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Bethany Joy Chamberlin

Some of the things you can expect to learn in this course will be vocal "best practices" such as body stretches, breathing exercises to expand your breath strength and over all vocal stamina. You will also learn proper resonation and be able to correct your resonation if you're a singer that has developed bad habits over time. We also go over proper vocal placement. Whether you are a beginner or advanced singer this course is for you. We go over why the basics aren't something to ignore, but something to build upon. You are only as strong as your foundation. The reason this course is different from others courses is because I go in depth into vocal health. You will learn how to rule out what might be causing your vocal inconsistencies, vocal damage or vocal fatigue .  We will look at things such as allergies, acid reflux, poor hydration, lack of a steady sleeping pattern, eating habits and so much more. I will be providing many resources for some of my favorite vocal warmups as well as my preferred vocal health products that I love to use on a regular basis for myself as well as all of my students around the globe. I am so excited that you are here , let's do this.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Body stretches for optimal diaphragmatic expansion for breath support.
  • How to increase your breath support naturally and increase vocal stamina.
  • How to take proper care of your instrument so you become more consistent as a vocalist and to help you have a healthy long vocal life.
  • How to resonate properly and how proper resonation feels.

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome! Please be sure to watch as I give you some important information on the best way to do this course to get the maximum benefits. Let's get started!

Read more
To elongate the spine, release body tension, stretch out all sides of the diaphragmatic wall, open the chest and lungs for maximum breath support.

Supplies needed:

A notebook to take notes.

A bottle of water.

A book. We will use this later in the breathing exercises.


We will be going over four strategic body stretches and one additional bonus one to help your body be able to expand for proper breath support. Please be sure to stop and practice these 3 times on each side. Always be sure to do at least two of these in your practice times moving forward.



Supplies needed:

A notebook to keep track of how far you go on both the "tsst" and "pulsed tsst" exercises.


We will be going over how to breathe from the diaphragm and how to correct bad breathing habits.

The goal is breath strength with these two exercises. Once breath strength is mastered you will have better breath control. The more you practice this the stronger your breath support will get! You've got this!!!


Please be sure to stop the recording and practice your breathing exercises. A helpful tip would be to watch yourself in front of a mirror making sure your shoulders do not rise as you breathe low. Do not rush through breathing exercises and please do not lock your knees while doing these. Have fun with it....but don't get crazy!

This section will prepare the singer to understand proper forward resonation when singing ( How to stop throat singing ). It will set the student up to sing the following warmups correctly.

Make sure to go back and do your body stretches and breathing exercises first!!! We are working on developing "best vocal practices" and doing stretches and breathing first before any singing will help the health and longevity of your voice.


Supplies needed:

A notebook. I want you to write down two positive things you heard yourself do on each exercise. Then I want you to write questions you have about your voice or something you feel you did wrong. Maybe it got uncomfortable, write it down. Let's talk about it.

A bottle of water.


"If you don't look stupid, you're not doing it right!"


We are talking resonation. Where your sound is supposed to vibrate. Practice doing it wrong and right with me so you learn what correct resonation sounds and feels like.


If you are an advanced singer and you are correcting bad habits and you aren't feeling this forward vibration always, but you are sometimes I would like for you to practice humming across your register and opening up to whatever your trouble vowels are. Which ones are getting stuck? Use this humming method to correct and fine tune.

Vocal Warm-Up One

Supplies Needed:

A notebook

A water bottle


We go over placement with this particular exercise. Be sure to implement vocal modification.

We also go over sirens. The singers vocal warmup trick! Not an excuse to skip warmups but helpful in a pinch.

The student will know how to properly care for their instrument and promote stamina, longevity, consistency and support for the life of their instrument.

Introduction to the vocal health portion. Grab a pen and paper and get ready to take notes on all the things you should make like habits for the life of your voice.

We will be going over the Do's and Dont's of vocal health. If you are a healthy person or someone that deals with allergies, acid reflux, lack of sleep or lack of hydration... it's for all of you!


This is not a section to skip as this could be the reason your voice is working on Tuesday but isn't working on Sunday. We need to find the inconsistencies in your day to day to make "best practice" changes. Allergies, lack of sleep and all the things mentioned above can make a world of difference with the right care!


Please see all the links below for some of my favorite resources!


Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores vocal health topics like allergies, acid reflux, and hydration, which are often overlooked in traditional vocal training, but are crucial for consistent performance
Includes body stretches and breathing exercises designed to improve breath support and vocal stamina, which are foundational for vocal performance and overall vocal health
Teaches proper resonation techniques and helps singers correct bad habits, which can lead to improved vocal tone and reduced strain during performances
Requires learners to have a notebook, water bottle, and book, which are readily available and signal a hands-on, interactive learning experience
Provides resources for vocal warm-ups and preferred vocal health products, which may require additional purchases beyond the course itself

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Vocal Course 101 with these activities:
Review Vocal Anatomy
Reviewing vocal anatomy will provide a solid foundation for understanding vocal techniques and health practices discussed in the course.
Browse courses on Anatomy
Show steps
  • Find diagrams of the vocal tract and larynx.
  • Study the function of each part.
  • Relate anatomy to vocal production.
Review 'The Vocal Athlete'
Reading 'The Vocal Athlete' will deepen your understanding of vocal health and provide a scientific basis for the techniques taught in the course.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on vocal anatomy and physiology.
  • Focus on the sections about vocal health and hygiene.
  • Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
Practice Breathing Exercises Daily
Practicing breathing exercises daily will improve breath support and vocal stamina, which are essential for singing.
Show steps
  • Set aside 30 minutes each day for breathing exercises.
  • Focus on diaphragmatic breathing.
  • Track your progress and adjust your technique.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Review 'Freeing the Natural Voice'
Reading 'Freeing the Natural Voice' will help you release vocal tension and improve your resonation and vocal placement.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on vocal tension and release.
  • Practice the exercises for finding your natural voice.
  • Apply the techniques to your singing.
Create a Vocal Health Journal
Creating a vocal health journal will help you track your vocal health habits and identify potential issues.
Show steps
  • Record your daily vocal health habits.
  • Note any vocal issues or inconsistencies.
  • Analyze your journal to identify patterns.
Help other students in the discussion forums
Helping other students in the discussion forums will reinforce your understanding of the course material and help you develop your teaching skills.
Show steps
  • Regularly check the discussion forums.
  • Answer questions from other students.
  • Share your insights and experiences.
Create a Vocal Warm-up Routine
Creating a personalized vocal warm-up routine will help you prepare your voice for singing and prevent vocal strain.
Show steps
  • Research different vocal warm-up exercises.
  • Select exercises that target your specific vocal needs.
  • Practice your routine regularly and adjust as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Vocal Course 101 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Voice Teacher
A Voice Teacher provides individual instruction in vocal techniques. The work involves helping students develop proper singing habits, improve their vocal control, and maintain vocal health. This course is a great introduction to this role, as it extensively covers vocal best practices like body stretches, breathing exercises, resonation, and vocal placement. The course pays particular attention to vocal health, addressing factors that lead to vocal inconsistencies, fatigue, and damage. A voice teacher would be well served by the knowledge of how to develop good vocal habits in themselves and their students using the material from this course.
Vocal Coach
A Vocal Coach guides singers in improving their technique and performance. This career involves teaching proper breathing, resonation, and vocal placement, all of which are covered in this course. The focus on vocal health and practices, explored in this course, is essential for a vocal coach to ensure their students are both capable and consistent. This course's emphasis on identifying and addressing factors that cause vocal inconsistencies aligns perfectly with the needs of a vocal coach seeking to help students overcome bad vocal habits and maximize vocal potential. The course also provides resources for vocal warm-ups and products which a coach may want to share.
Vocal Performer
A Vocal Performer, such as a singer, uses their voice as their primary instrument. This career requires a deep understanding of vocal techniques, health, and practices. This course directly caters to the needs of a vocal performer, covering essential aspects such as body stretches, breathing exercises, and proper resonation. The training in vocal placement will help a vocal performer refine their vocal technique and expand their stamina. It also explores in depth the factors that influence vocal health, consistency, and long-term durability. This understanding of vocal health is invaluable for a vocal performer who wishes to have a long and consistent career.
Musical Theater Performer
A Musical Theater Performer needs to sing, dance, and act. This career is physically demanding, and requires a high level of vocal skill. This course is an asset for a musical theater performer because it focuses on best practices for singing, such as body stretches, breath support, resonation and vocal placement. Musical theater performers need to have significant stamina and be able to perform regularly without vocal fatigue or damage. The course's focus on vocal health, and how to avoid vocal issues, will ensure that a musical theater performer is able to maintain a healthy voice throughout their career. The resources provided with the course can help with vocal warmups.
Choir Director
A Choir Director leads a group of singers, and their work involves refining vocal techniques and performance skills. This course provides a solid basis for a choir director, as it covers key areas of vocal training such as breathing exercises, resonation, and vocal placement, as well as vocal health. The course material on correcting bad vocal habits and maintaining a healthy voice is invaluable for a choir director, as it helps the director guide their singers towards better vocal practices. This is particularly crucial for maintaining the consistency and quality of a choir's sound. The course's focus on vocal warm-ups and overall vocal health is useful for leading a large group of singers.
Radio Announcer
A Radio Announcer uses their voice to broadcast news, music, and other content. This career requires a clear, engaging voice that can be maintained throughout a broadcast. This course is useful for a radio announcer as it focuses on vocal techniques and health. The course's emphasis on body stretches and breathing exercises helps a radio announcer develop the necessary stamina, while the training on resonation and vocal placement ensures clear and consistent delivery. The course also provides essential information about vocal health to help a radio announcer maintain a healthy voice and avoid common issues such as fatigue or hoarseness. The resources in this course can also help with vocal preparation.
Drama Teacher
A Drama Teacher instructs students in the art of drama, which includes proper vocal technique. This course provides essential information that a drama teacher can use to improve students' vocal skills. The focus on body stretches, breathing, resonation and vocal placement, are all important when working with students who need to project and control their voice. Moreover, the course explains how to maintain vocal health, which is useful for a drama teacher who spends many hours teaching and performing. The teacher will learn how to ensure that students are not developing harmful vocal habits or risking damage.
Audiobook Narrator
An Audiobook Narrator uses their voice to bring stories to life. This role requires vocal stamina, control, and clarity. This course can help an audiobook narrator learn fundamental vocal techniques, including body stretches to improve breath support, breathing exercises to increase vocal stamina, and techniques for proper resonation and vocal placement. Additionally, this course provides invaluable information regarding vocal health, which can help narrators extend their careers and consistently deliver high-quality recordings. The resources in the course on vocal health products may also be useful for this role.
Speech and Debate Coach
A Speech and Debate Coach teaches students effective communication and presentation skills. This course helps a coach to instruct students on how to use their voices effectively to articulate their points. The course will also help a coach to understand how to identify and correct bad habits related to breathing and resonation. This course's content on vocal health also helps a coach teach students how to maintain their voices to avoid fatigue or damage. Overall the course provides good information to anyone who wants to use their voice with power and projection.
Public Speaker
A Public Speaker needs to use their voice effectively to convey messages and engage audiences. This course can provide public speakers with essential techniques for vocal control and delivery. The breathing exercises taught in this course help a public speaker with vocal stamina, while the training in resonation and vocal placement can improve projection and clarity. The course's emphasis on vocal health also ensures a speaker can maintain their voice for long periods of speaking, addressing factors that could otherwise cause fatigue and inconsistency. A speaker who follows this course will be better equipped to project their voice with confidence.
Podcast Host
A Podcast Host uses their voice extensively to engage listeners. This course will help a podcast host learn essential techniques for vocal control, health, and consistency to meet the demands of this profession. The focus on breathing exercises allows a podcast host to speak for longer stretches of time, and the focus on resonation and vocal placement helps improve projection and clarity. This course also explores in depth factors that influence vocal health and endurance, ensuring consistent vocal performance. The ability to maintain a healthy voice, discussed in this course, will improve a podcast host's ability to create engaging content.
Voice-Over Artist
A Voice Over Artist uses their voice for various projects, including commercials, animations, and documentaries. This course may help a voice over artist learn essential vocal techniques to succeed in this profession. The vocal exercises and resonation techniques, provided in this course, will help a voice over artist develop clarity and precision in their work. These are skills that are important for projects that vary in style and purpose. The focus on vocal health in this course will help a voice over artist maintain their instrument over the long term, and address any inconsistencies or issues.
Music Therapist
Music Therapists use music to address patients' physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. While they use a variety of musical skills, an understanding of vocal health, practices, and techniques is useful when working with clients who may benefit from vocal exercises. This course's content on breathing exercises, resonation, and vocal placement may be applied to develop therapeutic vocal exercises. The course emphasizes vocal consistency and health, which is an important consideration for music therapists. The resources provided here about vocal warmups and health products are useful to a music therapist.
Speech Pathologist
A Speech Pathologist works with individuals who have speech and voice disorders. Although they do not typically teach singing, an understanding of vocal mechanics, healthy vocal practices, and how to identify and address vocal issues can be helpful. This course's focus on vocal health, covering factors like allergies, acid reflux, hydration, and sleep, aligns with the concerns of many speech pathologists. The course's approach to identifying and correcting bad vocal habits can be helpful when working with patients who have voice-related disorders. An understanding of breathing, resonation, and vocal placement, provided by this course, may be useful for speech pathologists.
Content Creator
A Content Creator who uses voice as part of their material may benefit from this course. Whether creating podcasts, videos, or other forms of content, a content creator who uses their voice will need to have clarity, consistency, and the stamina to create their work. This course provides helpful information on breathing techniques, resonation, and vocal placement. The course also reviews how to maintain vocal health, which is important for content creators who may need to speak for long stretches. The course offers resources important to anyone who needs to care for their instrument.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Vocal Course 101.
Comprehensive guide to vocal health and performance. It covers vocal anatomy, physiology, and hygiene, providing a scientific basis for vocal training. It is particularly useful for understanding the vocal health section of the course. This book is commonly used by voice professionals and students.
Explores techniques for releasing vocal tension and finding your natural voice. It is particularly useful for understanding resonation and vocal placement. While not a medical text, it provides valuable insights into vocal technique. This book classic in voice training.

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