Maintaining a singing voice...in ur 30's, 40's, 50's

[BobbyinTN]

Oops, haven't got the hang of this yet.

[BobbyinTN]

Bobby those clips are beautiful. Very impressed. Thanks for sharing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WOW! Thank you SusieP. I need to listen to your stuff.

[BobbyinTN]

SusieP!

I can only access "I Can't Make You Love Me" but it sounds absolutely beautiful!!!!

Thanks for sharing.


Marie, THANK YOU for the compliments.

[JH'sTXfan]

SusieP!

I can only access "I Can't Make You Love Me" but it sounds absolutely beautiful!!!!

Thanks for sharing.


Marie, THANK YOU for the compliments.

You're welcome. I only wish your download buttons work.

[7 Wishes]

Well, a lot of great information has been passed along here.

I've been singing in bands since the age of 15...22 years later, my voice is better than it ever has been, although I lost a little bit off my upper register I had in my late teens and early 20's. It's funny - a lot of my recordings from the early 90's sound nothing like the way I do now. I'd had extensive training in music school; however, perfecting a stage (musical theatre) voice is NOTHING like perfecting a rock style voice. In fact, I wasn't able to sing "correctly" until I re-trained with a classical (opera) vocal coach...ala Geoff Tate. I'd almost lost my voice completely at 24, and it took a few years for me to get it right.

Sure, genetics do play a big role. I'm not blessed with a lot of natural talent - I've had to bust my ass for everything I've ever had. Lessons learned? Never cover/perform material that is so far out of your range that you push the limits of your natural voice. Drink lots of lemon zinger tea, lukewarm, with honey. Warmups every single day for 45 minutes - even when I'm not actively performing. No more back-to-back (i.e. consecutive nights) unless absolutely necessary. Let your stage presence flow and become a part of your overall performance - no more backflips or jumping off four Marshall half-stacks, Diamond Dave style. Breathe, breathe, breathe...and yes, as the professional singers here attest, don't do much talking before gigs. I'm a vocal coach who also gives paino lessons. Unless I don't have a choice, I NEVER schedule a gig the same day I give lessons, because my students need and deserve the verbal interaction they pay for (not quite as necessary for teaching piano).

Remember there is a HUGE difference between "head voice" and "falsetto". HUGE. And only a few people have the natural talent to cultivate that properly without assistance from a professional. I certainly never would have been able to. If you're not Sebastian Bach, don't try to be. Find out where you are and perfect it.

[brywool]

singing incorrectly for an extended period of time will fry your voice..................................................................... , speaking too much, etc.
can ruin a voice.
...

bry,, if this statement was correct then there would be very few women over the age of 25
that would still be able to sing in key,, ..AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHAHAHAHHAHa

ha, funny! But it IS true. Speaking incorrectly can really be a problem. There are tons of cases out there where people have to learn to speak correctly or they keep losing their voice.
FUNNY image!

[SusieP]

singing incorrectly for an extended period of time will fry your voice..................................................................... , speaking too much, etc.
can ruin a voice.
...

bry,, if this statement was correct then there would be very few women over the age of 25
that would still be able to sing in key,, ..AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHAHAHAHHAHa

ha, funny! But it IS true. Speaking incorrectly can really be a problem. There are tons of cases out there where people have to learn to speak correctly or they keep losing their voice.
FUNNY image!

Speaking incorrectly is often the root of nodules developing.
The first place a doctor will send someone suffering from them is to a speech therapist to correct bad habits.


That Zeeebra made me laugh.

[ArnelRox]

Susie, I'm so glad u put those clips up. I LOVE ur voice sistah. I could listen to u all day. Get those clips re-uploaded. MORE people need to hear u. Maybe we'll plan a trip to the UK just to see u

Bobby, thanks for being brave enough to come on here as a new guy & let us listen to u. I can see why u had the courage. U sound really great. It's not my style of music so I'm not familiar w/the songs. Are those ur originals?

As for maintaining a voice, it's all about how u treat it. Yes, some people can drink, smoke, party & still sing well for years. It depends a lot on what they're singing & how it suits their own particular voice.

I don't buy the line about not singing in head voice. Lots of people can & do sing very well in head voice. I think my confusion here is w/the definition of head voice. Head voice isnt singing in the throat. It's the "voice" that resonates in the head, particularly the nasal/front of the face area. If u sing u can feel it as u go up in pitch. It switches from resonating in the chest to resonating in the head.

I've been singing lead in a cover band recently a little bit. Something I havent done in decades tho I often got up & did a song or 2 over the yrs, & did a boatload of backing vox. We're doing covers of course. It's huge fun. I worried about the strength of my voice a lot after having heart surgery. I think I've lost a lot of power. But I've increased my range again. I didnt always have a great range. A range comes from practice. Everyone has a natural range of an octave or an octave & a half. W/proper training, u can expand that. I dont care what anyone tells u. Until u do, it's not good to sing outside the range when ur performing. But u can get there. I dont take the best care of my voice so coming out & singing after not singing for a while, it's rusty. Just like anything else, u have to use it regularly but not over-use it.

[SusieP]

Susie, I'm so glad u put those clips up. I LOVE ur voice sistah. I could listen to u all day. Get those clips re-uploaded. MORE people need to hear u. Maybe we'll plan a trip to the UK just to see u

Bobby, thanks for being brave enough to come on here as a new guy & let us listen to u. I can see why u had the courage. U sound really great. It's not my style of music so I'm not familiar w/the songs. Are those ur originals?

As for maintaining a voice, it's all about how u treat it. Yes, some people can drink, smoke, party & still sing well for years. It depends a lot on what they're singing & how it suits their own particular voice.

I don't buy the line about not singing in head voice. Lots of people can & do sing very well in head voice. I think my confusion here is w/the definition of head voice. Head voice isnt singing in the throat. It's the "voice" that resonates in the head, particularly the nasal/front of the face area. If u sing u can feel it as u go up in pitch. It switches from resonating in the chest to resonating in the head.

I've been singing lead in a cover band recently a little bit. Something I havent done in decades tho I often got up & did a song or 2 over the yrs, & did a boatload of backing vox. We're doing covers of course. It's huge fun. I worried about the strength of my voice a lot after having heart surgery. I think I've lost a lot of power. But I've increased my range again. I didnt always have a great range. A range comes from practice. Everyone has a natural range of an octave or an octave & a half. W/proper training, u can expand that. I dont care what anyone tells u. Until u do, it's not good to sing outside the range when ur performing. But u can get there. I dont take the best care of my voice so coming out & singing after not singing for a while, it's rusty. Just like anything else, u have to use it regularly but not over-use it.

Thanks Susie. I had a bad accident years ago, it took me two years to get better, and when I first got back up on stage, I was rusty too - but it soon got back in shape. Yours will too.

I have approx 2 octaves, or so I'm told. Andy, my b/f with whom I work got me to sing scales one day to see what I had and he said it was 2 octaves and maybe I could get 2 and a half if I tried.
I haven't had singing lessons. I taught myself how to breathe, by listening to the lyrics and breathing where it felt right. I sang along to my albums and taught myself that way.
I may get flamed for this, but what the heck, I think sometimes people can worry too much about 'head voice' 'chest voice' etc and it gets in the way of their natural ability. They should just let go and DO IT!
A lady heard me sing at the age of 7 in a school production and she took me to one side and said, "never have singing lessons.They will strip your voice of its raw talent and you will sound "trained."'
I didnt know what she meant then, but I never forgot it, and I think she had a point.
I don't concentrate on head or chest voice - I just sing.

Thanks for the comments about the songs.
I will re post them if anyone else would like to listen.




And "use it but not over use it" is spot on. Totally agree with that.

[ArnelRox]

2 octaves naturally is great Susie. U were born to sing lady.

Ur right. Some people end up sounding "overtrained" dont they? A friend once decided she wanted some classical training & it really changed the way she sang. She had less "rock" in her voice after that & concentrated too much on her diction IMHO. Most women go into head voice easily, but men often need training to go there. Breathing exercises are very important for many people (particularly if they ever smoked). Certain exercises can & do help w/range & smoothing the breaks. For example, I always had 2 breaks. Smoothing them over was critical for me. Also being able to sustain was important. I guess most of us have to strike a balance between some training on the things we need but not overdoing it. Some people like u are just born lucky. I hate u (j/k)! U know I love u.

Put those clips up again girl. People are asking for them!

I have approx 2 octaves, or so I'm told. Andy, my b/f with whom I work got me to sing scales one day to see what I had and he said it was 2 octaves and maybe I could get 2 and a half if I tried.
I haven't had singing lessons. I taught myself how to breathe, by listening to the lyrics and breathing where it felt right. I sang along to my albums and taught myself that way.
I may get flamed for this, but what the heck, I think sometimes people can worry too much about 'head voice' 'chest voice' etc and it gets in the way of their natural ability. They should just let go and DO IT!
A lady heard me sing at the age of 7 in a school production and she took me to one side and said, "never have singing lessons.They will strip your voice of its raw talent and you will sound "trained."'
I didnt know what she meant then, but I never forgot it, and I think she had a point.
I don't concentrate on head or chest voice - I just sing.

Thanks for the comments about the songs.
I will re post them if anyone else would like to listen.




And "use it but not over use it" is spot on. Totally agree with that.

[JH'sTXfan]

2 octaves naturally is great Susie. U were born to sing lady.

Ur right. Some people end up sounding "overtrained" dont they? A friend once decided she wanted some classical training & it really changed the way she sang. She had less "rock" in her voice after that & concentrated too much on her diction IMHO. Most women go into head voice easily, but men often need training to go there. Breathing exercises are very important for many people (particularly if they ever smoked). Certain exercises can & do help w/range & smoothing the breaks. For example, I always had 2 breaks. Smoothing them over was critical for me. Also being able to sustain was important. I guess most of us have to strike a balance between some training on the things we need but not overdoing it. Some people like u are just born lucky. I hate u (j/k)! U know I love u.

Put those clips up again girl. People are asking for them!

I have approx 2 octaves, or so I'm told. Andy, my b/f with whom I work got me to sing scales one day to see what I had and he said it was 2 octaves and maybe I could get 2 and a half if I tried.
I haven't had singing lessons. I taught myself how to breathe, by listening to the lyrics and breathing where it felt right. I sang along to my albums and taught myself that way.
I may get flamed for this, but what the heck, I think sometimes people can worry too much about 'head voice' 'chest voice' etc and it gets in the way of their natural ability. They should just let go and DO IT!
A lady heard me sing at the age of 7 in a school production and she took me to one side and said, "never have singing lessons.They will strip your voice of its raw talent and you will sound "trained."'
I didnt know what she meant then, but I never forgot it, and I think she had a point.
I don't concentrate on head or chest voice - I just sing.

Thanks for the comments about the songs.
I will re post them if anyone else would like to listen.




And "use it but not over use it" is spot on. Totally agree with that.

I'll repost them for her. Good stuff.

Open Arms - http://www.mailbigfile.com/b8495c6f9f4a ... tFiles.php

Love Letters - http://www.mailbigfile.com/2b2f42074996 ... tFiles.php

Baby Can I Hold You Tonight - http://www.mailbigfile.com/73176c276fd9 ... tFiles.php

....and for those who missed it,
I Can't Make You Love Me - http://www.mailbigfile.com/1135fbdd09c2 ... /listFiles.

[BobbyinTN]

Susie, I'm so glad u put those clips up. I LOVE ur voice sistah. I could listen to u all day. Get those clips re-uploaded. MORE people need to hear u. Maybe we'll plan a trip to the UK just to see u

Bobby, thanks for being brave enough to come on here as a new guy & let us listen to u. I can see why u had the courage. U sound really great. It's not my style of music so I'm not familiar w/the songs. Are those ur originals?

As for maintaining a voice, it's all about how u treat it. Yes, some people can drink, smoke, party & still sing well for years. It depends a lot on what they're singing & how it suits their own particular voice.

I don't buy the line about not singing in head voice. Lots of people can & do sing very well in head voice. I think my confusion here is w/the definition of head voice. Head voice isnt singing in the throat. It's the "voice" that resonates in the head, particularly the nasal/front of the face area. If u sing u can feel it as u go up in pitch. It switches from resonating in the chest to resonating in the head.

I've been singing lead in a cover band recently a little bit. Something I havent done in decades tho I often got up & did a song or 2 over the yrs, & did a boatload of backing vox. We're doing covers of course. It's huge fun. I worried about the strength of my voice a lot after having heart surgery. I think I've lost a lot of power. But I've increased my range again. I didnt always have a great range. A range comes from practice. Everyone has a natural range of an octave or an octave & a half. W/proper training, u can expand that. I dont care what anyone tells u. Until u do, it's not good to sing outside the range when ur performing. But u can get there. I dont take the best care of my voice so coming out & singing after not singing for a while, it's rusty. Just like anything else, u have to use it regularly but not over-use it.

Thank you very much JR(Susie). Yes, those are all originals.
The first one called, "Always, My Love" I played everything as well as sang it all. It's just a home recording but one of my favorites.

Thanks again. Y'all are really nice here.

[ArnelRox]

Thank you very much JR(Susie). Yes, those are all originals.
The first one called, "Always, My Love" I played everything as well as sang it all. It's just a home recording but one of my favorites.

Thanks again. Y'all are really nice here.

Beautiful stuff Bobby. I always find myself scratching my head at just how much talent is out there that no one ever heard of. Sad really when most of what is in the charts is pretty girls & rappers.

Who is the girl singing w/u? She also has a very nice voice.

Do u ever do any rock songs or are u strictly country? I'd love to hear u do covers. Entertain us, please (Demanding bitch arent I?)

[JH'sTXfan]

Susie, I'm so glad u put those clips up. I LOVE ur voice sistah. I could listen to u all day. Get those clips re-uploaded. MORE people need to hear u. Maybe we'll plan a trip to the UK just to see u

Bobby, thanks for being brave enough to come on here as a new guy & let us listen to u. I can see why u had the courage. U sound really great. It's not my style of music so I'm not familiar w/the songs. Are those ur originals?

As for maintaining a voice, it's all about how u treat it. Yes, some people can drink, smoke, party & still sing well for years. It depends a lot on what they're singing & how it suits their own particular voice.

I don't buy the line about not singing in head voice. Lots of people can & do sing very well in head voice. I think my confusion here is w/the definition of head voice. Head voice isnt singing in the throat. It's the "voice" that resonates in the head, particularly the nasal/front of the face area. If u sing u can feel it as u go up in pitch. It switches from resonating in the chest to resonating in the head.

I've been singing lead in a cover band recently a little bit. Something I havent done in decades tho I often got up & did a song or 2 over the yrs, & did a boatload of backing vox. We're doing covers of course. It's huge fun. I worried about the strength of my voice a lot after having heart surgery. I think I've lost a lot of power. But I've increased my range again. I didnt always have a great range. A range comes from practice. Everyone has a natural range of an octave or an octave & a half. W/proper training, u can expand that. I dont care what anyone tells u. Until u do, it's not good to sing outside the range when ur performing. But u can get there. I dont take the best care of my voice so coming out & singing after not singing for a while, it's rusty. Just like anything else, u have to use it regularly but not over-use it.

Thank you very much JR(Susie). Yes, those are all originals.
The first one called, "Always, My Love" I played everything as well as sang it all. It's just a home recording but one of my favorites.

Thanks again. Y'all are really nice here.

We Loooove talented people. Beware.

[BobbyinTN]

Thank you very much JR(Susie). Yes, those are all originals.
The first one called, "Always, My Love" I played everything as well as sang it all. It's just a home recording but one of my favorites.

Thanks again. Y'all are really nice here.

Beautiful stuff Bobby. I always find myself scratching my head at just how much talent is out there that no one ever heard of. Sad really when most of what is in the charts is pretty girls & rappers.

Who is the girl singing w/u? She also has a very nice voice.

Do u ever do any rock songs or are u strictly country? I'd love to hear u do covers. Entertain us, please (Demanding bitch arent I?)

I love rock and try to flavor my music with a little of all my influences. The girl singing with me is a friend of mine. She is awesome and lots of fun to sing with. Her name is Cindy Burch.

I've actually got a cover of "When I Need You", the old song by Leo Sayer that I'm gonna post in a couple of weeks.

I do alot of covers when I sing out, and lately when my friends and I do karaoke I do A LOT of Journey and Steve P. I've been singing "I Stand Alone" alot lately, I love that song and "Message Of Love" is one of my favorites too.

As for being pushy, not at all. I think of it as enthusiastic.

[JH'sTXfan]

I've actually got a cover of "When I Need You", the old song by Leo Sayer that I'm gonna post in a couple of weeks.

YES. Post that and anything else you come up with.
Thanks,
Marie

[conversationpc]

Most women go into head voice easily, but men often need training to go there.

I've always heard just the opposite. I don't sing professionally but learned it rather easily by listening to and singing along with my favorite singers like Perry, Lou Gramm, Rob Halford, Geoff Tate, etc.

[SusieP]

2 octaves naturally is great Susie. U were born to sing lady.

Ur right. Some people end up sounding "overtrained" dont they? A friend once decided she wanted some classical training & it really changed the way she sang. She had less "rock" in her voice after that & concentrated too much on her diction IMHO. Most women go into head voice easily, but men often need training to go there. Breathing exercises are very important for many people (particularly if they ever smoked). Certain exercises can & do help w/range & smoothing the breaks. For example, I always had 2 breaks. Smoothing them over was critical for me. Also being able to sustain was important. I guess most of us have to strike a balance between some training on the things we need but not overdoing it. Some people like u are just born lucky. I hate u (j/k)! U know I love u.

Put those clips up again girl. People are asking for them!

Sorry it took so long - here they are again for anyone who missed them and wanted to hear them.
For everyone else - sorry to be a bore, but I was aksed to re-post.

I Can't Make You Love Me
http://www.mailbigfile.com/395586c0db1d ... tFiles.php

Open Arms
http://www.mailbigfile.com/43bc506f2346 ... tFiles.php

Love Letters
http://www.mailbigfile.com/d73f75072b00 ... tFiles.php

Baby Can I Hold You Tonight
http://www.mailbigfile.com/ff950344c18b ... tFiles.php

[Granny]

Thanks SusieP...I was disappointed that the files were gone...but here they are!

[SusieP]

Thanks SusieP...I was disappointed that the files were gone...but here they are!

Sorry Granny, I have just been busy with work and didn't have time until now to upload them again. I hope you are not disappointed now you've heard me squawking.