As you know by now, the Crow Women are a women’s circle that is centered in Goddess spirituality and we are a pagan band that produces albums and concerts. Crow Choir is an important part of our magical practice whether the music is for ourselves or is shared with our community. We hope that you enjoy our music, and that you will support our newest album, Seasons: A Pagan Journey Around the Wheel.
So, of course, we hope that you and your pagan circle will learn and sing our songs! That would bring us great joy and satisfaction! But wait…members of your circle are not singers? Hey, no problem! Singing is a skill that can be practiced and improved. I have been singing for many years, and I find that my singing continues to improve with additional training and experience. I sing with four different groups, some very serious, audition-only ensembles, and some with whoever can show up. Having excellent choral directors has vastly improved my skills, and I would like to share with all of you some tips and suggestions that will help each of you discover and hone your best singing voice.
1. Keep the throat clear and healthy
In preparing to include singing in your life, eliminate smoking, and try to avoid bad air quality. Also, it is true that eating dairy foods before singing can create throat congestion… so put down that ice cream! And here’s an interesting factoid; eating a banana before singing can clear congestion- I gobble a banana before each concert. Drink water before singing and between songs. Hydration will keep the vocal chords flexible and will improve sound. We use singers’ throat spray to lubricate and clear the throat. In the recording studio, we’re often passing a bottle around before each take.
2. Take time to warm up your voice
Warm up your voice before you sing… use an open vowel like “ah” and sing up and down the scale, starting somewhere in your mid-range and advancing higher with each repetition. Do the same thing going down in pitch. Don’t oversing! Straining to reach a high or low note can damage your vocal cords. Then, try “bouncing” the notes, feeling each bounce in your belly. Finish your warm-ups with a siren- start at your lowest note on “ah” or “oh” and swoop up to your highest pitch, then back down again. This activates every note in your vocal range and prepares you to sing! One very useful app for this is Warm Me Up, which contains a wide range of warm-up exercises.
3. Your body is your instrument
Upright posture is important for good singing technique; singing is a whole-body physical activity, so keep your abs strong and shoulders relaxed. Head erect, allowing your throat and mouth to be an open conduit for your sound. Create an open space in the back of your mouth, at the top of your throat, as if you had a golf ball there. Concentrate on maintaining this space while singing. You’ll be thrilled at the resonant sound this produces! While focusing on open space in the back of your mouth, work to open your mouth in a vertical position, creating a long opening for your sound. If your mouth stretches sideways, you create a tight, unpleasant tone that will go flat very quickly.
I will post a few more tips in a future blog on this website; please be looking for this information! It is really true that the more you sing the more you will find your own voice! You will get better and better, more confident that you have a song to share with your coveners and with the world~ I am sending all of you positive energy for your singing to become the Song in the Heart of the Goddess!
Any tips for those who cannot hear(actually comprehend) what note they are singing – I wouldn’t know an A from an e-flat! If I stand next to a good singer I can follow within my range (I am definitely not a soprano). I am good at vibrating and resonating my voice and have a voice that projects even when whispering, but at age 2 my daughter with the true ear said “Mommy, please don’t sing, it hurts my ears!”
Humm- this is an interesting question! When singing in a group, matching pitch is all important. But, if you are singing by yourself, Sylvia, just let ‘er rip! Enjoy the fun of making music and hearing your resonant sound. However, if group singing is your goal, finding that “good singer” to stand next to seems like a good strategy. Ask that person if you can slipstream on their voice- you might form a musical partnership. If you truly want to improve your personal singing, look for a voice class and/or vocal coach. Being near a college or university gives you the opportunity to contact the music department about this. There are probably a lot of music majors who would love to pick up a few bucks helping you- and the department can connect you. A music student will not charge the price that a professional singer/teacher would charge. Whatever you find that works, just enjoy the process! Everyone can sing, whether it’s always “in tune” or not! Good luck, and many blessings.
There are Continuing Education Classes at SFCC coming up real soon.
I was considering taking the sight singing class that is supposed to help you match the note on the sheet music or use pitch pipe or chord to get your pitch correct.
My son and I are trying out Barbershop Quartet group…maybe this is a hint the group sent us 😉
Hi Lyzbyth- that’s a great idea! I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the class you describe. I am a seasoned singer, but I have always benefited from instruction and classes like this. Go for it!!! How exciting that you and your son will be singing together~ the family that sings together has so much happiness. Looks like everything is coming together for you right now so well. Keep us informed about your progress, and your enjoyment of that cool Barbershop singing.