Vocal Style Exploration: Your First Lesson

Welcome to your first lesson! Today, we will dive into the exciting world of individual vocal style.

Understanding Vocal Style

Many people tend to rely on their defaults or imitate artists they admire, but it's essential to discover what truly makes your voice unique. As a pop or contemporary singer, your style should reflect who you are as a vocalist. Here's what you need to know:

• Learn Your Toolbox: Understand the vocabulary and techniques involved in vocal expression, just as a writer must master language to create compelling narratives.
• Experiment: Embrace the process by trying new things, making mistakes, and having fun. The more playful you can be, the more you'll discover about your vocal style.

Key Advice for Learning Vocal Style

1. Study the Craft:

   • Don't rush through the learning process. Understand the styles that have influenced artists before you.
   • When covering a song, listen deeply to the nuances and stylistic features that make it unique.

2. Start with the Melody:

   • Master the original melody before attempting embellishments or improvisations.

3. Musicality:

   • Apply musical wisdom to your phrasing. Know when to add personal flair and when to hold back.
   • Always prioritize serving the lyrics, enhancing their meaning rather than overshadowing them.

Techniques to Enhance Your Vocal Style

1. Onsets

• Breathy Onset: Open vocal folds to let more air through for an intimate quality. (Used by artists like Billie Eilish and Tate McRae.)
• Balanced Onset: A clear, strong tone that provides clarity ? this is what I'm using now.
• Glottal Onset: Producing a harsher sound that adds excitement, popular among soul singers like Christina Aguilera.

2. Voice Qualities

• Chest Voice: This is your natural, speaking voice.
• Head Voice: A lighter, airy quality using the thinner part of your vocal folds.
• Falsetto: Often characterized by a very light sound, it's essential for adding emotional nuance.

Flips

• Jumping between registers, known as a "flip," can add depth to your phrases. Experiment with these transitions for creative effect.

3. Spoken Qualities

• A trendy style where singers maintain pitch while adopting a conversational tone. Artists like Billie Eilish and Khalid utilize this approach effectively.

4. Creak or Pulse

• This technique involves slow vocal fold pulsation; it creates a unique sound that's very relaxed and engaging.
• Example: Khalid uses it in "Good Days."

5. Fall-offs

• A technique where you release the note at the end of a phrase, giving it a casual and carefree feel. Rihanna is a notable user of this technique.

6. Caricatures

• Embrace different vocal personas to enhance your style. Artists like Doja Cat often switch their character within a single song, adding diversity and fun.

Final Thoughts

These stylistic traits will form the foundation of your vocal phrasing throughout this course. By incorporating these elements and maintaining a spirit of playfulness, your overall phrasing will come alive.

Keep exploring, and let's make vocal magic happen!