance abuse or criminal behavior.

10 – Self Expression!

Self-expression is the pinnacle of art. Every feeling in the emotional spectrum finds release in it. The single greatest skill you can develop as a musician is the ability to consistently create music that allows you to express yourself. Most musicians would agree that such a skill is the holy grail of true musical freedom. Learning to play an instrument can provide an outlet for your energy and emotions. Elements such as melody, dynamics (range of soft and loud), harmonic qualities, and tempo all serve as expressive tools. As we become more proficient in our playing, so too will we become better equipped to express ourselves through the music emanating from our fingertips. Self-expression helps shape our identity and individuality and contributes to our overall sense of well-being.

To learn more on how we can help you or your child improve their talent, click on this link: www.scottsdalemusicacademy.com

Imagine trying to sing with a frog in your throat. For many singers, this feeling is all too familiar. The fact is vocal strain and pain are common occurrences for singers, especially for those who don’t take proper care of their voice.

Whether you realize it or not, your voice is an instrument, and needs care and attention just as much as any guitar or piano. Think about it. A guitar can be stowed in a protective case after an intense jam session, but a singer takes their vocal cords with them no matter where they go. Concert or no concert, a singer’s instrument is always in use, hence the reason why singers are more susceptible to vocal cord disorders and distress, and the reason why regular vocal care is so important.

Singers who constantly push their voice to the extreme without allowing their vocal cords a little R&R from time to time may experience some of the following symptoms:

• Hoarseness

• Low-pitched voice

• Breathy voice

• Loss of vocal range

• Throat pain while talking or singing

Luckily, there are steps singers can take to maintain a healthy voice and ensure a performance (sans “ribbit ribbit”) that will have the audience jumping to their feet with applause.

1. Sing The Right Way

Everyone knows that nothing is more crucial to a singer’s success than proper technique, but did you also know that good technique is the basis for a healthy voice?  While there are many best practices to follow when it comes to singing, knowing how to properly breathe from your diaphragm is essential to avoiding injuries and common vocal cord wear and tear. Essentially, breathing from your diaphragm moves the effort of support to the abdominal muscles, thus keeping pressure away from the vocal cords and the throat.  Learning diaphragmatic breathing can be tricky at first, but once mastered, it leads to better breath control, improved vocal endurance, and superior tone quality.  To ensure you’re singing the correct way, you may want to consider taking voice lessons. Scottsdale Music Academy can teach you everything you need to know to perfect your voice and keep it in tip top, concert ready shape at all times.

2. Drink Up

No, we’re not talking about alcohol! We’re talking about the other liquid wonder known as H20.  Water helps to thin your mucous and lubricate your vocal cords, allowing your vocal cords to smoothly move against one another and vibrate with ease. To keep your vocal folds adequately hydrated and moist, be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. For even better results, consider investing in a personal steamer, especially if you live in a dry environment. The extra steam will help sooth irritated vocal cords and provide an added source of moisture.

3. Take Voice Naps

Just because you’re no longer in kindergarten doesn’t mean you’re too old for a nap…a vocal nap that is! Taking short periods (10 to 15 minutes) of vocal rest from time to time, especially after extended periods of voice use, will help minimize stress and vibrations on your vocal folds. You’ll “wake” feeling refreshed and ready to tackle even the toughest of songs.

Other ways to maintain a healthy voice include:

• Consistently warming up before a performance

• Abstaining from smoking

• Limiting alcohol intake

• Avoiding vocal misuse, such as yelling and screaming or excessively  raising your voice

More than anything else, singers need to remember that their voice is a muscle and must treat it like one. Maintaining a healthy voice takes work and consistency, that’s why regular practice and training is essential. Singers who are serious about perfecting their craft should surround themselves with trusted professionals in order to develop performance skills, master proper techniques and prevent injuries.

If you’re looking for an all-star team dedicated to helping you reach new vocal heights, look no further than Scottsdale Music Academy.  When it comes to voice lessons, Scottsdale Music Academy knows how to turn even the worst Kermit the Frog voice into singing shape!

Give us a call at (602) 751-3537 today to learn how we can help you.

Contrary to what you might see on American Idol or The Voice, singing sensations aren’t made overnight. To be able to belt out songs like Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson, you need to put in the work. This involves constant hours of practice, proper vocal training, and everyday vocal care. But to really consider yourself a legit singer, you need to be able to not only kill it on karaoke night…you need to know how to talk the talk.

Knowing basic singing terms will help you better understand your craft and will show others just how serious you are about your music. When it comes down to it, successful singers are the ones that can croon a tune and know their music lingo inside and out.

To help you beef up your vocal vocabulary, the instructors of our vocal lessons in Scottsdale have put together a short glossary of singing terminology. Enjoy!

• Pitch – the sound of a note; its high or low frequency

*A common criticism beginning singing students often hear from our instructors during their vocal lessons in Scottsdale is that they’re singing off-pitch. This simple means that they’re singing out of tune, and refers to the rate of vibrations of the vocal folds. Faster vibrations produce a high pitch and slower vibrations produce a low pitch.

• Flat:      to be lower than the correct pitch of a note

• Sharp:     to be higher than the note

• Vibrato:      a style of singing resulting in a trill or pulsating change of pitch

• A capella:      singing without musical accompaniment

• Head Voice:       refers to the high range of the voice

• Chest Voice:      refers to the low range of the voice

• Riff:       a quick succession of notes, usually repeated

• Run:        vocally climbing up or down a scale on a single syllable

• Belting:      a style of singing that produces a loud, forceful vocal sound

Learn even more singing terminology by singing up for our vocal lessons in Scottsdale. We’ll help you perfect your singing chops and vocal vocabulary all at once! Call (602) 751-3537 for more information.