Vocal Coach Momma

Anthony Paul - Saturday Vocal Training

Our Saturday start in the morning, waking up and driving 30 minutes into the heart of Los Angeles for vocal lessons. We arrive at Anthony’s vocal coach’s house around 10:30 am with all of us singing the Star Spangled Banner to the doorbell chime. What a fun welcome.

Anthony starts his sessions off on the ground, flat on his back with a bible on his belly. She uses a bible because of his size and weight which is perfect for focusing on the breathing from his diaphragm. With the relaxing music going in the background, Anthony concentrates on rising the bible up and down while deep breathing. This lasts about 5 minutes and then we move to singing prolonged notes while staying in this position. His vocal coach stretches him up higher and higher, past his breaking point.

After this exercise of a few minutes, we move to standing up, hitting prolonged notes up and down the scale. His vocal coach explains the note is riding on the air so we shouldn’t hear the note first. We should hear the air and then the note surfing the air BUT make sure you have enough air to ride it out without falling off!

She loves when her students feel safe enough to be unsafe. To stretch beyond their comfort point, allow their voices to crack! She tells Anthony that she loves that he is a warrior. He is willing to fight until he gets it, he can hear the mistakes before she tells him and he will work through it. She reminds him that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it was BUILT!

As she works with Anthony on his high notes, the money notes as she calls them, she explains that people love the high notes like Michael Jackson had because it takes them to a place where they cannot go on their own. She explains that we want to use our natural voice because there is life in that voice and people want the music to live!

After 30 minutes of technical training we move onto working on a song for an audition song that is coming up in a few weeks. Anthony is singing Donny Hathaway’s “Song for You”. She talks about the entire audition process, from the minute you walk in the door, to the approach to the judges/producer and how you stand, how you look them in the eye, how you introduce yourself, how you relax your body, to small changes to the song that will make you stand out. Lots of great advice.

Sometimes we spend more time on techniques and there is a long list of fun exercises to run through and other times, when we are preparing for an audition or a performance, we focus on specific songs. Anthony’s vocal coach gives very specific constructive feedback in such a positive manner and always lifts his spirits with her can-do attitude! No matter what we work on, it’s always productive and positive!

Vocal Training Session

“Your body is your instrument” is one of my favorite sayings. So to get the vocals up and running we start our session with physical warm-ups, stretching and lots of breathing techniques. In addition, I stress the importance of using basic music theory and note recognition while practicing harmonies and melodies to create a good vocal balance. Utilizing proper vocal techniques are very important for singers to develop good tone, pitch and style.

Donna Ruko

When you see your vocal students career rise to another level it makes all of your time and work worth it! Go Donna!

Allie & Anthony

Allie and Anthony are very talented artists who are very busy making beautiful music and I am enjoying our music vocal journey.

Asia Shabazz

When one of your students has worked very hard toward her goals and now travels the world with a popular recording girl group "Rawyals" it puts a smile on my face. Asia Shabazz you are a winner.