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Lesson time: (3min 22sec)
Exploring louder and softer sounds to add light and shade to a song.
This lesson is part of the course Essential Skills for Singers
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
So this lesson is about dynamics in singing. When we think about dynamics, it's really about moving from softer sounds to stronger sounds and back again, including everything in between.
At this stage, when you're experimenting with your dynamics:
You're not going to extreme volumes or extreme softness. Instead, you'll experiment with a gentle contour of slightly louder and slightly softer sounds, developing fine control.
Often you might hear a chord getting louder called a crescendo and getting softer called a diminuendo.
It's very useful in our exercises to incorporate elements of dynamics.
Let's return to our five-note scale and add dynamics.
First Exercise:
Try it with me:
This should be gentle, not extreme.
Sometimes, when I ask people to sing more softly, they immediately get breathy.
At this stage, we'll work on building volume gently and bringing it back down.
Try Together:
Your Turn: Have a go!
Now we're going to try it on an "oo." This might be harder to control, and you may feel a slight loss in pitch accuracy.
Your Turn: Good on your own!
Now that you've practiced these exercises, don't worry if it takes some time. Many of these exercises are designed to help you improve, and it will get easier.
Juliet Russell is a singer, composer, vocal coach and choir director. She is passionate about supporting individuals and communities to develop their voices and creativity. A vocal coach on ITV’s The Voice, The Voice Kids and BBC’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Juliet has also worked with Grammy, Brit, MTV Europe and MOBO award winning artists. She has collaborated and performed with innovative artists including Damon Albarn, Imogen Heap, Paloma Faith, alt-J, Yoko Ono, Seal and Ringo Starr. In 2015, supported by the Arts Council of England, she toured her Earth Meets Sky album, with local musicians and community choirs to create ten unique performances throughout the UK. She is regularly commissioned to create new choral pieces and vocal arrangements and has performed nationally and internationally. Committed to artist development, Juliet mentors and coaches emerging artists, working with management, record and publishing companies as well as independent artists. She has a vocal studio in the heart of London’s vibrant Brick Lane. Juliet was a founding artistic director of Sense of Sound and creative director of Sing Up Greenwich and Sing Late at the V&A. She leads the Portobello Live Choir, a community choir in West London, Assemble professional choir and is a trainer for the British Lung Foundation’s Singing for Lung Health programme. read more
