Dubrovnik Christmas Jazz Gala

There will be a special event going on in Dubrovnik for the New Year's time. It the Dubrovnik Christmas Jazz Gala! The event will include concerts and workshops from various jazz musicians that will take place from the 28th to 31st December.

The musicians performing are:

Douglas Sides (drums)
Shawn Montero (vocal)
Marcelo Godoy (vocal, electric and acoustic guitar)
Filho Nelson (guitar)
Ishaq Abdullah (bass)
Steven Hupkens (keys)
Reggie Johnson (double bass)
Domagoy Ralasic (sax, clarinet)
Jesse Davis (sax)
Julius Green (vocal)

The concerts will take place on: Saturday, 29th December at 20:00h; Sunday, 30th December at 21:00h.

Venue: Hotel Dubrovnik Palace (Club Orlandiño)

On Monday, 31st December the concerts will take place on the Stradun, for the New Year's celebration.

The Workshops from percussion, vocals, sax, clarinet, keys, double bass and electric guitar will take place on the 29th and 30th December (11-13h and 17-18.30h) and they are absolutely FREE!!!

Anyway, this is an event that you shouldn't miss!

Please find more information at:

http://www.jazz.agevent.biz/

Things singers should ALWAYS avoid!

Alright, maybe I am exaggerating but I've noticed that I've been neglecting vocalists since the beginning and I want to share many things I find useful. I am also quite inspired by my own sore throat and a cold that I have at the moment. I hope singers can find all this advice useful and it might help them. These tips are useful at any time. You should know what things we must avoid in order to keep our voices nice and healthy so we can keep on singing! It's actually quite interesting cause you would never guess some of these things are not recommended. The tips are taken from the Vocalist site.

Here we go!

Having problems at Gigs? Do you find that some days your voice seems dry? I'm not going to go into the normal nag about smoking although you should try to avoid anything that is likely to dry out your voice before a performance, so here are a few tips on what to avoid before & during your show:-

1. Orange or Citrus Juice and caffeinated drinks - can affect your throats lubrication.

2. Milk & other dairy products - furs up the throat, avoid drinking Milk, Cream, Tea and Coffee prior to singing.

3. Dry Ice Machines - The chemicals used dry up the throat. If the effect is an essential part of the show use a Fog Machine with cooler (water & glycerine based) or Haze Machine (chemical based but non-toxic). Both can still affect the voice if inhaled, make sure you have plenty of water to lubricate the throat.

4. Eating heavy meals prior to a gig - the food doesn't have time to digest and sits heavily in your stomach. This makes it harder to control breathing, vocal reach and projection.

5. Smoke filled environments - pretty impossible to do if your playing pubs n clubs but do what you can by taking a wander outside for fresh air during the breaks.

6. Asprin - can contribute to tinnitus and vocal chord hemorrhage

7. Excessive loud talking and yelling - can lead to vocal strain

8. Coughing and clearing your throat - swallow or sip water instead.

9. Alcohol - although a small drink may help to relax you, alcohol may numb the chords and too much will cause lack of control (vocally & otherwise!!)

10. Sing out of your range - save the top notes for when you can sing them correctly and don't over-reach or you could end up damaging your voice!

Pace yourself at a gig - move vocally demanding songs to the middle or end of each set to allow your voice to warm up beforehand (a vocal warm up before the gig is also advisable) and then rest your voice during the breaks.

Treat allergies and infections promptly and rest your voice when ill. Drink plenty of water during the day to keep your body hydrated and voice lubricated, 8 - 9 pints is recommended. (Beer doesn't count!). Keep a bottle of water at the side of the stage!

Have a good gig!

Sore throat and what to do about it!

I've decided to give you more tips for singing when your voice is a mess!

This is taken from the vocalist site. Enjoy!

There have been several questions about what to do when contracting viral infections and the subsequent hoarseness and voice loss so I thought it would be helpful to include a section here for anyone suffering!! I am Not a Doctor or Medical Practitioner and advise professional attention should always be sought, however as a regular sufferer of Flu, Laryngitis, Pneumonia, and Bronchial complaints I can provide a few tips!! Regardless of the infection contracted or even if you experience hoarseness and loss of voice through strain/stress the following should aid in prevention and/or recovery.

1. Drink plenty of Water.
   
   
2. Avoid Tea, Coffee, Cream & Alcohol before singing as these can have a dehydrating effect.
   
   
3. Take Vitamin C tablets or eat fruits/vegetables rich in Vitamin C to aid your bodies natural defenses. Hot Lemon & Honey or Blackcurrant both contain vitamin C and anti-viral properties and fresh ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties - grate a little ginger and add it to hot water, sweeten with honey if required.
   
   
4. REST!!
   
   
5. Severe, violent coughing can injure the vocal folds. Cough Syrup and Lozenges can help, Vocalzone are good and reliable sources have informed me that Slippery Elm lozenges and other products are used by some singers to soothe the throat in the US. Triogesic Tablets relieves conjestion, prevents coughing and is available from most Chemists although it should not be taken with any other paracetamol products or decongestants and should be avoided by pregnant or nursing mothers and Dextromethorphan based products also help to suppress coughing although some people may experience dizziness.
   
   
6. Hot Water Steam Inhalation, with or without a few drops of Eucalyptus, Peppermint or other Essential Oil helps to clear the sinuses. Many proprietry brands like Karvol, Olbas Oil and Vicks Vaporub use aromatherapy oils as their main ingredient but you should be careful using these products as menthol can have a drying effect.... use sparingly.
   
   
7. Do NOT attempt to Sing and avoid Talking until all medication is finished to allow the inflammation an opportunity to reduce.
   
   
8. On recovery start with some gentle humming for 5-10 minutes at a time and slowly build up to a few vocal exercises in your mid-range gradually expanding the range over several days. The rate of recovery will depend on the severity of illness and how experienced a singer you are. Any recurrance of hoarseness stop and rest the voice for another couple of days.
   
   

I realise that this is easier said than done, especially when an important gig is due!! However, weighing the importance of the booking against the potential damage to your vocal health is a must..........

Here are some tips for the vocalists!

Being a vocalist myself I know what it means when you have a gig and your voice is in bad shape. Especially in these cold winter days when various viruses are waiting in the corner to attack the innocent singer! And your voice is all you've got! It really sucks if it happens and you need to know how to get in shape as soon as possible.

So I've decided to give you some tips on how to keep your voice in good condition so you don't have to worry about these things. I've found on the internet some information about this and it's absolutely true!

Maybe it will help...

1. Try your best to maintain good general health. Avoid viral colds (a regimen of washing hands has been shown to reduce the transmission of cold viruses). Some advocate vitamin C and zinc lozenges, while I find these effective I would recommend their use these only after the student has consulted a physician.

2. Emotional and physical stress both contribute significantly to vocal distress. Exercise regularly. Using your major muscle groups in jogging, etc. is an excellent way to diminish stress.

NOTE: extensive power weight lifting will place some wear on the vocal folds, this should be avoided during times of extended vocal use or vocal fatigue.

3. Eat a balanced diet. At times of extended vocal use avoid large amounts of salt and refined sugar, spicy food such as Mexican, Szechuan Chinese, as well as excessive amounts of food and/or alcohol. One may note hoarseness in the larynx or dryness of the throat after drinking significant amounts of alcohol, caffienated, as well naturally or artificially sweetened beverages. The body needs water to metabolize these foods and beverages, excessive consumption of these items will reduce the amount of water available to hydrate the voice.

4. Maintain body hydration (7-9 glasses of water a day) and avoid known dietary diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol. Moisture is a necessary lubricant of the vocal folds. When one's body is dehydrated laryngeal lubrication diminishes and wear takes place at a much greater rate than normal.

5. Avoid dry, artificial interior climates. Laryngologists recommend a humidity level of 40-50%. Much body moisture is lost while breathing air in low humidity climates, i.e., air conditioned or heated rooms (routinely 10-20% moisture), cars, buses, etc.

6. Avoid smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes. These are bad for the heart, lungs, and vocal tract of not only yourself, but others around you as well. Avoid other irritant inhalants, i.e., marijuana. In addition to the debilitating effect on the vocal tract, you need your head on straight when you sing.

7. Avoid breathing smoggy, polluted air, i.e., car exhausts, smoky bars and lounges when you are vocally tired.

8. Avoid the use of local anesthetics when you are singing. The anesthetic effect masks any signs of injury, therefore encouraging further abuse of the folds. Additionally, singing under their influence is like playing the piano with gloves on (Chloroseptic, Parke-Davis Throat Discs, etc.).

9. Question the use of progesterone dominant birth control pills. These cause a virilization of the female larynx and a decrease of range in your upper register. There may be no other solution for your particular situation, however. The treatment of endometriosis often includes pharmaceuticals which cause permanent vocal changes. Inform your doctor that you are a singer if you are undergoing treatment for this disease.

I know this is difficult but it will help. It's good to know what is good for you and what isn't, no?

These tips come from David Otis Castonguay from the Radford University.

Another site I can recommend is THE VOCALIST where you can find more information about maintaining your vocal health.

Keep on singin' and keep your throat clear!

Playing in the cold!

As we know, at this time of year many musicians have gigs, mostly at various parties and events. However, it is common to have gigs outside, on a outdoor stage on the main square or other locations throughout the city. What to do when your fingers are freezing and stiff from cold or when you are breathing in cold air and your voice is sore?! It's a tough one. Hopefully you will have heating devices on stage to keep you warm, but a jacket is an obligatory clothing item or you would be shaking too! The problem with these kind of gigs is that you won't sound as you would under normal circumstances and then it's not the best gig you've ever had. Also, the heating is not really helping because in one moment you have heat blowing at you and in another you feel the rush of a cold wind chilling your bones! These changes in temperature are a shock to your organism and makes you sweat and tremble at the same time. Be careful! If you want to avoid getting sick, be sure to wear several layers of clothing and warm up before you go on. If possible, try to move on the stage to keep warm at all times and when you're done get into a warm place. This is all I can tell you.

If you manage to play without problems you probably know more tricks or you're simply not that sensitive! Lucky you! If you get sick after such a gig then I hope you get well quickly to be healthy for Christmas and the New Year!

Christmas gala nights

December is a month full of events, cocktail parties, gala nights, dinners and similar events, all in order to get ready to say goodbye to this year and welcome the new year. Many companies organize parties for their clients, partners, colleagues to celebrate already established partnerships and successful co-operations, as well as to achieve new ones and start new projects. It's a time of joy and celebration, to express our thankfulness for all the good things that came across our path. In the Western world we associate this time with Christmas, as it's a big part of our tradition and it is a good excuse to express our gratitude and give back to the community. Many charities are formed in this period or the ones that already exist use this time to promote the act of giving to the less fortunate.

Taking all this into consideration, this is also a good opportunity for musicians to get gigs! All these events often include live music, in order to entertain businesspeople and create a comfortable and relaxing environment where they can mingle and talk with their associates and potential business partners, which could lead to a better and more successful year. And they do it listening to the mellow sounds in the background coming from a live band playing at such events. Most musicians are fully booked in December, getting paid good money to play in the background. It's not the most rewarding experience, especially if you are a musician that needs recognition, but it is a well paid "rehearsal" and a good opportunity to find more gigs if you're good enough! If you can't handle not being noticed and getting the applause for your remarkable solos and all the energy that you put into your playing, then this is not for you. However, if you are a professional, you simply have to deal with the fact that this is how the business works and go do your thing! It's always a dilemma. Should you do things like that, even if it doesn't inspire you and give you the boost that you might get at a normal gig where people actually come to listen to you? Should you avoid these kind of events and just do gigs that please you? Sure, why not? However, this means - less money. If you want to survive you need to compromise. Another option is - get a regular job to survive and play when you want to for your own pleasure. It's actually quite simple.

Anyway, this is a time for giving, celebrating, spending time with your loved ones, but it is also a commercial time where the public is being encouraged to give back to the community and spend more money in general for things they might not spend it on in "normal" circumstances. It's a time for musicians to get more gigs than they would normally get and earn more money. Sometimes it's good to compromise.

Think of it as a paid rehearsal, have fun and enjoy the salary. :)