INSPIRED [Singing Blogrimage Day 11/30]

CHALLENGE UPDATE:

• Watched an amazing band

THOUGHTS:


Love watching singers with the new perspective I've gained through voice lessons.




VIDEO COMMENTARY:


Amreitha is friends with the family of this band. They are all trained in the ways of Mennonite choir. That means amazing four part harmonies. I was inspired by these guys and their overall skill. 

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BREATHING EXERCISES [Singing Blogrimage Day 10/30]

CHALLENGE UPDATE:

• Breathing Exercises
• Slow Day

THOUGHTS:

Usually there is a day in the BLOGRIMAGE where the challenge isn't on the mind as much as it should be. Today was that day for me. I practiced breathing, and sang all day, but didn't give it the same determination I usually do. I'm okay with that. 

It is fun to watch the video I made yesterday with the band. I'm excited things are moving forward. A couple people talked to me about my concert on April 12th and said they want to make it. That's going to be so much fun. 

We'll probably have 3-5 original songs, an acapella song, a Michael W. Smith song and some old Brownfolk songs. 

VIDEO COMMENTARY:

Holding out a note is hard without breath support. I can see an improvement in my support as I exercises like this. Good support also helps me stay on pitch, which I'm a huge fan of.

-Pradeepan

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1ST BAND PRACTICE [Singing Blogrimage Day 9/30]

CHALLENGE UPDATE:

• First Band Practice

THOUGHTS:

I am the lead singer of a band in Michigan. Tonight, we had our first practice and hashed through two original songs. These musicians are really good, and I'm excited to work with them. I think they are going to help me sound better than I normally would or could.

It's very vulnerable to sing without an instrument and with guys are talented. 

In the beginning of practice, I apologized to the guys for my bad voice. Then, I said that would be the last time I ever do that with a group. Apologizing or making excuses the whole time would not be productive and it's kind of a demoralizer. So, I got that out of my system.

It's also strange singing someone else's song in front of them while they can sing it better. 

Love that I'm doing this challenge!

VIDEO COMMENTARY:

This is our first original song. Andrew Jennings wrote it. It's a blues/pop/rock song. I'm still learning the melody that is based on a pentatonic scale. I think the band has potential. 

-Pradeepan

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STUCK ON A NOTE [Singing Blogrimage Day 8/30]

CHALLENGE UPDATE:

• Voice lesson 
• Breathing increased
• Relaxing Jaw

THOUGHTS:

I went to my lesson pumped that I had improved, but got caught on one note. This is because Michael W. Smith does not sing as properly as my coach wants me too. Apparently a lot of singers don't sing properly. I picked up some bad  habits while trying to work ahead on the song, and we had to work slowly to correct my muscle memory.

Today I got more tools to increase the time I can go without breath and relax my jaw. 

VIDEO COMMENTARY:

This is how we breakdown songs. It took me awhile to get the notes right on the second system of "Great is the LORD."

-Pradeepan

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SO MUCH TO DIGEST [Singing Blogrimage Day 7/30]

CHALLENGE UPDATE:

• Practiced Michael W. Smith's, "Great is the LORD"
• Watched Videos of my singing

THOUGHTS:

My coach teaches in layers so that I build muscle memory. We first talk out the rhythm of a song, without singing the melody. Then, we singing one note of the song. After that we add the melody to complete the learning of the song.

With this in mind, we plan where to stop for airs of breath between verses, try to keep posture, jaw dropped, soft palette while the diaphragm slowly supplies the voice with support. 

There is a lot to remember! Right now, muscle memory has not kicked in. Everything seems slow and horrible.

VIDEO COMMENTARY:

This is my first take at singing this song with the track. It's kind of funny singing Michael W. Smith. My roommate, Ben Block, listens to his songs and we make fun of him for it. That makes this song even more funny.

I sound horrible on this take, but I'm glad I know it. I'm on pitch for the most part, but there are notes I'm not hitting. My tone is not exactly where I want it to be either.

Watching a video of yourself, I'm learning, greatly increases learning. We have so many blind spots! Whenever I preach a sermon, I try to listen or watch myself after and take notes on how to improve.

With this challenge, I will do the same, as well as starting sentences with the letter "w."

-Pradeepan

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EATING RABBIT AND SINGING [Singing Blogrimage Day 6/30]

Challenge Updates:

• Practicing raising the soft palette
• Practicing breathing
• Singing with the Mandolin

Allan Theobald cooked a delightful Italian meal at my house today. We hosted a party and the food consisted of a cooked rabbit, meatballs, pasta, salad, garlic pizza bread knots, grilled bread, amazing dessert, and a bunch of other delicious courses.

I hate grocery shopping. I took him to a farm to get a rabbit, and then we shopped at Kroger (our grocery store). While shopping, I practiced my songs and breathing. Some people in the store gave me a few looks, but I've found that practicing in these ordinary moments keeps me consistent and make the most of things I hate (grocery shopping).

Above is a video of scales I practice!

-Pradeepan

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RAISING THE SOFT PALETTE [Singing Blogrimage Day 5/30]

Challenge Update:

• 2nd voice lesson (One and a half hours)
• Learned how to raise the soft palette
• Learned what consonants and vowels to pronounce
• Learned how to plan to breathing
• Learned how to drop jaw

I was very pleased with my second lesson. It went longer than the first one, and I really enjoyed it. My coach is very encouraging. She said I went through, in one lesson, what normally takes people 4 weeks.

Both my coach and Amreitha said they've noticed improvements in my singing.

She taught me how to adjust my soft palette by giving a surprised "ah"sound. This helps produce a fuller sound, almost like self created reverb. 

Also, we sang a little Aerosmith and a lot of Michael W. Smith. With the Smith song, we tediously worked through the pronunciation of words. 

Pronouncing words is important because it helps create a full sound and keep one on pitch.

I am excited to work on this piece and I will perform it during my recital on April 12th!

-Pradeepan

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BREATHING LIKE A BABY [Singing Blogrimage Day 4/30]

Hello! Here are my updates:

• Worked on posture
• Worked on breathing
• Practiced Scales with Amreitha
• Sang a few old BrownFolk songs with Amreitha (my fiance)

Breathing is kind of an awkward thing to work on. The point is to produce sound supported by the diaphragm instead of the chest. Practicing this seems super simple, but I can see how it's the foundation for great projection. You get a lot of air by breathing like this. It's also the reason babies can cry so loud.

The above video is a clip from my first voice lesson. With the spacing and positioning between my coach and me, I look really small. This lady knows her stuff, and I have a lesson tomorrow. I'm really excited.

Besides that, today both my calves cramped up during 20 plus rounds of lighting/knock-out and 21 (basketball games). 

Also, today a bunch of us watched a preaching webinar called "Preaching Rocket." It was very informative and helpful for me to become a better communicator.

Well, have a great night!

-Pradeepan

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FIRST VOICE LESSON [Singing Blogrimage Day 3/30]

Had my first voice lesson with Jen McClure! She's a bright, bubbly and informed lady. Think of the stereotypical happy choir instructor. She is that times two. I'm really happy she's my coach during this 30 days.

Not only does she have an incredible upbeat attitude, she knows her stuff. I asked Amreitha to join our first session for quality control and to make sure she wasn't a creeper. She wasn't a creeper!

She did the following things for our first lesson:

• Tested my range (I have a 3 octave range. She was impressed with this!)
• Worked on my posture (She rolled my hips for me and told me not to thrust)
• Tested my pitch (She said it was excellent!)

I liked the lesson and feel like I will improve.

Her words and assessment encouraged me (pitch and range), but I feel like she knows how I can grow.

On another note, I'm stoked that Allan Theobald came to visit! He's one of the white tshirts in the background of the video.

Also, I'm stoked that I preached my first sermon in Ignited tonight. 17 people gave their lives to Jesus! It was awesome.

I'm encouraged for all of these things!

-Pradeepan

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FORMED A BAND [Singing Blogrimage Day 2/30]

Everything in this BLOGRIMAGE is leading up to April 12th!

On that day, I'm going to front a band and sing my heart and hopefully improved voice out.

To make this happen, I started a band with some friends from church. These guys are incredibly talented, so I think we will actually make some legit music.

The lady that was supposed to train me starting Monday couldn't make it, so I haven't had my first official voice lesson. I've just been singing and seeing how high I could go on my app.

On Friday, I'll have my first official lesson. I'm excited about that!

If you're in the Michigan area, or just want to fly out, come to my concert on THURSDAY, APRIL 12!

The location and time are still to be decided!

Happy Blogging!

-Pradeepan 

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Singing Blogrimage [Day 1/30]

Greetings!

I'm stoked to participate in the 3rd Annual Blogrimage. I know this is going to be the best one yet. For my challenge, I'm attempting to improve my voice.

CHALLENGE:

• Take voice lessons 2-3 times a week
• Work on my voice every day
• Perform solo 4 times
• Perform a large solo concert at the end

I hope to improve my range, pitch control and tone.

I love to write songs and perform, but I'm not very confident in my voice. I play various instruments (bass, guitar, drums, mandolin), and, while I'm not incredibly good at any of them, I picked them up quickly and perform confidently with any of them. 

The voice, however, is something I've never obsessed over and am not confident in. When I pick up an instrument, it's usually all I do for about a month, and I learn a ton about it. This month, I hope to obsess over the voice and make it submit to my desires. 

It's a scary and vulnerable instrument. It's very intimate and being a bad singer is a lot different than playing a guitar poorly. For some reason, when I sing, I feel very exposed--like public speaking. You feel like people are staring into your soul, you have no place to hide and nothing but judgement is coming your way. 

Anyways, I'm excited to go on this journey, and share nuts and bolts tips with you as I learn them!

To the Blogrimage!

-Pradeepan

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