• Shania and Maurice: 18-year old daughter and her 62-year old dad …Thumbs down,, Very Karaoke
• William Close: Maker of odd ball instruments… gag me.
• Opera singer Sergio, only semi-talent so far.
• Blue Man Group rip off; dressed in weird outfits,   thumbs down
• Loyalty Dance Crew: few stand outs, but not earth-shaking.
• Alan Laver: Rapper….. help me???
• Jorge and Alexa: 7-year old and daddy again? Whyyyy Whyyyy thumbs down
• Dog Ventriloquist:       nuf said!!!
• Girl who climbs things and twists.         Say, Cirque Junior Miss???
• Ben Blade: Crossbow master???         Is this the David Letterman show?
• Sanjula Vamana:     Sticks needles in his face, hey singers, still want to audition?
• Kazoo boys, thumbs down… stupid human tricks
• Miss Les AKA Bird Lady: Sings while her 22 cockatoos defecate on her and eat things out of her mouth.    No, I am serious.
• Some guy sang Proud Mary

That’s all folks!!!!

I sent real talent audition for America’s Got Talent. People on iTunes and CD Baby. Real Brian McKnight kind of singers who failed to get on? For this circus??

So, if you want a good laugh or want to gag, watch this seasons America’s Got Freakshow!

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

Never confuse talent with the applause of intoxicated people at a Karaoke bar. 

I have great singers who come every week after long hard day jobs, because they know that the more they learn, the better they will be. I have single mothers who have scraped for money to fund lessons for a child’s aspirations because they knew it was important.

Yet other students are now recording, and ready to be signed by a label. They still come every week or twice-weekly because they know they need to build stamina and refine their technique. If they make it to the next level, success at performances and concerts won’t just happen automatically. It will need continual coaching an ongoing honest evaluation

A Mother Is Not A Coach

One mother who insisted her daughter do a difficult song from “West Side Story” for an audition. The girl could not even grasp the concept of the lyric or the degree of difficulty of the music. I staunchly recommended another song be chosen. The mother insisted and we parted ways.

A vocal coach needs to be included in the choice of an audition song. It is that ability, among others, you are paying for.

Singing Lessons Aren’t A Trip To Disneyland

If you have a large family, and the younger ones have to wait a year for their turn, in order for you to supply the gifted one with every tool possible, you must set your priorities to give the older child the proper training, or it will wither from neglect.

There is rarely measurable improvement, when a student takes lessons every other month or every 3-4 weeks. It takes study as if one  were learning an instrument. No piano or guitar teacher, teacher would take someone twice a month, because there would likely be no real progress.

Time of day matters

Bring a child to an 8 pm lesson and they are tired, exhausted. How can they absorb and retain the lesson content. Saturday? That’s usually play-day, and it’s difficult to focus on lessons. Well, if Saturday is play-day, parents may be sending mixed-signals to their aspiring child. If weekdays ARE the only time, then make sure the child naps and does not eat before a lesson. It’s important to be alert.

My Saturdays were, jazz, tap, and ballet. My entire childhood was lessons. I could play on Sunday, ride my bike, go to the park.

Lesson Frequency and Persistent Practice Matter

If a student has any true professional aspirations, a good teacher, won’t be comfortable with seeing them twice a month (except in rare situations).  The really good coach is hard to find. I know, because I have students who have been to many before me, and moved on from frustration.

That type of teacher doesn’t offer the foundation skill and nurturing a student needs to progress. One can vocalize at home, but you cannot be your own coach or director. It requires a neutral observer and coach to move you along, point out poor phrasing and breathing mistakes. Read my post on “What you should expect from a vocal coach.”

No YouTube is better than Bad YouTube

I have coached some singers who take a couple of lessons, disappear, then post YouTube videos, and tout me as their coach.

I discourage anyone from posting YouTube videos, unless they are original, studio recorded songs.

I would like these people to take my name off the videos, but I can only ask. I can’t compel them.

Occasionally I get it wrong. I have taken on a few students twice a month and should not have. They did not get the progress my other students got.

I no longer accept hobbyist singers as students

If this is a hobby, then I will not take on that person as a student. If one serious (as an adult or parent, for a child)  you will find a way… cut out a dinner out, whatever it takes, taking voice is a serious endeavor, and potentially life-changing experience.

Taking the stage on Karaoke night is fools gold. The applause of friends, family, and patrons is temporarily good for the ego. Don’t confuse that with reality.

A person with sincere aspirations and drive needs quality coaching and the truth about what it takes.

Aspiring students are always welcome. Reality checks occasionally given… This post would be a reality check

This is a great example of a young woman with a bit of talent, posting a YouTube video. Not ready for prime time. Just because you can post to YouTube, doesn’t make it a good idea.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

Jesse Campbell

I have watched The Voice since the first time it aired. I thought was the only show of singers competing, worth watching.

From his first performance, Jesse Campbell, a man who was homeless with a daughter and lived in his car, was my choice to win the season. He chose Christina Aguilera as his coach and be on his team. Every week, he delivered. I loved him and Anthony, who was also sent home. I thought THAT was crazy!

Tonight, it was a night when the coach picks a singer and sends them home. I was certain it would be Ashley, who sang consistently out of tune and had no stage presence. She gave a luke warm performance.  Heck, she was frequently OUT OF TUNE.

When it came down to the choice, I could not believe my ears… Christina sent Jesse packing! I finished yelling at the TV and Christina and now I am at the computer telling my readers, that I am done with this show.

I cannot watch great singers go home while bad ones remain on the show. It is sickening, and I can only hope that a label or huge producer agrees with me, will sign him up. “Daughtry” and Jennifer Hudson, were underestimated on American Idol. If there is any justice or karma to be found, Jesse Campbell will move on to be best-selling vocalist, like them.

I love Christina Aquilera‘s voice, and am mystified as to how, and why, she came to this decision.

All I know for sure is,  now, I don’t care who wins.

I want to see these shows as a stepping stone and showcase for great uncharted talent. Instead it has become a game. I have a student, Chelsea, who made the first audition for the next year’s  edition of “The Voice”. Now, I’m unsure if her participation is really a good thing?

Jesse was and is a great talent with great stage presence, and I hope he has 7 Grammy”s next year, and Christina kicks herself in the butt.

I remember “Star Search”. it was one of the first popular contests for singers, comedians and actors. LeAnn Rimes did not win, and look at what happened to her career.

All I want to say to Jesse, is:

You have “IT” and many, many people know it. I wish you luck, success and many hits on the charts. I know that you will never sleep in your car again, unless it’s a tour bus. Jesse, you go out there and show them, they made a huge mistake, and their loss is someone else”s gain. Please don”t be discouraged, it isn’t the end for you, it is the beginning. We’ll all be seeing you, soon, very soon.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

The first thing a good coach should do is evaluate where you are. Then they need to get you to the point where you don’t have to think about where you are singing from. After sufficient proper training, singing just becomes motor memory.

I have seen singers in my studio constantly say, that note is too high. I tell them they are over thinking it, and “try it like this.” And give them an exercise to get to the note. Not only do they always get to that note, but three or four beyond.

A lot of this fear is in your one’s head. We hear a note and tell ourselves we cannot do it. You usually can do it, you just don’t know how.

Another issue is emotion. You have to sing it as if you wrote it. Live with the song, really know it, and play with it, make it yours.

No one wants to do a cover song exactly like the original. That’s been done! You need to go further and blow people away with your take. To do that, you need confidence. To gain confidence you need to know what you are doing!

If you are spending time and money for a pro to give you their experience, take it and run with it. If you think a coach is just having you exercise and do the same thing every week, what are you learning? Are they asking you what you need from them?

I also believe that music education is a must. A coach should turn their students on to the greats, and have them watch YouTube clips of the most raw and emotional videos. Exposure to the great singers is so important.

If you become a songwriter, learn about the seminars and conventions ASCAP gives in Los Angeles where, for a small amount of money, you can meet songwriters like Diane Warren, and ask questions, pass out demo’s. These Seminars are just amazing for a new songwriter. My student, Dayna, goes to them and gets so much from them. She learned structure, pre-chorus, verse, chorus, etc.. This is priceless information for a budding songwriter.

If a coach just promises you that you will sing Karaoke at a local club, then run. You need to learn to sing, with a band, conduct your cues. A professional singer does not do Karaoke.

You need to bring the band in, know when to cue the drummer and band to come down when you come lower your voice, and how to get them to follow you when you end the song. A restaurant that has Karaoke, has free entertainment and makes a fortune off the family and friends buying dinner and drinks. Don’t be impressed with that.

I think the hotel Karaoke bars are fun for tourists and certain singers who need stage experience if they have stage fright. But eventually, you need to get out there and sit in at open mic nights to really get going. Make sure you get the correct advice on your career. There are good coaches out there and some who should be ashamed of themselves.

Good luck and choose wisely.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

By Jessica Marciel – Las Vegas Vocal Training – March 2012

Author’s Note: This essay is on maintaining vocal health is combines music industry and medical information, as well as personal experience and first-hand observation. There are many resources linked from this document, to give further information on particular items.

Please use this White Paper as a starting point for understanding your voice and what can affect it, positively or negatively. As cited in this essay, should you experience extended hoarseness (more than a couple of days) or pain, when you sing, it’s best practice to consult and Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor.

Many singers, such as the late Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Adele, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, John Mayer and others have had vocal health issues. All either had surgery or vocal rest plus anti-inflammatory medication, or both.

I felt an urgency to write about some of the important facts and issues surrounding the care of your voice.

Rule #1: If it hurts when you sing, STOP.

Common medical issues such as acid reflux can damage your vocal cords. When acid and mucus comes up, it burns your throat. Sleep deprivation, allergies or incorrect vocal technique can do permanent damage.

The vocal folds are thin layers of mucus that moisten your cords, continuously. Caffeine, soda, and smoking, pull the moisture out of your cords, leaving you with dryness and makes you feel like you cannot sing. You probably cannot, and should, not sing! 

Vocal Cord - Folds

Vocal cords can be damaged just from dryness. Air conditioning, furnaces, or low-humidity climates (such as Las Vegas) are potentially risky.

Recycled air in airplanes is also a problematic environment. Dermatologists (skin doctors) recommend moisturizing and drinking water when you fly. Performers who fly often should drink plenty of water during the entire flight.

Some treatments and cautions for dry throat are:

• Half-teaspoon salt. half-teaspoon baking soda, half teaspoon of clear corn syrup, and warm water, and gargle.
• Honey, lemon, and warm water, sip throughout day. Zinc lozenges, Mucinex and limited speaking.
• Throat coat tea, no caffeine, Biotenemouthwash, (I use it every day) and Entertainment Secret Throat Spray.
• Birth control pills may cause virilization of the female larynx, try to use alternate birth control.
• Avoid clearing your throat or coughing.
• Whispering is bad, too. Just speak softly.
• Use humidifiers throughout your house and bedroom, specifically. Use cold air humidifiers; NOT warm or hot air.

VCD aka VOCAL CORD DYSFUNCTION was not even discovered or named until 1951. That is when a definitive study was conducted.

An ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) can order appropriate tests for you. You should get to know your ENT, well. That includes having their cell phone number, in case you have an urgent need.

For example, getting a quick Prednisone injection before a gig can restore your voice, quickly. You cannot do that often because Prednisone is a steroid and is not recommended for extended or continuous use. It is not unusual for working singers to have a half-dozen Prednisone pills, on hand for emergencies. A shot will work more quickly.

If you are hoarse for more than a week, see your ENT. Being hoarse for more than a couple of days can be a symptom of broken blood vessels. Vocal cord paralysis can occur when the nerve impulses to your larynx (voice box) are interrupted. It can even affect your ability to speak.

Bleeding (such as in Adele’s condition) is caused by microscopic blood vessels in the cord in a jelly like layer, under folds when it is not absorbed. It can form a polyp and cause scarring.

About Celine Dion

I believe the likely reason Celine lost her voice is because she stopped singing for an extended period, to raise her newborns. If she had a vocal coach working with her during the time off, she would be probably fine today.

It should not be shocking that her voice was not in full force, immediately, when she started on a rapid return to concert performances. Surprise, you don’t use it, you lose it. Her spokespeople say it is a virus. It may be, but it’s probable that the extended time off was a significant contributing factor.

About Shania Twain

The public was told Shania Twain’s loss of voice was due to the trauma of her cheating husband (also her partner-producer).

However, she also moved away to have a child and took a few years off from performing. It would not be unlikely if it the combination of both non-use of her voice, as well as the other trauma, led to her voice problems

Our voices are not infinite. We need to work at keeping them in shape by warming up, and working them out.

Tension can also prevent you from reaching your potential. Relax, stretch, warm up, be informed and apply your vocal knowledge.

We are human, not stainless steel. Take care of your voice. It is your instrument.

Download this entire article (in PDF). Feel free to share it.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

I just feel like they try to make it so difficult and to deprive people of sleep, when that is so important to a singer, it baffles me.

“A little sleep deprivation is good for them once in a while”

~ Steven Tyler

Really? My body is my instrument, I rarely scream like Steven Tyler does. When I do, I do it correctly with my stomach muscles, not my throat.

The lack of talent this year is amazing to me. I feel like I am watching Karaoke contest. No one yet has blown me away.

There were three strong singers from the Houston, Texas audition. One who became my student, when they had that 2-month break. Scarlett Peavey found me ion the net, and moved here to prepare for the Los Angeles American Idol boot camp. The problem she experienced was pain when singing. It was too late for her to get well, so when she went to LA with the correct way to sing from me. Her vocal cords needed anti-inflammatories and rest.

The boot camp of the Hollywood Round consisted of no sleep, exhaustion, and no rest at all, inflamed her voice more. It was not a bad thing when she got cut the third day. I told her to see an ear , nose throat doctor, immediately. He said she had over done it, and needed vocal rest.

And resting is what she has been doing since December. When she is OK we will record her and shop her and I swear she will out sell anyone American Idol produces this season. No one I’ve seen this season can touch Scarlett. Since we live in Las Vegas, we hear great talent all the time. We hear real singers, who nail it every single time we hear them.

Why is Jennifer Lopez a judge? She is a dancer and actress, who lip-syncs her records. Give me a show like The Voice that has singers for judges, and I am interested. I cannot even remember who won American Idol last year.

Former Idol contestant, Katharine McPhee, co-stars on a new TV show on “Smash“. It is a legitimate show about Broadway. The problem I have with her, is , she is a good singer but not as good as the rival REAL Broadway singer she is up against on the show.

Having sung professionally since age 12, and now, decades later, I can still sing. And as a coach, my new career, I have earned the right to an opinion.

Singers need sleep. rest, coaching, multi tasking, dancing, and ‘IT’ these people need ‘IT’ and I haven’t seen ‘IT’, this season. That’s why I don’t watch American Idol on a regular basis. It is painful to see a good show devolve into a hot mess.

~ Jessica Marciel

Love, Peace, and SOUL

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

Dusty Springfield

I never thought I would answer this question. There are so many great singers and all different.

I was watching a cable film with James Caan and Sally Field, “Kiss Me Goodbye”, and at the credits, there she was, I recognized her right away, Dusty Springfield, a song written by the late Peter Allen.

We lost Dusty to cancer way too soon, just so unfair. I searched YouTube and watched her with Tom Jones, Andy Williams, a lot of great singers. She had that velvety, smokey, yet soulful, cream cheese sound. She could be breathy and take your breath away., Her interpretation of a lyric was heartfelt.When she sang Randy Newman‘s, “Think it’s gonna Rain Today” you knew she really got it. When she sang, tin can at my feet, think I”ll kick it down the street, you knew she really got the way to express the cynical lyrics.

Dusty was a British, soulful, young gay beautiful blonde. In the 60,s we didn’t see that a lot. Everyone white was “White”, she sang with Tom Jones and it was magical.

She lives on, in films, like “My Best Friend’s Wedding”, where they all break into her songs through the film.

So, after thinking about, Eva Cassidy, Whitney, Barbra, Celine, I just keep going back to Dusty. She was the one, when I hear her sing, I go to another place. A serene, beautiful place. I hope she is at peace, and I hope she knew before she died, the legacy she would leave.

Sleep well beautiful girl.

Love , Peace and Soul

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

Students constantly tell me

“I am warmed up, I sang on the way over.”

No! Singing in or out of the car is not warming up. Would you run a marathon, and at the end, stop and then stretch? There is a reason it is called warming up. Your muscles are cold when not used. If you don’t want to injure yourself, you need to warm up slowly and then hum into singing.

A wonderful easy warm up, that does not need a CD or piano, is the motor or bubble lips. It is like blowing a feather lightly and then humming on a note, or pitch, and go into more notes. You can do this on two notes just as easily as a scale.

Another is to hum on pitch, just hum and make up a melody and hum. Then place your tongue on the roof of your mouth, and hum, that is the NG hum. It warms you up faster.

If you start singing cold, it might be fine, but it will take you longer to feel comfortable in your harder range. If you warm up, you can do your most difficult songs with ease any time you want with confidence.

Please take this advice, it will save your voice and make you a better , stronger singer.

Love and Soul,

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training