Beginning Singer

YouTube Comments: Think Before You Post

Placido Domingo is great. If you believe many of the comments on Youtube, however, you would think that we’ve all been fooled.

The Actor's Nightmare is Useful

Last night, I had an Actor’s Nightmare – you know, the nightmare where you’re on stage in a play that you’ve never heard of…and you’re naked – that was more along the lines of the “Audition Nightmare”.

Breathing for Singing: The Vocal Contest

By maintaining the feeling of inhalation while you’re exhaling, you can protect your vocal folds and maintain a beautiful tone. This is often called breath support, the vocal contest, or “la lotta vocale”.

The Question to Ask Yourself before You Say ‘Yes’

Take it from me – as someone who’s quit too many times after saying ‘yes’ – that it’s better to think ahead and say ‘no’ than say ‘yes’ to something you don’t really want to do. Or CAN’T do.

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Why Criticize?

We criticize to change someone’s behavior. But criticizing and changing another’s behavior are two different things. It’s a particular technique to achieve that goal. Does it work?

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Singer Appreciation: John Raitt

Beginning Singer appreciates one of the quintessential leading men of the American musical theater stage.

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Vocalise of the Week: “Here’s a to do to die today”

“Here’s a to-do to die today” is a popular articulation warm-up. But do you know where it came from? Read on for notation and a little history.

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Vocalise of the Week: Happy Articulation Warm-Up

This is a tongue twister warm-up that my mother taught me back when I was a kid.

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How Should We Criticize?

In the past few weeks, I have been involved with a lot of criticism, both giving and receiving. I would like to share some concerns I have with criticism in this post.

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When Singing is Frustrating

Yes, I get frustrated with my singing sometimes. Sometimes, it happens a lot. Every day. Constantly. “Why am I doing this? I suck. I hate singing…whine whine whine…”

Then I stop and pay attention. And the proper path opens.

…[Continue reading When Singing is Frustrating]

Beginning Singer is about the challenges of becoming a professional singer.

My name is Ian Sidden, and I have been performing since I was a very little boy. I have always sung, and whether it was in musicals, rock bands, choirs or operas; I just couldn't shut up. I just completed graduate studies in Vocal Performance, and now it is do or die time to attempt a professional career.

Within this blog there will be writings on my own singing experiences as I live them, writings on singing technique and pedagogical observations, interviews, book reviews, and all sorts of singing related material.