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Baby One More Time (piano/vocal cover)

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  • charlie_vcharlie_v Moderator, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 161
    Hi, @Michael4000

    The best form of adult learning is increasing your awareness. Therefore, rather than commenting on the recording, can I suggest you go first? You identify what's good, what needs work, etc. Best if you think about all the core skills the course is helping you develop, such as breath support, pitch, vowel mods, going through passagio, etc.

    Once we know what you know is/isn't working well, we can focus in on areas that may have escaped your attention.

    Good luck!
  • Michael4000Michael4000 STREAMING PRO Posts: 999
    @charlie_v Thank you for your response. I think it sounds ok. The pitch is mostly pretty good. I’mtrying to build a setlist of songs for performing live just me on piano/vocals. Do you have any suggestions for me on this recording for improvement?
  • charlie_vcharlie_v Moderator, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 161
    Hi @Michael4000

    Someone walked up to Voltaire and said: "Life's hard!" Voltaire replied: "Compared to what?"

    I was talking yesterday to a lady who used to play the oboe in the top London symphony orchestras. She now teaches "Duck to diva" to primary school children. Huge huge difference in ability, but both are playing the oboe. When she takes on adult students, she asks them what their goals are, because that will help inform what they're trying to achieve. So I suppose it's worth you asking yourself this question: how far do you want to get with your singing? Do you want to sound like Ken, Gabbi, Adam, etc, or are you happy with how far you've got?

    Some things you could consider:

    1. Focus on how much support you have. The original is quite 'breathy,' with lots of air over the cords. But it'd be interesting to experiment with more, and perhaps throw in some glottal compression for single words.

    2. Have a listen to your pitch. Eg "something wasn't right here," "let you go," "girl you got me..."

    3. Could you do more with vowel mods as you go up? Eg "I know now," "and I must confess"

    4. You've missed out the top "I do believe" !! Presumably this is because it's outside your range, but why have you chosen to sing this song in this key, if you can't then hit the best bit?!

    What do you think?
  • Michael4000Michael4000 STREAMING PRO Posts: 999
    @charlie_v Thank you for your feedback. How do we achieve that “breathy” sound, especially when Ken’s courses primarily teaches singers to NOT let a lot air pass through?
  • charlie_vcharlie_v Moderator, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 161
    Hi @Michael4000

    What Ken is doing is developing your flexibility. If you can sing with good cord closure, you’ll be able to sing powerfully. You can then reduce the power to get the softer sound.

    If you only sing softly with lots of air passing over the cords, you’ll not be able to strengthen the voice.

    So the course gives you versatility!

    To practise, start with a powerful voice, then gradually ease off, getting the breathy sound. You can do this when speaking as well.

    If you throw in the occasional bit of glottal compression at the end of a phrase, you’ll get a really interesting variation!
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