Term 1 - Lesson 3 - 31st September 2014

Lesson 3                                                                                                   31st September 2014




Regular warm-up:


-Humming chords is useful to make me feel confident in singing every note whether it is high or low notes


-Posture ensures I project my notes out loud; this is useful as I have the tendency to sing through my throat


 - 1-2-3 scales ensures I am clear when singing the lyrics


 What makes a great singer?
Ella Fitzgerald
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbL9vr4Q2LU


 Strengths
Ella Fitzgerald is an extraordinary vocalist who engages with her audience throughout the performance. She is constantly looking at her audience even though it’s a semi sphere stage. Throughout the performance she uses a technique of clarity when singing is useful and makes her a great singer. In addition the ability to maintain her breath whilst singing is fabulous because it ensures she doesn’t miss any notes.




 Aretha Franklin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STKkWj2WpWM


 Strengths
Aretha Franklin is another person who controls her breathing throughout and doesn’t lose her breath when performing. Many times she’s looking at the audience to sympathise with them. When she is singing she is able to hold her notes down for a long period of time which gives an effect to the whole song.



Sandy Denny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQiWL0HfIJs


Strengths
Although Sandy Denny doesn’t sing songs which require a lot of strength and vocals, her soften voice makes her music sound charming and smooth. She sounds fabulous because of her ability of clarity hence singing a soft song. Ability to sing and play at the same time shows that she’s capable of focusing on both things at the same time. Furthermore, she’s able to emotionally connect with her audience and the song which is witnessed form her facial expressions and also the smoothening of her vocals.



Jessye Norman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOIAi2XwuWo


 Strengths
Ability to project her voice without micro-phone is an extraordinary technique which makes her sound incredible with a lot of power in her voice. I’ve learnt and observed that as an opera singer, you have to practice elongating and erasing vowels which is witnessed in her performance. Her breathing technique is another great strength as she is talented in holding her notes for a long time without losing her breath.


 Who I consider a great singer?
Sinead O’Connor has a sweet voice but very stabled vocals and when she sings she portrays this through the high notes as seen in ‘No Sacrifice’. Various of Sinead O’Connor’s songs require high notes and long notes. In her performances she is capable to hold her notes for a long time without getting out of breath. I find her amusing because of the ability to reach every note with such meaning.