The Engaging Voice

Tara gives an update of her recent musical journey and her book as well as telling about a brand new podcast show coming soon! Look for THE ENGAGING PERFORMER! www.tarabrueske.com Facebook: @tarabrueskemusic Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode,Tara chats once again with her cousin Lisa Gebhard and is put in the hot seat to answer common questions about singing! Enjoy this episode part 2 as a follow up to their first time in February 2021. Here are some of the questions and topics we deal with: Why do some singers sound so different as their voice ages? Why does the pitch change or the tone and timbre of the sound? Why does it sound as if singers slide into notes or are flat?   What makes the uniqueness of a singer's style? What makes for a healthy and natural sound in a voice? What are some basic things that happen in a voice lesson? What things do I focus on when I teach a lesson? How do I start with a student? (The monotone singing episode is Episode 7)   Why can't we sing on an inhale? We sing on exhalation but it seems impossible to sustain pitch when you are taking in air! Please reach out to me for teaching. My remote lessons are available online here: https://tarabrueske.com/music-lessons   My vocal monthly subscription is called The Singer's Feedback Zone: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21     This episode is the final episode of this podcast for now but you can binge all 104 other episodes!   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen.

In today's episode,Tara shares some of her favorite helpful apps and products that will help you be a healthy and confident singer!   Some of my favorite products, apps, singing helps: The Singing Straw   You can use it for warmups or cool downs. Here is a link to get 10% off: https://bit.ly/SingingStrawTara Use code tarab10 Vocal Eze Throat spray that has honey, echinacea, ginger, and more. Manuka Honey drops and sticks that help keep your throat more moist and stop hacking coughing. You can get 15% off here: http://vocaleze.refr.cc/tarabrueske Gua Sha A quart stone that is shaped to help massage your face and neck, or use it for acupuncture. Here is a link on Amazon to purchase one: https://www.amazon.com/Gua-Sha-Facial-Tool-Acupuncture/dp/B08TRGNP9F/ref=asc_df_B08TRGNP9F/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=508231731992&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14798465847751075361&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019552&hvtargid=pla-1287142188407&th=1     Voice Memos app Or you can get another non IOS app like Recorder Plus. Look for a voice app in your phone app store.   Practice App—Modacity (It is a paid app) It can keep track of your days when you practice, the actual time or amount of practicing,  has a recorder, metronome and more. Look for it in your phone's app store.   Purchasing sheet music/chord charts online Sheet Music Plus https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/ Music Notes https://www.musicnotes.com/ Musescore https://musescore.org/en Hal Leonard Publishing https://www.halleonard.com/ JW Pepper https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/welcome.jsp Amazon Going to the library to utilize or find new songs The Reader's Digest Books   Duolingo Great app for learning any language. Free version to paid version. But you can hear native speakers and learn grammar too! Also good for being able to sing and sound closer to the real language. Look for it in your phone's app store.   Please reach out to me for teaching. My remote lessons are available online here: https://tarabrueske.com/music-lessons   My vocal monthly subscription is called The Singer's Feedback Zone: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician 

In today's episode,Tara chats about an alternate way of educating yourself to become a professional musician that doesn't include the college route of a music degree. Tara herself, having a Music degree and yet being in the music biz for over 30 years, gives the listener her take on why college might not be the best way in today's world of music performing.   The costs of a college degree is super high compared to what you might make as a musician seeking your own gigs or teaching studio. It can take time to build your own business as a performer and that means not a salaried income coming in. The pursuit of a college degree is time consuming. You can't put extra time into learning about many things of the music biz, from networking to producing your own music and shows. The music industry has many changing features, including technology and social media that may not be covered in college. You may not be able to pursue different genres of music where you would study that specific history and get training in folk, jazz, country, etc You might want to do something more out of the box like opening your own music studio or publishing and selling music and you won't get much help through a college degree. Marketing yourself, learning how to get albums out, creating a website,  learning how to book yourself and more are not usually learned at college. Time management for a music performing biz is hard to do with keeping up with studies, paying for that education and then actually trying to create a music career. College can have a political agenda instead of having an educational foundation. They are often more interested in promoting a political ideology instead of focusing on what your major is.   What you can do: Partake of free podcasts, free challenges and bootcamps on social media and getting fans to an email list, read books on the different subjects. Seek out mentors in the music biz—coaches who help you in biz, coaches who help you learn your instrument, coaches who teach you how to be a great performer. Purchases online courses for marketing, writing, songwriting, booking gigs, auditioning, podcasting, how to do social media, and how to find other music producing income, and more.   If you want further help, please reach out to me for a Zoom meeting through Premier Performer VIP. Link here: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/22 You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician 

In today's episode,Tara chats about the challenges and strengths of being a singer/performer who is introverted. She chats from her own experience of being an introvert, as well as from working with other introverts. These might be things introverts struggle with: Performance anxiety Networking and self/promotion Trying to balance alone time and social engagements Collaborating with musicians in group situations and not having their voice heard Dealing with the expectations of a performance from the audience to be overly charismatic Pacing yourself at a performance   Being introverted can also include these strengths: Having a heightened sense of our inner world can help us carry amazing emotions into our performance Having self reflection easily available where you can analyze your performance and take it to the next level May have a preference for intimate performances to connect deeply with people Loving and utilizing solace for times of creating   The Introvert Advantage book is a great resource to understand what it means to be introverted.   Check out The Singer's Feedback Zone here: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today's episode,Tara gives you steps  that can help you teach a voice lesson. Practical tips to help you know what to do in a weekly lesson with a voice student.     Get to know how your student is doing that day. Have the student do some simple stretching or massage parts of their body. (Using a Gua Sha is great for this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074SL6JNN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Start with warmups that are lower or in mid-range. Use SOVT's for early warmups in the lesson. Don't use exercises that go too quickly or are on the ends of their range—high or low. Watch/observe what is going on in their physical body—face, head, shoulders, breath, neck, hips, knees, etc Pick one thing in the warmup that they do well and then focus on something that they need help with that you have noticed. Pick a song and then have the student sing the whole song or only just a verse and chorus. Listen and watch for that portion of the song for areas of technique they do well and can improve upon. Example: resonance, breath support, pitch issues, tension in their body, lack of flexibility and more 10. If you can't find a solution for something, it's okay to tell the student you will come back to it in another lesson. Then go do research. 11. Throughout the lesson, ask them the things they are physically sensing and noticing so that they can know on their own what you see or hear. 12. Be aware of if your student learns aurally, visually or is a kinesthetic learner.     You can grab your free template for teaching a voice lesson  at the Singing Hub: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today's episode,Tara talks to music fitness coach Angela McCuiston, the founder of Music Strong LLC, a business that specializes in personal fitness training for musicians! We explore her own personal journey of a music related injury and her healing as well as how she helps musicians get healthy in their body and stay healthy!     Angela developed an injury from playing the flute (which was her instrument of study) She had strain and imbalance of certain muscles and needed to find a way to get her body healthy again without just quitting her instrument.   “You don't throw out a soccer player when they pull a hamstring… or tell them to quit their sport…you just rehab them.”   Angela didn't find enough resources to help her heal properly so she looked into becoming a personal trainer.    “Up to 90% of musicians will either experience pain related playing or will have injuries.”   During a convention of flutists in Florida, people started asking Angela for help and someone asked if she would do a workshop and she did and started traveling around to universities to give them.   “Rest is NOT rehab.”   Angela sees a lot of shoulder, low back pain as well as weak core muscles. When people come to her, she starts with a movement assessment—upper and lower body— to help personalize what each individual needs.   One thing Angela uses is NeuroKinetic Therapy: This uses manual muscle testing to address the cause of pain It's a corrective movement system that addresses dysfunctional movement patterns stored in the brain.    Musicares—a division of the Grammy's that helps musicians.   You can get ahold of Angela here: https://musicstrong.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicstrongfitness/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicstrong/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MusicStrongFitnessTraining     You can grab more free helps at the Singing Hub: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today's episode,Tara talks gives some very practical exercises for your warmups that will help with engaging and maintaining breath. She focuses on specific exercises to help with breath pressure and the speed of the airflow! Vocal warmups to help you get and maintain great breath: Put your back in a sitting position against the wall and take some nose breaths. Slow arpeggio of a lip buzz and pay attention to your body while sitting against the wall. Use a vowel that's easy for you and then use one note and gradually crescendo—get louder. Then do the opposite—decrescendo and get quieter using one note. Use staccato and legato back to back. Using a ha 1-1-1-1-1-2-3-4-5-5-5-5-5-4-3-2-1.   Then use an “ah” doing a half scale up and down. Using melisma—doing it quickly: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Start with a pause on 1 and then at the top on 8 and then back on the last note. Sing legato. Use vvv (a fricative) and slide 1-5-1. Pay attention to the breath pressure that you are sending.   Use warmups to pay attention to what is going on with many parts of your singing from your breath to your mouth to your tongue to your jaw and more…   You can get The Singing Straw here: https://singingstraw.com/discount/tarab10?ref=tarab10 Use code for 10 % discount: tarab10   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today's episode,Tara talks gives some very solid and practical tips to help you memorize songs for your shows, whether a few songs or many!    You can get the singing straw here: https://singingstraw.com/discount/tarab10?ref=tarab10 Use code for discount: tarab10   The article on people's capability to memorize: https://www.lpm.org/news/2018-01-25/how-many-songs-can-our-brains-actually-remember#:~:text=The%20short%20answer%3A%20no.,at%20the%20University%20of%20Louisville.   “Your brain has an almost unlimited capacity for memory. It can actually store about 2.5 petabytes of memory…which is a million gigabytes!” “If your brain was a smartphone on which you downloaded TV shows, it could record 300 years of continuous TV before running out of space.” Dr. Emily Mason (University of Louisville)     Some practical tips to memorize songs: Finding a story in the song. Look at specific images—are their descriptions of things in the lyrics? Does anything repeat itself? Looking for those things that repeat but have subtle changes of words. Analyze the form of the song. Look at the lyrics in front of you as you listen to the song. Speaking the lyrics out loud. Starting with looking at songs and finding the ones which have the most lyrics in a song—start with the hardest one. From Lenora Green-Turner (classical artist) said that she writes out the text or doodles pictures. She also puts translations side by side (where there are other languages) to see what feelings she needs to put in the song. Look for rhymes in the words. For the music part, record yourself singing and compare to original melody recording. On the lyric sheets, writing in the note name or draw dots in the direction of the notes. Repetition. Listen everywhere to the song so it gets ingrained in your head. Create a plan. Set deadlines backwards so you know when you need to have EVERYTHING memorized.   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician

In today's episode,Tara talks about the difficulties of doing followups and ways to make them easier to do so that you actually book the gig!     You can get the singing straw here: https://singingstraw.com/discount/tarab10?ref=tarab10 Use code for discount: tarab10   “When people do a follow up one time and they don't hear back from somebody, they assume they are already being rejected. They assume it's a ‘no'.” Mistakes often made: Not contacting enough times  Doing it too often Not thinking about that you need to “build the relationship”   Tips to help the followup process: Keep a record of when you make contact Try different ways of contacting someone Research the place or event to find common ground Do the follow up every 3-4 weeks “Follow up till you get a firm yes or a firm no” Be respectful in your way of contacting them Offer a question to them that gets them engaged back with you “The biggest thing in doing followups is to be consistent and persevering.” For more booking helps: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/10   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do wherever you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today's episode, Tara interviews two long time professional singers and gets the low down on the ups and downs of being a professional singer!   Both Lisa and Jana grew up in musical families and had singers they looked up to like Linda Ronstadt, Chaka Khan, Sheena Easton, Donny and Marie Osmond and more!   They met each other through the Rupert's Orchestra in town in Minneapolis. With mutual respect between both of them, they went on to work with other amazing professionals like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, as well as Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, Prince and more!     (In response to nerves before a show.) “It's never easy. I don't get nervous but I'm very awake and excited! “ Lisa Keith Bernard “I get very excited and very very nervous for the first couple of songs…I'm letting myself relax a little bit and by the second or third song I see the audience—there's something about seeing the audience and cracking a joke that relaxes me and I feel more at home on stage.” Jana Anderson “There's an anticipation that I feel on show day…I think it gets easier the more people that you are with because others can fill in the gaps.” Tara B “We have the blessing of being close friends…our faith binds us first….and music and family and friends second.” Jana Anderson     As pro singers, we have all faced at one time or another of someone asking us if we have “real jobs”. There is so much we have to do to educate others as professional musicians.   “As musicians, we definitely have to wear many hats!” Lisa Keith Bernard   Lisa Keith Bernard: https://www.facebook.com/LisaKeithMusic https://www.facebook.com/spencerandlisa   Better Than You song: https://youtu.be/gYPwiW4huNc   Jana Anderson: https://www.janaandersonmusic.com/ I Honestly Love You Tribute show: https://www.facebook.com/ONJAMHITS River Tribute show: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057579875823   Crooners: https://croonersloungemn.com/ Chanhassen Dinner Theater: https://chanhassendt.com/concertseries/ Chart House Live: https://www.charthouserestaurant.com/?view=calendar&month=11-2023 The Freight House: https://www.thefreighthouse.com/events       You can get the singing straw here: https://singingstraw.com/discount/tarab10?ref=tarab10 Use code for discount: tarab10     You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today's episode, Tara dives again into the biz side of singing. In this part two episode, she gives you criteria that will help you figure out what you should be charging for performances. She also shares about creating pricing tiers for different events and needs.   Criteria to set your price for performances: Your skillset as a musician Training that you have had as a musician Practice and rehearsal that you have done through the years and currently do Picking and learning songs Planning concert programming Your experience in performing Having and keeping up a sound system Set up and take down and the hauling of equipment Length of the performance Location of the gig Advertising for the performance   “Every really great professional I know is still practicing!”   Create pricing tiers to help your clients. Have a starting price and then add on for all the extra criteria you decide. Want more booking help?   Here is a link to the Booking Hub, where you get more FREE booking tips. Sign up today: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/10   Also, I'm a guest on these podcasts talking about booking: https://tarabrueske.com/guest-on-other-podcasts   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician  

In today's episode, Tara dives into the biz side of singing. In this three part series, she covers aspects of booking gigs. Many who are studying voice also want places to share their gift and in this week's part one, Tara shares what are some of the best type of venues to sing and get paid.   There are traditional gigs and non-traditional gigs. The traditional gigs tend to be places like clubs, music festivals in the summer, restaurants, theaters and weddings.   “Insanity: doing the same thing but expecting different results!”   10 great places to book: Wineries Breweries Apple Orchards County and State Fairs Rodeos Home parties like makeup, jewelry, clothing, health supplements, gadgets, products that are healthy for the environment, etc Celebrations like 90th birthday parties, wedding anniversaries, graduations, bar mitzvah, etc Art Fairs Farmer's Market 10. Fundraising events for charities or non-profits.   BONUS place: Senior centers, senior living places—independent, assisted living, memory care, nursing home   Want more booking help?   Here is a link to the Booking Hub, where you get more FREE booking tips. Sign up today: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/10   Also, I'm a guest on these podcasts talking about booking: https://tarabrueske.com/guest-on-other-podcasts   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    Facebook: @tarabmusician  

Today's episode focuses on what it takes to be a professional singer. Pro singers possess many skillsets and Tara dives into many of these skills to help pro singers recognize and value all they know and have experience in.    Here are some of the skills that many professional singers have: Great technique to do all you need to with your voice. Being able to sightread music. Being able to improvise music. Having the ability to harmonize with others, whether it's written out via notes or you pick out the natural harmony by ear. Knowing how to blend your voice with other singers, whether in a choir or group. Singing in other foreign languages—knowing how to read and pronounce them. Being able to pace yourself in a concert so your voice stays healthy throughout the whole show. Knowing what to do for a show if you are sick.   Want some voice lessons? Please click here for Virtual online 30 minute lessons: Or You can find  The Singer's Feedback Zone here:  https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21   Please reach out to me if you are interested via email: tarabmusic@hotmail.com   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic     

Today's episode focuses on ear training—how it's really possible for anyone no matter how they sing. Tara gives some practical tips on how to train your ear, whether you are a singer or a teacher trying to help your voice students! “Being able to match pitch is possible for almost every person”.   Ways to help people get good pitch: Pick our high and low pitches in every day life. Visually draw a note/pitch with a pencil and paper to help the person see the difference between two or more pitches. Sing notes to someone with them singing back the same matching notes: call and response. Listen to a song and then sing back what you just heard. This is great for teachers with a student. As a teacher, you can show people the differences in steps and jumps in pitches through actually stepping and jumping with your body. Listen to a song you know and see if you can pick out different sounds like harmonies, background vocals, guitar, drums, piano, and more. Look for physical details in your house and then look for details in the musical sounds you hear or sing. You can feel sound in your body—high and low sounds. Example: Putting your hand on your chest can help you be aware of the feeling going on when you sing. Or feeling the vibration of a train going by. To get to the center of the pitch, think of the visual of a bullseye in archery. You want to hit it in the middle. 10. Another visual way with taking steps and jumps is to show someone they have to jump or step dead center. It shows the middle of a pitch. 11.Make sure the breath is able to support a pitch. It's not just getting a deep breath but maintaining the breath and pressure to hold the pitch.  12. Record yourself singing something to hear back if you are close to the original recording pitches. This works well in a voice lesson too.   Ear training takes time!   Want some voice lessons? You can find  The Singer's Feedback Zone here:  https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me.  Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic     

In this episode, Tara talks about how singing in a new situation can be stressful. She brings tools to help!   Things that can help you be calm singing at a brand new place: Get to the place early so you have plenty of time to deal with anything unknown Assess the situation by looking at what things you might need or what the room is like. Pay attention to details. Make sure that you ask as many questions to help you feel prepared. Ask your point person so you get all the details ahead of your playing time. Check sound levels before you start so you can hear yourself and have an idea of how loud it is for your audience. Don't assume that the audience should accept you immediately. But don't assume they don't like you. Be extra prepared with your songs. Don't try to do new songs, but instead do songs that are super familiar to you. Be yourself when you sing. You don't need to be what the audience wants. Be authentic. Don't over sing even if people are being really loud. Save your voice. Allow people to listen to you. Have conversations with your audience to make them feel more at home with you. Sing your songs with passion, fun and with giving 100%. Some will respond well!       Want some voice lessons? You can find  The Singer's Feedback Zone here:  https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   

In this episode, Tara talks about how knowing vowels and consonants and the role they  play in our warmups  can help us!   VOWELS “All of us probably have certain vowels that are just easier to sing.”   When we start with a vowel that works and then start singing from that place on other vowels, it can help train our muscle memory to sing with more freedom!   If we start with easy vowels, it will help you get to the harder vowels in time because you build a foundation with easy ones!     CONSONANTS Consonants can help you commit to a note and engage the breath. G, Y, K, B, F, V are great for attacking the note.   Fricatives: S, Sh, Ch, Z, V, Th, F, Jz Fricatives help us hold out notes—they help us with pacing our breath and phrases.   You can Find  The Singer's Feedback Zone here:  https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic        TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode,Tara chats about our speaking voices. As singers, we need to take equal care with how we talk so that it doesn't cause problems for us when we sing.   You can Find  The Singer's Feedback Zone here:  https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21   Let me help get you to that next level of singing!   The Speaking Voice—Paying attention to it: You may get a hoarse voice from shouting at a sporting event, screaming at an amusement park, or having to talk over other competing sounds in a restaurant. When we talk too loudly, we put too much pressure on our vocal folds—too much air pressing through, creating a tired voice. Talking too low can also hurt our voices. It puts a strain on the vocal folds by constantly putting pressed air through the entire vocal fold and having them at their thickest. We may push it out with the musculature of the throat versus good support. It pushes the larynx down—not keeping the layrnx neutral. Talking too high for your natural voice. With anxiety or nervousness, it can force you voice higher and again puts pressure on the larynx going up. Tension is created and that's why it's going up. It makes you have vocal fatigue or soreness. Vocal fry. Even though it's not necessarily bad, but it can create your vocal memory doing something without enough breath support even in your singing because it's remembering your speaking voice.  The article from John Hopkins Medicine: “When you use vocal fry, you relax your vocal cords but do not increase the amount of air you're pushing past your vocal cords, which produces slower vibrations and ultimately results in the lower, creaky sound.”  Talking in a breathy soft sound. It's similar to vocal fry where not a lot of breath pressure happens. But the problem is that the voice gets held back, creating tension. It tries to control so it's not too loud and therefore creates rigidity in the voice. That creates a lack of resonance as well—resonance that “brings the voice to life”.    “ So much of singing is about letting go of trying to control, ‘cause controlling can create that tension. We want to be tension-free.”    “The way that we use our pitches—our brain is also remembering every day—it's remembering how we use our breath… and so we will tend to repeat what we did the day before.”   “Your speaking voice IS your singing voice so don't treat it differently!”   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic        TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode,Tara chats about the reasons that even pro singers should have some checkins with a voice professional. She also tackles reasons why people sometimes don't get coaches.   Why train if you are a pro? Think about the pro sports world. They constantly train and get better!   Reasons that people might not get training: Based on shame. Not feeling good enough. It might make you look bad as a professional because you have to go to someone else. You might be concerned about what people think. You might think you don't have enough time or money for training.   “What would stop you from being at the best stage of your singing?”   Examples of great students: A couple who started in their 50's who took for 10 years and sounded even better at the end. A lady in her 70's her took for 7 years who ended up recording 2 CDs in her 80's!   My own lesson taking with other teachers has helped me incredibly. “People that have known me for 15-20 years think that I'm singing the best now that I've ever sung.” I attribute this to taking lessons with a voice teacher!   You can check out The Singer's Feedback Zone:  https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21   Or My private online lessons here: https://tarabrueske.com/music-lessons   Let me help get you to that next level of singing! You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Or share it to social media and tag me. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode,Tara chats about some commonalities that automobiles have with singers and why you shouldn't ignore problems that come up with singing. And how to schedule maintenance of your voice!   You can still join the Singer's Feedback Zone before it goes up. Click here: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21       Do we give our voice the same maintenance that we give to cars?   Do we just ignore what might be going wrong with our voice?   What things could go wrong if we ignore it?   You may get vocal fatigue You might lose your voice You might not be able to sing high notes You may lose flexibility You may not have as much freedom in your range of notes You may lose some power or presence in your voice   “Taking care of our voices as singers…is going to help us let “them” last a lifetime and …sounding good for a lifetime.”   We have tools to help maintain our voices! Here is a huge solution that helps with a maintenance checkup: Go to a professional vocal trainer!   Do you want a voice that remains healthy and beautiful? You can message me if you want to get some training or a checkup with me. Here is my website for traditional private lessons: https://tarabrueske.com/music-lessons   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

  In today's episode,Tara interviews fellow piano/voice teacher Brenda Earle Stokes. They chat about some of the reasons that piano can be such a helpful tool for singers, whether you are performing or are a voice teacher! Click here to get your Singing Straw 10% off:   Singing straw: http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw   Use the code: tarab10   For Brenda, hearing Oscar Peterson play (jazz piano) was a huge inspiration for her in music! An avid  pianist, singer , conductor and more, Brenda had a curiosity about so many different interests in music that helped mold her as a well rounded musician. On coming from a wholistic and variety background in music for Brenda: ”It gives me a huge toolkit to serve people…and then I pull out stranger, random things (musically) out as a pathway to helping people.”   Why piano skills can be so helpful to learn: “I think the piano is really the basis of understanding functional theory, ear training… and more” Brenda says that being able to do everything at the keyboard can help to have a more three dimensional experience—from seeing to hearing to playing it. “What people need is a very simple functional set of skills (on the piano)…and be able to gather it in a very short period of time.”   Why do voice teachers need piano skills?: Be able to listen fully without barriers or distraction. Being able to whip up a simple accompaniment. Having these skills make you look more professional and being able to attract more students.   “How can you nourish your offerings so that every student who comes in, you keep them?” Brenda has a program—a membership group called The Versatile Musician Here is where you can find it at The Versatile Musician.com: https://pianoandvoicewithbrenda.com/membership/ It includes lots of smaller courses like Piano skills for singers, solfège, jazz piano, rhythms and more, along with a once a month live call meeting.   You can also find her here: https://pianoandvoicewithbrenda.com/   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode,Tara talks about different qualities and characteristics that you may possess that would help you be a great voice teacher. It isn't a complete list but a comprehensive one to check out if you are thinking about teaching some voice lessons.   You can check out The Singer's Feedback Zone:  https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21     Qualities that can be wonderful for teaching voice: Having curiosity about life. Implies you will seek out knowledge. Being able to analyze and take stock of what's going on—what is working and what is going wrong. Being teachable yourself and willing to learn. Helping someone get from A to B—help them find a way to improve. Being empathetic, compassionate, encouraging and patient. It helps people become confident.   “You have to take them step by step…sometimes it might be three steps forward and two steps back.”  If you don't know the answer, being willing to find out from some other source. Willing to take lessons from another teacher—getting a coach for yourself and being accountable. Being ok to be open about your own struggles in voice. Knowing how to be a problem solver—not giving up till you find an answer. “It might take many different ways to get to the solution…It's about being willing to try many possibilities.” 10. Possessing musical skills like having a good trained ear. Being able to sing in tune and know when others are in tune as well.  11. Listening and looking for details are necessary. Paying attention to small details and focus. 12. It's helpful to have an understanding of music theory and harmony. And the voice parts like SATB. 13. Being able to understand and define genres of music and the repertoires that would fit your individual student's needs. “Teaching is a helping industry. It's making sure that they are able to get to their best self of whatever they are capable of doing.”   If you want to check out my vocal course, here's the link:  https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/12   You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode,Tara chats with vocal teacher JoAnne Hart who specializes in integrating fitness and mental wellness into her instruction. We discuss how a fitness routine, including yoga can benefit you as a singer!   You can check out The Singing Straw here: http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw Just use code: tarab10  At checkout for 10% off   JoAnne started her musical journey around age 3— she always has loved to sing from an early age. And she started taking voice lessons in 7th grade. She got her degree in the music biz and then her grad degree in vocal pedagogy. JoAnne got her personal trainer certification her sophomore year of college because she had such a great interest in fitness as well as singing! “Just like every professional athlete has a coach…I think as you become a more advanced singer…having someone there you can check in with…is really important.” JoAnne had been told that weightlifting wasn't very good for your voice. So she started researching that for grad school. And in the process also started falling in love with yoga. There is a huge focus on breath in YOGA. “When I started learning about bandhas I realized…this is breath support.” “Through bandhas, we create some stability in the body in a yoga practice to maintain better alignment and make sure we don't get injured.”   The pelvic floor lift and the stomach floor lift are just like having breath support for singing.   Some type of physical activity improves phonation. If cardio exercise is done prior to a vocal warmup, it can improve airflow and will make singing easier.   Physical therapy helps muscles fire effectively—being able to turn off and on.  “The more that you exercise a muscle with proper recovery, the more that muscle will be able to turn off and on when you need it to.” “You are more likely to develop tight stiff muscles when you aren't using them.”   If you want to help your breathing with your abs to be able to release and help breath support, there needs to be some abdominal training. JoAnne encourages “Finding a physical exercise that works for you…find something you enjoy and can stick to.” “In yoga, you are putting your body in so many weird positions while staying connected to your breath.” That's why yoga can be so good. It uses your body weight and can help you specifically in musical theater or something similar where you are moving around in different positions. You can find JoAnne here: @joannehartsings on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, PlayerFM Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode,Tara chats about the question “What advice do you wish you had been given when you first started teaching?” She gives some of her thoughts as well as shares some tips from other music teachers!   You can check out The Singing Straw here: http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw Just use code: tarab10  At checkout   Tara's background included “playing teacher” as a child but didn't know that it would be a part of her life as a musician. In some ways, her first students like for many teachers was a total learning experience. Teaching is far more about simply knowing something that others don't and then you can share what you know with them. You don't have to get through every song in a lesson. Don't think that what works for you will necessarily work for your students. (Egita) It's okay to give students a song that they may not like at first. Some students just want to have fun and not be a pro. (Sam) Don't be afraid to go back to basics with a student. It's okay to admit you don't know the answer to something. (Nate) Don't take a student just because you need the money. It's important to have policies in place and let people know them upfront. (Kristen) Don't be afraid to change how you structure your teaching.   Guest teachers who shared: Egita Gielen, Sam Reti, Nate Lee, Kristen Budde You can listen on Amazon Audible music, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeart radio, FMplayer, Stitcher, Spotify and more. If you are willing to rate and review this podcast, please do where you listen. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode,Tara chats about ways that voice teachers can build their confidence as a teacher. She gives you practical ways so that you don't have to wait to get started learning more and finding the courage that you need in teaching!   If you want to check out The Singer's Feedback Zone, please click here: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21     Sometimes in teaching, we can run out of ideas or get stuck and what do we do? Take lessons with a voice teacher. It will keep you accountable and give you new ideas. Watch masterclasses. These also give you tons of new info and helps and ideas for what to do with different types of students. Read books on the subject of singing and the voice.  The OHNI Voice Book— by Dr. Reena Gupta Set Your Voice Free—by Roger Love The Structure of Singing—by Richard Miller 4. Reading and studying books about voice and singing related topics like warmups, vocal diction and sight singing. Building Beautiful Voices—by Paul Nesheim with Weston Noble Diction for Singers—by Joan Wall, Robert Caldwell, Tracy Gavilanes, Sheila Allen Sing at First Sight—by Andy Beck, Karen Farnum Surmani, Brian Lewis 5. Performing at a concert or recital. It can help you relate to your students and gain their trust because they know you are doing the same thing. Having their trust builds confidence for you too. “When I have to get ready for my performances…I'm going through some of the same things that they are going through in getting ready for their performances…it can gain their trust a little more because they know that I'm in the trenches with them.” “One of the biggest things we can give our students is helping them find their own confidence as well…that giving them confidence helps us build our own!”   Go to Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Chartable and please rate/review this podcast! Thank you! Tag me when you share these episodes on social media. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode,Tara chats about all the benefits that happen when you watch yourself singing—from connecting with an audience to keeping your voice healthy!   If you want to check out The Singer's Feedback Zone, please click here: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21   There are great reasons to look at a mirror to watch yourself singing.   With a handheld mirror:   1. It can allow you to see if there is any tension in your face. 2. It allows you to see your face and what expressions you are creating visually. "With video…you often times are seeing very little of the person's body and far more of their face and you want to make sure that it's coming across—the emotion—whatever you are expressing.”   With a full length mirror: You can check out your posture of your whole body when you are singing. You can see if there is any tension in the rest of your body. In performing, you can check out what needs to be done with your hands or if you want to do some kind of body choreography or expression.   With recording yourself singing on video: 1. Watching yourself back lets you see yourself from the side view or the back view. 2. We can see on our performance if we are being consistent with our technique and your emotion—especially with a LIVE performance. “This isn't about being critical in the sense of saying “look at everything I did wrong”—what it is is to say ‘let me critique myself and see what things I was doing really well and  what are some improvements I can make'. “ “A lot of singing healthier is simply that—being able to analyze what's going on when something's wrong, reset, and then make the change.” Tag me when you share these episodes on social media. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode,Tara talks with music biz coach Lynz Crichton all about how she got into the world of virtual shows and why they can be a part of any artist's performing journey!   Want your copy of the free PDF “5 Food Types to Avoid before a Performance”? Click here for your freebie: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/621aba240753e8bf098b382d     Lindsay wasn't from a musical family but was still influenced by the music she heard played in her home.  She was given a guitar from her dad, which started her down the path of loving music. Combined with going to concerts of Brit Pop and other music, she was hooked on the performing world!   She studied languages (German) and politics instead of music. But around the time she had children, she was brought back into the world of music again and loved it!   At the time, she saw other women online who were encouraging being an indie artist. She started down that path and invested her time and money into that journey! “You can have a music career at any age—it's all about finding your tribe online.” “There has never been a better time to be an independent musician.” Lynz started live streaming before the pandemic and she started learning fully how to do the audio well so it would sound professional. “This is the girl that did not take “no” for an answer and chipped away at things.” “There are always going to be barriers—there are always going to be things that you've got to jump over and you just have to figure it out.” (On being your own CEO) Lynz decided to go LIVE every week on Tuesdays  through multi-streaming because it fit her lifestyle better than touring or doing in person shows. She found a way to connect with others online and encourage people. “It showed me that music lifts people up. We know this…right then, right there, they needed it.” Lynz addressed some of the biggest barriers of people performing and singing live: Fear—fear of failure, that people won't show up, that you aren't good enough and more Overwhelm—with the tech, doing the rest of your music biz jobs   Her favorite things to do in performing: Picking up a guitar—it lets her get into the moment of the music The connection with LIVE audiences—getting feedback is a buzz for her! Getting people to “feel something”! “Focus on how you make people feel…they are feeling low—they put that track on that makes them feel amazing…they put that track on that makes them feel like they've got a hug through their headphones.” Lynz helps others with overwhelm, shiny object syndrome and doing the step by step processes needed for the music biz. You can find Lynz's program online at: www.musicmarketingmethod.com   Tag me when you share these episodes on social media. Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic    TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

In today's episode, Tara gives you tips and tools for picking and figuring out the best songs that will help you connect with your audience whether you are doing virtual or in person concerts.   Want your copy of the free PDF “5 Food Types to Avoid before a Performance”? Click here for your freebie: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/621aba240753e8bf098b382d   What is so important about song choice? Listen to what Tony Bennett said: “So I make it a point to seek out quality songs that provide that kind of powerful emotion.”   Here are some things to consider: Pick a song key and genre that fit your voice. Try to remember that you grab people's attention in the first couple of minutes of singing at a concert. Who are the songs for? Remember they are for the audience! Include cover songs sprinkled in to help others recognize them.  If you do your own original songs, tell the story behind them If you use a cover song, don't do one that is super obscure. Make sure to have a variety of song tempos and song keys. Make arrangements that are interesting instrumentally as well as vocally.   Putting some real thought into your performance and songs will help you keep and grow fans!  “You actually respect people by taking care to choose the songs that are going to speak to them." Please feel free to share this podcast with others on social media.  Tag me when you do: Facebook: @TaraBmusician    Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic   TikTok:@tarabrueskemusic

Ever thought that vocal warmups were a time waster? There are actually different schools of thought in whether warmups should be used in a singer's life or not. In today's episode, Tara addresses some of the opinions of warmups and why and when they can be useful and necessary.     Want 1-on-1 voice lessons at a group price? Grab your spot in The Singer's FeedBack Zone here: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/21   Why are warmups important?   “As we age, warmups are becoming more crucial…and the type of warmups you do and the time of day—those things can all affect how we do and what kind of warmups we do.”   There are exercises that build and help the vocal folds be ready to sing.   “Warmups can really help your voice get ready to tackle the gig…in a way that sets everything free so there's not going to be tension happening.”    Doing warmups intentionally with an order that builds on the previous ones will help you warmup more gracefully.   Start with simple phonation. Add SOVT's. Try some slides and scales. Add agility runs and melisma. Add exercises that stretch your range.   Don't forget cool downs too! Warmups have a definite purpose to keep you singing at your healthiest and best! Check out episodes 10, 19, 26, 35 and 77 to sing along with warmups here at The Engaging Voice. Please feel free to share this podcast with others on social media.  Tag me when you do: Facebook: @TaraBmusician                   Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic

  Tara uses today's show to give you some fun warmups that you can sing along with anywhere—at home, in the car or wherever you have your phone. These catchy original warmups will get you singing and put an ear worm in your head for the day!   IF you want to get your own SINGING STRAW with Tara's 10% discount, go here right now:  http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw And at the checkout put in code: TaraB10 Exercises: Vv-oo, Vv-oo, Vv-oo oo oo, Vv-oo, Vv-oo, Vv-oo oo oo,  Bubba-loo, bubba-lee, bubba-lay Ziba, ziba, ziba, ziba, zoo zoo zay (Hold your jaw still) Sing a La or a Yah— la la la la la       la la la la (2x)   You can also sing harmonies with these if you find them too high!   Please feel free to share this podcast with others on social media.  Tag me when you do: Facebook: @TaraBmusician Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic

Tara gives some tips to help every singer build confidence in their singing. She gives practical ideas to help a singer who is struggling with confidence be able to get it going or get it back if they have lost it. Confidence isn't something most people naturally possess but it can be learned!   You can sign up here to join the monthly membership of The Singer's Feedback Zone: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/19   Confidence can be learned! Some ways to learn how to have confidence: Knowing about your vocal technique helps you to have tools to use during moments of a performance. Developing a repertoire specific to your voice and singing in a genre that fits you gives you that boost you need to do well. It can capture the essence of your voice. Having verbal encouragement from someone else also builds that confidence—through fans and a voice teacher. Having a plan for what and how you are going to perform can elevate your confidence.  Being prepared through lots of practice helps you be able to go on auto pilot because you have done it so many times. You know what to expect from your voice and how it will perform and it lets you emote well because you can be in the moment with the audience. You are not distracted by what you don't know. When you are at a gig, find a smiley person in the room. Coming back to them time and again will give you the courage to know that you are performing and someone is liking it! You are not alone. If you try these things over a period of time, you will not fear so much and will have mastery over your emotions in performing! And making mistakes doesn't mean the end of performing or not having the confidence to do it again. Making mistakes is part of being human. Keep going!   Please rate/review this podcast wherever you listen! Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeart radio, Radio FM, Amazon Audible, Spotify and more. Please feel free to share this podcast with others on social media.  Tag me when you do: Facebook: @TaraBmusician Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic (Music for commerical by: Zakhar Valaha)  

Tara breaks down the different types of voice teachers that are coaching people. There are many ways that people coach voice and different aspects of it. It helps to find a voice teacher when you understand the different criteria of what they teach. Tara gives you 6 types of voice teachers to help you get the best fit for you!     You can sign up here to join the monthly membership of The Singer's Feedback Zone: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/19   Different types of voice teachers: The Technician—someone who teaches about the physical structure of the voice and the physical body and how they work together. The Performance coach—someone who is all about the performance itself. They help prepare you for those concerts, whether emoting, singing a style, dealing with nerves or connecting with your audience. The Foreign language/diction coach— someone who helps you fine tune how to pronounce languages or accents, as well as understand the context of the language or the dialect. The Physical body and alignment coach—someone who helps you know how to get your body have a healthy foundation—alignment or posture or the way you move. The Mental and emotional wellness or therapy coach—someone who helps someone with the mindsets or emotional well being so they don't become a block and hinder their singing. The Public speaking coach—someone who focuses on the oration of a speech, technique to help it stay healthy but also being expressive. If you are a student, take time to pick a teacher. And if you are a voice teacher, take the time to assess your strengths and hone in on those.     Please rate/review this podcast wherever you listen! Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeart radio, Radio FM, Amazon Audible, Spotify and more. Please feel free to share this podcast with others on social media.  Tag me when you do: Facebook: @TaraBmusician Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic  

Tara shares from personal experience how to deal with pain while singing and performing. For those who struggle with ongoing pain, it can be a devastating thing to have to perform but there is hope and a way to get through the event and still take care of your body. Today's episode focuses on some tips that may help.   You can sign up here to join the monthly membership of The Singer's Feedback Zone: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/19   Some possible tips to help: Drinking lots of water is always good for the body. Resting as much as possible before and after the performance is needed by the body. Plan a concert that will have less stress—-maybe include instrumentals or just pacing your whole concert with less high energy songs. Choosing to not engage with the audience before or after the performance will help you conserve energy that's needed for the performance. Take time after a performance to rest again to fill up energy that was depleted. Give yourself permission to rest. Utilize a foam roller or something else to stretch your body to help relieve tightness of pain. When loading or unloading sound equipment or instruments, doing so in ways that create good alignment so your body doesn't get further injuries in the process. Planning accompaniments with less busyness if you play an instrument and have pain is essential. Not taking long gigs or many of them in one day to reserve your body's energy and ability to perform can be a great choice to make. 10. Make sure that you have enough breaks in your concert—either between songs or between sets.   “Ultimately you want to have longevity in playing so you can't push your body—it will only get worse!” “Lowering your expectations of how you perform…be okay with it. Give yourself grace. Because you can't perform at your best when you have pain.”   Please rate/review this podcast wherever you listen!   Please feel free to share this podcast with others on social media.  Tag me when you do: Facebook: @TaraBmusician Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic  

Tara shares some of the struggles about singing with a mask on and some practical tips to help you when you need to use it during singing!   You can sign up here to join the monthly membership of The Singer's Feedback Zone: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/19   Some things you might notice when singing with a mask: You might feel claustrophobic You might feel lightheaded or hot You might feel like you are in high altitude Your mask might impair your ability to see everything below you You might have issues with your microphone picking up the sound   Some things to help: Check that your alignment is stellar. Focus on getting breaths that are super relaxed and not shallow—focus on your lower back muscles too. Pace the breath and your phrases in a way that don't give out too much breath at first. Take more breaths when you need them.  Change up a phrase/notes/rhythm to have enough energy for the song. Remind yourself to not push/over sing. Play your instrument more simply so as not to give so much energy to the instrument instead of your voice. Don't panic because you feel like your breathing isn't normal. Add instrumentals as songs so that all your songs are not you singing them. 10. Drink enough water to sustain energy and keep lubricated.       Please feel free to share this podcast with others on social media.  Tag me when you do: Facebook: @TaraBmusician Instagram: @tarabrueskemusic  

Tara plays and sings some familiar Christmas songs that you too can sing along with or harmonize. This episode is a way for you to use your voice and give you practice on the concepts she and others have talked about on this show!   You can get your very own SINGING STRAW for yourself or someone else (as a gift) right here: http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw Just use code: tarab10 to get 10% off. Here are the song today that you can sing along with: Deck the Halls Winter Wonderland Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Joy To The World God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen O Come All Ye Faithful Silent Night   Please feel free to share this podcast with others on social media.  Also, you can find my music on my website here: https://tarabrueske.com/music

Tara chats today with singer Gina Morgano all about the singing voice—what ways we can learn to love it and nurture it. She gives her personal journey and then tells how you as a singer can start your journey in a way that will nourish it and cause it to thrive. Here is where you are can get 50% off the vocal course by subscribing to this newsletter for singing! You will get the coupon code in the emails! https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60748022d4884b5199d615a8 The vocal course is also OPEN! Click here for access: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/12   Gina first fell in love with music by going to a ballet! She then started piano, later added other instruments and then fell in love with the voice after seeing musical theater at Interlochen. She knew deep inside that she wanted to be a musician. “Each person here on earth matters. Your voice matters because you matter.” “You get to tell stories that matter and stories that make a positive impact.” (Through singing) Gina shares a distinction about taking care of her voice—through maintenance mode and then through training mode. Each is for a different season. She also talks about what preconceived ideas singers have to break through to get to a healthy and easier way of singing. She gives a break down of the 5 pillars of inner work that help singers for cultivating your voice: Identity Wellness Growth Collaboration Service Gina gives two books that can be helpful and inspirational to read for singers: The Singing Athlete by Andrew Byrne The Inner Voice by Renee Fleming “Anything that's a practice is something that you do regularly, consistently and that you do it in a spirit of growth—that you are always looking to go deeper and discover new things.” “Practicing requires us to take an honest look at ourselves and that can be scary.” Gina gives us a wonderful planner to help us in our practicing—to make it fun and helpful and to progress with purpose! You can find it here: https://www.ginamorgano.com/planner She is also at IG and Facebook: @ginamorgano Website: https://www.ginamorgano.com/ Her podcast is: https://www.ginamorgano.com/the-practice-parlour   Please feel free to share this podcast with others on social media.  You can tag me: IG @tarabrueskemusic Facebook @tarabmusician

Tara chats today about why it can be so wonderful to sing with others, whether it's a duo, trio, choir or something else. There are benefits to doing music with other people and this gives you some reasons why!   Here is where you are can get 50% off the vocal course by subscribing to this newsletter for singing! You will get the coupon code in the emails! https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60748022d4884b5199d615a8 The vocal course is also OPEN! Click here for access: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/12   My musical start was doing music with other people—my family! “We become better musicians when we sing with other people.”   “When you come together for creating harmony, that is music that can be so interesting and  it holds your audience's attention.” Benefits to you as a musician when you sing with others: It will give you better skills as a musician. You have to listen well to the other people. If you are also playing together instrumentally with other musicians, you can learn skills to be less busy and simply add to the sound. You can sing bouncing off each other with improvisation, adding to the uniqueness and learning how to create in the moment. You can create tight harmonies which help you refine your ear for pitch. When you pick and arrange songs, you have to do it for two or more people and it makes you have to create in a more unique way. Singing with two or more people, especially choirs, you learn how to blend your voice to make it sound as one voice.   Singing with others can be like being on a team and learning how to work together musically. Where can you find these opportunities to sing with others? Find other musicians and share a show with them, in person or online At a church, inquire whether there is a choir or worship team you could be a part of. In your community, there may be community ed offerings, choral societies or community theater. If you still can't find others, sing along with singers on the radio or where you listen to music! Do some duetting or remix reels on IG and TikTok Please rate and review this podcast where you listen: Chartable: https://chartable.com/podcasts/the-engaging-voice Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Tara continues the final part three of delving into some basic definitions and terms that make up parts of singing. This week she focuses on the breath—the foundation behind the singing. She breaks down each part to give singers more confidence in exploring their own voice and the physical parts of their body that make up the singing voice. If you haven't yet subscribed to her newsletter, now is the time so that you get 50% off the vocal course! Click here to sign up: (and you'll get a free PDF to start right off!) https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60748022d4884b5199d615a8 Her vocal course is also OPEN! Click here for access: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/12   What parts work with breathing? Lungs, voice box, diaphragm, and the muscles surrounding the lungs.   (From Britannica online:) The lungs maintain equilibrium of atmospheric air pressure. Breath can be both voluntary and involuntary.   The Diaphragm: A dome shaped muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. It helps the lungs expand and contract.   Abdominal muscles help with exhalation and support—the transverse abdomenis and the obliques.   The Intercostal muscles surround the rib cage inside and outside: external, internal and innermost.   The lower back muscles: quadratus lumborum and the psoas major help with exhalation and allow the rib cage to drop lower. (From singwise.com The Anatomy of the Voice).   Please share this episode to your social media—either Instagram or Facebook. Tag me when you do: IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabrueskemusic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraBmusician

In this week's episode Tara speaks with pro music biz coaches Bree Noble and Katie Zaccardi all about the ways of exploring what skills you have as a singer and musician and then how you can turn it into teaching or coaching, adding to your income stream! They chat all about the ins and outs and finding ways to make it happen for you!   My vocal course is NOW OPEN! Click here for access: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/12   And if you want 50% off the course, click here to get on my newsletter:   How to know when you are ready to teach: “It's hard to know until you try it.” (Bree on knowing when to teach) She says to get past imposter syndrome and be willing to acknowledge where you are at and then try it out to see if you enjoy it. “I get lit up about teaching marketing and business.” (Bree) “There are a lot of things that you can teach that aren't necessarily singing…vocal performance…stage presence…” (Katie)  Katie talks about when people start to ask YOU questions about how to do something, that can be a catalyst to know you are ready. How do you find your strengths: Knowing what you enjoy and feel passionate about. Looking at your own story that you have come through and could help others with. How do people set themselves apart from others who are teaching: By knowing your identity and your personal experience. Looking at your story and the things that are personal to you—example: being a mom or starting a career later. “You can attract them just by telling your story and talking about the struggles that you went through. They're really going to identify with that.” (Bree) What are some barriers to starting to teach: Imposter syndrome—putting yourself out there—being willing to say that you can help. People often think that the strategy is going to be the issue of starting to teach when really it's the mindset to take the leap and do it with confidence.   What are some aspects of teaching private lessons: One-on-one or private can be the simplest way to start out and will give you the opportunity to see how you actually coach. “One-on-one is great because you can meet your client where they are at.” (Katie)   What are some aspects of teaching group lessons/classes: In group coaching, they can learn from each other through someone else asking the questions that they needed. Also, since people aren't at the same level, they can take the pieces they need and encourage each other. There is a lot of support that can happen. “As artists, we are in such an island mentality..It's us against the world…we don't have other people around us that are understanding what we are going through…” (Bree)   What are ways to get students: In person—referrals can be a great way to do it.  Virtual—you can target anyone anywhere. So you need to be showing up on social media, and connecting with others there. Also, leaning into your identity to help people find common connection points with you.   What are things to consider in setup of teaching: Making it easy is the best way to start. Don't overthink. Don't get tripped up on the tech. Just do it. Use a Facebook group, or do Zoom calls, or Muzie, Or host a course on Teachable, Kajabi, Membervault or other online hosts.   The most important thing is to: Know what you are teaching, have a means to meet with your clients, have a way to reach your clients!   OUT TO LAUNCH program—opening doors the fall of 2021. Here is the link to the free video series: http://katiezaccardi.com/videoseries http://profitablemusician.com/videoseries     You can follow Katie here: katiezaccardi.com  (IG) @katiezaccardi The Out to Be Podcast TikTok: Katie.zaccardi   You can follow Bree here:  profitablemusician.com (podcast)  femusician.com (podcast (IG) @profitablemusicianllc

Tara continues part two of delving into some basic definitions and terms that make up parts of singing. This week she focuses on the larynx itself—the voice box. She breaks down each part to give singers more confidence in exploring their own voice and the physical parts of their body that make up the voice.   My vocal course is NOW OPEN! Click here for access: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/12   Today we look at the Larynx—what is it? It is also called the Voice Box and sits in the anterior neck.   The epiglottis is the valve that closes over the trachea when swallowing is needed. It lifts when breathing and phonation is done.   (From TEACHMEANATOMY.info) The layrnx is made up of extrinsic and intrinsic muscles. What are the extrinsic muscles? The suprahyoid and the infrahyoid group sets make up these muscles and attach to the hyoid bone. Ligaments bind these to the larynx itself, causing it to move as one whole.  The suprahyoid raises the larynx and the infrahyoid muscles move it down.   What are the intrinsic muscles and what do they do? They control the shape of the opening (glottis) and the length and tension of the vocal folds themselves.   Cricothyroid—stretches and causes tension on the vocal ligaments—increases pitch   Thyroarytenoid—Relaxes the vocal ligaments—loosens and lowers pitch   Transverse and oblique cricoarytenoid—closes the arytenoid cartilages during                           exhalation—they act in a sliding motion. (The area at the middle of the vocal folds in the voice box looking down.)   Lateral cricoarytenoid—The adductors of the vocal folds—closes them—exhalation.           (Also how whispering is produced.)              Posterior cricoarytenoid—the abductors of the vocal folds—opens them—inhalation.   “It's more important if you simply remember the things that they (these intrinsic muscles) actually do.” Here is a link to see the video that shows these parts:   https://youtu.be/b89RSYCaUBo   Vocal folds themselves: They are attached at the front to the thyroid cartilage and at the back to the arytenoids. They contain the vestibular folds and the vocal folds.   Vestibular folds: (false vocal folds) They are the vestibular ligament covered by a mucous membrane and are pink. They are fixed folds. Vocal folds: They are white in color and are controlled by the muscles to open/close, relax/tense.   “The beautiful part of this is that all of these muscles and ligaments are working together to create all the pitches and the actual sound of what's being produced.” Another video to watch to help you see how these work together: https://youtu.be/f62dqc-L36o On all the parts of the voice box and vocal tract combining together: “When they do work together…it becomes effortless. It feels effortless.”   Please share this episode to your social media—either Instagram or Facebook. Tag me when you do: IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabrueskemusic/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraBmusician

Tara delves into some basic definitions and terms that make up parts of the vocal tract and the sound. She breaks down each part to give singers more confidence in exploring their own voice and the physical parts of their body that make up their vocal tone.   My vocal course is NOW OPEN! Click here for access: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/12   The vocal tract is a resonator tube that includes the throat, mouth and nose.   Johann Sundberg “The Acoustics of the Singing Voice” (Scientific American): “The vocal tract is a resonator whose shape, which determines vowel sounds, is modified by changes in the position of the articulators.”   “The vocal tract can change shape.”   Pharynx—throat. Anything from where the vocal folds are housed on up to your neck. Oral pharynx—mouth. The space in your mouth and includes your your articulators, your hard palate, your soft palate (velum) and your uvula. Nasal pharynx—nose. Your nasal cavity and the area that goes down to your throat.     All three of these parts can change shape and thus can make the sound of your vocal tract different depending on each of the shapes of these parts.   The articulators are: lips, tongue, jaw   The hyoid bone is connected to the back of the tongue but it also sits right above the larynx so it can affect the voice box itself.     “As the parts of the vocal tract work together, combined with great breath support and going through those vocal folds themselves, that's what is producing our glorious unique sounds that each of us possess.”   You can follow THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on and you can share the episode on social media.  (Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! ) If you would take a moment, please go to Apple Podcasts or Amazon Audible to rate/review this podcast: Amazon Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Engaging-Voice-Podcast/B08K5661QR Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465 

Tara interviews Valerie Gabail, an amazing classical French singer and teacher. Valerie shares her musical journey from child to adult, with giving us a glimpse into what it was like to have a vocal injury and how she moved through it into recovery and beyond.   Valerie was influenced to love music as a child through her father, who brought so many styles of music into their home.   In high school, Valerie had a jazz group music teacher who encouraged her to keep training because “she had a voice.”  She performed classically through the years in a lot of places and some of her favorites were the Paris Opera and Taormina in Sicily. One gentleman, Howard Crook took Valerie under his wings and was one of her early voice teachers that really helped her in many ways of encouragement. “I want to be as important for other people—encouragement, supporting them…” Valerie, while performing, in her early 30's injured her voice through a number of things going on in her singing. She sang way too much, had stage fright, was sick sometimes, had to travel often, didn't give herself time to recover and it affected her voice. They found nodules on her voice and she was losing her range. She didn't need an operation but had so many avenues of her singing that needed addressing because they weren't healthy. Valerie reassessed her technique, her psychological approach to singing, and more. She utilized different specialists to address her posture, her jaw, her tongue and other physical aspects. She also worked through some of her speech itself—including the pitch of where she spoke. She also worked with a teacher who introduced her to the the Swedish/Italian school of music. Here is the method and its main features and history: https://vocalwisdom.com/swedishitalian-school/   The teacher she works with is David Jones https://www.voiceteacher.com/biography.html     “Being aware of the anatomy and how the instrument functions is so important.”   Valerie gives some great tips to keep your voice from getting injured: Good technique/good teacher is so important. Daily lifestyle of your vocal health. Psychological aspect of being happy in your career.   One of the bigger issues that Valerie sees in her students is this: They dissociate the spoken mode from the singing mode. “Singing opera is crying in pitch.” By Stanislavski   Here are some tips for long term singing from Valerie: Having a good teacher and carrying on with the technique Have a healthy lifestyle Knowing yourself and surrounding yourself with those who support you Being in the process of your singing and being okay with not always being consumed by the end game—being in the “NOW” moment     Her website is: https://www.valeriegabail.com     You can follow THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on and you can share the episode on social media.  (Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! ) If you would take a moment, please go to Apple Podcasts or Amazon Audible to rate/review this podcast: Amazon Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Engaging-Voice-Podcast/B08K5661QR Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465     You can find me: @tarabrueskemusic on IG and TaraBrueskeMusic on Facebook!

Auto-tune has been used in music circles for over 20 years as an audio processor for the voice to help keep it in tune. The question for today's show is: should it be used by singers in their studio recordings and in live recordings if they are professional singers?This question Tara addresses and gives some insight into finding the answer based on what our voices are capable of doing.   And… here is the link to grab your FREE singing helps and be aware of when I offer my next masterclasses and vocal course! https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4 What is auto-tune? An audio voice processor. Auto-tune was created in 1997 to “disguise or correct off key inaccuracies”. “Effects in the studio can be used to enhance.” It can make something interesting, creative, different or beautiful. There can be several  reasons why people don't sing in pitch: Singing might not come naturally, maybe they don't learn it or maybe they don't take the time to learn it. People might also have pitch problems from a lack of great breath support. Or they might have laryngitis.   Solutions to pitch problems: Ear training. It can help people learn the details of a pitch—how far apart it is from another pitch and if it's higher or lower. If you might sing flat or sharp, it's often a lack of consistent breath support and maintenance. So making sure you are giving great steady air flow and air speed are the key to holding a pitch accurately. Listening to music often or playing an instrument can help with getting you used to the right pitches.   So, should Auto-tune be used in the studio to correct pitch? If you are a professional singer, it seems you should be able to support pitch consistently without using Auto-tune. Since your voice is capable of it, then learning how to do it well is necessary. If you can't sing with great pitch in the studio where you can do more than one take, how will you sing in tune for a live performance? You have to be able to sing accurately during a concert so that people enjoy you and see your professionalism. It's a skill set you need to have. Also singing with other people and blending—such as choirs, bands, worship teams and more—requires the ability to have good pitch!   “Auto-tune is not going to encourage us to learn the best way to sing in tune consistently!”     You can follow THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:  Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends! You can find me: @tarabrueskemusic on IG and TaraBrueskeMusic on Facebook!

If you are a voice teacher and have struggled with using Zoom for online lessons, then this platform is for YOU! Tara talks to the creator of Muzie, a newer platform that hosts online teaching with amazing sound, video and so many other teaching tools that make life easier for both the teacher and the student! Join her as she and Sam Reti (the founder) talk all things Muzie! And… here is the link to grab your FREE singing helps and be aware of when I offer my next masterclasses and vocal course! https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4   Sam's background as a child was being a part of a family where his dad had been in British heavy metal bands that toured in the 80's. Because his dad was a drummer, he would let Sam jam with him after school. It became a bonding time for Sam to his dad and to music!   At 16, Sam started recording and producing music for other friends and bands. It was good experience for the tech and music he did later. He ended up going to Berklee and got his degree in music with a technology focus.     The first version of Muzie was going to be for an on demand online lesson platform but with the pandemic happening soon after launch, Sam and his dad pivoted to what Muzie is today— a platform for music teachers to teach their students.   MUZIE— This platform is built for musicians only so sound/video was very important to fit musicians. Getting the sound quality to transmit well was a high priority. File sharing is also a big thing that Muzie wanted to provide. It gives a place for students and teachers via cloud sharing to share files right there in the platform. There is an interactive whiteboard that both student and teacher can write on. There is a tool called “clips” that allows the teacher to record during the lesson a part for the student to duet with while the lesson is still going. The file sharing in the platform is completely unlimited. You can also record a lesson so the student has access to it afterwards. You can have as many students as you want as well as have a lesson as long as you want. There is the ability to have group lessons. There is a recital room as well. And still more…   “ We should be helping teachers grow their studios  and expanding…we want to help that instead of hinder it in any way.” Sam Reti   So many of the features of this platform help both the teachers and students save time.   “Muzie's not only for online lessons…we are really focused on hybrid education.”   Muzie is created in such a way that teachers can use it for online or in person lessons as well.      You can find Sam and get on this platform here (and he will give you a free 14 day trial of the PRO version): https://www.muzie.live/   You can follow THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:  Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts, Youtube, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends! You can find me: @tarabrueskemusic on IG and TaraBrueskeMusic on Facebook!

If you struggle with finding time or motivation to practice voice, Tara has you covered in today's episode. She brings you 6 ways to help you get motivated and stay motivated so you don't just let your singing voice get out of shape. Practicing voice doesn't have to be a negative or hard task! And… here is the link to grab your FREE vocal helps and be aware of when I offer my next masterclasses and vocal course! https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4 Some reasons people don't practice voice: You think it will take too much time. You may not know what to focus on or have too many songs. You may not have an end goal in mind.     Here are some possible ways to help with motivation: Get practice apps or journals ready to go. Put out music on a stand or near where you practice. Schedule your practice—could be Reminders on iPhone or Google Calendar. Book a concert or go LIVE on social media. Focus on one song and just some aspect of the song. Take lessons or masterclasses (group lessons). Invest your money and time. Set a reachable goal for that practice.       Do you love your voice? Then practice is a way to take care of it!   You can follow THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:  Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts, Youtube, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends! You can find me: @tarabrueskemusic on IG and TaraBrueskeMusic on Facebook!

In today's episode, Tara delves into the topic of what happened to many people's voices when they were not singing at concerts or in choirs or other gatherings this last year. Because much of singing was actually not allowed or cancelled during the pandemic, singer's found themselves with voices a little bit different than they had known before. Tara breaks down why it happened and what to do about it now. Here is the link to grab your FREE vocal helps and be aware of when I offer my next masterclasses and vocal course! https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4   Here are some questions for you for your voice this year: Did your voice get out of shape during the last year? Are you intentional about the health of your voice? Do you assume that by just doing concerts, you will have all you need to take care of your voice? Did you lose motivation to sing with no live concerts?     Here are some questions to consider that might help you to know how intentional you are about your vocal health: Do you still sing at home? Practice? Do warmups? Do you take lessons?    What are some things that can cause vocal problems right now? Maybe someone is pushing because they can't hear. Maybe the voice is having to put out too much energy for too many hours. Maybe someone is singing with too much breath pressure. Maybe the soft palate isn't lifting when they sing Maybe someone didn't pace themselves in their singing. Maybe someone had to sing with a mask and couldn't get the breath support they needed.   Even if you have struggled this year with your voice, what can you do to get it back? Set a time in your calendar 4 times a week to just do vocal warmups! Episodes 35, 26, 19, and 10 Check to make sure that you are using a mixed voice so you don't have too much pressure on your vocal folds Take private voice lessons or a vocal masterclass Make sure you can hear yourself when you sing in person If your voice is tired, rest it. Be intentional about pacing your voice so you don't jump into longer shows. Check on the keys of songs and make sure they fit your voice NOW.   If you are intentional about noticing your voice and the ways that make it feel good, you are going to have better gigs!   You can follow  THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:  Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts, Youtube, Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

In today's episode, Tara gets to interview superstar backup singer Jana Anderson. Jana's resume is incredibly full of experience, having toured with Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, Sheena Easton, and so many more. She shares parts of her amazing journey and what it does take to be a backup singer.  The Start of Jana's singing: Jana remembered singing at her grandparents' anniversary at age 3 or 4 and that, along with singing on road trips with her family, was her start of music. But her interest  around age 17 started changing with her auditioning for a musical show and a pep rally! At age 18, she literally hit the road as a duo and then at age 23 she started touring with well known singers. She had great preparation to be a backup singer with her work ethic, her ability to do many genres of music, her gift of emulation to be able to harmonize and blend well, and she was super reliable! Jana found that not every singer would share those sensibilities. “The most talented people are almost always the least prepared.” Jana shares all the pieces of a typical day on the road including: Being sent a schedule for the day—meet in the lobby Do a soundcheck Go to catering Warm up voices Do wardrobe Hang with the band beforehand to get ready Get a call to showtime every so often, leading up to walking on stage Then afterwards, being husked off in a limo or car to get to the next stage of transportation to go Jana shared this about being on stage at the concerts: “There's something about being appreciated that makes me well up.” She said this in context of watching others (the stars) being appreciated. It made her happy. “I get to watch all the people's faces…I get to watch the anticipation of their faces… and the second the stars come out, they light up.” She also talks about the behind the scenes stories of touring with people like Stevie Nicks and Don Henley. One of her highlights was dancing and singing on stage with her idol, Sheena Easton. Being around such talent and professionalism, Jana said that “It was inspiring to want to always do my best to make them look great.” Jana talks about her current music status in her vocation. One of the things she knows is;  “Singing is my gift but teaching is my calling.”     And she still doesn't get haughty with all the success she has had. She said this:  “Even now…it's as if I've never done a gig. I work hard on my range and the health of my voice as if I have no resume whatsoever.” There was a time when the backup singing abruptly ended. She came back to MN and did many pivots to start a different part of her career! It's the unglamorous part of being on the road as a backup singer. It can end at any time. You can get ahold of Jana here: Website: https://www.janaandersonmusic.com Instagram: @janajadesarmy       Twitter: janaanderson1 Friends, you can get your own mp3 FREE vocal exercises right here and stay abreast of further singing help from Tara B: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4   You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:  Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts,  Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!

In today's episode, Tara dives into the world of studio singing. She talks about 8 helps that can make your experience as a singer be fun and productive, instead of having fear or feeling frustrated. Tara's knowledge of the studio comes from much experience and she wants singers to enjoy this platform, whether it's their first time or 25th time in the studio!   For those of you who would love to have The Singing Straw that I talk about, please go to my link here: http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw  and put in the code for 10% off: tarab10   STUDIO SINGING My background of studio singing includes, solo singing, singing with a band, background singing, voice overs for commercials, radio intros/outros, and doing some instrumentals as well. It started with humble beginnings as a child with my family being recorded via a tape recorder. And then grew into all these forms through the years! Here are some tips to help you be at your best in the studio: Be prepared solidly with the song you are going to sing. Know your music well. Practice singing with a metronome so you are ready to sing with a click track. Be mindful of your breath management—where you breathe, how you pace yourself and making sure your notes are supported. Make sure your voice is warmed up throughout your ranges so you are ready to sing. Have water and a green apple ready to eat to make sure your throat is hydrated and that you don't have too much mucous. When you are singing with headphones, use one ear on and one off to get a natural sound. Remember your voice will be “dry” (without effects). “Punching in” is when you are going to sing just a certain part that you have already sung, but need to fix something on it. You may be given a few measures to hear before the line that you “punch in” on. Be intentional about singing with emotion and energy so that what is recorded sounds like the excitement that you would feel with an audience.   Also, don't worry about getting the perfect take of a song. We often have the best take in some of the first ones we sing!     You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:  Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts,  Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!   Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today's episode, Tara interviews professional songwriter/guitarist/producer Michael Elsner. Michael has been in the world of sync licensing for many years now and has had such placements for shows like American Idol, The Voice,  and The Ellen DeGeneres show. Plus commercials like Audi, Verizon and a Super Bowl ad, as well as trailers like The Mandalorian. His resume is amazing with all the songs that have been placed. And he knows just how this platform can be a way for singers and singer/songwriters to be using their gifts as well. Michael didn't start with a musical family but was introduced to music early through a Rick Springfield TV special, which piqued his interest. Then in 8th grade, at Christmas, he got his first guitar. Micheal thought he'd have a music career but an arm injury kept him from guitar playing for awhile and he headed into audio recording production. HIs journey took him to Nashville and then on to Los Angelos. It was in in LA that Michael learned about the TV world and the composing that he could do in it. He utilized his drive and motivation plus continuing to improve his songwriting and made great connections with people in a step by step process. Michael learned that changing from the mindset of pitching to the music industry to trying to think how TV music supervisors think was a huge help in his sync licensing journey. What is sync licensing?: Syncronization = you grant permission to people to use your music to be synced with moving pictures Michael has written certain songs where he works with other singers and then they can use songs on their albums but he can also use it for getting a song placed. When a song is given to a music editor, they may only take parts of it to use for the actual scene or show. Vocal song placements may not be placed as much but they are paid much more than the instrumentals. Voices that are used in a song don't necessarily have to be the most amazing vocals—it sometimes is about the vibe. Michael's advice is to for a week listen to the music on TV, not watch it! *Music sync licensing can be both massive and passive income—the fee that is paid immediately and then the income that comes later over months. Sync licensing can be about the long game!   Michael has an ebook called “ The 4 Step Plan to Licensing Success”. You can connect with him here: https://www.mastermusiclicensing.com  His book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Master-Music-Licensing-Step-Success/dp/1098941160/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1618091921&sr=8-2   You can subscribe to The Engaging Voice on the platform you listen on:  Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts,  Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!   Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today's episode, Tara focuses on why it's good to work on a song until it's ready for a performance, instead of just stopping when you are only halfway through the process. Listen to today's episode for the reasons why this can become your practice! For those of you who would love to also have The Singing Straw, please go to my link here: http://bit.ly/Tarabsingingstraw  and put in the code for 10% off: tarab10   Have you ever had a teacher who only works with technique or only works with the phrasing  and because of their one focus, you miss the time to get to the level of a song where you could perform it at a concert? What makes up working on a song? Melody Words, including a foreign language Dynamics Phrasing Emoting Tempo/Rhythms Technique—like breath management, the passaggio, range, vibrato, no tension in places like jaw, neck, shoulders, larynx relaxed and more   Why is it important to have these concert ready? Shooting for a goal. Looking for an end result. It can build our repertoire. To be able to do something at a higher polished level so confidence is built. To have the satisfaction of completing something and feeling fulfilled.  “Working through an entire song to get it to the level of performance can cause you to push yourself and step out of your comfort zone.”   You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:  Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube , Apple Podcasts,  Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!   Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!

In today's episode, Tara talks with singer/vocal coach Tiffany Van Boxtel all about training the voice and why it's so helpful to have a plan. We also discuss the value of one-on-one trainings and letting them be a foundation for all that we build on vocally. Tiffany's first love of music might be traced back to playing a monster game in elementary music where she got to express dynamics of music. And then she had her first solo volunteering to sing "O Come O Come Emmanuel”  for the Christmas program.   Tiffany originally wanted to be a choir teacher, but ended up being drawn to private voice teaching. “It's great there's free information out there but it really makes people think that they can do it themselves and it really sets them up for failure when they can't.” We chatted that people sometimes get freaked out by “formal training”. But having a one on one actual voice teacher is the way to be a solo singer  and improve yourself.   Tiffany said that the biggest thing that tends to stop people from taking voice is time and money! But she also talked about that being a professional singer requires you to have that time commitment and money to invest in your profession.   She talked about how focused technique training 10-15 minutes 3-4 days a week can really help singers get where they need to go! When people say they don't have time to practice, it's usually because they: Don't know what to practice or Don't know how to practice   When people don't get results, they usually don't want to train or keep training. Helping people get extra feedback and then helping them listen back on their own can be the key to guidance from a vocal teacher. Teachers can help them observe and notice what is going on in small concepts. Tiffany has her group called “The Star Singer Green Room” where people go through different stages of singing starting with a foundational stage. You can get ahold of Tiffany here: https://www.starsinger.co/singnow Or through her podcast: The Star Singer Podcast Her Instagram handle is: @tiffanyvanboxtel You can subscribe  to THE ENGAGING VOICE on the platform you listen on:  Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts. And now, it's also on Amazon Music Audible and PlayerFM too!! AND you can share this episode to social media or with your friends!   Give them a gift today by sharing this free podcast with them!