Antoinette Hart Singing Lessons

10 of the best vocal performances of all time

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:36:36 +0000

If you are looking to become a better singer then you’ll already pay attention to your favourite artists in order to try and improve your vocals. We take a look at 10 of the best vocal performances of all time.

Johnny Cash – Hurt

This song was originally recorded by alternative music act “Nine Inch Nails”, however Johnny Cash arguably made this song his own. The posthumously released song won countless awards. Watch the video below

Sam Cooke - Change is Gonna Come

This song written was only a modest success when it was released in 1963, however, since then its’ gone onto exemplify the sixties’ Civil Rights Movement. Sam Cooke was inspired to write the song after hearing Bob Dylan’s “Blowing In The Wind”. The song is also among three hundred songs deemed the most important ever recorded by National Public Radio (NPR) and was recently selected by the Library of Congress as one of twenty-five selected recordings to the National Recording Registry as of March 2007

Billie Holiday - Good Morning Heartache

Billie Holiday’s signature tune that showcases her extraordinary command of both jazz and blues vocal techniques

Gil Scott Heron - Pieces of a Man

Pieces of a man is a song from Gil Scott Heron’s second album of the same name. Gil Scott Heron’s vocal is full of emotion in this song complementing the lyrical content.

Otis Reading - Sitting At The Dock of a Bay

Sitting At The Dock Of A Bay has become a timeless pop classic. The melancholy lyrics and vocal performance make this one of the most memorable pop songs ever released. Watch the video below

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

Hallelujah was a cover of a Leonard Cohen song. Jeff Buckley’s version of the song has been named on multiple “top songs” lists and his place in the music hall of famed was confirmed with the vocal performance on this song.

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

Not many people could put on a better show than Freddy Mercury in his prime. His vocal performance on Bohemian Rhapsody still sounds fresh today.

Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues

This song about the inner city ghettos of America is one of Marvin Gaye’s best vocal performances. Watch the video below to see Marvin Gaye sing with emotion about the economic plight that many poorer Americans faced.

Nat King Cole - When I Fall In Love

When I Fall In Love is arguably Nat King Cole’s most recognisable song. He is widely considered as one of the most important musical personalities in United States history

Elvis If I Can Dream

Presley performed the song with the intensity and intonations of southern gospel. If I can dream was one song that Elvis always held close to his hear.

Do you agree with these choices? What vocal performance do you rate highly? Leave your comments below and don’t forget to sign-up to our newsletter to receive tips and advice on how to improve your singing voice.

Singing Exercises: Ear Training And Pitch

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:25:18 +0000

Ear training and pitch are vital aspects to understand when you learn how to sing. Here is a basic FAQ on the subject that will help you improve both ear training and pitch training.

Q. What is ear training

Ear training is used to help identify which notes or chords are being played. Ear training helps you to sing in tune with the musical note or chord.

Q. Why do I need to learn how to pitch a note to music?

Anybody who wants to learn how to sing or to play an instrument needs to be able to identify which notes are being used and when they are being used. In an ideal world a singer or musician would be able to recognise the note or chord just by listening to a piece of music. While this isn’t necessarily an option when a person first takes singing lessons, after a while most people should be able to improve this aspect.

Q. How can I tell if I am singing in the right pitch?

The best way to hear if you are singing in the right pitch is to record yourself singing along to a song that you know well. Listen back to what you have recorded. Are the notes you are singing exactly the same as the singer in the song or do they sound sharp or flat in comparison? If you aren’t hitting the same notes as the singer then you’re not singing “on pitch”.

Q. What is ‘Perfect Pitch?’

It should be said that most people don’t have perfect pitch. Perfect pitch is a term used to describe someone who can sing (or play) notes along with music without having to read sheet music.

Q. I can’t Pitch am I Tone Deaf?

Very few people will actually be “tone deaf”. The term is used to describe someone who lacks the ability to tell the difference between a note or a chord. In fact, most people who think they are tone deaf just need to practice their pitching skills. Even if you are bad at telling pitch, it’s unlikely that you’ll be tone deaf – it just means that you need more practice.

Q. How can I learn to pitch correctly?

If you want to learn how to pitch correctly, then you just need to remember the old saying “practice makes perfect”. The more you practice the better you’ll become. A good singing teacher will be able to help you progress quicker. With regular practice and the aid of a good singing teacher you’ll be able to pitch correctly. Listed below are some pitching exercises that will help you stay “on pitch”

Pitching Exercises

Pitching exercises can help you recognise the pitch of a note. By listening and singing back to these notes it’s possible to improve your ability to stay “on pitch”

For this exercise you’ll need the ability to record your voice and a musical instrument that is in tune. Most mobile phones have the option to record voices or you could buy an inexpensive microphone to hook up to your computer or an old cassette recorder.

If you don’t have access to a musical instrument then there are plenty of places online that simulate instrument notes.

When you have found an instrument (or virtual instrument) then play the “C” note. Listen carefully to how it sounds and play it again – this time sing the note. The notes should “blend together” in harmony when you sing along with them. Keep on practicing until the note and your voice are in harmony with each other.

Repeat this exercise going along all the notes on the scale. After you are comfortable with this, then pick random notes from the scale and try to sing “on pitch”.

Repeat this exercise with each note going up and down the scale. Then do it again picking random notes.

Remember that a good singing teacher will help you improve your voice much quicker. Contact us for more advice on how to start improving your singing voice.

Frederick Husler Technique

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:39:29 +0000

Professor Frederick Husler was born in UTAH, USA in 1889 and died in 1969 in Switzerland. His father was Swiss by birth, his mother German, and on her husband’s death, when Frederick was eight, the children were brought to Munich to be educated. Although gifted in many fields, in his late teens he turned to singing for which he had little natural aptitude. It was his determination to overcome this lack of talent which caused him to dedicate his life to singing. Since there was nowhere he could learn about singing, in the way he wanted to learn it, he taught himself. When he was twenty-five, Bruno Walter, already at the height of his conducting career, wanted to make a world tour with him singing the title role in Verdi’s
“Othello”. By the time he was twenty-seven he was well known as a teacher in Munich with more pupils than he could take.
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In 1922 he and his wife moved to Berlin, where he became head of vocal studies at the famous Stern’sche Conservatoire and had a large private practice. The Ensemble of the Kroll Opera under Otto Klemperer was placed as a whole in his care.
Those who heard its performances still consider its standard of excellence unrivalled.