TakeLessons Proves How American Idol Can Help Any Vocalist

Online, January 10, 2012 (Newswire.com) - As if the drama and hype of reality television isn't enough, producers and judges from The Voice, American Idol and X-Factor are apparently busy taking shots at one another now.

Idol has become so big in pop culture, it's hard for most to imagine the music world without it. Despite the critiques, most fans can agree also that shows like Idol do have some merit in exposing some amazing talent: grunge-loving Chris Daughtry, country crooner Carrie Underwood, and of course Kelly Clarkson - just to name a few.

TakeLessons (http://takelessons.com), the nation's fastest growing music lessons provider, took the opportunity to share a vocal exercise promising to help singers improve their skills: simply learn to listen better. As vocalists listen to any type of music, it's essential to learn to focus on the intricacies of the singer's vocal style, in order to pinpoint the specific details to imitate or work on.

The following is an excerpt from the blog post, listing out the specific elements to listen for:

"1. Melisma (embellishments, riffs, trills, licks, runs) - how, when, and to what extent does the singer "decorate" the basic melody?
2. Texture - is the voice breathy, edgy, brassy, clear, gritty, etc?
3. Intonation (pitch) - is the singer on pitch? Do they use "blue" notes? Do they intentionally (or not) sing any notes slightly flat?
4. Emotional expression - what does the singer do to help you feel the lyrics emotionally?
5. Phrasing and space - what is the rhythm of the lyrics? Does the singer push or pull any lyrics ahead of or behind the beat? Where does the singer leave space?"

By sharing the list with blog readers, TakeLessons hopes to continue engaging current students and help with any musical goals they may have. Readers are invited to share their thoughts by commenting on the TakeLessons blog, where they can also read tips for getting out a musical rut, and comments are also welcomed on Facebook (http://facebook.com/takelessons).