Singer's Corner
By Jeannie Deva
© 2004-2010, Jeannie Deva. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
As the writer of your songs, you have a unique perspective. No other singer will convey the nuances like you. Whether you demo your songs for others or perform them as the lead vocalist, expanding you vocal capabilities can broaden your writing horizons and breathe new life into your songs.
This monthly column will give you tips, tools, encouragement and exercises to help develop your vocals and bring out the singer in you.
A short bio
Three Quick Tips to Sing Better Fast - Jeannie offers a few tricks of the trade that can make singing easier, no matter what your style. She discusses three important tips that can assist singers, and fully explains how you can utilize these tips for maximum effect and improvement.
Singing or Straining? - You can hear it in the sound of your voice and feel it in your throat when it happens. The muscles tense and your vocal tone sounds pinched and shrill. You're straining and if your voice doesn't crack, you can consider yourself lucky. If this happens to you, you're not alone. Vocal strain is very common and some singers don't realize they are doing it, because there are degrees of it from mild to severe. There is no need to suffer the consequences when you can learn the remedy in this vocal tip by International Vocal Expert, Jeannie Deva.
Eliminating Nasality, by Celebrity Vocal Coach Jeannie Deva - Are you concerned about having a nasal voice? Jeannie Deva, one of the top vocal coaches in the world, has some remedies for you in this article. If you are simply interested in exploring and further developing your voice, you'll find this exercise particularly helpful with fast results.
Effective Lead Vocals, Part 3 – Achieving An Effective Performance - Celebrity Vocal Coach Jeannie Deva reveals some of the elements that contribute to an effective performance - for both the performer and the audience.
Effective Lead Vocals, Part 2 - The second in a three-part series, Celebrity Vocal Coach Jeannie Deva focuses on several other components to help you "sell" your song with conviction and artistry.
Effective Lead Vocals, Part 1 - What makes one singer's voice "really do it to you" while another's leaves you feeling ho-hum? Is it just that some have it and some don't - Some indescribable and mysterious achievement of luck and lineage?
Reaching The Breaking Point—Part Two - In Part Two, I'll reveal the truth behind the myths of breathing and breath support. Many singers have been confused by hazy directions and inadequate information about breathing. Ever wonder about the instructions to "sing from the diaphragm" or "breathe from the diaphragm" or "fill your stomach with air"? Could it be that incorrect information about breathing is actually holding back your range, throwing your voice off pitch or in fact the source of your register break? Read this article!
Reaching The Breaking Point—Part One - I did not even think it possible to expand my range. I, like so many others, believed that you were born with the voice you had and I would just have to learn to deal with what little range I had at my disposal. When I began to research the voice and create a new approach to voice training, I was my own first client. I was so sure that I could not expand my range and get past my "breaking point" that I did not include this as a goal for myself. I was truly surprised when I began to sing smoothly further and further into previously unknown vocal territory! This led me into additional research, to better understand this phenomenon and its solutions, some of which I will share with you in this article.
A short bio:
Author of The Contemporary Vocalist, Jeannie Deva is an International Vocalist, Celebrity Vocal Coach, Recording Session Vocal Specialist and Columnist with over 400 published articles. Seen on E! Entertainment and TV Guide Channels, she has received endorsements from producers and engineers of Aerosmith, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac and many others.
With a vocal range of over four octaves, she combines styles from R&B, Gospel, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Classical-Pop and Celtic. For over three decades she has headlined concerts in the US, Europe and South America.
"Jeannie Deva is a total asset to anyone serious about their vocals. They should get involved with her right away - the sooner the better." - David Frangioni, Audio Specialist [Aerosmith, Bette Midler, Elton John]
Originator of The Deva Method®, A Non-Classical Approach for SingersTM and Founder of Jeannie Deva® Voice Studios network, Jeannie trains and certifies teachers in her method. With a BA in Composition and Arranging from Berklee College of Music, Deva helped launch their vocal department in the mid '70's. She has coached tens of thousands of singers around the world including recording artists on many major and indie labels. Clients include Grammy Winners, American Idol Finalists and celebrated singer-songwriters such as Harriet Schock, Patty Griffin and Dar Williams.
"If you're looking to better yourself vocally, The Deva Method is right on target." - Mary Jo Topolewski, Editors Choice Review
"Jeannie Deva is the celebrity voice coach and the vocal coach to the vocal coach. If you have studied with other teachers or methods and still have unresolved issues with your voice, you owe it to yourself to get help from Jeannie Deva." - LA Splash Magazine
Jeannie Deva's private voice studio is located in Los Angeles. To accomodate singers unable to come to her LA studio, she coaches clients from around the world by web cam. Singers and teachers around the world use her critically acclaimed Vocal Warm-up CD and "Contemporary Vocalist" book and CDs. http://www.jeanniedeva.com/.