Ruby White
UAL Level 2 Music
Final Major Project
Music Research
Stage presence:
Working on stage presence can be hard and not always the easiest but whilst researching I have found many ways that will be able to help work on it. One example of this is understanding who's in the audience and what the vibe of them are this is an important thing to do and be aware of for example if your performing to a younger generation they will most like enjoy a fun loud dance experience however when performing to and older generation they might not want to get moving or they could think it's too loud and overwhelming therefore it's important to keep an open mind towards different crowds. Another way to improve would be to work on your stage persona like Beyonce and bowie it is important to let loose and allow yourself to get an idea of who you can become a good way to this is watching other singers performances to see how they let loose and uncover their Sasha and Ziggy. The final way to improve your stage presence would be to smile it may not sound like an important factor to build stage presence but smiling is an important and useful thing lots of performers forget, smiling releases good feelings in your brain and body witch will help to relax you and make you feel more comfortable which are very important when performing. “Stage presence is the key to a great live performance. You can flub your vocals, screw up your guitar solo, or even struggle with the sound guy messing up everything. But if you command the stage with charisma and raise the entertainment factor through the roof, nothing else matters.” (Jared, 2021) I will use this quote and the research to help me improve my stage presence skills I have learned that I just need to relax smile and find my inner performer.
Stage design:
Creating the best stage design for a show can be difficult but with a little research it is easy to find many ways to help and understand the best way to improve the set, one example of this would be visuals, visuals are very important as most people want not just to watch a singer or band perform but to watch it like a show and have those memorable moments you can take away with you. in today's technology there is lots of options for visuals and screens can be used in more ways and different shapes making them better than ever. Some bands even rely on these screens to create the show; some bands even use cartoons to create a better show and have a character to link with the music. With visuals also come lighting witch played a key role in the whole stage and performance the variation of different lights used can create an amazing atmosphere, for example Coldplay's lighting and screen techniques are so memorable and mesmerising you could never forget it. “Stage design for live music performance is an art form for which accuracy is key.” (Jack Thyne, 2023) therefore getting lighting screens and your stage design wright is key. Some more examples of stage designs are stage size as you don't want a tiny stage and a huge audience and vice versa another example would be the tone of the set as if u are a rock band you aren't going to have an acoustic calm tone to your stage deign setting the right tone of you stage is crucial.
Vocal warmups/benefits:
Mike Elson (2022) suggests Just like you wouldn’t run a marathon without stretching your legs, you shouldn’t hit the stage or the studio without a vocal warm-up. Therefore, vocal warmups are a particularly important thing for performers as it helps to relax your muscles and protect you singing voice too. Vocal cords are extremely delicate and it's important to care for them before singing and after to whilst doing warm up you can also learn how to breath properly and see your diaphragm to its best ability this also helps to improve your singing range. Warmups should last around 10 minuets they should be done before performances and before studio sessions they can be a bit cringe and funny but there are verry beneficial. There are many you can do but here are some: lip trills this is where you blow air through your lips to practise keeping stamina and breathing while singing another one is humming this is ware u hum while going up the five step scale another is Toung twisters this is where you do Toung twister while using your Toung teeth tips and jaw to do it in different ways these are all very good ways to warm up your vocal muscles. There is one thing you can do to warm up without using your voice and that is face massages which helps to release built up tension in your face muscles witch would improve your breath work and jaw so you have more control over it this also helps to increase blood flow to your face and muscles, these warm ups are all very beneficial and useful.
Band comunication:
“Being part of a band is an exciting experience, but it also comes with a lot of challenges. In fact, one of the top struggles for 67% of bands is communication.” (Avery, 2023) comunication on and off stage is extremely hard and can result in bands breaking up. however there are many ways to solve this like setting up a group comunication app or chat ware all members can communicate and get there point and plans across apps like these are so useful and really do help bands to connect and communicate these apps can also help to organise gigs and help customers book and buy tickets for your show. Another one is a shared calendar so band members can keep up to date on their schedules and make sure members are free to rehearsals and do shows. Communicating on stage can be just as hard especially when music is playing and your performing so creating a way to communicate is a brilliant idea a lot of musicians use non-verbal and body language to communicate like for when bey need to stop or change or end the song using a simple head not can be enough to get your point across, talking about these ways of communicating on stage are good to do before doing them are good as then the band will understand you more and know exactly what you are saying to them. Having a good connection and friendship with your band member can help more too as you understand each other more and what their music ques are when performing after many years of performing together some performers develop a telepathic or subconscious communication with each other.
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Reference list:
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Stage presence:
https://ledgernote.com/columns/gigs-live-performance/stage-presence/
https://youtu.be/kM-94LhhQTs?feature=shared
https://www.bbcmaestro.com/blog/what-is-stage-presence
Stage design:
https://mixdownmag.com.au/features/18-or-18-the-fundamentals-of-stage-design/
https://www.vectorworks.net/en-GB/spotlight
Vocal warmups/benefits:
https://www.voicelessons.com/blog/warmups/10-important-vocal-warm-ups/
https://www.schoolofrock.com/resources/vocals/9-best-vocal-warm-ups-for-singers
https://www.ensembleschools.com/grace-music/reasons-vocal-warmups-important/
Band communication:
https://bluntmag.com.au/music/why-communication-is-the-secret-weapon-of-every-great-band/