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Musical Composition, Theory and Songwriting/Questions Answered by Expert Penny Nichols
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Pianist seems to be tone deaf | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a very gifted pianist (13, female), who I have done a pitch test with twice and she seems ... A: A couple of things to try: 1. Have her put one finger in one of her ears and then try to match a ... | |
| Questions and Concerns...... | 7/28/2011 |
| Q: I'm 16 years old and i love singing. My vocal teacher thinks I'm a baritone/bari-tenor, but i don't ... A: What you risk is losing your voice down the road. If you want to take that chance, it's your call. ... | |
| Questions and Concerns...... | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: I'm 16 years old and i love singing. My vocal teacher thinks I'm a baritone/bari-tenor, but i don't ... A: Your falsetto is your high range. Don't do any singing that creates tension in your throat. You ... | |
| Questions and Concerns...... | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: I'm 16 years old and i love singing. My vocal teacher thinks I'm a baritone/bari-tenor, but i don't ... A: There is an exercise that you can do that will help you retain your full range through puberty and ... | |
| singing problem letters | 7/16/2011 |
| Q: I've just recently decided to learn to sing and I've found many helpful Youtube videos on warmups ... A: I don't think I can help you with this without hearing you. Can you make a digital recording of ... | |
| Vocal harmony parts | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I have been playing for about 40 years. I have learned to play by ear and have not had any formal ... A: You can go to my website: www.pennynichols.com and order my 2 CD set of lessons on Harmony singing ... | |
| I should be able to sing.... | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: I come from a family of people who are good to great singers.. this is not opinion, but proven fact. ... A: I am just guessing, I have never heard you sing obviously, but it does sound like taking some ... | |
| pitching in live performance | 4/1/2011 |
| Q: I have been taking vocal lessons and have been very excited about my growth as a vocalist and have ... A: What is a "love performance"? In terms of not being able to hear yourself: When you are on stage ... | |
| Tone | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: I recent;y became a singer and I have been doing exercises such as scales,etc... My voice can hit ... A: Are you practicing on your own or do you have a voice teacher? You can hurt your voice doing scales ... | |
| Which things to consider when you need a demo service? | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: I write songs as a hobby; however, I don't have the ability to make arrangement or record the song ... A: OK, I see what you mean. I think you should be prepared to pay up to $200.00 whether it is with ... | |
| Which things to consider when you need a demo service? | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: I write songs as a hobby; however, I don't have the ability to make arrangement or record the song ... A: It sounds simple and straight forward, unfortunately, there are a lot of people who prey on ... | |
| Too many sing the song and ruin it? | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: Normally, I think the fact that a song is covered by many singers is the sign that the song is good ... A: This is a question that is very subjective. Everyone has a different opinion about what constitutes ... | |
| Terrible sound when I connect my keyboard to my laptop? | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: I have this question regarding playing and recording music via a Midi keyboard. Mine is a Yamaha ... A: Victor: I am no expert on hooking up your Yamaha to a laptop. Why not talk to Yamaha or take your ... | |
| Terrible sound when I connect my keyboard to my laptop? | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: I have this question regarding playing and recording music via a Midi keyboard. Mine is a Yamaha ... A: You need to contact a professional sound engineer to answer this question, but my guess is that you ... | |
| Softwares useful for ballad songwriter? | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: The only software I use is Encore, to create sheet music for my songs. Mostly I write slow ballads, ... A: There is a program called Master Writer that you might want to try. Or, you could come to ... | |
| Problem in high pitch songs. | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I'm 23 male.I want to be a professional singer and stage performer.my voice range is G below the ... A: You have a 2 octave range, you could expand it with some singing lessons. 1. Do not try to sing ... | |
| Help Singing | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: Hey Penny, I have tried and tried and tried to sing and to find my natural singing voice, but i cant ... A: the basic rule of thumb about singing is this: If you can talk, you can sing. Some questions: 1. how ... | |
| Music Composition | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: Sir, I have been composing alot of songs more than 100 and these songs has never been singed and i ... A: Inkosi: Choose your 5 best songs. Find a singer near to you and sing your songs for that person, ... | |
| The diversity of melody and harmony | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: What has been confusing me for a while is the following... The western music scale has only 7 ... A: Hi Penny, What has been confusing me for a while is the following... The western music scale has ... | |
| singing tip - please explain - | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I don't get the punchline here - http://comics.com/luann/. 'Sing to toes, sing through nose' - ... A: OK Mark: Here's the deal, this is not an obscure singing tip, it's a kind of a racist but gentle ... | |
| Vocal Problems | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: 1. I have a bad habit of sing with a covered voice sometimes - how do I sing through the mask of my ... A: 1. I have a bad habit of sing with a covered voice sometimes - how do I sing through the mask of my ... | |
| damaged voice | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: When I was about 13 years old I played a voice game that I used to play with my older sisters, which ... A: You may have damaged your voice a little as a child, you may have a problem with acid reflux. You ... | |
| is this my head voice or falsetto? | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: OK, i recorded myself singing the first three exercise things :P are me in(hopefully) my headvoice. ... A: derion: You have only one voice. It has a range. There is a break in your voice where your vocal ... | |
| Help! immediately! | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: My name is Rachel Smith. I need some serious help with organizing a originally unison singing choir, ... A: I feel for you! That's quite a tall order on short notice. I would definetly order my harmony ... | |
| need some help in my singing | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: I'm a guitar player who is having trouble singing at the same time as playing, i would like to know ... A: Hector: There are many good singing teachers in Mexico, and I am sure many great guitar teachers as ... | |
| designing sounds from a feeling | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: I know I want to base songs on charisma and stylishness, (which I understand as using the elements ... A: "Is there any way to have clear dirrection specifically as to what details of sounds, and musical ... | |
| improvising with a drummer | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: I have started improvising my own reasonably skilled lead and rhythm guitar playing along with a ... A: Consider getting a recording software, like Garage Band, and start recording and listening back to ... | |
| Breathing... | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: I have been having some trouble with singing when it comes to breathing. I have been taught in ... A: It makes it easier for me to understand the dilemma. Your new teacher may have an unorthodox ... | |
| Singing | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a really bothering problem. I want to become a music artist. I have so many great ideas, but ... A: Danielle: It is possible for anyone, at any time of their life to become a musician and singer. ... | |
| ear monitors | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I have begun singing with a band and experienced feedback and other noises (finger/whistling at ... A: You are walking on broken glass my friend. First, go get your hearing checked to make sure there is ... | |
| The Basics of SATB | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: Greetings and good wishes to you Sir, I am from North East India and I eagerly wants to learn the ... A: Alfred: If you cannot afford to take music lessons near where you live or at a college in your ... | |
| Different Roles | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: What role does a producer, publisher, and manager play in the music making process? A: Each of these roles are only helpful in certain situations. If you are very focused, experienced ... | |
| Singing Question | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I am a male tenor and have been singing for about 8 years now. I have been studying voice and ... A: Try finding a vocal coach who specializes in Rock or Pop. I doubt any other type of teacher would ... | |
| Developing the voice | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: My 16 year old daughter attended her first singing lesson. Her vocal instructor said that she had ... A: when you are 16 years old, your body is not fully developed as an adult and that includes your ... | |
| Singing Question | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I am a male tenor and have been singing for about 8 years now. I have been studying voice and ... A: Alex: It's the use of the microphone that you want to focus on. Can you growl? If so, you want to ... | |
| piano notes and vocal | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: I've got this problem of not knowing what piano notes fit a vocal. Please, i will like you to teach ... A: It sounds to me like you need extensive ear training. So, that would mean singing scales and ... | |
| helo | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: i just want to ask how to perform blending register in singing duets song because i find it hard ... A: Blend is an important component of harmony singing technique. I would need to know if you were two ... | |
| Singing better | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: When I sing, I have this kind of undertone, like when your voice has that rattling sound like a ... A: Are you smoking and/or drinking or smoking pot? Any one of those things can hurt your vocal chords. ... | |
| Singing better | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: When I sing, I have this kind of undertone, like when your voice has that rattling sound like a ... A: You would need to see a vocal coach and possibly an ear, nose & throat doctor to get the whole ... | |
| Soprano 1 vs soprano 2 | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: My daughter, a sophomore in high school was told by her choral teacher that next year she should ... A: Your daughter is growing and she can continue to sing in the soprano 1 range just by continuing to ... | |
| Vocal Jazz | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if there are any books on arranging jazz for a cappella groups. Thanks! A: Here are some results from Googling Jazz for acapella groups: Amazon.com: "Acapella & Vocal Jazz ... | |
| Singing help | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I'm a student in high school and I would like to join chours next year. I have two main problems ... A: You need to take singing lessons to deal with the problem of your voice being too airy. Look for a ... | |
| Singing in tune and breathing | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: I have been learning singing and guitar on and off for many years. I am confused about breathing ... A: I am a student of Seth's, and although I agree with him about breathing, I also agree with your old ... | |
| range | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: what range is e3 -c#6? i also sing opera if i can sing the phantom of the opera what range would I ... A: A first soprano's range is from Bb right below middle C to b3 above. I am sorry I am not a big fan ... | |
| Singing | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: ) and I hope you can assist me. I took lessons years ago (classical) and am now getting back into ... A: I should know that! I studied mostly with Seth's ex-wife Florence Riggs, whom I have great respect ... | |
| Son's developing voice | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: My son is 10 years old and has a very nice voice. His dad is in an amateur pop band, so music is ... A: Make sure that he is only singing with a microphone and that he understands that with the mic, he ... | |
| The Voice | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I have been singing classically for about 2 years now. I am in high school and although I am in the ... A: I think you have answered your own question here. Take yourself seriously and go the distance. "or ... | |
| Scared out of my mind!!! | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: Hey Penny! I'm Chris (16)! Nice to meet you! I'm going to apologize in advance because when I typoe ... A: At 16, your probably not completely out of the running in the voice department yet. I have four ... | |
| A couple of questions, one of which is semi-urgent | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: my name's Katie. I'm fourteen. I'm pretty new to singing, but I've liked it for a while, and find ... A: I think the musical is about the folk tale; the Princess and the Pea, so if that's the case, you ... | |
| Singing Runs | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: Several years ago I was a music ed. major. I dropped music ed because, even though I love teaching, ... A: First let me say that most of my training and career has been in the field of pop music, so trills ... | |
| Getting Started | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: I am new to composition though have done various arrangements for Brass and wind band, I am really ... A: I assume that the arranging you've done in the past has been of other people's compositions. Is that ... | |
| Singing | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: I'm a 16 year old who has been in a secondary school choir for 4 years. I am in the alto section. 2 ... A: In that case, I think you may have damaged your vocal chords. You should see an ear,nose, and ... | |
| Singing | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: I'm a 16 year old who has been in a secondary school choir for 4 years. I am in the alto section. 2 ... A: Jia: If you are a boy, the change in your voice is due to hormonal changes in your body at ... | |
| How to find out if your compositions and songs are actually good ? | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: I have been writing songs and composing music for the past 15 years , it's something that comes ... A: The safety issue is not really a problem unless your computer has a virus. The real issue might be ... | |
| How to find out if your compositions and songs are actually good ? | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: I have been writing songs and composing music for the past 15 years , it's something that comes ... A: One thing you can do is depending on where you live, attend a song camp like SummerSongs. ... | |
| Getting Started. Singer/Songwriter. | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: I am a songwriter, that is to say, I write lyrics and I have the melodies in my head, but I lack the ... A: I am afraid that I don't know of any computer program that would play music for you just by ... | |
| Jazz Choral Arranging | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: I would like to compose or arrange a song for a small jazz choral group (4-6 people) and a rhythm ... A: There is a great book by Anita Kerr called "Voices" released by MCA music in 1972 which would help ... | |
| singing quartet | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: I have to perform in a singing quartet (four girls all around 15 years old) in a competition, and ... A: For starters. you should ask yourselves for a realistic evaluation of how good you are and how long ... | |
| vocal arrangement | 10/8/2008 |
| Q: Hey Penny I'm searching everywhere for the definition of vocal arragement & vocal production. I ... A: The term vocal arrangement usually refers to background harmonies or vocals which have been arranged ... | |
| help!!! | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: my name is keith, i am 18 years old. Singing has always been my life since a young age. my ... A: You may have gotten used to having an amazing voice which could do whatever you wanted it to when ... | |
| help!!! | 10/6/2008 |
| Q: my name is keith, i am 18 years old. Singing has always been my life since a young age. my ... A: If you are able to grow a beard now, but your voice is still as high as it was as a kid. I would ... | |
| singing\vocal harmony | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: please note : I cannot Sing ! but would a vocal harmony system like that on a yamaha tyros (2) or ... A: Why don't you just have some friends who can sing harmony back you up? Other things you can do: ... | |
| Harmony vocals | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: Greetings Penny, I am musician and song-writer(rock'n roll - Rythm'n Blues, 50's, 60's, doowop, ... A: Well, there's a couple of things out there that might be of use. One is Walter Piston's book on ... | |
| FINDING MY SCREAM AND CONTROLING IT | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: If i have done my research correctly, you are the teacher of avenged sevenfold and guns n' roses ... A: I am not the teacher of Avenged Sevenfold or the Gun's n' Roses lead singers, however, if you want ... | |
| singing problems | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: I was just wondering if there is a way to fix a voice with no nasal resonance at all? Thanks for ... A: I'm thinking that you are referring to head tone when you say no nasal resonance. That's just a ... | |
| Career in Singing | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: I am a 35 year old Ghanaian living in Ghana. I discovered my immense vocal abilities only a month ... A: Your first task will be to find a good teacher. Are there any colleges or universities near where ... | |
| Need help singing Harmonies !!! Thanks. | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: I really do appreciate it. I am singer. And after a long struggle and lot's of hard work, I have ... A: About your tonsils, having them out will not affect your voice in the long run, but I would ask your ... | |
| jazz singing training | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: i have been searching high and low for my question to be answered it is part of a research proposal ... A: I am afraid through my woeful ignorance, I do not know who Jo Estill is. There are many good Jazz ... | |
| singing | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: iam fifteen yeary old going on sixteen and i love to sing and its the only thing that iam really ... A: The best thing you can do for your singing is to stay in school, get a diploma and then go to ... | |
| singing | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: I am fourteen and i love singing. My dream ever since i was little was to become a professional ... A: The best thing you can do for yourself at 14 is to continue to take singing lessons or find a ... | |
| Singing | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: my name is Kim and I really love to sing. I'm fifteen and I've been singing since I was very little. ... A: It sounds to me like you are encountering a number of things coming up for you at once. You need to ... | |
| Practicing as a quartet | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: Nichols, Hi, I'm a high school student, and a member of choir (bass). Three other friends and I ... A: A couple of suggestions. First, make sure you all know and understand the melody and the chord ... | |
| Chord theory, vocals and song writing | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: 1)Is there such a thing as the best key for your voice, What is the correct to find that? 2)How do ... A: Lenner: This is actually 12 questions, not one question. I will answer the ones I can and you will ... | |
| vocal key | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to find what key suits my natural voice. When I write, I generally start in a key on ... A: Do professional singers sing in only one key, or is it a range? Usually a couple of notes above or ... | |
| How do I tell my brother he cant sing? | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: I hope you can help me with this..... My brother has always wanted to be in a band and recently he ... A: My advise to you is not to say anything to your brother about his voice. You don't know what your ... | |
| Elizabeth Marie Again | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: I asked you a question a couple of days ago and you answered, but I managed to lose the e-mail so I ... A: Defintely study with the Bel Canto teacher and don't do the online Nashville guy. I think that is a ... | |
| Vocal Training Methods | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: I hope I am allowed to mention the name of a specific well-known singing teacher here and ask your ... A: OK, a couple of questions you need to ask yourself; Are you a classical or opera singer? and what is ... | |
| singing | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: I really don't know much about singing. I started a band and I write lyrics for our songs and I've ... A: Logan: You can definetly learn how to sing. Here's some ideas: If you are in school now, go to ... | |
| Vibrato | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: I am fifteen years old, and very musical. I'm currently doing GCSE music at school and planning to ... A: Here's an exercise you can do: put your hand out in front of you and draw an imaginary horizontal ... | |
| Singing Technique | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: My style is soft and breathy. My trouble is when I am playing the guitar, even in my tone, I am not ... A: It sounds to me like you need to do a couple of things: one is to learn to breathe from your ... | |
| Breathy Voice | 2/21/2008 |
| Q: I've been a singer since I was 8 years old. I've been in a chorus group in each of my schools. Now, ... A: Your teacher is right! You want to develope a good tone and be able to bring breathiness in and out ... | |
| Lowering my larynx | 2/10/2008 |
| Q: When I practice, I notice my larynx going up unless I make a low "mum" sound. When I attempt to go ... A: That's great that your moving to LA!. You can reach Florence at creativesoundings@yahoo.com and her ... | |
| Lowering my larynx | 2/9/2008 |
| Q: When I practice, I notice my larynx going up unless I make a low "mum" sound. When I attempt to go ... A: I studied singing with my voice teacher, Florence Riggs, for 3 years every week. I would advise you ... | |
| Lowering my larynx | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: When I practice, I notice my larynx going up unless I make a low "mum" sound. When I attempt to go ... A: My singing teacher, who is awesome, made me hold my larynx down with my fingers as I did scales and ... | |
| help with composition | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: for my music at school i have to come up with 16 beats in the key of C, ive been tryin all night but ... A: Lisa: Do you play an instrument? If you play guitar or piano, play a blues progression on the ... | |
| help with composition | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: for my music at school i have to come up with 16 beats in the key of C, ive been tryin all night but ... A: I am not sure I understand. Do you mean you have to come up with 16 different songs in the key of ... | |
| VOCALS | 2/4/2008 |
| Q: so how do i learn how to sing ANSWER: Find a teacher and take lessons. You can find a singing ... A: Tee: It would be nice if you could learn how to sing by reading stuff on the internet. It just isnt ... | |
| VOCALS | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: so how do i learn how to sing A: Find a teacher and take lessons. You can find a singing teacher online by Googleing "Singing ... | |
| Background Vocal Arrangement | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: I just started back writing music for the purpose of one day being a professional songwriter. My ... A: It depends on how you write and sing the song. Is your singer reading your song off of some sheet ... | |
| High notes | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: How can I reach high notes like Jack White and Axl Rose can? A: You need to work on integrating your falsetto into your chest (regular) voice. There are exercises ... | |
| Singing | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: There are times when I'm singing or exercising my voice I will hit a dry area. It's not the "flat ... A: This "dry area" doesn't sound good to me. It sounds like you should go see an ear, nose, and throat ... | |
| finding my mix | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: i am 16 years old and have been singing for about 2 years now. as i am also an instrumental ... A: If you have to "push" your voice to sing higher notes, you are not singing in a way that will be ... | |
| Technical Exercises for Voice | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: I'm a beginner/intermediate adult singing student and I'd like to work on some more technical ... A: Leigh: I have two suggestions. Find a voice teacher near you and start working with that person on ... | |
| Getting Past the"Break" | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: I'm a 14 year old alto, and I seem to just have a problem. I can comfortably sing a G (below middle ... A: There are exercises that you can do to mend the "break" in your voice. I am sorry your teacher ... | |
| What s "center of gravity"? | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: I came across this quote about Elvis Presley and have no idea what "center of gravity" means in ... A: I went online to look up who this person Gregory Sandow or Sandows is and I went through the ... | |
| Vocal Melodies | 11/27/2007 |
| Q: How would I come up with a vocal melodies? Is it just improvising over a chord and seeing what ... A: All songs are based on a scale. A major scale has 8 notes. change the notes to numbers. Chords are ... | |
| music tranposed and recorded | 11/22/2007 |
| Q: There are many songs available as karaoke my daughter would like to sing, but they are in the wrong ... A: Look in the phone book for your nearest recording studio and they can set it up for you. Many ... | |
| Chorus | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: I am having a diffult time writing my chourus. Can you help me clearly understand the ... A: The chorus should be the place where you sum up in as few words as possible why I should care about ... | |
| Vocal Melodies | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: How would I come up with a vocal melodies? Is it just improvising over a chord and seeing what ... A: Derek: Are you writing to me in a different language than English? I only ask because the syntax ... | |
| a couple questions | 11/11/2007 |
| Q: first of all, I've been reading some of your responses. thank you for not BSing everyone. I'm a ... A: Here is my advice: Study music at the best music conservatory that you can get into. Try New ... | |
| vocals | 11/10/2007 |
| Q: My friend took voice lessons in his 20's and had a beautiful singing voice. Now, in his 50's, his ... A: Your friend might have studied the Bel Canto style of singing and that may account for some of the ... | |
| I am so frustrated. | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: My voice changed three years ago. I used to be a high soprano. Now I am a very limited baritone. I ... A: I assume you are a man. How could you have been a high soprano, do you mean you sang in your ... | |
| Increasing vocal range | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: I've got (maybe) a strange question. How could I increase my vocal range??? I want to make as high ... A: You can increase your range by doing vocal exercises like the siren. when you want to try a scream, ... | |
| Singing to guitar | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: I have recently started signing classes and I know very little about musical theory. I am trying to ... A: There are "passing tones" in a melody that carry it along from one chord to the next that might not ... | |
| Singing to guitar | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: I have recently started signing classes and I know very little about musical theory. I am trying to ... A: Are you translating your question into English from another language? I am just asking because I ... | |
| Singing voice | 10/9/2007 |
| Q: I had a question on singing better, I guess its actually a few questions. Firstly, I dated a girl ... A: I think if you look at the age of the girl you dated, you can answer this question for yourself. A ... | |
| Please help me | 10/1/2007 |
| Q: my name is Keith and I want to become and singer. I can can singing but some people think that I ... A: I don't think you can find a voice teacher for cheap. Most teachers who are any good cost anywhere ... | |
| Harmonising | 9/29/2007 |
| Q: although i don't have lessons and so i struggle sometimes, and i was wondering if you could help. My ... A: Chiara: Sometimes it is easier to hear and comprehend a whole line of melody or harmony instead of ... | |
| vibrato | 9/25/2007 |
| Q: How do I vibrato? I have been vibratoing by making my stomach go in and out and i have been forcing ... A: I think Mariah Carey uses both types of vibrato. Her melismas (vocal trills) are the vocal type. ... | |
| Hi, I'm Holley, and I need help. | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: I am eighteen years old, I have been singing since I was really young, but I never had lessons. My ... A: Getting loud is where you could either improve your overall sound or ruin your voice, so I would be ... | |
| vibrato | 9/23/2007 |
| Q: How do I vibrato? I have been vibratoing by making my stomach go in and out and i have been forcing ... A: There are 2 kinds of vibrato, the one you make with your diaphragm, (stomach) and the one you make ... | |
| need help with singing | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: I want more power and effortlessness to my voice. Are their any breathing/vocal exercises I can do ... A: Matt: The best breathing exercises you can do are to swim underwater across a pool to learn better ... | |
| vibrato | 6/22/2007 |
| Q: I'm a beginner and although I'm not planning to have a career in singing (I will most likely major ... A: One way to start a vibrato is to create a tone and then very slowly vary the pitch of the tone up ... | |
| How to open the throat from behind? | 6/14/2007 |
| Q: Penny. I am just starting to learn singing. It's been troubling me how to open the throat from ... A: Try yawning. When you yawn your larynx is naturally in a low position. Yawn with a big and low tone ... | |
| Harmony Styles | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: I understand the spacing of basic harmony as lead, 3rd, and 5th. Then I listen to different musical ... A: I understand the spacing of basic harmony as lead, 3rd, and 5th. Then I listen to different musical ... | |
| Proper pronunciation in Schubert lieder | 5/3/2007 |
| Q: I am a young (18 year old) classical/operatic lyric tenor studying to hopefully make a . A large ... A: I am sorry to tell you that I have no background in Classical singing, so I won't be able to help ... | |
| voice | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: Yeah umm, I know this is gonna seem impossible to answer. But, how is it that Chris Cornell is able ... A: Here's the thing. Do you think you can become a great tennis player by writing to a tennis teacher ... | |
| Question about extending lower range | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: I sing bass in a barbershop chorus and quartet. Recently, I have been frustrated because it seems ... A: You can expand your lower range using a growl. In my excercises on my 6 CD series of singing ... | |
| voice | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: Yeah umm, I know this is gonna seem impossible to answer. But, how is it that Chris Cornell is able ... A: Everyone has a larger range with their voices than may seem available at first. Your vocal range ... | |
| advance singing techniques | 4/8/2007 |
| Q: I am in my second year of a music degree, and for my final composition I have to set a poem for a ... A: The term advanced singing techniques could mean different things to different teachers. I would ... | |
| singing | 3/26/2007 |
| Q: how do you control your voice during singing? It seems that nrevousness wants to take over my voice. ... A: Your body has to learn how to control your voice with muscle memory. That's why singing teachers ... | |
Musical Composition, Theory and Songwriting
Answers by Expert:
Penny Nichols
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer all kinds of questions regarding singing techniques, practice, performance, vocal recording technique and harmony vocal arranging.
Experience
I have been a professional singer/songwriter and vocal arranger and teacher in the music business since 1965.
Organizations
BMI, Folk Alliance, SummerSongs, Inc. (I am the founding director)
Publications
Singer Magazine
Education/Credentials
I have a doctorate in Music Education from Harvard.
Awards and Honors
Platinum record for my vocals on Jimmy Buffett's Son of a Son of a Sailor, 3 times nominated for a Grammy in the background singing category, MVP in the motivational singing category of the Assoc. of Multi-image Assoc. Annual awards two years in a row.
Past/Present Clients
I have sung with, recorded with or opened shows for Mort Sahl, The Byrds, The Dillards, Dillard and Clark Expedition, John Kay
(Steppenwolf), The Association and Big Brother and the Holding Co. (Janis Joplin), Steve Miller, Quicksilver Messenger Service, 13th Floor Elevator, Chocolate Watchband, Jefferson Airplane, Dan Hicks & his Hot Licks, Cream (the Santa Monica Civic auditorium 1968),
Little Feat in concert. I wrote and performed commercials for Toyota's campaign to plant a tree for every car bought, Carnation Dairies, and produced a public service announcement for the
Navajo Nation called "Black Mesa" to protest the misuse of the land around the Four Corners power stations in Arizona.
In 1977, while working with Emitt Rhodes on a record for Elektra, I joined Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefers. I appeared in the movie FM with the band, toured the U.S. and earned a Platinum Record for my singing on Son of a Son of a Sailor. Also, I've recorded with Art Garfunkle (Fate for Breakfast) Suzi Quatro, Danny O'Keefe, Yvonne Elliman, Jennifer Warnes, Albert Brooks, The Credibility Gap, Steve Gillette and earned a Grammy nomination for my work on Arlo Guthrie's album The Power of Love. In addition, I have recorded a series of singing lessons which have been sold world-wide by Homespun Tapes since 1985.
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