Favorite videos

Multi-Voice Singing

As you listen to these examples, notice how the singers coordinate breathing, pronunciation, phrasing, dynamics and group interaction. Enjoy!

Warm-Ups

Here's some exercises you can use as both a solo singer as well as for group blend.

Auditions

For those of you interested in auditioning and especially auditioning for any of the televised singing contests, this playlist will show you some of the best and some of the worst. In this way, you can observe what qualities help a singer move up to the next level and what are the things to avoid or improve so you enter and put your own best foot forward.

Understanding Music

Deva Gear Recommendations

Here are some of the products that Jeannie Deva has personally tested and recommends. Her search for products that are made to truly support singers and help them to perform at their best is an ongoing one. In this list you will find some of the best.

Mic Reviews, Info & Demos

This playlist contains videos of microphones that Jeannie has personally road-tested and reviews in the final chapter entitled: "Jeannie's Gear Reviews and Recommendations" from her upcoming book: "Singer's Guide to Powerful Unforgettable Performances." Each mic is wonderfully and uniquely characteristic. This playlist is purposed to give you more information about each and in many cases, a chance to hear someone sing using the mic. It will be up to you to audition these mics yourself to find proper compatibility with your own voice and style. The insider information on how to audition mics and find the right one for you is in the book chapter: "Finding the Right Mic."

Recognize Your Preferences

Note your responses to the following questions.
* Do you like singing loudly, softly, both?
* Do you like singing with a small or a wide vocal range?
* Are there certain kinds of melodies you prefer?
* Do you have a preference for slow, moderate or fast song tempos?
* Do like singing bluesy; raspy; belting; using riffs and embellishments?
* Do you like being dramatic? - playful?- angry? - defiant? -- sophisticated? - mellow? -- energetic?
* Do you like being funny?
* Do prefer performing as a created character or as yourself?

Phrasing: Rhythm & Breathing

A phrase is a group of words and notes. The group can be a complete or a partial sentence but a complete phrase is a complete thought. Phrases are often separated by a moment of silence (rests), even if very brief.
Phrasing is the way you rhythmicize the words in each sentence of your song. Your phrasing should correspondence to the way you might speak the words to someone in a conversation.
To create your own unique style of phrasing, there are a number of aspects from which you can make your choices. The use of any of these elements needs to align with the emotion of what you are singing and should not be arbitrarily chosen. As a lead singer, the rule is: your breathing should not interrupt your phrasing. each complete thought that you sing as expressed in words and melody should flow without a mechanical interruption such as taking a breath.

Developing Riffs, Runs & Embellishments

Vocal embellishments are extra notes used as stylistic ornamentation at the beginning, within or at the end of a phrase. They have been used by singers for a very long time. Most embellishments are short, three or four note patterns. Longer "riffs" or "runs" are usually several three or four note embellishments strung together.
You will be known for extraordinary riffs, runs and embellishments when you can sing every note with precision and ease (no strain or muscle tension), regardless of tempo. This is the hallmark of a professional singer. You will find information and exercises on help you with your embellishments in my Powerful Performances book as well as my download CD: "Riffs, Runs and Embellishments" available at my web site: www.JeannieDeva.com

Pronunciation and Style

Let's differentiate musical style from personal singing style. Though often assumed to be the same, they are actually two different things.
Listen to how each artist pronounces their words. You can also try singing along while working on matching your pronunciation to the singer. Here are some of many possible examples that demonstrate how personal pronunciation results in a signature sound:

Examples of Pitch Change Vibrato 2 - up and back

In this case, it starts at the fundamental pitch and moves up a quarter tone to a whole tone and back to the fundamental pitch. It can be slow or fast. This type of vibrato is used in Classical and Opera some "Popera" (mix of Pop and Opera such as Josh Groban) Disney musicals and some musical theater.

Examples of Pitch Change Vibrato 1 - down and back

This style starts at the fundamental pitch and moves down a quarter tone in pitch and back to the fundamental pitch. The speed used is fast or moderate. This style is used in Jazz, Funk, Blues and some R&B and Pop.

Examples of Straight Tone

Straight Tone: When singing with a straight tone, there is no use of vibrato of any kind. The artists listed in this example use either completely or mostly straight tone.

Examples of Pulse Vibrato

Pulse Vibrato is a slight variation of volume. The speed tends to be fast, but speed is a personal style attribute. Many of the artists in this play list use a combination of straight tone as well as pulse vibrato and on occasion, even pitch change (down and up).

Comparing Song Stylings

Listen to how the following artists use phrasing: rhythm and tempos, dynamics, tonal qualities and embellishments as part of their personal styling of the song. Then compare the vocal interpretation of the same song sung by the other singer(s).

Studying the Pros - Exercise 1 - Chapter 6

Take note of the different "performance personas" and styles as you watch these live performances by several seasoned professional singers. When studying each performance recognize what assists the message and delivery of the song as well as what distracts from it, if anything.

Studying the Pros - Exercise 2

As you watch these performances, along with any other observations you may have, notice the following:
How does the singer relate to their audience?
How does the singer relate to their fellow musicians?
How do they work with the mic?
Can you understand the singer?
How does the singer move on stage; do their movements integrate with what they're singing at that moment?
How does their movement or lack of it affect the song delivery and how does it affect you as you watch?
With any performance that includes backup vocalists, notice how they visually add or distract (if they do) from the impact of the performance.

Microphone Basics

These YouTube videos contain information and demonstrations that accompany the chapters on Mic Technique and "Finding the Right Mic for Your Voice" found in Jeannie Deva's book: "Singer's Guide to Powerful Unforgettable Performances."

Jeannie Deva

Jeannie Deva coaches and performs. Subscribe to this YouTube Channel for video updates of Jeannie coaching and performing.