Singing At The Piano? 7 Tips For Keyboard and Voice Synergy
As a singer who frequently plays keyboard instruments, and a vocal coach who works with a lot of piano players, there are things I've had to learn about the most efficient ways of accomplishing this musical multitasking. Depending on how you do it, playing keys can either help or hurt your singing. Here are 7 piano/singer tips for you:
- Prepare by playing and singing separately.
- Get your posture right.
- Get your mic right.
- Get your power coming from your seat or your feet.
- Secure your pedals
- Lightly use your fingers on the keys to tip your balance over your tailbone instead of into the keys.
- Be a singer who is playing piano... not a piano player who is singing.
Labels: Judy Rodman, keyboard, singing and playing piano, singing while playing keyboards, singing while playing piano, vocal coach, vocal tips
11 Comments :
At November 13, 2009 at 12:50 PM ,
Anonymous said...
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At December 2, 2009 at 7:51 PM ,
Avocational Singer said...
In a post on a message board for singer that I like to read (the New Forum for Classical Singers), someone embedded a video of Placido Domingo singing opera while accompanying himself on the piano. I was so impressed at this skill of his. I've tried to accompany myself for years, but I have to admit, I didn't follow one of your suggestions in that I haven't practiced the piano part enough on its own.
If you want to read the post on the singer message board, here's a link:
Gotta Love a Guy Who Can Accompany Himself on the Piano
At December 4, 2009 at 12:10 PM ,
Judy Rodman said...
Thanks so much for sending this great link... notice how he uses his face, his back stays flexible, and that in this video you get the sense that his singing is coming first.
Good luck with my suggestions... let me know if they help you conquer this multitasking!
At January 13, 2010 at 9:35 AM ,
Avocational Singer said...
Dear Judy,
Thanks for your comments about my comment.
I have been succeeded in posting an mp3 file of me accompanying myself in a song after trying to incorporate some of your suggestions about accompanying one's self on piano, specifically practicing the piano accompaniment more seriously.
It is part of a larger project of mine where I'm challenging myself to learn the 24 Italian Songs and Arias from the standard learning book in 24 weeks. I'm learning a song a week and then posting a clip of each song that I learn using the accompaniment CD that comes with the book.
But -- inspired by this idea of accompanying one's self -- for one song, "O cessate di piagarmi" I practiced the accompaniment along with the vocal, and then put them together. I found it helpful to meld the vocal and the left hand part together first (two "voices") before trying the whole thing together.
I found it harder to "support" while sitting at the piano. I am just developing my middle voice range, and so that task was making the thing a bit more complicated. I tried to practice (separately from singing with the piano) finding support through my "bottom" and through the piano bench. I am used to getting support from strong legs on the floor, but figured it had to be possible to do it seated.
I picked a very simple accompaniment for my first stab at this. If you would like to listen to it, here is the link.
http://frescamariperform.posterous.com/24-italian-arias-o-cessate-di-piagarmi
At January 14, 2010 at 12:45 PM ,
Unknown said...
Hello, Avocational Singer...
Good job... what I would have you concentrate on if you were my student is crisping up your articulation and getting it out of your jaw. Lighten and pop your words.
I've always love this song, btw... I did it for my "jury" as a vocal student in college. I like to use it as part of my warmup, but again, you need to learn to use your consonants differently to get it even better and better FOR your voice.
At August 26, 2011 at 6:37 AM ,
Julie said...
Hi,
After doing a Google search for "tips for singing and playing the piano at the same time" I came across this post of yours - thank you.
Not a very skilled pianist but I'm a 'background player' to our lead guitarist and only recently I've become more keen to use my voice (and work on my voice, which has "good pitch but lack of power"). Now I feel that I could improve my singing far more easily than improving my piano playing... Decisions, decisions! :)
At August 26, 2011 at 3:12 PM ,
Unknown said...
Julie... so happy that my post inspired you! Hope you keep singing... and keep in touch.
At September 19, 2011 at 8:03 AM ,
Cherry said...
Found it! :))
At September 12, 2013 at 12:39 AM ,
Fabio said...
I like the last one a lot: Be a singer who is playing piano... not a piano player who is singing. My Korg has been sitting at home for months. I think I really should be learning how to play it so that i can sing with it.
At September 12, 2013 at 8:42 AM ,
Judy Rodman said...
HA... DO IT, Fabio. Just remember to practice playing and singing separately until the playing is just part of your arms.
At August 4, 2021 at 10:20 AM ,
play said...
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