Welcome To The Studio!
Learn about Performance and Finding Your Frequency
Vocal Coaching | Private Lessons for Vocal, Piano, Guitar | Songwriting Recording
"NIKK MAY: PRIVATE STUDIO FOR VOICE | PIANO | GUITAR is a fusion of vocal coaching, voice (singing) lessons, piano lessons, guitar lessons, songwriting/composition, and music collaboration, combined with a deep inspiration to help students and artists in the most effective and meaningful ways possible."
Sonic Balance
"Shelving" is a term often used in music production, relating to cutting out a certain range of frequencies from an instrument or vocal track. High pass and low pass filters are also used to help separate offensive frequency bands from too much overlap and competing with one another. Without proper signal isolation and mixing, these frequencies would stack between tracks and even though each instrument may sound fine on its own, the whole mix would suffer.
The Value of Context
With virtually every facet of life we make comparisons, "this" being better than "that", one thing being better than the next, etc. Music is about creation, making art through sound and sometimes what we think might sound bad may just be something out of context. Generally, I think it's safe to say that we are all our own worst critic, measuring ourselves to standards that may not always be an accurate benchmark of the true potential we have to offer. With students I often draw on the analogy of an orchestra. Aside from my wife as a concert violinist, several of our friends are also performers in the same symphonies as she is, each on a different instrument and holding their own particular roles within the group. Within the orchestra there are brass players, string instruments, winds, percussion, and plenty of variance within each section. One of the more unique styled instruments is the oboe, which on its own can sound a bit harsh and very mid-toned, however as a featured instrument within the context of the right composition it can change hearts. Furthermore, there is a soft and almost transparent quality that only string players can achieve, and a powerful strength that innately belongs to the brass section. Each instrument may share some degree of overlap however their natural characteristics are designed to be different from each other with selective purposes in order to create an awe-inspiring and harmonious concert masterpiece.
Knowing Your Sound
The scale by which a performer measures themself needs to be appropriate to the type of artist they are, being careful not to sabotage their own abilities by comparing the wrong things to someone else's. The sonic balance of a great audio mix depends on certain frequency isolation and blend attributed to the style of music being recorded. If every instrument track occupied the same frequency space the quality of the final mix would be a sludgy, muddy mess, lacking clarity and potentially suffering additional phasing issues. There is an old idea that every performer should think like a producer to better understand how they can sing and play in a way that compliments the room they're in, stage they're on, and the audience they're performing for. Knowing yourself as an artist and finding your frequency is invaluable for the giving best performance and becoming the best singer or musician you can be.
Feel free to leave a comment below, share your thoughts or even something you're working on. Happy music-making!
Nikk May
Private Studio for Voice | Piano | Guitar
Singer/Musician/Songwriter/Producer
Studio: Vocal | Piano | Guitar
Performance | Songwriting | Recording | Composition
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