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Tips for Beginners

Whether you are training your voice to join the ranks of professional singers or wish to cultivate your amateur talent, there are numerous aspects of singing to take into consideration. No matter how famous a singer is or how beautiful a voice, there will always be critical influences lurking in the shadows. They whisper about flat notes, put down song choices and even grimace at what a singer is wearing. All of these criticisms are fleeting.

It is up to the singer to learn from and embrace the good and the bad that comes with sharing his or her voice with the world. As long as you are confident and satisfied with your voice, the sky is the limit. Even the most popular vocalists of today have room for improvement.

When you’ve decided to embark on the path to develop your voice for singing, there is a certain level of respect regarding your craft to adhere to. As you enter the wonderful world of learning how to sing, there are many different concepts to embrace and aspects to consider when you are ready to take your potential to the next phase.

Choosing the Song That is Right For You
Although you may croon Frank Sinatra in the shower or hum Cher in the car, this doesn’t mean their songs are the right ones for you to take on while developing your voice. When singing, your vocal capabilities will fall into a specific vocal range, which are based upon the sex of the singer and the tonal quality they have in their voice.

Females are deemed a soprano (highest vocal range), contralto (lowest singing voice) or mezzo-soprano, which sits between soprano and contralto. The highest vocal ranges for a man include soprano and alto, which is also a term used to express the lowest singing voice of a female. Males have a wider assortment of tones associated with the range of their voice.

A tenor has a high vocal range that enables the singer to reach dramatic high notes. In opera, this is one of the more popular ranges of voice. The lowest vocal range for a man is referred to as bass. Typically, men with deep-speaking voices accomplish this vocal range. In the middle, there is the baritone (a cross between bass and tenor) and bass-baritone (a cross between bass and baritone).

Knowing your vocal strengths and capabilities, as well as limitations, will help you choose the kind of songs that will bring out your natural talent. Surely, if you have a deep voice, you will not benefit from tackling high-pitched songs that torture and strain your vocal cords.

Caring For Your Voice
When you make it a habit to practice healthy voice techniques and care, you will experience an improvement in the quality of your voice. These habits also ensure that your voice will continue to function in top working condition for many years to come. Singers should drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day. This will keep the throat well hydrated. Proper breathing techniques will aid an individual in learning how to sing. Singers-in-training should avoid shouting, yelling and talking loud. All of these actions can lead to a hoarse voice, which affects your ability to sing.

Did you know that what you eat and drink affects your voice? Spicy foods weaken the throat, alcohol irritates the vocal cords and throat, even mouthwash contains irritating ingredients. Smoking cigarettes, as well as surrounding yourself with second-hand smoke, also causes breathing, throat and voice issues. As a rule of thumb, a healthy body creates a better atmosphere for a healthy voice.

Gaining Confidence Through Preparation
When you feel ready to share your singing talent with others, you may select an amateur performance night or create a demo. Preparing for this moment means that you have gone through all of the proper channels of training your voice. This means participating in singing exercises and voice training sessions, as well as visiting a voice coach or singing teacher. These are all ways to build up confidence in your singing. When enlisting the help of a professional, you will also benefit from constructive criticism.

Another way to gain confidence in your singing is to develop your ear. This will allow you to hone your craft as a singer by identifying when a note, tone or pitch is off. This will lead you to efficiently self-correct your voice if it should waver. Additional preparation techniques also involve practicing breathing exercises, phrases, vowel sounds and scales. Even the slightest effort towards preparation goes a long way and over time, you will strengthen and build your vocal capabilities.

Why Are You Singing?
When it comes to singing, there are many different reasons why an individual wishes to tackle this challenge. Perhaps, you have always had the pipes, but really didn’t know how to control your talent. Maybe someone told you that you had a beautiful voice and you should pursue it as a career. You might even want to follow in the footsteps of a family member or person you admire.

Anyway you look at it, the best music comes from those who have passion for song. Singing should not be forced and if your heart is not into it, you might not last long in the business (if this is what you desire). There are also numerous styles of singing to choose from, including jazz, opera, pop, soul or theatre. You might want to experiment with a few if you already haven’t fallen in love with a particular genre.

By following healthy voice care, preparation and training, in no time, you should be singing to your heart’s content, whether in front of peers, on a stage or still in the mirror.

Carlsberg launches Web-TV channel about football and fan

Recently Carlsberg Brewery launched a football web-TV-channel partofthegame.tv.

They launched 5 channels showing all aspects about football from the classic football matches to life as a fan.

Be sure not to miss the video clips about football funnies and rituals from the Football Magic channel or the bizarre story about fans in the stand and how fan culture sometimes go beyond reason.
As an extra feature you can upload your own favourite football and fan moments.

Its an amazing site with loads of features present in it. So log on to partofthegame.tv and experience the diference.

Singing student earns ticket to the stage

When a singing student went to order opera tickets the last thing he expected was to be on stage just a few hours later.
But that is exactly what happened when 32-year Adriano Graziani made the fateful call on the eve of a concert at the Weston Studio at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff last month.

The original tenor for the performance, arranged by the Friends of Welsh National Opera, had fallen ill hours before the start.

Undaunted, Mr Graziani answered the distress call and had just enough time to rehearse and get ready before singing in front of hundreds of people.

His performance of E Lucevan Le Stelle from Tosca, Core N’grato, a Neapolitan song, the Brindisi Duet from La Traviata and the Welsh song, Arafa Don, won rave reviews and led to him being offered a three-month contract as an understudy for the role of Rodolfo in La Boheme in Birmingham next year.

The part will see the former bank worker from Neath, South Wales, taking the lead in a matinee performance at the city’s Hippodrome Theatre.

He has also accepted the lead role in a revival show of Tosca at the Richmond Theatre in London next February.

Speaking from Zaragoza in Spain, where he is taking part in the Montserrat Caballe International Singing Competition, Mr Graziani said of his lucky break: “I called up for some tickets to the gala concert last month as I thought it would be nice to sit in the audience for a change rather than be up there on stage singing.

“The person putting on the event for the Welsh National Opera asked if I was a tenor. I told him I was and he said ’I’m ever so sorry but could you take part in the concert tonight because the tenor is ill?’

“I was ’umming and ahhing’ because I would have only had a few hours to get ready and rehearse but I went ahead with it and it was a really big success.

“As a result I had a working session with the director of the Welsh National Opera to see what I was able to do and that led to me being offered the understudy in one of the principal roles in a production of La Boheme.

“Because of that I got auditioned for a lead role in a revival of Tosca at the Richmond Theatre in London and I got the role in that as well.”

He added: “It was all because I phoned up for tickets. I think I’m going to be ringing up all the time for tickets now!”

It is not the first time Mr Graziani, who is currently studying at the Cardiff International Academy of Voice, has stepped into a role at the last moment.

Last year, after leaving the Royal College of Music he became the understudy in the Glyndebourne Touring Opera production of Macbeth.

When the principal had to return to Italy to be with his pregnant wife, Mr Graziani stepped up and won a most-promising newcomer award for his efforts.

The plaudits he is now garnering are a long way from where he was less than five years ago, working for a bank.

“It really wasn’t what I wanted to do,” said Mr Graziani. “I knew that I wanted to be a singer and I was having lessons.

“I was always in the opera world in my mind. I think I was destined to be a singer or performer of some sort but opera was the thing that made me alive.

“It is in my blood because I’m part Italian.

“One day I was walking past the Royal College of Music in London and I asked if there was any chance I could see the head vocal coach.

“As a result of my singing that day, they offered me a two-year study and that really was the crunch.

“I was 28 then and I knew if I didn’t do it then, then I would never do it. If I left it any later then maybe people wouldn’t take me seriously.”

He added: “I’m very, very lucky to be doing what I’m doing because it is the best job in the world.

“You do need a bit of luck though.”