Top tips for vocalists

Riaan-Combrink

I found this cool article from a guy who has obviously thought about this a bit!!! ?

Was going to add it to the vocal warm-up thread above, but it goes further than that and deserves a separate thread:
http://www.ratcliffe.co.za/articles/vocaltips.shtml

With reference to tip #29, I'm fond of sucking Halls lozenges before singing as it clears my nasal passages and throat. Two people have told me NEVER to mix Halls and water during a gig. I wonder how many of these "remedies" or "truisms" that musos have are based in fact / science or just in custom or urban legend.

@ Alan: great article. Thanks. ?

AlanRatcliffe

Now if only I followed about half of those... I might be able to sing.

With reference to tip #29, I'm fond of sucking Halls lozenges before singing as it clears my nasal passages and throat.

Many (many, many, etc., etc., etc.) moons ago, in the days of youthful innocence - before the inevitable "descent of the testes" (sounds almost Wagnerian, doesn't it? I suppose that's fitting, seeing as you start as a soprano and end up all basso profundo ?) and before girls, guitars and other "stuff", I was a sweet-voiced boy of the choir variety. Our choirmaster introduced us (and hooked us on) Sen-Sen. That stuff really does work to "sweeten" your voice before performance.

NorioDS

I'm loving this "performance" section as I'm sure are a lot of other guys. Thanks Riaan, this stuff is awesome!

Riaan-Combrink

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Our choirmaster introduced us (and hooked us on) Sen-Sen. That stuff really does work "sweeten your voice before performance.

Hey, it's from the 19th century - that's road-tested, man ... ?
http://www.fffoods.com/products/sensen.html

aja

Do you still get sensen?

sounds interesting

TomCat

Haven't seen it in Joberg. Think it is a Cape Town thing.

Renesongs

and before girls, guitars and other "stuff", I was a sweet-voiced boy of the choir variety. Our choirmaster introduced us (and hooked us on) Sen-Sen. That stuff really does work to "sweeten" your voice before performance.

I have always been wary of school choir masters. I had one who's greatest delight was playing hymns on his organ.

FatBoy

Renesongs wrote:
and before girls, guitars and other "stuff", I was a sweet-voiced boy of the choir variety. Our choirmaster introduced us (and hooked us on) Sen-Sen. That stuff really does work to "sweeten" your voice before performance.
I have always been wary of school choir masters. I had one who's greatest delight was playing hymns on his organ.

BUWAHAHAHA

AlanRatcliffe

Renesongs wrote: I have always been wary of school choir masters. I had one who's greatest delight was playing hymns on his organ.

Oh Come All Ye Faithful...? ?
My eyes have seen the glory of the...?

TomCat wrote: Haven't seen it in Joberg. Think it is a Cape Town thing.

I first discovered it while living in Vanderbijlpark and continued buying it for years in Roodepoort. I've seen it in Cape cafes, so it is still available.

Aren't Fisherman's Friends similar stuff? Speaking of which - remember the old ad line? Telling you to "suck on a Fisherman's Friend"?

Squonk

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
I first discovered it while living in Vanderbijlpark and continued buying it for years in Roodepoort. I've seen it in Cape cafes, so it is still available.

Alan you stayed in Roodepoort? ???

Good stuff Riaan, what do we take to get the talent ?

AlanRatcliffe

Squonk wrote: Alan you stayed in Roodepoort? ???

As a grasshopper, yeah. ? '79 to '84 - in Roodekrans. Aside from two years at Athlone Boys, I was at Westridge high too.

[deleted]

BTW: Growing up in Durban I ate a LOT of SenSen. Used to love that stuff, but it's true, I can't find it anywhere up in Joburg now.

Squonk

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Squonk wrote: Alan you stayed in Roodepoort? ???
As a grasshopper, yeah. ? '79 to '84 - in Roodekrans. Aside from two years at Athlone Boys, I was at Westridge high too.

I was at West Ridge 77-80!
I lived in Roodekrans 84 in Vuurlelie street right next to the huge "Jesus Kom" Sign overlooking the valley below that would eventually become Ruimsig Golf Estate.

With all these things in common, how come I dont have all your vast Guitar Knowledge? ?

AlanRatcliffe

Squonk wrote: I lived in Roodekrans 84 in Vuurlelie street right next to the huge "Jesus Kom" Sign overlooking the valley below that would eventually become Ruimsig Golf Estate.

Also said Maranata, IIRC? That was above the cafe where every school day I spent my bus money playing pinball machines, so always ending up hitching to and from school.

With all these things in common, how come I dont have all your vast Guitar Knowledge? ?

I dunno... maybe you're thick? ? Maybe because I've spent more time taking them apart than playing them?