Podcasts about ratings and reviews

Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Operations. Today, we're thrilled to welcome back Mike Black, former CMO and current Chief Growth Officer at Profitero.  We'll be diving into key insights from Profitero's latest reports, exploring the ROI of improving search placement and the vital role that ratings and reviews play in driving success.  Make sure you tune in to find out more!   KEY TAKEAWAYS In this episode, Julie, Jordan, and Mike discuss: Introduction and Welcome: Mike Black's background Profitero's Report Series Background on Profitero and its role in E-Commerce analytics. The digital shelf concept and its components. The need for factual ROI data to support digital investment. Impact of Search Placement on ROI Importance of moving from page two to page one in search results. Stats on sales increase with better organic placement. The difference in ROI between organic and paid search placements. Consumer Research and Behavior Shoppers researching product reviews online even while in-store. Importance of reviews in omni-channel influence. The challenge of internal silos in brand side teams handling reviews. Review Importance and Strategy Sales impact of moving reviews from below four stars to four stars. Review velocity significance in achieving high organic search ranking. The connection between review quality and sales. Future of Profitero Reports Upcoming updates and new benchmarks in content reports. Profitero's focus on deeper content analytics and recommendations. Invitation to provide ideas or questions for future research.

Hey #STR cleaners, Angela Brown here, tackling your burning questions on leveraging ratings and reviews for independent success. Wondering how to turn your host's ratings into personal gold? Watch to discover the untapped potential of reviews, boost your website, and gain an edge beyond Airbnb. Plus, I've got insider tips on using before-and-after pics and unlocking affiliate perks. Don't miss the strategic secrets—hit play now for a game-changing cleaning journey! #CleaningSuccess #IndependentCleaner" LEVERAGING RATINGS AND REVIEWS CHAPTERS ------------------ 0:00:00 Answering Listener Questions from a Cleaner's Perspective 0:01:25 Leveraging Ratings and Reviews for Independent Cleaners 0:02:23 Maximizing Exposure and Collaboration with Airbnb Hosts RESOURCES ------------------ Airbnb Business - https://amzn.to/3zoCZ11 How to Start & Scale an Airbnb Business Without Owning Property - https://amzn.to/3lYQ3af Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth - https://amzn.to/3Kr7fyl The Book on Rental Property Investing - https://amzn.to/3U1Rtgw Sales Closing Affirmations for Property Sellers - https://youtu.be/fjsEjwfw9o8 * When available, we use affiliate links, and as Amazon Associates, we earn on qualifying purchases. SOCIAL MEDIA --------------- *** CONNECT WITH ANGELA ON SOCIAL MEDIA ***  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AskAngelaBrown Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/AskAngelaBrown Twitter: https://Twitter.com/AskAngelaBrown Instagram: https://instagram.com/AskAngelaBrown Pinterest: https://Pinterest.com/AskAngelaBrown Reddit: https://Pinterest.com/AskAngelaBrown Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/AskAngelaBrown TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@askangelabrown Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/AngelaBrown URL: https://AngelaBrown.com NEED MORE HELP? ------------------- VRBO AIRBNB CLEANING – Cleaning tips and strategies for your short-term rental  https://TurnoverCleaningTips.com  VRBO Cleaning Support Group - https://svy.tips/FBGroup-Airbnb SPONSORSHIPS & BRANDS ------------------- We do work with sponsors and brands. If you are interested in working with us and you have a product or service that makes sense for the Airbnb, Vacation Rental, Short-Term Rental or House Hacking space here's how to work with us -https://savvycleaner.com/brand-deals *** ADVERTISE WITH US ***  We do work with sponsors and brands. If you are interested in working with us and you have a product or service that makes sense for the decluttering, hoarding space here's how to work with us -https://savvycleaner.com/brand-deals *** SAVVY CLEANER BRANDS ***  SAVVY CLEANER - House Cleaner Training and Certification – https://savvycleaner.com/join VRBO AIRBNB CLEANING – Cleaning tips and strategies for your short-term rental  https://TurnoverCleaningTips.com  FUNNY CLEANING SHIRTS – Incentive and thank-you gifts for house cleaners and maids. https://FunnyCleaningShirts.com  HOARDING WORLD - Helping you change your relationship with stuff https://HoardingWorld.com REALTY SUCCESS HUB - Helping you sell your home fast https://realtysuccesshub.com CREDITS -------------------------- Show Produced by: Savvy Cleaner: https://savvycleaner.com Show Host: Angela Brown Show Editors: PJ Barnes Show Producer: Jenifer V. Holland

Establishing roles for your property team is crucial for success in Airbnb hosting. In this insightful video, cleanfluencer Angela Brown offers valuable tips on hiring cleaners and property managers, crafting fair compensation structures, and making informed decisions. Gain a cleaner's perspective on effectively managing challenging guest situations and learn how to build a dream team to run your rental property seamlessly. Angela emphasizes the importance of relinquishing control and empowering your partners to deliver top-notch service, ultimately contributing to 5-star experiences for your guests. With the proper property team structure and clear communication, you'll pave the way for happy guests, smooth operations, and attaining your income goals. DEALING WITH CHALLENGING GUESTS CHAPTERS ------------------ 0:00 - What are some challenging guest situations you've faced as a cleaner? 2:35 - What are signs that a cleaner or property manager might not be a good fit for me as a host? 3:22 - How can I determine fair compensation rates for my cleaning team or property manager? 5:06 - What percentage of the nightly rate do you recommend giving to a co-host or property management company? 6:08 - How can I relinquish control as a host when bringing on a property management team? 6:40 - What are some decision-making tips when working with a co-host or property manager? 7:35 - How can I empower my team to provide 5-star service without micromanaging them? RESOURCES ------------------ Airbnb Business - https://amzn.to/3zoCZ11 How to Start & Scale an Airbnb Business Without Owning Property - https://amzn.to/3lYQ3af Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth - https://amzn.to/3Kr7fyl The Book on Rental Property Investing - https://amzn.to/3U1Rtgw Sales Closing Affirmations for Property Sellers - https://youtu.be/fjsEjwfw9o8 * When available, we use affiliate links, and as Amazon Associates, we earn on qualifying purchases. SOCIAL MEDIA --------------- *** CONNECT WITH ANGELA ON SOCIAL MEDIA ***  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AskAngelaBrown Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/AskAngelaBrown Twitter: https://Twitter.com/AskAngelaBrown Instagram: https://instagram.com/AskAngelaBrown Pinterest: https://Pinterest.com/AskAngelaBrown Reddit: https://Pinterest.com/AskAngelaBrown Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/AskAngelaBrown TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@askangelabrown Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/AngelaBrown URL: https://AngelaBrown.com NEED MORE HELP? ------------------- VRBO AIRBNB CLEANING – Cleaning tips and strategies for your short-term rental  https://TurnoverCleaningTips.com  VRBO Cleaning Support Group - https://svy.tips/FBGroup-Airbnb SPONSORSHIPS & BRANDS ------------------- We do work with sponsors and brands. If you are interested in working with us and you have a product or service that makes sense for the Airbnb, Vacation Rental, Short-Term Rental or House Hacking space here's how to work with us -https://savvycleaner.com/brand-deals *** ADVERTISE WITH US ***  We do work with sponsors and brands. If you are interested in working with us and you have a product or service that makes sense for the decluttering, hoarding space here's how to work with us -https://savvycleaner.com/brand-deals *** SAVVY CLEANER BRANDS ***  SAVVY CLEANER - House Cleaner Training and Certification – https://savvycleaner.com/join VRBO AIRBNB CLEANING – Cleaning tips and strategies for your short-term rental  https://TurnoverCleaningTips.com  FUNNY CLEANING SHIRTS – Incentive and thank-you gifts for house cleaners and maids. https://FunnyCleaningShirts.com  HOARDING WORLD - Helping you change your relationship with stuff https://HoardingWorld.com REALTY SUCCESS HUB - Helping you sell your home fast https://realtysuccesshub.com CREDITS -------------------------- Show Produced by: Savvy Cleaner: https://savvycleaner.com Show Host: Angela Brown Show Editors: PJ Barnes Show Producer: Jenifer V. Holland

Ready to reclaim control over your time?! Join Kate and Time Management Coach and It's About Time Podcast host, Anna Dearmon Kornick, shares her insights on:⏰ Intentional time management⏰ Creating a vision for life⏰ And the transformative process of crafting a list of 100 dreams!In this episode Anna introduces the 'HEART Method Roadmap,' a tool we can all use in our lives - especially during the busy holiday season! Say goodbye to default living and start designing your life with Anna's inspiring insights on making the most of your time and living life to the fullest. Your journey towards intentional living begins here!Connect with Anna:The HEART Method Roadmap: https://annadkornick.com/roadmapwebsite: https://annadkornick.com/podcast: https://annadkornick.com/podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annadkornick/---READY TO LIVE BY DESIGN, AND NOT BY DEFAULT?

Want to know how to find cleaners for your turnover service? Finding reliable cleaners for your Airbnb or VRBO can be a daunting task. Join cleanfluencer Angela Brown as she talks to cleaning industry icon Debbie Sardone about tips for hiring professional cleaners, communicating expectations, and matching Airbnb review standards. Learn insider advice on finding cleaners who will maintain your 5-star ratings. And find out more about Debbie's Speed Cleaning products, perfect for vacation rental cleaners and guests.  Tune in weekly for the latest cleaning tips and strategies, including best practices for turnover cleaning, move-in, move-out, make-ready, and end-of-tenancy cleaning. Angela is also the founder of Savvy Cleaner Training and Certification, available in 191 languages and popular in 37 countries, helping cleaners improve their skills and service worldwide.  HOW TO FIND CLEANERS FOR YOUR TURNOVER SERVICE CHAPTERS ----------------- 0:00 - What is turnover service, and why is it essential for Airbnb Debbie's vacation rental owners? 0:23 - Why might hosts consider outsourcing their cleaning for turnover service instead of doing it themselves? 2:19 - Do cleaners need to be bonded and insured? 2:59 - In what ways does communication play a significant role in ensuring a cleaning company meets the host's expectations? 3:20 - What do you suggest for hosts who want to ensure that a cleaning company understands their specific preferences for staging and finishing touches? 4:10 - How does the cleaning standard for Airbnb differ from traditional cleaning standards, and why is this important for finding the right cleaner? 4:48 - What are the potential consequences of basing the choice of a cleaning service solely on price?  6:00 - What steps can hosts take to ensure their chosen cleaning company understands their specific needs and issues from previous reviews? 6:52 - What cleaning products do you recommend for Airbnb hosts, both for cleaning professionals and guests? 7:29 - What are the safety aspects of leaving cleaning products for guests to use?  7:46 - Where can viewers find more information about the recommended cleaning products and explore their options? LEARN MORE ABOUT DEBBIE SARDONE ----------------- Debbie's Coaching - www.debbiesardone.com Speed Cleaning Products - www.speedcleaning.com RESOURCES ------------------ It Needs to be Perfect - Mastering the Vacation Rental Cleaning Business - https://amzn.to/32xjxwr. Airbnb For Dummies - https://amzn.to/2N94XI2 Airbnb Business: The New Up-to-Date Guide to Become a Successful Airbnb Superhost - https://amzn.to/3kEr7UC Airbnb A to Z: Cleaners and hosts - https://amzn.to/2NTkBqh Optimize YOUR Bnb: The Definitive Guide to Ranking #1 in Airbnb Search - https://amzn.to/2NRIFtA * When available, we use affiliate links, and as Amazon Associates, we earn on qualifying purchases. SOhere'sEDIA --------------- *** CONNECT WITH ANGELA ON SOCIAL MEDIA ***  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AskAngelaBrown Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/AskAngelaBrown Twitter: https://Twitter.com/AskAngelaBrown Instagram: https://instagram.com/AskAngelaBrown Pinterest: https://Pinterest.com/AskAngelaBrown Reddit: https://Pinterest.com/AskAngelaBrown Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/AskAngelaBrown TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@askangelabrown Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/AngelaBrown URL: https://AngelaBrown.com NEED MORE HELP? ------------------- VRBO AIRBNB CLEANING – Cleaning tips and strategies for your short-term rental  https://TurnoverCleaningTips.com  VRBO Cleaning Support Group - https://svy.tips/FBGroup-Airbnb SPONSORSHIPS & BRANDS ------------------- Today's #TurnoverCleaningTips are sponsored by #RealtySuccess in association with #SavvyCleaner, and your host is #AngelaBrown - https://g.page/r/CbMI6YFuLU2GEBI/review *** ADVERTISE WITH US ***  We do work with sponsors and brands. If you are interested in working with us and you have a product or service that makes sense for the Airbnb, Vacation Rental, Short-Term Rental, or House Hacking space, here's how to work with us -https://savvycleaner.com/brand-deals *** SAVVY CLEANER BRANDS ***  SAVVY CLEANER - House Cleaner Training and Certification – https://savvycleaner.com/join VRBO AIRBNB CLEANING – Cleaning tips and strategies for your short-term rental  https://TurnoverCleaningTips.com  FUNNY CLEANING SHIRTS – Incentive and thank-you gifts for house cleaners and maids. https://FunnyCleaningShirts.com  HOARDING WORLD - Helping you change your relationship with stuff https://HoardingWorld.com REALTY SUCCESS HUB - Helping you sell your home fast https://realtysuccesshub.com CREDITS -------------------------- Show Produced by: Savvy Cleaner: https://savvycleaner.com Show Host: Angela Brown Show Editors: Kristin Ochsner & Jenifer V. Holland Show Producer: Jenifer V. Holland

The voice of the customer plays a critical role in today's competitive markets. It does not matter if it is customer feedback on a product, service or individual; when companies do not get feedback, they cannot improve customer satisfaction and may lose their competitive edge. The other key factor is that people who leave feedback expect something to happen. Again, it does not matter if it is a call, e-mail or note, but people like to know they are taken seriously. As a result, businesses are in a never-ending quest to find out what customers need and deliver it accurately hoping to meet customer expectations. Our guest in this episode has found technology to help customers give feedback more consistently and easily while giving businesses data that they can use to ensure companies meet their customer's expectations and have a positive customer experience.

The voice of the customer plays a critical role in today's competitive markets. It does not matter if it is customer feedback on a product, service or individual; when companies do not get feedback, they cannot improve customer satisfaction and may lose their competitive edge. The other key factor is that people who leave feedback expect something to happen. Again, it does not matter if it is a call, e-mail or note, but people like to know they are taken seriously. As a result, businesses are in a never-ending quest to find out what customers need and deliver it accurately hoping to meet customer expectations. Our guest in this episode has found technology to help customers give feedback more consistently and easily while giving businesses data that they can use to ensure companies meet their customer's expectations and have a positive customer experience.

The Poddy's are here! Get ready to laugh, cry, say "that's stupid", and cry again. We got some awards, some giveaways and some acceptance speeches with a slice of spice for your Tuesday. Thanks to all of you that listen and help spread the stoke. Stay safe out there and I WILL BE BACK... Best Laugh, Gnarliest story, Loosest Trucks, MOTY, Most Listened to, and Peoples Choice are just some of the awards along with 12 days of Christmas listener appreciation giveaways including a GoPro 9, a pair of CONS shoes, and a complete skateboard from REAL... SUBSCRIBE NOW! If you want to help support the show, head over to https://www.talkinschmit.com/ and pick up some merchandise. There's also lots of photos, video and extras to help complement each interview. Intro Music: "Mary's Cross" by Natur Credits Music: “Adirondack gate” by @Shane_Medanich First Impression: Rob "Orb" Fladen Closing Monologue: Noelle Fiore Executive Director: Sharal Camisa Website: https://talkinschmit.com/ YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/epiclytrife Follow us on Instagram: @Talkin_Schmit Friend us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkinSchmit/ Contact with comments or suggestions: TalkinSchmit@Gmail.com Gonna take a little break but should be back sooner than later. In the meantime PLEASE go to iTunes store and search for Talkin Schmit and go to the RATINGS AND REVIEWS section and leave a five star review and comment so that I can get some advertising back. Thank you so much, stay safe out there... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/talkin-schmit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/talkin-schmit/support

Are you a person who just knew that you would be a singer? Or did it come later in life? Well, my special guest's journey started as a wee child telling people that she wanted to sing. Here is her story from having that deep desire in her heart to how it came to be a real vocational pursuit! Her trek will inspire you! Anaité's journey started as a little girl where she discovered the sound of singing with her voice! She had music as a part of her family—each of them had some love for music. But the culture of Peru was not geared towards music as a profession. Anaité started her adult journey by taking a performing arts study at the University. This degree was more about producing and being in plays, not necessarily music. Her time there led her to an exchange program in Albuquerque, NM. It was during her time in New Mexico that she delved into her passion of singing by taking as many classes related to it! Anaité had a wonderful teacher in Albuquerque who inspired her and helped her find her way back to singing as a profession! “I looked up to the sky…and I said, ‘God what do I want and what do You want me to do'?” “I just knew…I felt really strongly in my heart ‘I want to sing. I feel joy when I sing'!” “Go away ,society, that says I cannot sing!…I want to live full!” Anaité's teachers introduced her to different parts of singing (including Speech Level Singing), gave her the gift of understanding what she wanted to do and taught her about vocal anatomy. Then, starting last year, Anaité ran into vocal issues and ill health with her voice. It caused her to not sing for 3 months. She ended up finding an otolaryngologist who helped her get to the root cause of her vocal troubles. She started making major changes, including how she ate, slept, getting vocal therapy and incorporating stretching and SOVT's into her daily routine!! “If no one had listened to me, I wouldn't have known. A good vocal coach is necessary!” “Had it not been for me not being able to sing, I would have never stopped and checked my pain.” “The SOVT's have helped me to sing without straining myself.” The beauty is that Anaité found her singing voice again in a really healthy way! You can find Anaité on Instagram at: anaite.vocal.tips   Her Spanish blog is: https://diariodeunacantante.wordpress.com   If you want some more free helps for the voice, please click this link and grab  them all: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4   You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube, Apple Podcasts and www.theengagingvoice.com   Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Ever feel like your voice has definite changes in it? That when you sing in different registers, they can sound very different from one another? Is it hard to switch between the chest and head voice or getting a mix in the middle? This episode Tara gives you lots of vocalises to help smooth those transitions and feel like your voice is one whole seamless voice. Having a seamless voice is: when our sound is similar throughout the entire range. It is when the singing sounds super easy, free and beautiful. How do we find this consistent voice? A lot has to do with developing both registers and also the combination of the mixed/middle voice. Exercises to help: Play with your vocal sound and the different registers. Relaxed throat: fog up your hand or blow out candles Staccato exercise with squat: arpeggio on “ah” Slide/siren going from top to bottom with moving your arm in the same motion Bend over in an L shape and do a slide 1-8-1 Slide 1-3-5-3-1 using a zzz or a bzz Use ee-ay-ah-oh-oo and use consonants Z, M or V—sing the same note Do an arpeggio with a V7 coming down  on a “mm” or a “mee” Doing these exercises can help muscle memory to ensure the continuation of being consistent in your voice.   If you want some more free helps for the voice, please click this link and grab  them all: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4   You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts. Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Do you wish that it was easier for you to improvise while you sing? Do you wish you had the tools to know what to do to make up parts for your singing? Are you a classical singer who isn't sure how to do cadenzas? In this episode, Tara breaks down improvisation and makes it simple even for the beginner. Improvisation for singing can really be broken down to two different types of music—classical and popular. Classical Music: There is ornamentation such as grace notes, turn arounds, trills, or a slides. Then there are cadenzas—a chance to make up your singing on a fermata hold. You get to show off your voice by using ornamentations  as well as arpeggios, chromatic scales or jumps. Once you make up a cadenza that you like, you can also write it out so you have it for every time you sing the song. “Improvisation does not have to be complicated!" Popular Music: (Includes any kind of genre like rock, folk, country, pop, jazz, etc) You may use something like running two notes together, doing a turn around, slides, etc Scat singing: This is where a singer tries to imitate an instrumental soloist. They use nonsense syllables and many different syncopated rhythms. If you know theory and the makeup of chords, it helps with knowing what notes are available to you at any given moment. You can also start with the actual melody and see what are the original notes. Then you can put them in a different order or a different rhythm. Or you can use just some of the notes.  Even in pop music, you have more options. With the rhythms and melody, you could keep it simple by picking some of the notes and doing a simpler rhythm than the original melody. “You still want to make sure you have the melody of the song” (even with improvisation) The last thing to know is that listening to other great singers to gain ideas will help immensely with learning improvisation. Listen for how they add improv to their singing.   If you want some more free helps for the voice, please click this link and grab it all: https://tarab.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/4   You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, Youtube and Apple Podcasts. Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Today's show is all about figuring out how to pick songs that best fit your voice. Sometimes we sing a song that doesn't match what our voice can do. Tara shows you 7 ways to get it right so you can thrive in your performing. Resources for you for getting sheet music online: sheetmusicplus.com and musicnotes.com Resources for apps that can be for accompanying you sing: Appcompanist         iRealPro Helps for picking songs: Look at the range of the total song. Tessitura—the pitch range that frequently occurs throughout the piece The Genre of music—some genres require different qualities in a voice. Flexibility vs holding out slow and steady—lyrical voices usually are able to be very flexible while dramatic voices are able to allow a sound to be full when it's super slow. Syncopation vs Straight Rhythm—Figuring out what rhythms best fit your voice. Key of a song—checking the lowest and highest note to make sure it fits your range comfortably Singing in another language: If you know another language or an easily pronounce other languages, these might fit you. If you still can't decide on a good song for you, pay attention to how your audience responds to the songs you sing.  “Take note of the songs that really move them (the audience).”   To get your own throat spray or other products from Vocaleze at 15% off, please click here: http://vocaleze.refr.cc/tarabrueske   You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts. Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In today's episode, we focus on the concept of resonance in singing. Does everyone have it? What is it and why is it needed in singing? What does it do for the singer? How can we find it?  Tara gives you the low down and some exercises to boot for getting resonance! Definition of Resonance (according to the dictionary) “(of sound) "deep, clear and continuing to sound or ring”  Also “the quality in a sound of being deep, full and reverberating”.   Why is resonance important? The ability to bring “life” to the voice. The ability to fill a room without amplification. It creates a consistency in the tone of the voice throughout the vocal range. “The vocal tract is the resonator!” “The uniqueness of our voices starts all the way with each person's unique physical make up of their body."   Why do some people have resonance and some have less? It can depend on how they send breath and where they are sending it or holding it.   Resonance will give us that volume and tone without creating added pressure to the vocal folds themselves.   Exercises for Finding and Creating Resonance: Hum        1-3-5-4-2-7-1  Blow out like blowing out a candle, then sing “oo”       5-4-3-2-1.       The higher you get you can switch to “ah” Zing-ah       5-5——4-3-2-1   To sign up for voice freebie info, you can go right here: www.theengagingvoice.com   You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts. Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In today's episode, Tara chats with Anne-Sofie Søby Jensen—a Danish singer. They speak about how Anne-Sofie's musical trek took her from Denmark to the UK and the journey of really learning to own and love who she is as a singer. Her story may inspire any singer who struggles with comparison and trying to find their own niche in singing.   Anne-Sofie grew up in a small village in Denmark in a family where piano music was often hear. Her parents were both pianist and she took piano lessons first from her grandmother. It set the stage for her music. Anne-Sofie also took part in some drama and theater in her teen years. During that time, the had a teacher who encouraged her to study classical music, thinking that her voice was be a perfect fit. This teacher (whom she had at 14) was super supportive of Anne-Sofie's singing and helped her learn the art of becoming an expressive singer. When she met other teens in the classical world of music, her comment was: “I didn't know that you could be a cool teenager having a normal teenage life and still sing classical.”   In her pre Academy days, she gained a love for oratorio through a workshop put on by an organist and choral conductor. It made her delve into Baroque music more and learn to love it. She did end up going to the Royal Danish Academy of Music and after some time there, felt stuck. But another teacher—a guest professor—helped her understand her voice better and encouraged her to pursue new things. This was Professor Susan McCulloch from the UK. So, Anne-Sofie took the leap and moved to the UK in 2017.  Some of the hardships she struggled with as a singer was simply comparing herself to other singers.  Once she acknowledged that her voice was not a lyric mezzo but more of a lower mezzo/contralto, she found more joy. “Finally realizing and honoring that has given me a freedom to sing the repertoire that I feel fits me. And not to feel that I have to press myself into a box that I don't have to fit in.” In her freedom, she could do this: “I decide what I want to do. I don't have to do an audition…” She also has been influenced by the book “The Artist's Way” by Julia Cameron. On singing and performing, she loves this: “It's the way that we can move other people.”  She also has found so much life in allowing herself to “play”.  “Letting go of everything and getting back that joy and of singing through ‘messing around'. “ Her final advice to singers is this: “Stop comparing yourself to others. Own who you are.” You can find Anne-Sofie at these places to follow: Instagram: @annesofiesoeby TikTok: @annesofiesoeby Facebook: www.facebook.com/ansomezzo Website: www.annesofiejensen.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8hMAMe7TbLNQSwBXrJOqg    Remember also friends, that **THE SINGING STRAW** is now available for you right here: http://lddy.no/f7zu  You can get 10% off with my code: tarab   For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com    You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts. Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465 On today's show, Tara dives into something that probably every singer has faced at some point of their career—being nervous right before you sing! She gives 10 solid and practical helps for what to do to overcome those pesky nerves!  “Nerves can be a combo of fear and excitement.” Getting nervous often starts in our brain and the perception we have of what's going to happen when we sing. Lots of thoughts run through our head that make us feel afraid. How do we calm our bodies when we are nervous?   10 Practical tips to help you with nerves: Check in with yourself—ask yourself what you are afraid of?  "If you're okay with ‘making mistakes is human', your audience will be ok with it too!” Be prepared. Have a plan for your concert or audition. “Being prepared lets your body take over naturally with stress.” Come early. Way less stress because you can assess the situation. Eat some protein. Helps your body with energy. The day before you sing, hydrate your body with drinking lots of water. Research your audience. Find out what you can about whom you are singing for. Take the time to meet someone in the room before you sing. Find a smiley person in the room! If you have been hired to sing at a concert, remember that someone believes you  can already do it! 10. Remember that you have music to give to others. Focus on them. You can get my free vocal resources and highlights of podcast episodes by signing up right here on my website: www.theengagingvoice.com For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to:  Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.  

We've talked often on this show about the health of our voice and the technique behind it. Today, Tara dives into the other parts of our life that can affect our vocal health and what to do about it. This includes foods to eat, those to avoid and other practices that we can add to our lives to keep our voices going strong. Building our immune system through: Exercise Good sleep A relaxed mindset Supplements Finding foods that don't cause extra or thick mucus to our voices.     Mucus can be heathy for our vocal tract and cords if it is clear and thin. What are foods that cause extra mucus? Dairy Eggs Bread, Pasta, Cereal Bananas Cabbage, Potatoes, Corn and corn products Soy products Anything with refined sugar—so any sweet desserts Drinks with caffeine—soda, coffee, tea Alcoholic drinks Fried foods   The foods that can strip healthy mucus are oranges and orange juice.    Foods that keep phlegm away: Spices like ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper, chamomile, turmeric Meat like salmon, tuna, sardines, flounder, chicken Fruits you can have—lemons, limes, pineapple, grapefruit, watermelon, apples Beverages—decaf tea, herbal tea, chicken broth Pumpkin, seeds, watercress, celery, pickles, cucumbers, onions Raw honey, especially Manuka honey   More helps for your voice: Cool mist humidifier Neti Poti for sinus cleansing Gargle with warm salt water Room temp water Vocaleze products Eucalyptus Oil Watch how you are talking—pay attention to not straining and take enough breaths. No vocal fry either.   You can get VOCALEZE products right here! Get your 15% off through my link:  http://vocaleze.refr.cc/tarabrueske   For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com    You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.   Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Tara pivots this week to chat specifically to voice teachers who have been affected by this COVID-19 time. She looks at different ways to help teachers transition into online teaching smoothly and with practical helps to get started. Online teaching can be a blessing to students who need the consistency and structure. It's a way to continue that and the continuity with “seeing” your student and feeling connected to them. But it also can more time consuming for the teachers themselves. Platforms that you can teach online: Zoom. https://zoom.us/ Skype. https://www.skype.com/en/ Facetime for iPhone or iMac users Google Hangouts is for Android users Facebook Messenger MeetFox https://meetfox.com/en/features/    In your actual teaching: check angle, lighting and if you can see and hear each other comfortably. Be near your piano as well. Make sure you are planning out their lesson fully with all the tools they will need.   How to prep accompaniments for students: Create mp3's and send to student Find Youtube karaoke videos  Apps that can be for accompanying: The Accompanist App, Piano Trax app   You will also need copies of their music—scanned photos or pics from their phones.   You will want to teach from a desktop, laptop or Ipad/Tablet.   For scheduling, you can use these apps:   Calendly —https://calendly.com/ Acuity--https://www.acuityscheduling.com/   For taking payments:  Paypal Stripe Venmo Cash App Zelle MeetFox—through Stripe or PayPal   Bandzoogle is a great website if you don't have one set up yet: https://bandzoogle.com/?memref=r4d3c4   If students need an app for practicing, I highly recommend the Modacity App! **THE SINGING STRAW is now available for you right here: http://lddy.no/f7zu  You can get 10% off with my code: tarab   For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com    You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts. Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Music Artist  and Voice teacher Whitney Cytryn shares today all about the company she founded called The Singing Straw. She show us how this tiny straw tool can change the ways that we take care of our voices—both for singers and for speakers. Whitney teachers us how a straw/straws can help our singing be easier, more efficient and very healthy! In her early years, Whitney had no interest in being a teacher—she just wanted to be a singer. In her 20's she found a teacher she connected with in contemporary styles that helped lead her into her own teaching.  Part of the reason she developed The Singing Straw was because of touring and noticing that her voice seemed tired often. Dr. Ingo Titze influenced her in her knowledge of straw phonation and how it would help the voice. On another tour Whitney was on, she said this about using a straw: “I was using a straw on my warmups and my cool down and I was noticing that it was helping keep me less fatigued and it was helping me warmup quicker.” On using a straw in general: “With partially obstructed airflow comes back pressure.” “It allows you to carry less tension and sing efficiently.” ++++++Songbird Studios was started by Whitney and her husband in California to help other singers with their vocal journey. They now have 3 different studios. Different ways that The Singing Straw can help a singer/speaker: With fatigue in voices Warmup/cool downs Balancing a mixed voice Reduce tension in a belt Increase flexibility for riffing What's important in the Singing Straw is its diameter of 3mm and that there are 3 straws! Using a variety of 3 straws allows the singer to have more or less resistance, depending on the day and how they feel The 3mm size is considered the best size in research that can help with the voice and the back pressure The Singing Straw is wonderful not only for singers but for speakers as well. Any job where the voice is used often can benefit from using the Singing Straw!   You can find Whitney at both Songbird Studios: https://songbirdsf.com Or The Singing Straw: https://singingstraw.com You can also find her at Instagram: @singingstraw YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDae_BabRlw9bIr7ysxBSqA AND….. **THE SINGING STRAW is now available for you right here: http://lddy.no/f7zu You can get 10% off with my code: tarab   For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com  You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts. Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Music Therapist, Sandra Holten, talks with Tara about the use of auditory tools that help with some of life's physical disabilities, including the voice.  The brain is used to bypass some of these ailments and therefore create change for those who struggle daily.  “The brain is our big motherboard”, she says.  This approach is educating the brain but melds the traits in music with physical action.  Listen to this eye-opening revelation!  Music Therapy (MT) has biblical history with David calming Saul with music. In the 1940's the VA system used it for soldiers who were shell-shocked.   MT is: Using music to bring about non-musical goals.  Looking at music scientifically aids in bringing physical results.    Music affects the brain and MT helps the science evolve..   The brain can compute music into walking using the external and innate cue of rhythm and will awaken the motor system which is not affected by the disability.   In Parkinson's there is smallness of movement, stiffness, monotone including vocal folds.    EXERCISES:  “Bboo! Bboo!!” /  Minnie Pearl “Howdee!” / Lip buzzing. Alternate between talking and singing. Emphasis on individual words. Pace of words.    MT offers HOPE that you can DO things in the struggle. It gives TOOLS.     Here are some practical things to do:  Sing! Join a choir!  Karaoke!      References: www.nmtacademy.co or musictherapy.org Email Sandi directly:  sandra.holten@parknicollet.com (Sandra Holten, MT-BC, Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow at Struthers Parkinson's Center – Park Nicollet.)   **THE SINGING STRAW is now available for you right here: http://lddy.no/f7zu  You can get 10% off with my code: tarab   For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com    You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts. Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Today is an episode where YOU get to sing. Whether you are on your way to audition, warming up to sing in a choir, or doing cool downs after singing at a gig, this episode will be perfect for your voice to keep up optimum health! Tara includes SOVT's, vocalises for flexibility, and a special blend of exercises for maximum effect on maintaining a strong, rich, sonorous voice.   Exercises that are SOVT:   Straw exercise: 1-3-5-4-2-7-1-3-5-4-2-7-1 Lip buzz or rolled r's: 1-5-1 (slides) Hums: 1-3-5-8-7-5-4-2-1  (slowly at first then speed up)   Easy vocalizing exercises: 5-4-3-2- (zing zing zing zing) 1-3-5-3-1 (zee—ee—much faster) Oo 1-2-3-4-5-3-1   Yodel—ah:     1-5-3-8-5-3-1   bah—ah or bah bah bah, etc   Flexibility 1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5-1-6-1-7-1-8 and then back down on an “ah” Sing “ee” on half scale, then full scale, then scale plus arpeggio back down 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2          1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2      etc.     Synthezied blends of staccato/legato: Ha ha      1-3-5-3-1-4-6-4-1-3-5-3-1-4-6-4-1-3-5-3-1                      (staccato)            (legato).               (staccato) 11. Ya      1———2-3-4-5-6-7-8—5—1                                                  Ha ha ha 12.  5—3—1-3-5-8-7-5-4-2-1         Mm—ah………ha ha ha ha ha     **THE SINGING STRAW is now available for you right here: http://lddy.no/f7zu You can get 10% off with my code: tarab   For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com      You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.   Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Think of your own voice – how it sounds and how it comes across in your performing.  There is such uniqueness in it because you are, YOU!  In this episode you will find help to narrow down your very own niche.  It may lead you into more assurance of your style and possibly may launch you into even other genres of music that fit your voice and lead to our goal of ease, health and pure singing enjoyment! Why classify a voice?  For comfort and ease.  Adriana Festeu writes on the online article Voice classification: System or Art: “One of the main reasons for the importance of classification is that regardless of repertoire, singing is ultimately about vocal comfort.”   There are 5 things to consider when classifying:  Tessitura, Color/Timbre, Range, Flexibility and Weight.   The most familiar classifications are: Soprano (1st & 2nd), Alto (1st & 2nd /contralto), Tenor (1st & 2nd) and Bass (baritone & bass).   The Germans broke it down further into Fachs meaning compartments.  They are Coloratura, Lyric, Spinto, Dramatic, Helden, Verdi and Basso-profundo.   Do not label yourself or others; you may end up feeling trapped.  But we can hone in on our strengths and music that fits our voice. To see and hear these different types of voices online, please go to: https://www.theopera101.com/operaabc/voices/     For more info, go to: www.theengagingvoice.com  For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently,  please click here and grab your download:  https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo   You can find this and other episodes at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts. Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! Apple Podcast Review  

To continue with the subject of harmony, Tara takes us deeper into the different ways it can be put together.  If you know what is happening in a musical piece, it will help you to hear individual parts and then be able to make it up.  She breaks down the components that you hear in everyday songs – the complexity is inviting and a delightful challenge.   "Harmony is much about training our ears to hear a musical part that is different from the regular melody"   Intervals - a measurement of the distance between notes. A good portion of harmonies are thirds apart.  Explanation of Thirds, Fourths and Fifths and then chords that are triads. “The more that you're able to sing intervals, the more helpful it will be to finding and holding harmony.” Solfegging - a system where every note of the scale is given its own unique syllable which is used to sing that note every time that note appears - like Do Re Mi   Recommended Apps 1.  Sing Harmonies 2.  Atonal Ear Trainer 3.  Sacred Harp Singing 4.  Solfeggio (Training Your Ear and Voice) 5.  Relative Absolute Solfegg Ear Trainer   Music Theory and Keys – getting this basic understanding on these will help round out the understanding of harmony.   Harmony is learned.  It also can be done “by ear”.  Try it and experiment - Harmony IS POSSIBLE!    Try these ideas:   Find parts of a choral song or hymnbook Join a choir Analyze songs   The Orchestra Song - 5 parts/different melodies (you can find on YouTube)   For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently,  please click here and grab your download:  https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts. Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Today's episode explores that wonder called Harmony.  It takes some practice, but to the active listener or performer, harmony bursts out of its "shadow" and is found.  Tara gives example sound bites to help aid the listener to find that sometime-hidden harmony in so many songs.  You will learn the beginnings of harmony and that it really is an attainable goal - step by step.   Tara's own definition of Harmony  - "Musical harmony works well together - it fits and makes sense."   The Beginnings:  Gregorian Chant —900 AD is made up of what we call monophonic music (one note at a time).  1150 AD  Polyphony– more than one sound or harmony! Fourths and Fifths emerged in harmonies and is what we call Organum.    The big question: why is harmony hard for people to find/sing?  1) Melody tends to dominate.  2) You did not grow up with it.  3) You may have not sung in choirs.  4) No choirs were offered.  5) Harmony is not natural.   Harmony definitely can be learned!  Only takes some practice and time.   Action Steps:   1. PRACTICE ROUNDS. These are songs with one melody but sung at different times. 2. START WITH:  Rounds with others or record yourself. 3. LISTEN TO FAVORITE ARTIST for HARMONY:  pick out the harmony.   For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently,  please click here and grab your download:  https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.   Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Bree Noble is a well known name in the music business industry in mentoring other singers and artists. In today's show, Tara chats with Bree about her own singing journey and how she still stays healthy and motivated in continuing to be a performer alongside being a marketing and biz expert.   Bree's first public outlet for singing was in a kid's church choir in some musicals where she soloed. Her introduction to choral music was in her 8th grade English class where some older choir members visited her class and sang to them. Bree started as an alto first and then transitioned to becoming a soprano, as she explored more of her voice through the years. Bree's glaucoma affected her sight but not her spirit or commitment to be deliberate in her singing journey. Here is her take on having to memorize music: “I could always deliver and connect with the audience more and really think about the phrasing and interpretation verses always having to look at something.”   “Your whole body is your instrument.” “Being aware of how my voice feels in certain ranges will help me not over sing.” On using your head and chest voice: “Depending on where you are coming from, if you are coming from below or above (how the phrase is), you have to be able to make that choice in a split second.”   Bree's advice to other singers: “I just think it's so important to get in some kind of community because a lot of musicians are operating as an island and not having that encouragement daily, weekly, monthly that you need to keep going!” You can find Bree Noble in many places online: Her music is available here: breenoblemusic.com The Woman of Substance Podcast is: www.wosradio.com Bree's podcast: www.femusician.com To get information about the free workshop for her Female Musician Academy, check out this link: www.musiciansprofitpath.com You can also find Bree on Twitter: www.twitter.com/breenoble And Facebook: www.facebook.com/breenoblemusic   For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently,  please click here and grab your download:  https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and Apple Podcasts.   Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465  

In continuing the journey of  wholistic health for our voice and body, Tara chats with a pro musician who takes us on a little different journey of the singing voice. This episode features Fiona Flyte, the Singer's Biz Coach. Fiona shares her story about how she became a singer and entrepreneur and how her journey has led her to help other singers. She delves into the mindset behind being a Singerpreneur and gives singers some ways that they can start a vocal studio. If you are a singer and want to look at why you sing and how you can stay healthy in your mindset as a singer making a living, this is the episode for you.     (4:06) While Fiona didn't grow up in a musical family, she still had parents who took her to musical theater and plays. She developed a love for musical theater.   (6:22) Fiona was shy and struggled in high school with letting herself perform. She really didn't do any performing in public until college.   (7:33)  A voice teacher who came to her glee club in college inspired her to take voice lessons and was the catalyst for Fiona pursuing some opera.   (12:18)  Performing and coaching happened simultaneously for Fiona.   (13:56) “Don't discount the other ways in which you make money as a musician.”   (14:05) “In teaching you are providing so much service. You are lifting other people up.”   (15:20) “A singerpreneur is somebody that really understand that making a life in music is not so specific to just performing…we're CEO's of a business.”   (20:50) Fiona has created a video series on YouTube on helping people launch a vocal studio.   (24:49) “We only need to be a couple of steps ahead of whoever is our student.”   (30:49) “The more we believe that we have to be perfect, the more our ego will tell us that we shouldn't put anything out because we're not perfect.”   (34:16) Mindset, marketing and monetization are the three pillars for Fiona's coaching.       You can find Fiona on YouTube where she has many coaching and performing videos. Search for Fiona Flyte. Website: www.fionaflyte.com Instagram: @fionaflyte   For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently,  please click here and grab your download:  https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo     You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts and radio.com   Please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! Podcast Review

Today, Tara shares her journey of singing—how it started when she was a wee little girl and how it was woven through the years of being raised in a Minnesota pastor's family. Her growing up years gave her a love for singing that eventually solidified to became her passion. She shares how she got into teaching and the journey from teen pop singer to adult classical and jazz singer.      Music was all around Tara growing up—in church, at home through records and the radio and gathering around the piano. She was introduced to many genres, including jazz, classical, choral, pop, sacred and more.   Tara's family traveled starting when she was age 6, doing concerts in churches in Northern MN and parts of Ontario, Canada. She began accompanying the family around the age of 8 for some songs and also started singing harmonies with her brothers. Music was a full fledged part of her young life and kept on through her high school years.   One of Tara's favorite times to sing and listen to music was during Advent and Christmas. It fueled more of her love for music and singing because there were so many songs that she learned and enjoyed. It helped paved the way for future musical pursuits.   Tara's early influence of Amy Grant kept a drive inside her to want to be a professional singer.   College was a time that was a shift for Tara in her musical tastes and listening. She became open to learning more about her voice and in particular the classical voice. She started to discover a bigger range and capability of her voice.   Teaching is another aspect of Tara's singing that came into swing at age 22. She started a journey of learning and loving to help other singers. She has enjoyed the process of gifting singers with the ability to bring out their best voice and give them confidence.   “Anyone can keep up their voice, it it's taken care of properly.”   Here is the link for the video of Angelo Lo Forese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5JU95a2Z0o   We also are celebrating almost 1 year of The Engaging Voice Podcast today!!   For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently,  please click here and grab your download:  https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts and radio.com   If you have Alexa just tell her : “Apple Podcasts” and then tell her “The Engaging Voice”! I am so excited for this! One last thing, if you would be so kind, please go to Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In this episode, Katie Zaccardi helps us look at what it means to have wellness in our life as a musician. She talks about how mindset and beliefs can affect our physical health and cause anxiety or stress. In singing, this can exacerbate having tension in the voice or the voice not working properly. Join us for this discussion about our life as musicians being balanced in wellness.   (3:31) Katie started as a musical theater nerd and quickly morphed into taking non-traditional piano lessons.   (5:39) As early as third grade, Katie found her way into musicals at the Catholic school she attended.   (11:08) In college, Katie branched out to be a singing performer in solo performances.   (12:02)  Katie herself (sophomore year of college) started struggling with anxiety. She then trudged a path to find out what she was feeling and how she herself could cope with it. She researched and did experiments on herself to try and find answers.   (15:57) As time went on, Katie felt stuck and not well in her full time job. Her stress and health were not good.   (17:00) Katie came to the conclusion that there was not enough tools or resources for mental health and wellness in music.   (17:45) “If you are stressed out and trying to build your career, your stress is impacting your career.”   (19:10) A mindset block like self doubt can plague musicians and that can cause much stress.   (20:22) “You can have all of the strategies in the world but if you are waking up every day and have these negative thoughts running through your head, and the self doubt on repeat, ongoing, constantly nagging at you…you are not gonna be successful.”   (24:38) Fear of failure ca be a huge mental roadblock for musicians.   (25:29) “Take messy action.”    (27:55) Katie stated that we are at the beginning of doing preventive care verses sick care in the music industry today.   (29:00) She does 1 to 1 coaching. Her pillars are: 1. Focus on goal setting 2. Wellness routines and habits 3. Mindset blocks and then freedom 4. Another set of strategizing   You can get ahold of Katie on her website: www.katiezaccardi.com Instagram: @katiezaccardi Her podcast is called “The Out to Be Podcast”. And her one on one coaching can be found here:bit.ly/outtobecoaching For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download:  https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts and radio.com   Please go to iTunes/Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In today's episode, Tara explains what SOVT exercises are and then gives the listener a sampling of these type of exercises to sing along with at home. Singers can use these vocalises for warmups or cool downs on a daily basis.   (1:02) SOVT—semi-occluded vocal tract exercises Semi-occluded  =  partially blocked   (2:23) Voice Science Works says without the back pressure of singing, our vocal folds couldn't maintain vibration.   (3:10) Positive air pressure pulls vocal folds apart—abduction           Negative air pressure pulls vocal folds together—adduction   (4:50) Exercise Lip buzz/trill.  1-3-5-8-5-3-1 and 1-3-5-3-1   (6:05) Straw exercise 1—blow into straw and sing 1-3-1 as a slide (slowly)   (7:50) Straw exercise 2—blow into straw and sing 1-5-1 as a slide   (8:55) Straw exercise 3—put your straw in a water bottle with water in it           Blow through 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1   (10:46) “mm” or “hm”          mm-ah-mm-ah-mm-ah, etc 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1   (12:22) “ng” (like a muppet sound) Say “ng”, then sing ee-ah-ee-ah-ee-ah on the same note   (14:16) “v” using vvv      1-3-5-3-1 sustaining the vvv   (15:18) “z” using zzz      1-5-1 in a slide, sustaining the zzz   (16:29) “zing-ah”   1————-5-4-3-2-1 For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download: https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Podcasts and radio.com   Please go to iTunes/Apple Podcast and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

At 81, Micheal Trimble is still helping the vocal world with his great knowledge of the voice and singing in operas through the years. He reiterates time and again how breath is the core of the everything in singing—how the way you take the breath and where you take it affects everything!   (2:30) MIchael didn't sing until he was 19. He had been on a football scholarship to college at the time.   (3:45) “The bigger the drum, the bigger the sound”    (6:39) The secret for MIchael in staying vocally healthy was doing what the Great Singers taught him. “Breathe, breathe, breathe!”   (7:54) “You either know what you are doing when you sing or you are not going to last.”   (9:55) “The breath makes the voice or kills the voice…it's your worst enemy, or your best friend.”   (10:39) Micheal stresses singing way down low in your back.   (12:16) Key to healthy singing: no action in the throat and no change of emission.   (13:35) You maintain the open throat through the power of the respiration.   (18:27) The traditional way to sing was to “breathe way down low in the back and then lean the breath against the diaphragm.” (from the Great Singers)   (24:29) Breathing + Good Phonation = healthy full sounds   (27:49) Michael says that the singers who have lasted for a long time are not busy in their throats.   (32:04) “Once I start singing, what do I do to not get tired?”     (39:09) Michael describers singing on the breath as only down bowing on a stringed instrument—no up bowing.   You can get ahold of MIchael Trimble on his website: www.trimblevocalinstitute.com Or on Youtube, his channel is MichaelTrimberTenor His email is: tvi@ biwifi.com   Fundamentals of Great Vocal Technique: The Teachings of Michael Trimble by inside_view_press Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991087607/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_ReZQDbCXMMXP4   Caruso's book that Micheal spoke about is called: Caruso and Tetrazzini on the Art of Singing by Amazon.com Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1511730749/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_4HYQDbSXV9TVY     For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download: https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo   If you want to be a part of a community that talks all things vocal, pop over to The Engaging Voice Singers (Facebook)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Music and radio.com   Please go to iTunes/Apple Music and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

This episode dives into the world of vibrato. Many people have different ideas on how vibrato is made. Tara B explains healthy ways of producing vibrato, which can be a lovely addition and facet to our unique voices. Find out how to create a vibrato that lets you feel free in the process.   (3:22) The 3 parameters of vibrato (from Richard Miller's The Structure of Singing) Fluctuation of Pitch A Variation of intensity Number of undulations per second   (4:54) There are 6.5 undulations per second for an average vibrato. A super fast vibrato is called a tremolo. A super slow one is called la voce oscilla—“the unfavorable wobble”   (6:33)  Vibrato pitch is smaller than a semi-tone, a half step.   (7:36) Unhealthy vibrato can be produced through the base of the tongue, causing unnecessary tension.   (8.58) If the laryngeal structure isn't supported by breath flow and the right pressure, the back of the tongue may become tense. It may shake, then causing an unhealthy vibrato.   (10:16) Unhealthy vibrato can also be produced by stomach vibrato.   (13:01) Everyone can potentially have vibrato, according to Thomas Shipp.   (13:40) Healthy vibrato starts in the brain. But as it activates, it relaxes the vocal folds.   (14:35) Karyn O'Conner says in Singwise “Vibrato is a result of balance between muscle systems in antagonistic relation to each other during phonation.  When this balance occurs, the antagonistic muscles develop an alternating pulse that is a reflection of the continued energy level required of them to maintain equilibrium.”   (17:26) “Oscillations that occur in vibrato are the body's response to mounting tension.”   (18:28) Richard Miller says that a wobbles is where the natural structural support is removed from the larynx. It takes more energy to oscillate pitch.   (20:03) Onset exercise:   1.  Ha, hee      (Sing on the same pitch)   ha-2-3-4    hee-2-3-4   (21:09) 2. Sing “ga” on the same pitch. Add your hand pointing every time you sing a note.                 ga-2-ga-4   (25:44) from Matt Ramsey and Ramsey Voice Studio 1. Put hand on belly. Vocalize like an old car starting its engine on ee. Let the stomach move at first and then not move as you keep on. 2. Ghost Vibrato:  oo       Slide around like a ghost song then settle on one note and slide. Shake or flap your hands while singing and notice if vibrato is there.   (27:56) Exercise: “the land of the free” from our National Anthem. On the word “free”, hold a straight tone once through. Then the second time hold for a bit and let go—release/relax.     For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download:  https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo   If you want to be a part of a community that talks all things vocal, pop over to The Engaging Voice Singers (Facebook)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple Music and radio.com   Please go to iTunes/Apple Music and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you!   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In this part two of vocal diction series, we focus on consonants today. Many consonants can be helpful in our exercises to help engage breath, give more clarity to our tone, help in our enunciation of words, and help us sense where resonance can happen. A consonant connected to a vowel sound in warmups can help us become more efficient and conscientious singers.   (1:35) Definition of a consonant: “A consonant is a speech sound that is formed when the articulators interrupt the flow of air through the vocal tract.” ( from Diction for Singers by J. Wall, R. Caldwell, T. Gavilanes, S. Allen) (2:20) The place of articulation explained. (2:50)  The manner of articulation explained (3:20) The voicing of consonants explained. (4:01) Consonants help engage our breath. They create focus. They help us enunciate. They let us feel vibration in the chest and nasal passage.  (5:15) Stop-plosives: p, b, t, d, k, g   (6:45) Fricatives:  f, v, s, z, th, sh, jz, h   (7:55) Affricatives:  ch, dg (fudge)   (8:46) Nasal: m, n, ng   (9:31) Lateral: l   (10:30) Glides: r, y, w   (13:10) Exercise for engaging breath: vee, vay, vah, voh, voo       5-4-3-2-1   (14:05) Exercise for creating focus in sound: zing, zing, zing, etc      1-3-5-3-1   (15:00) Exercise for enunciation: yellow leather or sausage pizza        1-3-5-8-7-5-4-2-1        Start slowly   (16:11) Exercise for finding resonance in our nasal/sinus passages:  ming or noo 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1   (17:25) If you are a voice teacher, you can help students by using consonants at the beginning onset of their exercises.    For a free PDF of Ways to Practice the Voice Consistently, please click here and grab your download: https://mailchi.mp/16a4bd648eac/getfreevoiceinfo If you want to be a part of a community that talks all things vocal, pop over to The Engaging Voice Singers (Facebook)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, iTunes and radio.com Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465    

On today's episode, Tara gives singers many exercises to help keep their voices limber, flexible and free. As we age, it takes more effort to make sure that our voices are able to be agile when we sing. The vocalises here are to help each person maintain a youthful, healthy voice.   (1:55) Some of the ways our voices age are: slower vibrato and vocal runs that are not as easy for us to do.   Exercises for Keeping Vocal Agility: (3:32) 1. Lip buzz (arpeggio) 1-3-5-8-5-3-1   (5:10) 2. Thirds up and down with a “bwa”. (Starting slowly at first)                1-3-2-4-3-5-4-6-5-7-6-8-7-9-8          8-10-7-9-6-8-5-7-4-6-3-5-2-3-2   (7:15) 3. Mum, mum, etc       1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1   (8:50) 4. Use “ma” first, then “ha” on staccato and then “yah” for the last one.   1  1-2-3   3-4-5    5-6-7-8-9-10-11   11-10-9    9-8-7   7-6-5-4-3-2-1   (12:17) 5. Ya, ya (slower, then faster).    1-3-5-3-1-4-6-4-1-3-5-3-1   (13:17) 6. Intervals from the root to the 5th (You can also go to the octave and back if you want)     1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5           5-4-5-3-5-2-5-1   (15:35) 7. You can use a “yah”, “mah” or “ah”                       1    2-3-4-5-6-7-8       7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (2x through)   (17:41) 8. 3 different vowels to use:  “ah” + “oo” + “ee”                 1-5     4-3-2       1-5     4-3-2     1-5      4-3-2-1                 (ah)                     (oo)                  (ee)      For more discussion and getting more useful vocal tools, please feel free to join my  FACEBOOK group: The Engaging Voice Singers (community)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and iTunes and radio.com   Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Tara interviews speech and language pathologist Dr. Anita Kozan. She specializes in helping people with their singing and speaking voices when they run into vocal issues. She discusses how our voice works, some of the differences between male and female voices, what can happen to aging voices and how vocal therapy can help people even without surgery in many circumstances. Join me for this insightful discussion with someone who really cares about helping people with their voices and can bring hope!   (2:20) Dr. Kozan first had a friend talked to her about speech therapy—thinking that she would be good at it.   (4:20) She explains video stroboscopy—what it actually is. It has been in use since about 1985.   (7:55) Dr. Kozan would assess the voice through listening and watching a patient and using stroboscopy that could help her see the details of the vocal folds.   (10:15) She describes for us how small our vocal folds are and where they sit in our body. She also talks about the difference between male and female voices.   (11:20) Our vocal folds open and close 256 times per second at Middle C! Dr. Kozan describes our singing as an incredible athletic event.   (14:50) When a patient comes to Dr. Kozan with vocal issues, she goes through a vocal hygiene checklist with them.   (19:30) Dr. Kozan shares a story of someone who came for vocal therapy and already knew that he had to change certain ways of doing things.   (24:17) Spasmodic Dysphonia: there are 3 types When the folds stay together for too long, that is Adductor Dysphonia When the folds say open too long, that is Abductor Dysphonia Some people have both things happen at different times—the cords closing for too long or opening for too long   (26:04) Actress Katherine Hepburn had a vocal tremor. This can happen to people as they age.   (27:30) Dr. Kozan addresses aging in men and women and how it affects their voices.   (33:50) Jeannette LoVetri from Baldwin Wallace University helps teachers of singing with exercises that can really be beneficial for their students.   (36:35) When a patient has surgery on their voice, they are most often required to go on complete vocal rest for a time.   (38:05) In some therapy that Dr. Kozan does, she works with patients on adding breath on the onset  and releasing it in a way that helps their vocal production. Especially with the vocal fry, which tends to pinch our cords and needs a better release of breath.   (44:25) How do we know it's time to get our voices checked out?   (47:59) The Interval Training Model means we only do short amounts of practicing, then a time of resting the voice. (53:20) We need to cool down our voice after strenuous usage. It helps the swelling to go down and get toxins out of our system.   To contact Dr. Kozan, please go to her website: www.kozanclinic.com You can contact her also via email on her website and she will get back to you. You may call or text 612-669-3206. For finding other vocal speech language pathologist, contact the American Speech Language Hearing Association here:  https://www.asha.org/slp/   For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my  FACEBOOK group: The Engaging Voice Singers (community)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and iTunes and radio.com   Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Ever wondered how pitch is actually made in our voices? Where do you think it starts? In the vocal folds? Or is there somewhere else? Join Tara today in this episode to see how incredibly complex our body is in producing specific pitches and yet the dichotomy of how easy it is too. Tara shares the journey how pitch is made and then gives tools to help all singers improve their pitches to become more accurate through ear training.   (1:10) Definition of pitch = The highness or lowness of a note…   (2:48) Where does pitch begin in our body? It starts in the brain.   (3:44)  The Dorsal Laryngeal Motor Cortex controls voice pitch. It sends signals to our larynx muscles and cartilage to shape our vocal cords to create specific pitches. This happens in a split second.   (7:41) The cartilage change the length and thickness of our vocal folds while the other muscles open the vocal folds.   (10:43) An interval is a distance between two pitches. There are 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths, octaves and more.   (13:10) We remember pitches because of pitch tonal memory.   (13:56) Exercise 1: Play a triad on the piano (1-3-5) , playing all the notes at the same time. Pick our singing the highest note or try picking out the lowest note.   (14:42) Exercise 2:   1-1-2-1-1-2-3-2-1, etc   (15:48) Exercise 3: Play a couple of notes and then sing them back—matching the pitch and the order of the notes.   (16:44) Exercise 4: Slides 1-3-1,  1-5-1,  1-8-1   (17:44) Exercise 5: Fast staccato—1-3-5-3-1-4-6-4-1-3-5-3-1   (18:36) Our pitches can sometimes be “pitchy”, which means flat or sharp.   (21:20 Other reasons for pitch intonation problems can simply be that someone hasn't trained their ear enough to hear the pitches dead center. They haven't yet learned the details of a specific tone in tune.   For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group: The Engaging Voice Singers (community)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, Radio.com and iTunes   Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In this interview with singer and vocal coach Arden Kaywin, we dive into a story of a singer who went from classical to pop, and found her true voice in her journey. She shares how her voice trek led her to helping others with their own vocal pathways through online and in person coaching. She now instructs and tutors other singers in a holistic method of teaching that practices healthy mind and body techniques.     (3:17) Arden shares of her love of music first through dance.   (6:30) Arden was very involved in musical things—summer camps, theater, etc. At age 10, she sang the National Anthem for the Miami Heat.   (9:15) Arden shows her journey from classical to pop artist. She shares how she felt like her creativity got lost in her early opera career.   (13:05) She talks about her outlet writing “cheesy pop songs” during her time in New York.   (16:15) Arden released her first pop album in 2006.   (20:05) Arden shares her journey into teaching voice—how the music industry affected her and pushed her towards teaching and coaching.   (25:20) Mindset with our voices.  We have emotions and they can come out in physical reactions, which in turn can affect our singing voices.   (30:11) Arden describes what she first works on with traditional student lessons.   (32:32) She shares 3 core pillars of healthy singing:  Breath support Understanding the shape of the resonance Understanding the root of the tension   (35:03) Arden addresses harsh singing and how it needs a recovery time.   (37:47) She discusses “belting”.   (41:47) “The best sound not only sounds good, but feels good too!”   (42:44) “It is not your job as a singer to recreate the sound of a good sound. It's your job to recreate the feeling of the good sound.” To contact Arden Kaywin, go to her website: www.ArdenKaywinVocalStudio.com There you can join her Virtual Studio, do one of her 4 month intensives or have a lesson either in person or online via skype/zoom.   Facebook and Instagram: Arden Kaywin Vocal Studio Youtube: Arden Kaywin Vocal Studio   The link to the Youtube video on belting is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cUo9xEfmTc   For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group: The Engaging Voice Singers (community)  Here is the link:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and iTunes Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

  Tara interviews Dr. David Opperman, laryngologist from the Colorado Voice Clinic. He chats about when it's time to see a voice doctor, how they can find the vocal issues and the types of treatment that are available. It's a discussion that you won't want to miss if you are a singer!     (5:15) The difference between an ENT (otolaryngologist) and a laryngologist (a true voice specialist)   (7:35) Dr. Opperman explains what laryngitis is and how we can become hoarse as singers.   (8:35) If hoarseness is happening more than 10 days, it is a good idea to have your voice checked.   (10:00) Dr. Opperman talks about what kinds of vocal issues he sees that are the most common. Voice overuse is one of the big ones.   (12:30) Assessing a vocal issue can be from hearing the voice and also doing a video stroboscopy   (15:01)  Injuries to the voice can happen in many ways. Often it can start in the speaking voice.   (17:01) Stress environment factors and lack of hydration can cause vocal issues too.   (18:25) Injections can help spasmodic dysphonia. It's a disease that is still hard to figure out.   (19:30) Injections can be used for things like Parkinson's Disease and Spasmodic Dysphonia.   (20:35) Nodules—how they form and how they are treated. Vocal therapy, botox, vocal rest and hydration can all help.   (22:19) Surgery can benefit people when the voice issue necessitates help that only removal of something can do.   (22:35) Transition using therapy after surgery or diagnosis is often administered. Speech therapy can be one aspect of that transition.   (24:17)  Also looking at bad habits and adjusting them can help.   (25:20)  If you have pain while singing, stop and get it checked out!   (26:22) Take the time to identify and observe your voice and get help sooner than later.   (27:33)  Is it wise to do a vocal checkup at the voice doctor annually or at least to get a baseline?   (28:50) Dr. Opperman can consult over the phone to help you find a way to get your issues diagnosed. If he can't get you into his clinic, he will try to find help with a laryngologist near you.   To contact Dr. Opperman, go to his website: www.coloradovoiceclinic.com Phone: 1-303-844-3000 Also, there is the Academy of Otolaryngologists where you can get a list of physicians around the country. https://www.entnet.org   For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group: The Engaging Voice Singers (community)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and iTunes   Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In today's episode, Tara focuses on what it is like to do a vocal practice time that benefits singers. She highlights steps to start—including deciding on how long your practices will be and how to go about implementing those vocal practices. This is so singers will be able to work through issues and make their rehearsal time count.    (2:02) Practicing an instrument takes commitment.   (3:00) Practicing helps us improve in the tiniest of details.   (5:57) Having a voice teacher to go to can help motivate you to practice.   (6:41) A typical practice: Decide on how often 3-4 times a week, for kids every day   (7:52) Break down your times of practice to what works with your schedule             1. Decide on  how long you will practice in a given day—15 minutes to an hour   (8:53)   2. Decide on which song you want to immerse yourself in that day. It can even be just a part of a song.   (10:35) 3. Take time to warmup.   (11:33) 4. Take a song and sing it through. Notice what things cause problems for you in the basic melody, rhythm and words, as well as where you breathe.   (12:20) 5. Sing the song again and be aware of technique issues. When you figure out what might be some, work specifically on those issues until you feel like you are closer to them being resolved.    (16:44) 6. If you have a longer practice scheduled, work on a second or third piece and or hard sections of those pieces.   (17:15) 7. If you have extra time after doing the technical aspects, you can work through the expression—the dynamics, phrasing, etc. Also, if you have a foreign language piece, spend time then to learn the language pronunciation.   (21:18) If you practice, you will improve!   For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group: The Engaging Voice Singers (community)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/ You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart radio, and iTunes   Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

In this second episode of two, Tara discusses the ways the tongue can cause tension in our singing voice and make it feel or sound different. She helps singers know what to observe to see if there is any tension in the tongue and gives them some practical vocalises to make sure the tongue stays relaxed, loose and free.   (1:10) The tongue is a muscular organ made up of 8 muscles connected to the hyoid bone.   (3:19) Where the tongue is located during certain consonants:  d or t —the tongue is by the aveolar ridge   (3;47) k or g consonants—the back of the tongue lifts by our soft palate   (4:31) th consonants voiced and unvoiced —the tip of the tongue is gliding   (5:16) American r consonant — the  tongue is curled, retracted or half suspended   (7:10) How can you tell if your tongue causes tension? There are at least two ways to tell: 1. Grabbing your tongue while it is sticking out of your mouth and trying to keep it  forward while you sing. 2. Hold your hands in thumbs up position. Put your thumb under your chin and see if it  feels hard or soft.   (11:54) Exercises to help release tongue tension:   1. Glay-glah.      Say it and then sing it 1-2-1-2-1-2-1   (12:37) 2. Sticking your tongue out and holding it while doing arpeggios.    1-3-5-8-5-3-1 or 1-3-5-3-1   (14:39) 3. Tip of tongue on the bottom front of your mouth by teeth. Keep it forward. Slide 1-3-5-3-1 or 1-8-1   (16:15) 4. (from Jacob Burton) Cover your bottom lip completely with your tongue. Sing  1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5  5-4-5-3-5-2-5-1   (16:54)  5. Say “yuk” without moving your jaw (from Singing for Dummies)   (17:37) 6. Sing yah-yah-yah, etc    Sing without moving your jaw 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1   (18:24) 7. Yah-ee,  Sing slowly 1-3-5-3-1   Put your thumb back under your chin to check tongue   For more discussion and and keeping the conversation going, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group: The Engaging Voice Singers (community)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/ You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, iHeart radio, and iTunes   Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! Thank you! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Stories in this episode: As a newly enlisted soldier in the Royal Canadian Navy, Warren finds himself and his faith at odds with military tradition during a fancy dinner; Verdi makes a surprising traffic stop on a late night policing shift that changes his perspective about human dignity; Nicole learns what it really means to trust God when she is left to hold down the fort during her husband’s military deployment. SHOW NOTES I didn't mention it in the host segments, but Nicole and Chris Fairall grew up with me (KaRyn) in Pennsylvania. Nicole and her mother and three siblings all joined the church and joined our little branch in Northeastern PA when we were in our early teens. It has been such a joy to reconnect in our adulthood as we've migrated to Utah for various reasons. You can see pictures from this episode here. Thanks for listening! If you loved this episode, please leave a review for us on Apple iTunes. Click here and then click on "listen in iTunes" - once iTunes is open, find the RATINGS AND REVIEWS tab and click on it. That will get you ALMOST all the way there... once you're on that page, you'll see WRITE A REVIEW. That's it! Click and write. We really appreciate it.   Our sponsor is Bookshelf Plus. You can get a free trial for 30 days here!

Stories in this episode: Emily finds a tiny but meaningful evidence of God’s care for her in a convention center bathroom; A disappointing answer to one prayer leads Alexandra to a new kind of prayer with interesting results; Scott returns to a difficult area from his mission five years later and is met with a happy surprise; one creatively placed word helps Serena find hope; Marianne sees the hand of God in a perfectly timed knock at her door. SHOW NOTES: We referenced this talk from the April 2005 General Conference. You've probably already heard it once or twice, but it's ALWAYS worth a revisit! Happy reading! "The Tender Mercies of The Lord" - Elder David A. Bednar  Emily Belle Freeman, our first storyteller in this episode, is the author of a lot of really awesome books about coming closer to the Savior  She's also a TOFW speaker and her 2015 talk called "Finding God's Fingerprints" is available here. Looking for the picture of the safety pin on the bathroom stall door? Head on over to the show notes on this episode at LDSliving.com/thisisthegospel. Thanks for listening! If you loved this episode, please leave a review for us on Apple iTunes. Click here and then click on "listen in iTunes" - once iTunes is open, find the RATINGS AND REVIEWS tab and click on it. That will get you ALMOST all the way there... once you're on that page, you'll see WRITE A REVIEW. That's it! Click and write. We really appreciate it. 

In this first episode of two, Tara discusses the ways the jaw can cause tension in our singing voice and make it feel or sound different. She gives practical tips for observation and some vocalises to make sure the jaw stays relaxed, loose and free.   (2:22) How the jaw affects singing—the reason why.   (3:26) The open or closed-ness of our jaw can be an originator or tension.   (4:56) How do we know if our jaw is tight, rigid or moving when it doesn't need to?   (5:28) One way to check for tension in the jaw: move your jaw side to side while singing.   (6:13) Check in a mirror with an “ah” vowel to see if the jaw moves by singing a short scale.   (6:51) Feel your jaw muscle if it moving while singing a vowel. Try an arpeggio. 1-3-5-8-5-3-1   (7:36) The jaw is NOT needed to sing different pitches.   (8:53) We do use our jaw for “j” and “y” consonants.   (9:13) How can we release tension in our jaw?   (9:49) 1. Relax neck—stretch it and roll head side to side   (10:18)  Massage the TM Joint to loosen.   (11:14) 2. Speak “ma-ma” and “duh” to open your jaw in a relaxed amount of space.                   Sing half scale.     (13:19) 3. Sing “la” without moving your jaw; just move your tongue. 5-4-3-2-1   (15:05) 4. Sing with a hum. 1-3-2-4-3-5-4-2-1   (15:41) 5. With moving lips, not the jaw, sing “ee” and “oo” on the same note.   (17:09) 6. Bend over at waist, holding onto a chair and sing: Ha ha-ha-ha etc 1-1-2-3-3-4-5-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-11-10-9-9-8-7-7-6-5-4-3-2-1   For more discussion and tips, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group: The Engaging Voice Singers (community)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/   You can find this and other episodes on theengingvoice.com and at Stitcher, Google Play, iHeart radio, Spotify and iTunes Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465  

Tara B discusses why it's important for singers to train and get helpful, healthy technique. She talks about how pro athletes always do training as part of their regimen. Since singing is a very physical and mental thing, we as singers can go through a similar process to make sure our voices perform at their very best.    (1:12) What about musicians who are gifted? Do they need training?   (2:24) Two elderly singers that blew my mind with their beautiful tone.   (4:30) Olympic and elite athletes—how do they train?   (6:15) Pro-athletes are always learning and getting better.   (6:51) High school athletes and their training—why they do it. (Social time, stamina, keeping in shape, team skills, not being injured)   (9:14) Our vocal cords change through the years and so if we want to keep them healthy, we need training.   (11:02) My voice at 50 with training and technique is even healthier and freer than just 4 years ago. This is because I'm taking lessons again.   (12:40) My story of being unkind to my voice and how I got vocal fatigue.   (15:52) Elite singers—our operatic athletes. The singers who sing up to three hours over an orchestra with no microphones.   (18:56) Why DO people train their voices?   (19:19) 1. We train to have endurance and stamina to sing.   (19:42) 2. We train to sing notes with ease and flexibility.   (20:05) 3. We train to have great control over our breath.   (20:36) 4. We trying to have clear and phonated sounds.   (21:21) 5. We train to develop natural vibrato.   (21:50) 6. We train to sing with great intonation and pitch.   (22:10) 7. We train to keep flexibility in our voices.   (22:56) 8. We trying to keep up all of our range—that we don't lose notes we once had.   (23:31) 9. We train to sound effortless as we sing.   (23:53) 10. We train to keep up the power and presence in our voices.   (25:17) The difference between a vocal “coach” and a vocal “teacher”.    (27:18) The teachers who can help are those who teach about the physical structure of the voice and those whom you feel comfortable with them.   For more discussion and tips, please feel free to join my new FACEBOOK group: The Engaging Voice Singers (community)  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275720043147345/   Also you can find teachers through lessons.com and on LInkedIn through the group “Singing coaches/teachers”. Please go to iTunes and click on RATINGS AND REVIEWS to rate this podcast. I would be so grateful! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engaging-voice/id1448497465

Not to take anything away from Keith on this one, but we reached PODCAST 100! Kind of crazy if you ask me? When I think about to all the hurdles, and problems we had to get through, I can't believe we've come this far. In order to celebrate we 're giving away 2 amazing gifts. #1 A LIFETIME membership to jazz piano. Yes you read that correctly. And #2 - A free reserved membership to our new "Lab" this is coming by the end of the year. Now in order to enter all you have to do is give the podcast a 5 start rating and write a brief review. I mean it could literally say "This podcast rocks!" and you will be entered to win 1 of 2 memberships to Jazz Piano School. Here are the directions. 1. Click this link to the Jazz Piano School Podcast. Click Here For The Jazz Piano School Podcast 2. Click the small button that says "VIEW IN ITUNES" 3. Click the "RATINGS AND REVIEWS" tab. 4. Click "Write A Review" 5. Write a review and leave a 5 star rating and we will enter you in. REMEMBER: You have to write a review because that is the only way we 'll know your name. We will announce the winner at the start of the following week 's podcast. The great thing about the entry is that you 're helping spread the love of jazz piano education to others around the world. Back to Keith. Keith Jarrett is brilliant at the way he moves his inner voicings around. Especially in a ballad. This can clearly be seen in this week 's analysis of "Someone To Watch Over Me". Please enjoy!

To celebrate my 200th episode I wanted to go big. Go big or go home, right? So this is a three parter: 1. A free info-packed webinar for you, my listener. Your ticket is an honest review of the podcast, which you can write by clicking here, then clicking the VIEW IN iTUNES button, then click RATINGS AND REVIEWS and then WRITE A REVIEW. 2. Let us know you did it by entering your email into the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this page so we can notify you the details for joining the webinar. 3. I'll donate $1,000 to this charity if I get 40 new honest reviews by November 1. Are you ready to crank up your career? Crank It Up October is open for registration! Four weeks of group coaching with me at a steal of a price. Find out all the deets here. Club Burp-a-Palooza It's only .19¢ a day, and you can get weekly transcripts and more here. Get the FREE course I'm giving away called 100 Things Every Writer Must Do To Succeed Online here: CoursesForWriters.com. This week’s guests are:  Alan Katz Ame Dykeman Artie Bennett Barbara Dee Bryan Collier Brian Lies Bruce Deegan Chris Barton CJ Lyons Deborah Heiligman Eric Velasquez Florence Minor Gail Carson Levine Jane Yolen Jarrett J. Krosoczka Judy Blundell Judy Schachner Marc Tyler Nobleman Marla Frazee Matt Phelan Michael Buckley Nick Bruel Peter Lerangis Peter Reynolds Robin Preiss Glasser Tom Angleberger Victoria Kann Wendell Minor