Student Lessons

During this student lesson we were trying to figure out the hand motions.  WOW, this clip is very powerful. Why? Because he uses none!  Why is this so powerful? The audience will be concentrating on the singers voice and facial expressions. In other words, the singer is unable to distract the audience from any weak point in the voice.  Is it no wonder then, why this song is so powerful?  ________________________________________________________________________________ I waited 'til I saw the sun  *Keep the sounds forward. Often singers will want to expand the sound "inside" their mouth. Instead place the sound up front under your nose, and keep it consistent. Once you've mastered this sound then you can add more jazz. 
I don't know why I didn't come *End softly on the didn't come.  
I left you by the house of fun 
I don't know why I didn't come  *End softly on the didn't come.  
I don't know why I didn't come  *End softly on the didn't come.  
When I saw the break of day 
I wished that I could fly away 
Instead of kneeling in the sand 
Catching teardrops in my hand 
*Same as before. 


Right now I'm singing "Arms" by Christina Perri with a voice student of mine.

Things to know why singing:

1) Keep the larynx close together. Stop going heavy on this song at all costs.
2) Keep the sound consistent. Stop trying to imitate her right off the bat, and instead let your voice carry through and focus on keeping a slippery sound by keeping the body relaxed.

   To stay relaxed:

• Move side to side
• Go up and down stairs
• Rag Doll
• Run a 50 miler (you get the idea)

Keep in Mind: 

...every vocal sound represents some sort of instrument. This song reminds me of a guitar, as I said earlier. Yet, pick what it reminds you of, and mimic that. Stay away from instantly going to vocal sound and instead pretend as though your voice a instrument.

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La Donna e mobile

La donna è mobile  *Even though this is a upbeat song and has a "staccato" feel to it, make sure that you keep your voice going forward and add as much as possible. Keep it light and bouncy, yet add in as much legato as possible.  Qual piuma al vento, *Sing through the "v" on vento. This will provide more power rather than simply singing louder. 
Muta d'accento — e di pensiero. *When singing through this line, feel as though your voice is about to land on a soft pillow, or that you are singing to a baby. Anything to get a more caressing sound. 
Sempre un amabile, *Revert back to the same feeling as when you sang "La donna e mobile". Leggiadro viso, *Same type of feeling as when you were singing "Muta d'accento (etc)

*Obviously lyricly change it, however keep the same mood. 

In pianto o in riso, — è menzognero. (When he's singing I noticed that he's singing different words) È sempre misero
Chi a lei s'affida,
Chi le confida — mal cauto il cuore!
Pur mai non sentesi
Felice appieno
Chi su quel seno — non liba amore!
Some ideas to help! ___________________________________________

Lyrics | Secret Garden lyrics - How Could I Ever Know? lyrics LILY:

How could I know I would have to leave you?

How could I know I would hurt you so?

You were the one I was born to love!

Oh, how could I ever know?

How could I ever know?

How can I say to go on without me?

How, when I know you still need me so?

How can I say not to dream about me?

How could I ever know?

How could I ever know?

Forgive me.

Can you forgive me

And hold me in your heart,

And find some new way to love me

Now that we're apart?

How could I know I would never hold you?

Never again in this world, but oh,

Sure as you breathe, I am there inside you,

How could I ever know?

How could I ever know?

LILY:

How could I know I would have to leave you?

• Light and powerful
• Consistent sound
• Tons of air flow. Pretend almost as if you are singing a jazz song. 
• Sing ah and pretend as though your singing on a key higher. 

How could I know I would hurt you so?

• Pretend as though you are talking.
• Completely relaxed.   

You were the one I was born to love!

• Stress the words You, One, Born, Love.
• Softer on the word love compared to you, one and born. 

Oh, how could I ever know?

• Pensive and softer. 
• Light and floaty, tons of air

How could I ever know?

• Louder than previous line. 

How can I say to go on without me?

{Use some of the same techniques as before.}

How, when I know you still need me so?

How can I say not to dream about me?

How could I ever know?

How could I ever know?

Forgive me.

• More powerful.
• Use all of your air on the "Forgive"

Can you forgive me

• Pull back on the "Forgive me"
• Make sure that larynx is close

And hold me in your heart,

• Cradle the words as if there were a baby in your arms. 
• Softer on this line, make sure and take a deep breathe and keep it light. 

And find some new way to love me

• Louder on the find and love me. 
• More powerful phrase than the previous line. 

Now that we're apart?

• Very, very soft. We want goose bumps on this line. 

How could I know I would never hold you?

• Soft, yet stress on the word 'never'.

Never again in this world, but oh,

• Feel as though you are falling back, or retreating on your sound when you sing, "Never again in this world. 
• Deep breathe, big sound on the phrase 'but oh'.

Sure as you breathe, I am there inside you,

• Powerful line, make sure that show that in your voice. 
• Pause after the word breath, and then make sure that people understand that you took a breath to enhance the word "breathe"
• Use this line to set yourself up for the next line. You MUST think high so that you don't go flat. 

How could I ever know?

• How is very powerful, and pull WAY back from the words "could I ever know". 

How could I ever know?

• Mimic these words as the first phrases in the song. Or in other words, bring things back full circle. 

Email me if you have any further questions!