Diction method for singers

Hi guys.

Thanks for all the responses in my previous threads.

I've recorded myself singing for the second time and quickly noticed something

very embarassing. My vowels and consonants sound like crap. I never realized that my pronunciation sounds so muddled and sloppy. Since I can't hear myself talking to people, it's hard to know what

my voice sounds like.

Anyway, I was wondering. Do you recommend any methods aimed at singers for learning diction? I'm a native English speaker. But the words don't come out as crisp and clear as they need to.

Is this something many singers struggle with in the beginning?

Or am I just a bad apple?

Thanks.

There's nothing to be embarrassed about. One of the first things a singer needs to do is to get use to how you sound on a recording. You shouldn't be afraid of it. It's actually a tool you need to use if you want to improve. I've recorded myself enough so that I almost always know how its gonna sound even before I play it back. So when you say that your vowels and consonants sound like crap; are there any specific consonants or vowels you're referring to? Or is it an overall thing? One thing that I mentioned in one of your previous threads is that need to open up your resonators first in order to well sing. These resonators are actually in back of your back of your head, such as the pharynx. The pharynx is actually the part that is used to pronounce different vowels. The next time you go see your singing teacher, you should mention this to him/her.

Thank you.

Actually upon second listening, my vowels are fine.

But my "s", "z", "th", and "sh" sounds are pretty sloppy and very overpowering.

Maybe there are other sounds, but that's what I've noted so far.

I never realized that I had such a heavy lisp on some of those sounds.

Also, I'll make sure to talk to my teacher this week.

Thanks for the advice.

[video=youtube;WrigZyydOds]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrigZyydOds

I'm not a voice teacher, but I hope this helps.

Those sounds are sibilances. If your mouth is too close to the microphone then those sounds can distort the recorded sound. If you want to avoid this problem then you can move farther away from the mic, use a windscreen, or use a de-esser audio plug-in.

By the way, next time you see your teacher, I recommend to you to ask him/her to put more focus on working your breath support and resonance as well.

I think when I learned to speak it didn't matter much what I sounded like, I just had to be understandable. Singing is different. Now I have to learn to speak all over again. I kind of have to open my mouth more and exaggerate the mouthing of words - basically stop mumbling, or do the opposite of mumbling.