Voice Resources

On this page you will find required materials for voice lessons here at Promethean Studios and various other resources for the voice as well. The resources on this page are specifically for the voice, more generic resources (metronomes, music stores, recording studios) are listed here . At the time this information was entered, all links worked and products listed were available. For information purposes only; we won't post resources when we know there might be any sort of problem with a product, business, or person listed but please checkout the reliability, appropriateness, and reputation of any recommendation you plan to use. If you have any additional questions, please ask your instructor or email us at askus@dallasmusiclessons.com.

For Lessons:

An instrument in fair condition. I guess you've already got that.

3 ring binderwith loose-leaf paper and pockets for holding handouts.

Pencil. Musicians write with pencils because they make changes to their music and make frequent notations on the pages. Erasable, colored pencils are best.

Manuscript paper (music paper, staff paper). For assignments and written exercises. Go to Music and Tab paper at www.dallasmusiclessons.com, and there's over 120 kinds of music and tab paper you can use for whatever you need. Download all you want and your friends can, too.

256 Meg flash drive (or larger). To record your lesson. When you begin each lesson, give your flash drive to your instructor and they'll record your lessons. Be sure and take the drive with you when you leave and listen to it in your computer the day of or the day after your lesson. This will give you a way to review the lesson and give your instructor a way to send demonstrations of technique or songs home with you. Also, if you'd like to record some of your practices, you can record go to http://www.audio-tool.net/ and download their free computer-based recording program. If you'll review your lesson each week, you'll progress about 5 to 10% faster.

Metronome* At this moment you don't need a metronome for lessons. But you will eventually (in 2 to 4 months) need a pitch device (piano, keyboard, guitar) and a counting device for the inevitable special exercise or two that you'll be doing. The minimum to fulfill this would be a metronome and a guitar or keyboard. A little home keyboard with rhythms and metronomic markings is more fun than a metronome. If you buy a metronome here's some resources: Korg Ma-30 (a Promethean Best Buy), Korg TM-40, Planet Waves PW-CT-08, or Boss TU-80 or better. Students who practice with metronomes or rhythm machines in their exercises will also progress about 5 to 10 percent faster. Use the metronome for everything possible. It will develop your sense of rhythm and counting; equally important, it will show you where you should be practicing. If you follow the beat from the metronome in exercises, the areas where you don't do well will be revealed, and you'll know where to spend extra practice time. The metronome is your drummer.

Accompaniment recordings or CDs for 5 songs of your choice, within these guide lines: 1) No songs where violence, drugs, cursing, or sex figure largely, 2) No songs where what you like about the song is how hard it is – for now. Just pick songs you think are cool. Also known as karaoke or backing tracks - the music plays, there is no singer and YOU SING. These are available at Walmart, Best Buy, and Spotlight on Karaoke in Collin Creek Mall, 972-881-1403. Websites: www.spotlightonkaraoke.com, www.karaoke.com, www.proburn.com, http://www.karaoke-version.com. Internet - youtube, itunes.

We think there is a noticeable improvement in the quality of lessons if the instructor is not playing the piano and can concentrate fully on your singing. These tracks come in a wide variety, classical to metal. Check out your CDs carefully that they contain what you need – some come with demonstration tracks, some not. Some have only one song per CD, some have 15 songs on one!!! Some have multiple keys of the same song, some not. So choose wisely. Sheet music for these songs is useful, but not required. You will work through 1-2 songs per month, and will need to keep a steady supply of cool songs available, as we learn the old ones. If you have the originals of these songs, that's great and very useful, but not required.

Harvard Brief Dictionary of Music. Recommended, but not required. Definitions for many useful musical terms are found here.

Vocal Practice CD. Provided by the studio. This contains essential exercises that will develop the voice's range and resonance.

Piano, keyboard, or a pitch pipe is strongly recommended for practice at home and is necessary as we develop specific exercises for the individual student.

More voice resources:

Broadway

Internet Broadway Database: http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4804

Opera

Opera base: http://operabase.com/index.cgi?lang=en

Opera Glass: http://opera.stanford.edu/main.html

On this page you will find required materials for voice lessons here at Promethean Studios and various other resources for the voice as well. The resources on this page are specifically for the voice, more generic resources (metronomes, music stores, recording studios) are listed here . At the time this information was entered, all links worked and products listed were available. For information purposes only; we won't post resources when we know there might be any sort of problem with a product, business, or person listed but please checkout the reliability, appropriateness, and reputation of any recommendation you plan to use. If you have any additional questions, please ask your instructor or email us at askus@dallasmusiclessons.com.

For Lessons:

An instrument in fair condition. I guess you've already got that.

3 ring binderwith loose-leaf paper and pockets for holding handouts.

Pencil. Musicians write with pencils because they make changes to their music and make frequent notations on the pages. Erasable, colored pencils are best.

Manuscript paper (music paper, staff paper). For assignments and written exercises. Go to Music and Tab paper at www.dallasmusiclessons.com, and there's over 120 kinds of music and tab paper you can use for whatever you need. Download all you want and your friends can, too.

256 Meg flash drive (or larger). To record your lesson. When you begin each lesson, give your flash drive to your instructor and they'll record your lessons. Be sure and take the drive with you when you leave and listen to it in your computer the day of or the day after your lesson. This will give you a way to review the lesson and give your instructor a way to send demonstrations of technique or songs home with you. Also, if you'd like to record some of your practices, you can record go to http://www.audio-tool.net/ and download their free computer-based recording program. If you'll review your lesson each week, you'll progress about 5 to 10% faster.

Metronome* At this moment you don't need a metronome for lessons. But you will eventually (in 2 to 4 months) need a pitch device (piano, keyboard, guitar) and a counting device for the inevitable special exercise or two that you'll be doing. The minimum to fulfill this would be a metronome and a guitar or keyboard. A little home keyboard with rhythms and metronomic markings is more fun than a metronome. If you buy a metronome here's some resources: Korg Ma-30 (a Promethean Best Buy), Korg TM-40, Planet Waves PW-CT-08, or Boss TU-80 or better. Students who practice with metronomes or rhythm machines in their exercises will also progress about 5 to 10 percent faster. Use the metronome for everything possible. It will develop your sense of rhythm and counting; equally important, it will show you where you should be practicing. If you follow the beat from the metronome in exercises, the areas where you don't do well will be revealed, and you'll know where to spend extra practice time. The metronome is your drummer.

Accompaniment recordings or CDs for 5 songs of your choice, within these guide lines: 1) No songs where violence, drugs, cursing, or sex figure largely, 2) No songs where what you like about the song is how hard it is – for now. Just pick songs you think are cool. Also known as karaoke or backing tracks - the music plays, there is no singer and YOU SING. These are available at Walmart, Best Buy, and Spotlight on Karaoke in Collin Creek Mall, 972-881-1403. Websites: www.spotlightonkaraoke.com, www.karaoke.com, www.proburn.com, http://www.karaoke-version.com. Internet - youtube, itunes.

We think there is a noticeable improvement in the quality of lessons if the instructor is not playing the piano and can concentrate fully on your singing. These tracks come in a wide variety, classical to metal. Check out your CDs carefully that they contain what you need – some come with demonstration tracks, some not. Some have only one song per CD, some have 15 songs on one!!! Some have multiple keys of the same song, some not. So choose wisely. Sheet music for these songs is useful, but not required. You will work through 1-2 songs per month, and will need to keep a steady supply of cool songs available, as we learn the old ones. If you have the originals of these songs, that's great and very useful, but not required.

Harvard Brief Dictionary of Music. Recommended, but not required. Definitions for many useful musical terms are found here.

Vocal Practice CD. Provided by the studio. This contains essential exercises that will develop the voice's range and resonance.

Piano, keyboard, or a pitch pipe is strongly recommended for practice at home and is necessary as we develop specific exercises for the individual student.

More voice resources:

Broadway

Internet Broadway Database: http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4804

Opera

Opera base: http://operabase.com/index.cgi?lang=en

Opera Glass: http://opera.stanford.edu/main.html