Improving After In-A-Chord

Nicole Brown
Alpha Delta Pi

There are many ways to go about showcasing passions and talent at Kansas State and the In-A-Chord A Cappella group is definitely one of them. This organization of gifted singers and songwriters, many of them being Greek, performed on Nov. 7, 2011 and wowed the Manhattan community after belting it out in Forum Hall. With a plethora of different interests and career paths ahead of them, these thirteen students come together to present their common interest and love for music, and it is nothing less than inspirational.

While it may be one of our passions, singing is not always considered a talent. Unless it’s jamming on a car ride or singing in the shower (which is my personal favorite), many of us try to avoid expressing our not-so-brilliant singing voices. However, with a little motivation to improve our abilities and to stop scaring the poor lady we’re sitting next to at church on Sunday morning, a couple minor adjustments can improve your voice quite drastically. Maybe not enough to be publicity-worthy (I’ll leave that up to you), but a progressive improvement!

1. 

Raise your arms a couple inches away from your body, allowing your ribcage and diaphragm to expand fully. This will send more air to your lungs and grant you the ability to project that unique voice of yours.

2. 

Make sure your feet are balanced and knees slightly bent so that you are sitting or standing as straight as possible.

3. 

Relax your muscles because stress and tension alter your vocal tone. Tone is the specific sound your voice makes and you want it to come across as naturally as possible.

4. 

As you are breathing inward to inhale, push your stomach out. As you exhale, slowly bring your stomach in. These actions will give you the control to intensify or lessen the strength of your voice.

5. 

Some people sing softly while others sing as loud as they possibly can. It’s all about identifying your natural volume; which shouldn’t feel forced or constricted.

6. 

Don’t try to imitate other people. Everybody has their own unique sound and you wouldn’t want to be the one to butcher a classic; although we’ve all done it sometime or another.

I admire the In-A-Chord singers for mastering these skills and turning them into something beautiful, which is much more than I can say for myself. Although these tips did bring my voice some success; and by success I mean less pained expressions and sympathetic commentary from a few of my closest friends. They are truly talented individuals demonstrating their exceptional abilities and motivating the community with their musical flair. Whether it be in your car, in your shower, or in the spotlight, I encourage you to embrace your own vocal capabilities and work hard to develop them. Even if they are as terrible as mine or as great as these K-State performers!

Visit the In-A-Chord Facebook page for important announcements about upcoming performances and future auditions! http://www.facebook.com/pages/In-A-Chord/112130775566967?sk=wall

Nicole is a sophomore studying digital media. You may contact her at nb724@ksu.edu.