Description:
Song Demonstration (Parting Glass)
Em C G D
Of all the money that e'er I had,
Em C G D
I spent it in good company.
Em C G D
And all the harm I've ever done,
Em G C Am Em
Alas it was to none but me.
Of all the money that e'er I had,
Em C G D
I spent it in good company.
Em C G D
And all the harm I've ever done,
Em G C Am Em
Alas it was to none but me.
G C G G C G
And all I've done for want of wit,
Am D G D
To mem'ry now I can't recall;
Em C G D
So fill to me the parting glass,
Em G C Am Em
Good night and joy be to you all.
And all I've done for want of wit,
Am D G D
To mem'ry now I can't recall;
Em C G D
So fill to me the parting glass,
Em G C Am Em
Good night and joy be to you all.
Introduction
Hi, I’m Abram, your instructor for today’s class on removing vocal tension.
Hi, I’m Abram, your instructor for today’s class on removing vocal tension.
When our voice is tension-free, singing feels smooth and effortless, much like balancing on a tightrope. Once you understand how to direct your force and move in harmony, walking across can seem simple. However, when things go wrong, forces pull us in unexpected directions, and it requires more effort to maintain balance. Eventually, the effort becomes too much, and we either fall off or jump.
This is similar to vocal tension. When tension builds, it makes singing harder until we simply can’t continue. It’s one of the most discouraging experiences for singers, no matter their level. That's why it's so important to address vocal tension during practice.
The goal of this tutorial is to break down different types of tension, so we can identify and correct the habits that cause them. In part 1, we’ll focus on lifting and straining in the upper body. Part 2 will help us manage holding and find balance in our vocal support. And in part 3, we’ll deal with stress tension, clearing and centering the mind.
Let’s start with a short warm-up to release tension that you can use before you sing or perform.
Short Daily Warmup
- Sternocleidomastoid Stretch/Head Rolls
- Shake to Stillness
- Siren Slide
Lessons:
- 1: Welcome
-
2:
Lifting and Straining
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3:
Holding
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4:
Stress Tension
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5:
Conclusion/Test
Instructor: Abram Poliakoff
Abram Poliakoff is a singer, guitarist, pianist, teacher, conductor, and composer. He received a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Arts from USC’s Thornton School of Music and has been teaching music for 8 years. He is currently both the Associate Artistic Director and a tenor in the L.A. Choral Lab, which recently released its first studio album Sonic Visions in the fall of 2019. Abram teaches and performs a wide range of genres including Classical, Jazz, Folk and Popular music in the Los Angeles area. He has also sung with the San Francisco Opera and Pocket Opera in the Bay Area. His teaching mission is to help his students utilize vocal technique to find their authentic and healthy voice while maximizing genre flexibility and a naturalness of expression.