I’ve blogged a lot about vocal health, how to take care of your voice, what to do if you are sick, when not to sing etc…  But then there is a certain reality, sometimes you have to sing anyway, whether your voice is healthy or not and that is what happened to Paige Miles, and due to that unlucky course of events, she has been voted off the show.  Unfortunately, everyone has short term memory in show business.

She started off the show strong with Simon Cowell telling her she had the best voice of the bunch.  Two weeks ago she got laryngitis.  Now just imagine this.  You are there for a chance of a lifetime and you laryngitis.  Under any other point in her life she would have been commanded to vocal rest by a doctor so that her chords could heal and recover properly.  This really takes a couple of weeks with laryngitis.

But, due to the circumstance she had to produce, this was her opportunity and moment, she had to sing. She probably was under doctors care and had some sort of steroid shot to get through her performance, (I’ve had to have that done).  I will tell you from personal experience, that it can get you through an important sing but you don’t get 100% out and it takes much longer to recover your voice long term then it would have without it.

Considering all that, I think she was able to do quite well last week.  But, unfortunately she paid for it with her voice this week.  It was so unstable and off.  Her poor chords sounded pretty fragile and abused.  They were just not “themselves”.

And sadly, she had to be judged anyway- “the show must go on”, as they say.  Everybody just judged her pitchy voice and was forgetting what they were going through.  Very sad for her.  It was just a stroke of bad luck, and sadly that happens in life.  You break your leg before a sports event, get sick on vacation, or laryngitis on American Idol- luck is just luck good or bad.

I just wish they could have given her more credit and have been clearer about why her voice was not producing.  They gave her compassion for her voice when she sang well the week before with the laryngitis, but acted like there was no excuse this week, 1 week later.

People always support you when you do well through a tough period, but sometimes things are tough and you can’t do well.  I am frustrated that they don’t have someone on that panel standing up for the “voice”.  You’ll find that the “people in charge” just want you to sing well, no excuses, not even the excuse of laryngitus. Excuses, to them are problem people- no matter the circumstance, no matter how unfair.

This business is tough and can be pretty ugly sometimes.   Thank God the singing can be so satisfying to balance it out.   Get yourselves a good support team around you of family and friends.  Be strong Paige Miles you are very talented.

written by Ariella Vaccarino creator of Voice Lessons To Go (singing lessons on CD) and author of Vocalize!

Are you ready for your next audition?  Sign up for my Vocal Assessment. Then send me a link or mp3 of you singing (audio/or audio visual) with your questions and I will get back to you with my feedback right away.

Follow me on twitter:http://www.twitter.com/singingvltg

Yes, we all do and will continue to make dumb mistakes in life.  But just remember in the singing business you will always be remembered for those dumb mistakes, so try and avoid them by being professional at all points of your career.

Here are a couple of my own stupid move confessionals of mine.  Perhaps admitting them to the “public” will help free me of them!

The stupid young singer I was- (totally embarrassing to admit)

Out of college I was given a lot of work by different opera companies, I didn’t realize what a big deal that was.  I was very young to the business, during that time and I became overwhelmed by all that needed to be done.  With all my responsibilities, I pulled out of a production that I was supposed to understudy the lead in because it didn’t seem important to me and I really just didn’t want to do it with all the other work I had going on.

What I should have done was declined the offer from the beginning graciously, but I was too uncomfortable to say no.  I kept thinking I would some how deal with it.  I never even opened the score to learn the music and then pulled out just before rehearsals started claiming personal reasons.

This was sooo dumb of me, and so irresponsible. I was so self absorbed (normal for that age but…)  it was just to understudy the part so somehow I felt it was ok at the time.  That forever marked me with that company. Something I would never ever do today, but yet years later I will be remembered as a flake by them.

You must remember that your actions effect everyone around you, not just yourself.

After that last minute drop out of mine, someone was sent in a scurry to find a replacement.  And then some other poor singer had to rush and learn a part.  Totally not fair of me.  I’m sorry for that!

My senior Recital

To contrary belief, the world does NOT revolve around you

Being an Opera singer was my whole focus and world for many years.  When I was a senior at USC I had a senior recital.  This was my main event in school a full length recital that I performed with accompaniment full stage my own program etc…  This was my whole focus- lived and breathed it.

Anyway, the recital went great, and I filled the theater.  But, there were a few people at that time in my life that I had been working under regularly in the music business doing concerts, mentoring with etc…  Some of these people did not attend my concert and I was extremely hurt.  I would even say I felt betrayed by them for not attending.  As a result, I held a “childish” grudge against them, was cold and sulky when I saw them, tried to make them feel guilty etc…  HOW LAME I WAS!

These musicians were older than me and professionals with their own lives and families.  I could not comprehend them not attending my marvelous event on a Saturday night.  But in fact, it was not their responsiblitiy to be there.  I can see now, how hard it would have been for them to attend every concert of every musician that they new and that it really was not a big deal on their spectrum, even though I am sure they had wished me their best.

I should have just sent them a copy with a big smile, and left it at that with no expectations of them watching it.  It proved me to be unprofessional that I took it so personally them not being at my concert.

The truth is, not everyone is going to be your fan. Let your fans be your fans, but never pressure that out of someone.  You don’t want to come off bratty, and childish.

The better you get, and the more concerts you give, the more people will come.  You should not have to beg for it.  I probably am the opposite at this point to a fault.  I rarely let people know, (unless they are on a fan mailing list), that I am performing because I don’t want anyone to feel that pressure in our friendships to attend my concert.  I never want anyone to feel obligated.

All in all, these events happened, but they are not isolated, and I am sure there are many more I’ve done. The impression you give once stays with people.  I still encounter these people in different capacitites years later now and I always feel a bit dumb and “young” around them as a result of my dumb actions in the past even though I have had many years of experience and success in my own life.

Remember, you never know how these people will be in your life in the future and to whom they may spread these stories.  Try and keep your reputation squeaky clean.  Be professional at all times.

Do you have any sage advice on dumb acts that have stuck to you?  Come on, help our readers prevent your own mistakes by sharing them with us!  I would love to hear back from you!

written by Ariella Vaccarino creator of Voice Lessons To Go (singing lessons on CD) and author of Vocalize!

Want to receive immediate feedback on how you are singing from me?  Sign up for my Vocal Assessment. Then send me a link or mp3 of you singing (audio/or audio visual) with your questions and I will get back to you with my advice right away.

Follow me on twitter:http://www.twitter.com/singingvltg

Trust me on this as someone with a strong personality who has always been crazed for justice to the innocent and meek.  I’ve sung for many years and have learned sometimes the hard way how important it is to be easy to deal with, no matter the situation or injustice you encounter.

The impression you give once, will always be remembered and assigned to you by all who witnessed it, no matter how many years have passed.  And, impressions are spread from person to person and easily skewed in our business.

You never know who knows who, what director may work with the tenor you just fought with (whether he showed up drunk or without his lines no one will ever know), or which producer may be dating a wardrobe person you gave hell to (whether she tried to make you fit in a size 5 when you where a 9 or gave you an impossible costume change that would make you miss a cue) again, no one will ever know.

I understand for you the singer, it is so hard not to  take things personally in this business.  Often we are put working for people with really tough personalities rehearsing for long hours and not getting paid at that.  Their is a whole lot of injustice that singers/performers encounter.  You will deal with a lot of stupid and mean people who you know should not “have the right” to be telling you what to do.  And, whether you are right or not… I recommend keeping things neutral on your part.

Be known as the person who is easy going and easy to deal with.  Don’t talk behind people’s backs, you never know who you can trust in this business.  Your chorus mate may seem like your best friend now while the conductor is going on a rant, but that same person may use any bait to score a solo from him next performance.

I can just feel emotions running through me as I write this of the different situations where I may have given a negative impression whether I thought I was standing for the greater good or not.  Now years later, the “injustices” I was dealt on stage, or back stage are all gone,  but the impressions I left are all still there for people.

The Riotous Fight

I did La Traviata for a small opera house.  I was quite seasoned all ready singing the lead, but needed the performance opportunity to “get the role under my belt”.  I got into a situation there fighting for the volunteer opera chorus behind me that the idiot director (who should never have been hired) was constantly verbally abusing.

This may have been riotous of me (having been a teacher for years all ready I was overcome with how awful she was to these poor volunteers.-  It still makes my blood boil to think of that witch).  But, after the production, she continued to work as an opera director (God only knows how), and I was never hired for that company again.  Also, the people who really liked me and hired me in the first place became oddly cold to me after because that director had their ear.  Who knows how many other people that may have spread to and how the story may have been altered.

Now am I saying if I went back and could do a “do-over”, I would change my actions?  Phew, tough question.  I think I would have learned that no one can be trusted or confided in.  I probably would have spent more of my energy encouraging the chorus with positive feedback, and less of my energy against the monster director.  I think I would have also done some reverse psychology with that director.  Tried to “find the good in her” etc… to hopefully get her to calm down with the chorus through some reverse psychology.  I guess I would have been smarter about it, and more careful about my impression.  That is always hard to do when you are in the middle of it.

Easier to say but: Find a way to vent your frustrations to loved ones who are not involved and pose no threat to you.

When dealing with terrible personalities, know that they are going to be terrible no matter what you do, so you may as well find a way for them to like you by being that one easy person who doesn’t attack them.  Often times fighting them will only effect you in a negative way.  Your attitude should always be gleaming and easy as a performer.  People remember your impression forever, what they won’t remember are the details that created the impression they have of you.

So, that’s a little advice for all you singers out there.  Try and keep the slate clean.  At least, try…

I’d love to hear some of your stories on this one!

written by Ariella Vaccarino creator of Voice Lessons To Go (singing lessons on CD) and author of Vocalize!

Want to receive immediate feedback on how you are singing from me?  Sign up for my Vocal Assessment. Then send me a link or mp3 of you singing (audio/or audio visual) with your questions and I will get back to you with my advice right away.

Follow me on twitter:http://www.twitter.com/singingvltg

At a certain level of singing, there will be a lot of good people auditioning for your role/band, or trying to get that same record contract.  When everyone is talented, prepared, professional, and looking good what can make some singers pop from the pool of others?

Your sound.  Your unique sound.  Your vocal timbre. No imitations allowed.

Can you force a unique sound?  Not in my opinion.  To me it is the difference between the great choral soprano as opposed to the Diva soloist.  You are born with a unique sound which you hope not many other people have.  I am not saying this is your only route in , so if you are a great singer with a more “common” voice don’t fret, there is still much to be done and conquered for you. such as vocal styling, image, good song writing, personality, stage presence etc…

But, if you are someone who possesses that unique timbre you are a lucky one.  If you are unclear as to what I mean by Vocal Timbre, please refer to a past blog I wrote:   Vocal Timbre Blog

When you posses a truly unique sound, the minute you open your mouth to sing people know its you without looking.  Think of Tom Waits, Frank Sinatra, Bjork, Maria Callas, Barbara Streisand, Edith Piaf, Maria Carey, Pavarotti, Paul Simon, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen- just to name a few.  They are all identifiable by the first note they sing.  That is something truly great to posses.  If you have it, congratulations.

You can’t force it though, it never sounds genuine when you do.  Singing is not about impersonating a sound that you like, rather freeing your own unique sound.  Make sure when you sing that you are being true to yourself, not following Brittany Spears or Miley Sirus on the radio.  Take song, sound, and tone, and make it your own. Let your voice out.

This can be more complicated then it sounds.  I often spend a lot of time peeling back layers of “impersonating sound” off of my students till we found their own true voice.  I can understand how it happens, you receive so much audio input over time that you may not even know you are imitating someone.

So think about it the next time you warm up and sing.  Go bare of other influences and let your own natural tone release.  You may just find that you have your own unique one of a kind gem in your own larynx!

written by: Ariella Vaccarino creator of Voice Lessons TO GO (singing lessons on CD), and author of Vocalize!

Want my opinion on your own voice?  Sign up for a  Vocal Assessment on my site.  Then send me a link to your voice with your questions and I’ll get back to you with my feedback right away.

Follow me on twitter:http://www.twitter.com/singingvltg

First of all, I’d like to thank American Idol for giving me such fuel for my blogs.  They are really helping to make my job easy!

Last night watching the men again, I was ignited by Aaron Kelly’s performance of ” My Girl” .  I am not going to be commenting specifically on him, he did a good job and is only 16 so perhaps he did an amazing job.  But what I did notice first and foremost about his performance was that he performed the first two verses of his song exactly the same.  And that is an improvement he needs to work on and a great subject to blog and discuss for all singers who are going to do any type of performing.

Making a song interesting to listen to.

In general a song is made up of verse and chorus repeating.  So what can you do to make that verse or chorus pop from a repeating one?  There are several things to think about when approaching your song such as: intention, dynamics, emotion, and melody variation.

Like an actor a singer needs to perform a song like a monologue, finding the beats and the intention to each phrase.  Consider this is type of blocking that you need to do in your mind before you sing the piece.

Intention-

Who are you singing to?  What is the difference in your intention from the first time you deliver a verse and the second.  For example:  the first time you may want to be getting their attention with your words, the second time you may want them to really be listening.  Or, the first time you may be just opening up and the second you may be singing from your whole heart with resolve.  These different intentions need to show themselves and they can do so in a few different ways:

Dynamics- Simply, your volume.  For a love song a quiet intro may be a sign of your vulnerability and a louder repeat a sign of your resolve.  For a “you hurt me song”  starting on a sorrowful quiet and switching to an angry loud “fed up” verse can show growth in your song journey.

Emotions- Your first verse may be timid, the second, holding nothing back out of desperation.  The first first may be coy, the second down right sexy, etc…

Body Language- You can start sitting on a stool, then stand for the second verse, or start standing at a microphone then hold it for verse two.

Melody- You can play with one verse over the other, adding runs, holding out a note, or changing up the line.

There are many things that you can do to a song.  But you need to plan for it like an actor.  That will take you to a higher step then just someone who can sing pretty.  We as singers need to tell stories.  Use your resources of dynamics, emotions, body language and melody to help you do so.

Sing well people!

written by Ariella Vaccarino creatof of Voice Lessons To Go (singing lessons on CD) and author of Vocalize!

-want to receive immediate feedback on how you are singing from me?  Sign up for my Vocal Assessment.  Then send me a link or mp3 of  you singing (audio/ or audio visual) with your questions and I will get back to you with my advice right away.

Follow me on twitter:http://www.twitter.com/singingvltg

Correct singing posture is three told fold: first- It makes you look appealing, second- you need it to set your body up so that the voice sails out freely, and third- it sets you up to ground yourself so that your free voice is deeply rooted and grounded in sound giving you more color, projection, and volume.

Singing posture for looking good:

Nobody wants to look at a slouching singer.  Your posture should give off an air of confidence that is warm and friendly.  Think of three strings.  The first pulls you straight up from your sternum, the second pulls up from the back of the head, and the third pulls down from the tail bone. You are long and tall.

The aligned singer:

We are not standing to up like a ballerina, rather “a proud tree”.  Think of your feet “the roots” rooted in the ground, your body the truck is the support for your head which should be free to release the sound like leaves free in the wind- your voice just sails out free.

The grounded singer:

Now that you are confident and aligned beautifully, you need to add some grub and oomph to that sound. Think of yourself (not letting go of the previous ideas rather adding to them), as a prize fighter.  Add a little bend in your knee feel tough- no one should be able to to knock you down physically.  Your muscles in you feet and legs are strong and alert so that when you hit a note, you hit it with the support of all of your body as well as the ground beneath.

Sing strong!

Ariella Vaccarino creator of Voice Lessons To Go (singing lessons on CD), and aulthor of Vocalize!

Looking for some professional feedback on your own singing?  Sign up for my Vocal Assessment.  Send me a link to your voice with your questions and I will get back to you right away.

follow me on twitter:http://www.twitter.com/singingvltg

Ahhhhh! It is hard to be a singer.  The ups and downs can be so extreme on your emotions and ego.  You put yourself out there for people with an “exposed voice” for people to love, and some just don’t. Then they judge, and they say their harsh words, or write their pointed critics without hesitation.

The thing is they see us as these objects, these “singing objects” that they can just compare, cut down, ignore.  But we as people make up that singer.  We are inside that singer.

You sing because you love to sing, feel that you have been given this gift to share.  You need to find a way to protect the innocence of that.  Think of some of our top singers, people grossing millions from some and laughs from others.  There is no black and white taste of what is good in the singing world once you reach a high level.  Take Celine Dion- she is an amazing vocalist, but some people don’t like her music or find her cheesy so they dismiss her as an artist all together even making fun of her when that woman is an awesome talent.  So what if you don’t like what she sings, there is a distinction between talent and taste.

I am inspired to write this after coming out of a rehearsal myself.  I sang so well, and am at such a high level, but one comment made to me that was negative went stab right into my EGO.  My immediate internal reaction to that was that I just wanted to shut down and walk away from the craft.  I even feel shame and embarrassment at times when I hear a negative comment about my singing.  - ridiculous Ariella!

Well folks, this is crap.  Singers have to be strong.  We need to build a crazy strong suit of armor around ourselves and disconnect our emotional reaction to peoples commentary.  This is a job you are doing, don’t take yourself to seriously.  If you can hear something constructive in their words than grow from the comment, if not throw it out, and I mean really throw it out and hold on to all the great comments you received instead.

Why is it we can here 20 great things and the 1 negative keeps us up at night?  I’m with you people, easier said than done, what can you do to protect yourselves?

Create a Magic Super sonic bubble around yourself and bounce the negativity off like a super hero!–seriously.

Also, find a safe place to sing where you are not judged, but rather appreciated. Don’t loose the love for your art.  Sing for that circle of friends, church, or family that makes you feel great. Go sing for a retirement home and fill your heart with appreciation for your gift.  Don’t let the poison in.

The negative comments will always be there.  You have to nourish your ego so that it is able to have a healthy reaction to it all.

Singers, stand tall and strong!

written by: Ariella Vaccarino – creator of Voice Lessons TO GO (singing lessons on CD), and author of Vocalize!

Want to test your voice out on an unbiased empathetic professional?  Sign up for my Your Vocal Assessment where you send me a link or mp3 of your voice with your questions, and I get back to you right away with my assessment.

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/singingvltg

I am inspired to write this after watching the guy last night with the thick rimmed glasses who was in a group that had all kinds of issues be cut.  He then asked the judges to give him another chance due to everything they went through… they didn’t care, their decision was made.  He had his shot.  That was it.  Judges don’t have time to hold your hand through an audition experience.  Time is money.

So sad and cold singers, but it is true there are NO EXCUSES when it comes to your performances and auditions.  Nobody cares until you are famous if you have a valid excuse or not, especially not at an audition when you are a complete unknown.

Judges are looking at you as a “singer”- someone who can pull off a note, song, job.  Not as a person with a soul, needs,  and feelings.  They honestly don’t have time to care as cruel as that sounds.  It is is the truth.

It also is not anything personal.  It is just the business of singing. All they care about is that you CAN pull it off, no matter the circumstances. Remember your impression will last with them, no matter what excuse may be behind it.

So like the guy on American Idol who was stuck in a tough group.  You just have to make things work, no matter what when it comes to crunch time. It is easy now to advise him.  I wasn’t up all night in a high pressure once in a life time situation stuck in a group filled with drama.

But as a “seasoned” professional I would say what would have been most important for him and any of them to do, is to stay emotionally detached from all the drama.  Get through the rehearsal and then no matter what for the performance be a professional.  He needed to Sing His Butt off like there would never be another opportunity, walk the routine proud, and commit to the harmonies bad- or good.  Judges are looking for professionalism and confidence from a positive person, not someone who is battered down by pressure.

It may not have been a fair hand dealt to him or anyone else cut from group night (not my favorite of the auditions they do, but good for ratings), but is was dealt.  And in life as singers we are constantly dealt things that aren’t fair: Songs that are boring, in the wrong genre, wrong tessitura, dumb directing, bad partners, ugly costumes, late night rehearsals, no rehearsals, bad pianists, cold dressing rooms, dry ice surrounding us when we sing, bad acoustics, no water back stage, empty audiences…. I could go on and on.

Again though, there are no excuses.  You will make an impression no matter what.  So own it-  you can go home after and pour all your excuses to your family and friends that is what they are for.

And feel free to write me about them, I am happy to help you work through them and help you to figure out how to prevent them your voice teacher is a great resource for empathy!

written by Ariella Vaccarino creator of Voice Lessons TO GO (singing lessons on CD), and author of Vocalize!

follow me on twitter:http://www.twitter.com/singingvltg

Want feedback on your own voice?  Sign up for Your Vocal Assessment on my site, then send me a link to or mp3 of your voice with your questions and I will give you my professional assessment right away.