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Hey Singers!
I’m Justin Stoney the Founder of New York Vocal Coaching
welcoming you to Ep. 11 of Voice Lessons Online -
the show where passionate Voice Teachers from all over the world
help us LEARN from some of the greatest singers of all time.
I remember the exact moment I was first introduced to Jessie J.
It was 2009 and a student of mine brought me a clip
of a new singer that I just HAD to hear.
After I heard the clip, I said: you just played me the next big pop star.
This was the clip…
Yep. Sitting in her PJs.
Making it look SO easy.
That’s what struck me when I first heard Jessie.
And she’s been making it look easier and easier ever since.
Amazing.
I can’t wait to hear from our team of experts.
First, Arbender Robinson is here to talk about Jessie’s connection to her audience.
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Awesome Arbender.
Next, Kacey Velasquez!
Tell us about Jessie’s Acrobatics.
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Hi everyone!
I am so excited to talk about Jessie J!
She is one of my favorite singers and it’s no secret
that she has an amazing range, belting abilities, and vocal agility.
But what blows my mind the most about Jessie J
is the way that she has incredible vocal control and precision.
Let’s take a look at these next couple of clips of Jessie
doing some serious vocal acrobatics.
So amazing!
Jessie has 100 percent control over what she’s singing and how she’s singing it.
No matter what the notes are and how fast they're moving,
Jessie has pitch accuracy.
She also effortlessly utilizes stylistic elements like dynamics,
rasp and vibrato,
and she has full control
over the tone - bright or dark - that she’s singing with
and sometimes alternates between bright and dark in the same phrase.
In voice lessons you can practice this kind of vocal control by starting
with some pitch accuracy exercises and then by not being afraid to explore
the many different sounds that your voice can make.
Alright singers, thank you so much for having me again and I'll see you soon!
Thanks Kacey!
Next, Andy King, are you hearing a little Twang?
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Hi everyone!
I’m here to talk to you about Jessie J,
twang, and how she uses it for technical AND stylistic purposes.
To make sure we’re all on the same page, let’s quickly define twang.
Twang is created with the narrowing of the Aryepiglottic Sphincter.
When the top and back part of the larynx is partially closed we get twang.
Remember, twang is NOT nasal.
It IS bright, “forward”, and has a high formant frequency.
Now, let’s hear some twang in context of our song.
We’re going to hear Jessie J use twang for flexibility, style,
and character in these short little clips.
AND, finally
Jessie J is known for her incredible range,
wildly fast riffs, and the characterization and color of her voice.
And one common denominator through those three things is twang!
To end, try some twang with me with the lyrics from the chorus.
It's not about the money, money, money,
we don't need your money, money, money.
And with that, go forth, twang it up,
and find the flexibility and color in your own voice!
Thanks Andy!
And David McCall.
What about Jessie’s brilliant use of the Cover?
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When Jessie J covers another artist’s song,
you know it’s going to be something special.
She makes exciting and surprising choices even when we already know the song.
How does she find her own voice in Cover Art?
First things first, Jessie J invests in bravery!
She’s fearless with her song choices, including songs that are
iconically connected to another artist.
And not just any artist, Whitney Houston.
“I have Nothing” is and will forever be a Whitney Houston classic.
Jessie J knows this.
Still, she’s not afraid of trying.
Or of what someone might think or say.
And because she’s not afraid, she’s free to make brand new discoveries
and leave her very own mark on the song.
Number two, she invests in the lyrics.
Her cover of “I Knew You Were Trouble” is a complete rediscovery of this song.
The original version is playful, fun, it makes you move.
Jessie J slows it down a few ticks, which gives her room
to express something deeply personal.
She invests in the lyrics.
And lets the words affect her and her voice.
Third, she invests in herself.
In her covers, we feel her joy in every clean and tight riff,
she plays with words like a jazz singer might,
repeats words or just parts of words.
She limits nothing and allows everything.
Beauty in art is the full and complete expression of an impulse.
And by that standard, Jessie J is a beautiful singer.
Be brave, invest in the lyrics, and allow yourself to express
each and every musical impulse!
Thanks David!
And thanks to all our experts!
I’m going to share what I’ve learned from Jessie in a moment,
but first - here are some more ways to make your vocal journey a Masterpiece!
To get to know the Voice Lessons Online team or schedule a lesson,
visit VoiceLessonsOnline.com.
To get your copy of Justin Stoney's book
"Sing Like Never Before", visit SingLikeNeverBefore.com
If you'd like a vocal course that you can do from home,
check out the Voice Lessons To The World Vocal Course.
Our 12 part program takes you on a journey
from beginner to master level vocal exercises.
Find it at VoiceLessonsToTheWorld.com.
If you're a voice teacher looking to master your craft,
join our worldwide community at VoiceTeacherTraining.com.
Finally, if you'd like free vocal tips sent to you each day,
sign up at DailyVocalTips.com.
Okay. So I showed you the clip of when I was first introduced to Jessie J.
But, that’s not my favorite clip.
Not even close.
My favorite clip is one that I show all the time because
it is the absolute EPITOME of vocal technique.
Maybe the very DEFINITION of vocal technique. Ready for it? Take a look…
So awesome!
Now, I know she’s just joking around.
But, she actually gave away one of the greatest secrets of singing.
Can you do what you need to do without relying on the mouth?
Can you hit high notes, low notes, fast notes, sustained notes… can you BELT?
All without needing the mouth?
Well, Jessie J can. She just proved it.
And that’s one of the big reasons that everything sounds so easy for her.
Any voice teacher helping a student to Belt is showing their student
how to get up to those high belt notes without relying on
more breath, more volume, and a wide open sound.
Jessie J comes along with this clip and shows us the gold standard.
I guess Mamma really does know best!
We’ll see you next time for more Voice Lessons Online!
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