“Funky ‘n Fun” Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use “Funky ‘n Fun” instead of getting singing lessons?
Perhaps, but only if you’ve already had a substantial amount of vocal training and therefore know what you’re doing. If you’re in the process learning to sing, then “Funky ‘n Fun” should only be used as a supplement to quality lessons with a reputable coach.
How should I use “Funky ‘n Fun” in my practice regime?
My main advice is definitely don’t do any of the CDs from beginning to end in one go! Once you’re accustomed to what is actually on the CD(s), make sure you mix & match the types of exercises you practice on any given day in order to maintain a balanced program, and I suggest you only do at most around 4 to 6 exercises (once or twice only) in any given practice session. A varied vocal ‘diet’ will likely keep you balanced, motivated, focused, committed and will achieve the best results.
Don’t do anything that feels uncomfortable, particularly in the throat area. If this happens, it may be that the exercise starts too low or goes too high for you. If it starts too low, wait until the exercise comes in on a more suitable key or start the exercise an octave higher and drop down again when it’s in range. If it goes too high, drop an octave. Another possibility is that you might not be doing the exercise correctly. If this continues, seek advice from a reputable singing coach or book a lesson with me, either in person if you can come to London, or via Skype video from anywhere in the world.
I don’t get much time to practice so I like to do it in the car whilst I’m driving, is this a problem?
Well, it’s certainly not the ideal environment to practice in because:
• you’re trying to do two things at once, and both driving and singing require your full attention!
• the sitting position for driving isn’t conducive to good singing posture
• the acoustic inside a car isn’t ideal for singing either because of competing with engine and road noise
• Breathing exercises in particular MUST be avoided whilst driving in case you get a bit dizzy
I teach contemporary singers so can I use “Funky ‘n Fun” in my lessons?
Of course! I personally have used and still use “Funky ‘n Fun” in my private lessons and institutional group teaching – it works equally well in either setting. I also know of many other singing teachers and vocal coaches around the world who routinely use “Funky ‘n Fun” in this way.
Is “Funky ‘n Fun” suitable for male and female ranges?
Yes, the vast majority of the exercises are demonstrated with the female voice (me) and a male voice an octave lower. Depending upon whether you have a high or low range for your gender, you can join either octave as feels comfortable for you.
I wish to improve my mix voice, can “Funky ‘n Fun” help with that?
Yes, since it is a commonly used voice quality in contemporary singing, I’m naturally using ‘mix’ voice (aka ‘mixed voice’, ‘blended voice’ etc) on many of the exercises. Track 6 on CD2 specifically helps with developing this voice quality.
Unlike most vocal exercise products, you sing all the way through the exercises. Why?
The reason I decided to do this on the first two CDs – the technique CDs – is that I wanted people to be able to hear how to approach the exercise all the way through the vocal range, how the passaggio (i.e. the change point between chest voice and head voice) can be dealt with etc. However, on the two advanced CDs – CD3 and CD4 – my vocal cue is optional only. For example, on CD3 my vocal cue is panned to the left so if you pan to the right my vocal cue disappears, and on CD4 there is a whole separate CD of only the backing tracks to sing along to.
I’ve just purchased CD3 – I love it, but why are the exercises so fast?
The reason I recorded the patterns at the speed I did is because you have to REALLY know the pattern to be able to sing it at this tempo. If you can only do it at a snail’s pace, the pattern is not ‘in your system’ yet. The idea is to practice each new pattern as slowly as you need to (away from the CD) in order to learn it yourself and then do the CD version in order to practice & consolidate it.
