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Don't Tap Your Feet!

3/29/2017

If you join our chorale, one of the first things you may hear from Wayne is, “Don't tap your feet!” He'll also say, don't shake your head, don't wiggle your butt, don't drum your fingers. Don't do anything to mark the rhythm of the music. That's because he doesn't want your voice to “peck, peck, peck” like a chicken, but rather “feel” the phrase you are singing.

When you know where you're going you'll be magnetized toward it. Much like driving a car. You're looking far down the road rather than at the steering wheel. Don't think about each word you're singing but rather the whole phrase and your breath will naturally be available for what you want to sing. Singing is about feeling and emoting, not making sure you perfectly hit each note. Concentrate on each note and you'll find yourself in the ditch. Feel the phrase and you'll soon be at your destination without even thinking about it.

The Power Of The Voice

3/29/2017

If you want to hear how one of the most recognized voice talents in the world got his start you need to listen to this! It will inspire you no matter what challenges you have to overcome. He was an extreme stutterer as a child, until he learned the power of owning the story. This illustrates what Wayne is always harping on with us, "You can't properly convey the story to the audience through singing unless you "own" it — as if you'd written the words yourself!"

What Can You Do?

3/29/2017

Wayne often tells us that experience is the best teacher. He can show us what we need to do but until we try it ourselves we won't really get the lesson. That's why we have workshops where we stand up and perform in front of him and our peers. But the best teaching experience by far is a live performance. We spend months rehearsing and preparing for these concerts. While the weekly group training and the practice we do on our own are important, what we learn in front of an audience is priceless. Plus, the more we perform, the more comfortable we get.

So, like the Nike slogan says, "Just Do It!"

Live In The Vowel

5/21/2015

Have you ever thought about how singing is moved along by the vowels? The vowels are what carry our breath. Think about it - can you sustain a hard consonant such as a "k"? No. That is why the vowels are so important. When singing we must focus on the vowel and let the consonants help us to define the words. Without consonants we'd just have a bunch of "oohs" and "aahhs." But without the vowels there would be no way to sustain breath and move from one word to the next.

Wayne will often tell us before we open our mouths, "Make sure you have a big, fat "O" in your mouth. Or whatever the vowel is in the first word you are about to sing. Otherwise, if you are concentrating on the consonant, you could end up sounding like a barking seal or something worse.

Let the vowels carry you along and the consonants will come along for the ride.

Get Over Yourself

4/13/2015

C.S. Lewis said, "True humility is not thinking of less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less."

This is especially true when singing. If you have your mind on yourself you will invariably become too self-conscious and tense, which will close up your throat. If you concentrate on conveying the story to your audience you will be thinking about how to bless and inspire them. That should keep you loose, open, and able to sing without fear.

It's All About The Story!

3/20/2015

It's so simple, yet so profound. Over the years Wayne has taught voice lessons and conducted chorales, he is amazed at how many singers he's come across who don't understand this basic concept. You must be prepared to tell the story. Music is not about the notes, it's about telling a story. You can't engage your audience if you are staring at a piece of paper. And you can't watch the conductor if you're eyes are looking down at the music.

Whenever Wayne has performed - whether it be a major opera or singing a few songs for any size venue, he always starts by learning the story. He encourages his chorale to do the same. Actually he commands that we do so. Learn the story so you can speak it as confidently as if you had written it yourself. Practice saying the words as an actor or actress would deliver their lines. Then and only then can you start to learn the music. The music will come much faster if you aren't tripping over the words.

Tell the story and you will inspire your audience. Tell the story and you will engage their souls.

Back To The Basics

2/23/2015

Wayne goes through the roof if anyone comes to him asking him how to breathe properly for singing. The reason is because, as he often says, we were born breathing correctly, then we spend the rest of our lives figuring out how to screw it up. If you look at puppies or babies breathing when they are asleep, their belly moves slowly up and down. Same with any of us when we are sleeping. But somehow when we are "trying" to sing, we forget how to breathe naturally and start trying to "help." Breathing correctly for singing is as much about expiration as it is inhalation. We should be like bagpipes or an accordion. As the breath comes up from the diaphragm it crosses over the vocal chords creating sound. If you cut off the breath from below and try to sing from your throat, you won't have much sound or resonance. When it comes to singing and breathing, it's important to get back to the basics.

Relaxed Intensity

2/4/2015

Wayne is always saying that the biggest enemy any of us have when singing is tension. Tension will kill your voice. It cuts off the natural flow of air through your vocal chords. As we sing we should be intense - in the sense that we should be focused and intent on delivering the message of the song we are singing. But never tense. So he will say to us, “Relaxed Intensity! Intense, but not tense.”

He says it often enough to make it stick in our brains. Actually doing it is another story!

Don't Compare!

1/26/2015

One of Wayne's favorite sayings is, “All misery comes from comparison.” What he means by this in terms of singing is we should never compare ourselves to another singer. There will always be someone better than us and someone who is worse. The only person we can truly compare ourselves to is ourselves! If we chart our progress based on where we come from and where we hope to go, then we are only competing, if you will, against ourselves.

True misery does come from comparison. Think about that in all areas of your life, next time you are tempted to compare yourself to another. It's a good teaching tool for kids, too!

Welcome!

1/23/2015

My name is Amy and I've been studying with Wayne for over a year. I had no intention of studying voice, but sometimes life has a way of bringing surprises when you least expect it! I have learned so much from Wayne and consider him more like a life coach than a voice instructor. That comment makes him happy as he sees music as his platform for sharing the wisdom he has gained over the years as a performer and conductor with those in his chorale.

This blog is a place where I will share quotes from Wayne - not all original - but certainly applicable to all our lives - as well as pictures, funny stories, etc. I hope this will encourage you to dream big and maybe even consider joining his Celebration!Chorale. I can tell you one thing - learning from Wayne is never boring! He will inspire you to give your all not only to music but to your entire life.