Glossary

accuracy of pitch/intonation: the quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone.
I think this is important and useful for me to learn as I like to sing and pitch is very important.

rhythm and timing: a strong, regular repeated pattern of movement or sound.
rhythm and timing is also very important, as if you are out of time the whole piece can go wrong.

technical excercises to improve their technique relevant to the voice type or instrument in question, e.g. scales and arpeggios, lip slurs and paradiddles: the act or an instance of warming up.
I do excercises everytime before I sing because I think it's important to warm up your voice so you dont damage it. It also makes it easier to sing.

expression and dynamics: the action of making someone know your feeling and thoughts.
I think this is so important in performance. If you are going to perform, the audience need to enjoy themselves and they wouldn't find it enjoyable if your standing there with no facial expressions or expression in the voice. It's like acting.

phrasing: put into a particular form of words.


range: the distance between its lowest and highest note.
This is very useful in singing as, the wider your range is, the more songs you are able to sing because it's easier.

sight reading/singing: read and perform (music) from sheet music, without preparation.
This is again a really useful skill to have, and I wish to be able to master this by the end of GCSE's.

improvisation: something that is improvised, in particular a piece of music, drama, etc. created spontaneously or without preparation.
Improvisation is hard especially if you're singing along to a track. This is another skill I would love to succeed in.

breath control: In order to control your voice you have to put out exactly the amount of breath you need for the sound you want. That breath needs to be as focused as a laser beam. How you exhale controls the quality of the sound, the volume, the pitch and the tone.
I find it hard to sing without using breath control, especially in a hard song. Warm-ups usually help me get ready and warm up my breath control. For example, a popular one I regularly use is breathing in for 8, holding for 4, then breathing out for 10.

vibrato: a rapid, slight variation in pitch in singing or playing some musical instruments, producing a stronger or richer tone.
I love doing vibrations as it's very effective and makes the note more exciting.

confidence: the feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something.
Confidence is a vital thing when performing and can improve your whole performance. If you believe you can do it, you are much more likely to do it that if you are thinking negatively.

tuning: a particular key or set of pitches to which an instrument, especially one with strings, is tuned.
I don't play an instroment that really needs tuning, however if an intrument isn't tuned it won't sound like it's supposed too.

following an accompaniment: music that is played with someone who is singing or playing the main tune.
If you are in a group, you must be able to play/sing along with everyone else. This is again, very important.

learning repertoire: the things someone are able to do.


musical interaction: an interactive approach primarily for developing social and communication skills.

stage presence: the ability to command the attention of a theatre audience by the impressiveness of one's manner or appearance.
I think stage presence is a way of getting peoples attention. A way of making people listen to your music.