Spiracle Music Student Sophia Mock Nominated for Youth Artist of the Year
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 by Carmen (Shea) Hillary | Announcement
Congratulations Sophy! For more info click here sophiamock.com for the Vancouver Island Music Awards!
Vocal Coach Carmen Hillary Nominated for Female Songwriter of the Year!
Tuesday, October 20, 2015 by Carmen (Shea) Hillary | Announcement
Carmen works with students on their own songs as well, so bring in your song and let's get creative! Or, learn how to write a song!
NOW OFFERING ONLINE LESSONS VIA SKYPE
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 by Carmen (Shea) Hillary | Updates
The studio is now offering online video lessons! You will need to set up a free Skype account and have a webcam (most laptops come with one). This is a great option for people who cannot attend the studio in person. Online lessons are a great solution for international students around the world, stay at home Moms or Dads and busy people who want lessons but cannot fit in the travel time. Please register here if you are interested in signing up....first lesson is free!!
Your Voice is an Instrument
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 by Carmen (Shea) Hillary | Technique & Education
When we talk about singing, what are we refering to exactly? Think about that for a second. Well, we are talking about tone production (sound) and lyrics (words). Sometimes the best way to free up your singing is to get rid of the words and improvise! Just play with sounds and make stuff up - as though you were a trumpet in a horn section. Mimicking trumpets and saxophones etc... can often bring about a new perspective on how to sing. Free your mind, enjoy the music and play around! That's what Ondina did here, check it out. And, below that watch a performance with Christina Aguilera where she actually plays on her microphone as though it were a trumpet to help herself transition through some of the more challenging vocal lines in her song:
Supporting Your Sound with Air Flow and the Diaphragm
Tuesday, September 29, 2015 by Carmen (Shea) Hillary | Technique & Education
The closest the average person gets to singing properly is belly laughing, sighing, moaning and groaning. You know how when you laugh really hard your stomach hurts? Well that is because the diphragm muscle there helps to control your air flow. Your voice is a wind instrument, and therefore it also helps to control your singing. Sighing also encourages air flow which you need to produce sound. Try laughing from your belly. Next, try sighing right from your "guts". Does your voice feel more grounded or soulful somehow? Check out this video by clicking on the link and see if you can hear the "belly laugh" in her singing.
