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by Don Chapman
In the olden days, vocalists
had to sing
with an operatic roar to
be heard. There
was no such thing as a
loudspeaker or microphone.
Listen to the radio and
television today
and you'll hear a drastically
different,
intimate style -- more
natural singing voices
amplified by modern electronics.
So why do your praise team
vocalists continue
to warble on stage? If
they've had any vocal
training at all, they've
probably been taught
with methods developed
200 years ago before
the advent of electricity.
I'm continually coaxing
my singers to tone
it down and sing on the
mic. Close to it.
Eat it. They're afraid
for some reason! Not
until my friend Ingrid
visited our church
as a special musical guest
(she's a session
singer in Nashville and
sings my song "The Hope of Your Call") did it hit home.
Everyone saw and heard
how Ingrid carefully
controlled her voice. Always
in very close
proximity to the mic. An
even tone. Not a
wide range of dynamics.
And here's why singers
are so afraid of the
mic: they're not used to
hearing themselves
that way! It's a confidence
thing. I remember
when I first started leading
worship vocally
from the mic. I was shocked
to hear my voice
amplified so powerfully
and completely. It
took a few months to get
used to it.
And the best way for your
singers to get
used to the mics is for
them to >rehearse<
with the mics. Have your
vocal rehearsal
in your sanctuary, on the
stage/platform,
with the sound system on,
just like they'll
be singing on Sunday. Don't
rehearse your
praise team in the choir
room!
>Bottom Line: Help your praise team vocalists develop
a contemporary sound by
having them sing
close to the microphone.
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