Singers Handbook

Choose a topic to see related posts

Articles
Ask Lis
songs
performance
business

Mistakes Singers Make

1. Hookah: don’t smoke yourself out the night before a show
2. Edibles: if you’re going to get stoned (not that I’m recommending it) don’t smoke it; eat it.
3. Scream: no screaming fight with your boyfriend/girlfriend/manager. Same for going to a sporting event and cheering.
4. Phone: a show day isn’t a good time to be having lots of phone conversations in loud rooms or noisy cars
5. Friends: don’t let your very excited friends wind you up with their adrenaline in your dressing room
6. Heels: don’t put on your super high heels until after the stylist is done with your hair unless you don’t mind kneeling (the artist was wearing a huge dress she [...]

Continue Reading


Music Connection Magazine

As the front-person of a band, you are the first and primary connection the audience makes with the music. A big part of your job is to engage them, make sure they understand you, and respond to their feedback. Think of the music you’re making as a big house that you’re inviting the listeners into. The front-person is the doorway to the house. You’re going to turn strangers into fans and draw them into your universe.

Here’s an unfortunate, and not so uncommon, scenario. You walk into the club 15 minutes late for your show. When you finally start your set you’re not really feeling it, but you plow on. Three songs in, your voice is beginning to warm up. You open your eyes for [...]

Continue Reading


By Lis Lewis

I’m excited and so thankful to Music Connection and Dan Kimpel for including me in this interview with Miguel. I’ve had many great experiences working with Miguel and I want to thank him for such high praise. I’ve been called a lot of things, but it’s not often I get the title of ‘The Shit’.

Read the interview below to find out how Miguel warms up his voice and how he prepares to perform on Saturday Night Live, Madison Square Garden, the BET Awards, The Grammy’s and just about everywhere else.


Read the full interview with Miguel from Music Connection Magazine here: Miguel: Soul Ascending

Lis Lewis is a voice teacher and [...]

Continue Reading


by Freelance Writer Sally Writes

If you have spent even a little time exploring the murky waters of music theory as a vocalist, you will have come across the Circle of Fifths. Yet while it is a hugely useful concept once you have got to grips with it, it is not always the simplest thing to get your head around from first principles.

So sit back, while we explain exactly what it is all about and how understanding the Circle of Fifths opens up the whole relationship between the major and minor keys in music that will help across a variety of musical techniques. From the perspective of the vocalist, it is the perfect way to get to grips with keys [...]

Continue Reading


Originally published in Voice Council Magazine.

Here are 5 pointers to make sure you are working well with the right people – says Lis Lewis.

L.A vocal coach Lis Lewis plays a massive role in the lives of major recording artists such as Courtney Love, Miguel and Gwen Stefani.

In this wide ranging interview, she explains what keeps a band together, and what keeps a singer sane.

1. Gain Respect

Ideally you will have a strong hand on the dynamics of the band. But this is easier said than done for a young singer, particularly for a female.

One thing you can do to gain respect from your band mates is to learn the language of music. Often the singer can’t tell the players [...]

Continue Reading


Originally published in Voice Council Magazine.

There are huge misconceptions about TV talent shows – says Lis Lewis.

We interviewed Lis Lewis who is a true coach-to-the-stars in L.A, with clients such as Britney Spears and Rihanna.

She has seen many of her students go through the talent show machine, so we ask her to spill…

The Fame Fades Quickly

Singers entering shows like The Voice, X Factor and American Idol believe they will gain tonnes of fans and become famous regardless of whether they win or not.

 

I have seen people come off the show after being top 5 and then go back to high school. They go back to being their regular self. No longer are they surrounded by constant activity [...]

Continue Reading


Originally published in Voice Council Magazine

Recording artists are under so much pressure to present themselves as unique – says Lis Lewis.

Lis Lewis spends much of her time in rehearsal and recording studios, helping get the best performances out of major recording artists such as Rihanna, Miguel and Iggy Azalea.

In this wide ranging interview, she explains the pressures that artists are under when trying to find their niche.

If singers want to sell records they must create an artist out of themselves. They need to carve out their own path and create something that is new. Artists are pressured to continuously mould their identity under the watchful eyes of the public.

1. Be Prepared for Psychological Pressure

An artist is often both [...]

Continue Reading


New Vocal Coach in Residence

Originally published in Voice Council Magazine.

Lis Lewis went to Brittany Spears’ house to give her voice lessons, went to the Grammy’s to warm up Rihanna, and worked with Miguel for his Saturday Night Live performance.

We invited this true coach-to-the-stars to be our first Vocal Coach in Residence of 2017.

Vocalists who inspire:
Aretha, Ray Charles, Beyoncé, Steven Tyler, Miguel (not because I’m biased).

Your first music teacher:
Mr. Gorbetz, my choir teacher in school. We had a big choir, a small choir, an a cappella choir and madrigals. He was busy.

A favorite nerves remedy:
Singing.

Pre-performance routine:
Meditating, stretching, vocalizing, makeup, clothes, equipment in the car then listen to great performances.

The [...]

Continue Reading


There has been a lot of press about the fact that artists lip-synched at the BET Awards show. The fans are disappointed and other artists are disapproving. So am I.

Continue Reading


I'm so grateful to CBS Los Angeles for naming The Singers Workshop 'Best Voice Lessons' in Los Angeles. It's been my pleasure to provide voice lessons and vocal training to incredibly talented artists for over 30 years.

Continue Reading