The Peanut Butter Adagio!

Singing made easy!  Ha, if only there was a quick fix.  

The truth is, there isn't a quick way to become a good/ great singer.  It takes hard work, effort, practice and guidance to help you develop and understand the sensations that you're feeling.  You have to know whether you should be feeling it, or what you should, instead have going on.

People learn in different ways, and some are more responsive to kinesthetic (it feels like this... or that) rather than the auditory (listening to) examples of technique.

I love this one.  It might not appeal to everyone, particularly those with the old peanut allergy but if you have any similar products that I could substitute, I'd welcome them!

So yes, the peanut butter, what is she talking about?  

Well, when we do our singing lessons in Edinburgh, one of the first things we do, is warm up!  Every good teacher should make sure that the voice is adequately warmed up and ready for the session!  One of our warm up exercises is a series of descending hums, on a major scale.  When you're thinking about doing the hum, imagine that you're trying to lick peanut butter from the roof of your mouth, and relax the tongue at the point where the tip of the tongue is about to cross the threshold made by your teeth.  You'll notice that your tongue is down at the back, you're soft palate will be raise slightly at the back, and above all the internal workings of your mouth will be relaxed!

Relax relax relax!

Try it!

Safety first!!!

Phew, what a week...


In our singing lessons this week, we've been mostly talking about safety!  What's there to be safe about? Well, if you think that singing is as easy as opening your mouth and letting even the proverbial belly rumble, then you could be in for a shock!


It's very important that you ensure that you're looking after yourself, because so many things can affect the shape of your voice.


If you bought a guitar, you'd have to change the strings on it periodically, you'd have to tune it certainly and that's all with the knowledge that your guitar already knows how to be a guitar, because it's always been nothing BUT a guitar!  You are not only learning how to use your instrument, but you need to learn to BE your instrument, and that is one of the unique qualities about being a singer!


Make sure you keep yourself well lubricated (with water and not diuretics, such as coffee, tea or fizzy drinks).  Make sure you keep yourself well slept because lack of good, efficient rest can take its toll on your voice.  And make sure you look out for any symptom that might be untoward!  That is, anything that is present without any other symptoms.  A sore throat, when accompanied by a cold, is likely just a sore throat!