The Microphone is one of the most common tools used in a Musical Performance.
It is very most important that musicians should understand how to use it, if they
are to perform on the stage. The function of the microphone is pretty easy to
understand but it is the knowledge of using them effectively that eludes many
musicians. An incorrect use of microphones can hamper the sound and the quality
of your performance immensely. Thus it is basic for all performing artists to
understand them. In this blog post, we have discussed some of the best
practises for handling a microphone on stage.
1. Posture for Microphone Use
Your posture when handling the microphone is very important. Standing
straight with your head aligned to your back enables you to use the microphone most
effectively. The vocal source needs space to create quality sound, thus keeping
a few centimetre distance between the vocal source and the microphone will
really help. Don’t crowd the microphone as they are usually designed to capture
sound flowing across it. If you get too close, it will amplify your every
breath, every hiss of the words you sing. You certainly want to avoid that.
Keep your head up and assure that every word you say flows out smoothly across
the microphone. Most of all, feel comfortable with the position between you and
the microphone.
2. Handling a Microphone
Now if you have to handle a microphone, you have to understand
where to hold it and how you hold the body of the mic. If you keep changing
your hand placement and allow it to move freely with a loose grip, you will get
a lot of handling noise and feedback. So Grab it by the microphone handle and
adjust your hand where you are most comfortable, point the grill towards your
mouth for easy flow of words in to the microphone. Try to keep a consistent
distance between the mic and the vocal source as it will provide you the best
quality throughout the performance.
3. Avoiding Common Mistakes
Let’s talk about few common mistakes people make when using a
microphone which you should avoid it. The most common mistake is “Mic-Cupping”.
Although it looks cool, you are doing the most fundamental mistake as you are
changing the vocal pick-up pattern of the microphone. This allows the
microphone to catch sound from every direction and ends up inducing noise along
with your voice. You will often hear feedback noise immediately and you would
be wondering what’s wrong with the microphone? Now you know.
Another common mistake happens when singers move a lot for
theatrical effect. However, it is sometimes necessary to enhance your
performance and you should have an idea of the best time to show off those
skills. If you keep moving continuously, the quality of your voice/sound will
fluctuate and will not keep the attention of your audience. So, try to keep
your voice and volume as consistent as you can even when you are moving around
the stage.
Finally, be aware if your microphone is switched on or off. You
don’t want to be singing your heart out to finally realize the mic was off nor
you want to make personal remarks accidentally on the mic that is not intended
for the audience. And finally keep the mic at an angle by 20-30 degrees from a
perpendicular standpoint so that you let words flow across it then into it
which will maximize the quality of your voice.
In summation, avoid the common mistakes that amateurs often make
and ensure the correct posture and position from the microphone. We hope you
found these insights useful and will try to implement them in your next
performance. Small changes often add up to great results.
BlueTimbre is a unique Music Company that provides Music Education and Recording Studio services. BlueTimbre also works with schools to provide end-to-end Music Education solutions for schools.
The BlueTimbre team comes with decades of cumulative experience in running Structured Businesses, Music Curriculum Development, Music Education and Performance.
References
No comments:
Post a Comment