One Easy Way to Enhance Your Voice Lessons

One Easy Way to Enhance Your Voice Lessons Suzy S. Want to really improve your singing?   Truly owning your voice and making the most of your lessons requires more than just learning the lyrics and following your teachers direction. Read on for some great advice from Denver voice teacher Ruth C., and start approaching your singing from a whole new perspective Unlike other instruments, the voice is inside the body, which can make it a very frustrating instrument to understand! Scientists have done tons of studies to better understand how your two little vocal folds work when breath passes through them â€" but when you’re actually in the middle of your voice lesson, how can you understand what’s going on? The goal of lessons should always be to find your voice (not to mimic your favorite recording artist or your teacher).   The best possible way to make sure you understand what your teacher is having you do is to ask tons of questions.   It may feel silly to ask some basic questions, but I guarantee your teacher will love answering them! If it helps you to understand some of the anatomy/science of singing, ask for a full explanation from your teacher.   Teachers may use a variety of terms for the same idea (breath support, diaphragmatic breathing, etc.  â€" which all refer to the same thing), so make sure you and your teacher are on the same page.   Or if you work better with images (“singing with an even flow of air feels like ice skating”), make sure you and your teacher remember a few key ones to use in your lessons. Knowing the terms is one thing.   Feeling and being able to describe them as they happen in your body and voice is another.   Make sure you can identify how it feels to sing with good breath support. Does your rib cage expand?   Does your stomach expand or contract as you sing?   Do you run out of breath before the end of the phrase?   These are all questions to ask yourself and your teacher as you are working in your lesson. The practice of defining terms and seeing how they act in your voice will give you the best knowledge of all how to practice and sing successfully when your teacher isn’t there!   When you’re at home working on a song, can you feel the same flow of air, or relaxation in your jaw?   If not, then ask yourself how your teacher got you to find these qualities in your lesson.   (Having a recording of your lessons can help with this when your memory fails!) Learning to sing is not always easy, but practicing this kind of “Socratic Questioning” during your lessons will help you continue your improvement in between them.   When you have a better understanding of what really happened in those lessons, you can take that knowledge with you for the rest of your life! Want even more expert advice from our teachers?    Sign up for email updates here! Ruth C. teaches singing, opera voice and acting lessons to students in Denver, CO. Ruth joined the TakeLessons team in June 2012, and her specialties include classical/opera, musical theater, jazz and folk singing styles. Sign up for lessons with Ruth, or visit TakeLessons to search for a teacher near you! Photo by DanBrady

Shark Tank Formula for Start Up Success - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Shark Tank Formula for Start Up Success - Introvert Whisperer Shark Tank Formula for Start Up Success ABC’s Shark Tank has entertained millions of Americans since 2009, however, this program is not only entertaining, it’s also informative. Regardless of whether you consider yourself an entrepreneur or not, you can glean valuable career advice from this primetime show. Here are some of the most useful career tips viewers have learned from the panel of sharks and hopeful entrepreneurs: It’s ok to say “no.” Every entrepreneur walks into the tank hoping to get a deal, but some have turned down deals that they didn’t think were a good fit. The lesson here? It’s important to say “no” when something doesn’t feel right. If you have too much on your plate at work, speak up and don’t take on more assignments. If you are offered an unfair salary as part of a job offer, say no and ask for what you deserve. It can be difficult for introverts to voice their opinions, but it’s absolutely necessary to get ahead in your career.   Don’t let the pressure get to you. Being in front of the sharks can be intense, and many entrepreneurs end up crumbling under the pressure. When this happens, things tend to spiral out of control fairly quickly, and the entrepreneur rarely walks away with a deal. This should show you the importance of staying calm and levelheaded under pressure. If you feel overwhelmed at work, stop for a moment to take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down. Be prepared. Entrepreneurs who enter the tank must know the ins and outs of their businesses in order to impress the sharks and secure a deal. How does this translate to your career? You should always be prepared for whatever lies ahead. If you are pitching to a client or meeting with your supervisor about a new project, be prepared. Spend time prior to the meeting thinking of what questions you may be asked and how you should answer them. Practice what you are going to say, especially if you’re nervous about speaking in front of others. Preparation takes time, but it pays off in the end. For more information on lessons you can learn from Shark Tank, take a look at this helpful infographic: