Online Music Lessons

Photo from Francis Kimani

Photo from Francis Kimani

What Not To Eat Or Drink Before Singing ✍Foods that add mucous: milk, ice cream and other dairy products. ✍Foods that dry the throat: citrus fruits, alcohol. ✍Throat Irritants: Overly spicy foods, coffee. ✍Sodas and other fizzy drinks put lots of air in your stomach. ✍Ice cold anything: your throat will constrict. @onlinemusiclessons

 11 Reasons Why People Sing Off Pitch Reason #4 – Being afraid of actually hitting the wrong note ✍This cause is very similar to the prior one, only this time, the FEAR is actually “hitting the wrong note.” So now, the singer is preoccupied with the actual notes in the song, and obsessed with the idea that they are all going to be wrong. It doesn’t matter how loud or soft or weak or strong their voice sounds – they just don’t want it to be wrong, so because of their temperament, they are unable to let go of this attachment.  Of course, what we hold on to can hurt us – so they hit the wrong note! This goes along with the saying, “What we resist persists.” This is an emotional need of wanting to look good, which is accompanied by a belief that hitting notes wrong is a huge deal that must be avoided or you will look like a complete idiot.✍  @onlinemusiclessons

11 Reasons Why People Sing Off Pitch Reason #5 – Going into “Singing Mode” ✍Many singers seem to think that when they sing, they need to become something they are not. They feel they need to “pretend” to be  the next American Idol, and exhort a huge amount of effort in the process.  As a result, they “over-sing,” or over dramatize their performance, and this can result in going waaaaay SHARP!  When people go into “singing mode” what they are really feeling on an emotional level is, “I have to try hard. I’m not good enough as is. I need to do something really big and important when I sing, so that people like me.”✍ @onlinemusiclessons

11 Reasons Why People Sing Off Pitch Reason #6 – Being afraid to “show up fully” in the notes of the song. ✍Ever heard someone sing before, and they seem to be doing well but then suddenly, the end of the phrase falls, or just sounds really off?  The singer doesn’t show up.  When I say “show up” I mean sing a note with your fullest potential in the present moment.  That is required for the most part, if you want to be in tune, but can you think of reasons why someone wouldn’t want to? So – how is this corrected?  Take smaller risks first. Sing songs that are easier for you in front of others where you can feel safe showing up in each note, like the Beatles or something melodic.  Don’t try to do a 12 point vocal run–it will backfire!  Once you’ve learned the basics and can sing fully, then move to the harder stuff.✍ @onlinemusiclessons

11 Reasons Why People Sing Off Pitch Reason #7 – Feeling Helpless ✍If you feel helpless, there is a very good chance that you will be “pitchy.” Many people who like to sing fall into the mistake of feeling like they don’t know how to sing. Maybe they feel this way because they haven’t had any formal or professional training and this leads to them feeling unsure and helpless. This feeling may have also developed over time because someone may have told them that they couldn’t sing, didn’t sound good or they hit the wrong note.  Oftentimes, it happened when they were young and still has left an emotional scar or vocal wound that needs to be healed.✍ @onlinemusiclessons

11 Reasons Why People Sing Off Pitch Reason #8: Reaching up for notes ✒ Usually the muscles in most singer's throat tighten and they either pull up their larynx or it gets locked up because of strain. The only reason singers do this is because they don’t know better. They haven’t yet learned how to develop the flexibility and freedom that is available to them through warming up, and equally importantly: understanding how to treat their voice and relate to it in a constructive way. Once you learn how to GROUND and CENTER your energy, you don’t even think about reaching for notes. You know you have access to all of them. One analogy I like to use is patting the notes on the head. As I slide up in pitch, I ground my energy down, and just pat the notes on the head – literally.✒ @informativequotes

11 Reasons Why People Sing Off Pitch Reason #9: Not knowing which key to place the song in ✒ Oftentimes, songs are not written in one key. For example, the commonly sung, “Happy Birthday To You” throws off a lot of singers at the very end.Of course the simple solution is to make sure the song is in the right key, which goes back to knowing your voice, but singers don’t always have the luxury of choosing a key, so they must learn to get comfortable with all of their registers.✒ @onlinemusiclessons

11 Reasons Why People Sing Off Pitch Reason #10: Having bad posture ✍When you are not supporting your voice with your breath, from your diaphragm, you can easily tend to sit in the middle of a note, or just below a note. You tone can also lack support and leave you sounding too breathy or not powerful enough. It’s important to have good posture as well, because when you slouch, you are blocking the energy flow along your spine. Be sure to sit up straight or stand with a straight spine when you sing – chin parallel to the ground, knees unlocked, feet shoulder width apart and arms relaxed. Your chest should already be slightly elevated, but should stay that way even when you exhale.✍ @onlinemusiclessons