How to sing? - Can you feel it? The naked king.

From the first day I study music, I have been hearing saying like this from everywhere (from professional to amateur musicians) --Expressing yourself in music is more important than singing (or playing) with right technique.

Well, that is partially true. Yes, no one would like to hear a machine singing or playing the piano. However, do you know how to express yourself in music?

We always hear the comments from some people saying that some performers are full of emotion and passion in their performing, they make people cry in this way.

Well, wake up!

Can you really tell a person singing with all heart or expressing the mood? I bet you not.

You can not feel it because very few musicians do it during their concerts.

You cannot hear it. You are just trying to squeeze tears out of your eyes because you feel you have to and other people say that this musician is full of emotions.....

Isn't that familiar with the story you and I have read from our very young age?

'The Emperor's New Clothes' !

Yes, people could not see anything on the emperor but they still pretended they did because they did not want to be called fool. Everyone kept pretending how much they appreciate their king's new fashion, until one kid, pointed out the truth, 'The king is naked! ' .

No! you cannot feel the expression in music. There's nothing wrong with your ear and your feeling. It's because those so- called 'musicians' do not know anything about music but create another level of noise. Somehow they are so famous because the media say so, therefore audience should be admiring them and people pretend they understand everything the so called musicians express.

But actually they do not express anything. They show you only weired facial expressions and monkey dances, which is accompanied by another level of noise.

Forever 21 lace peter pan collar shirt X Forever 21 winter shorts

The top is a mint color self-tie blouse with lace peter pan collar and the bottom is the winter short with shimmers, which is basically a winter short. I wear them at this time of the year because it's not too warm nor cold.

You can see the detail of this blouse. The collar is super cute that you do not need necklace on it. I wear size small.

The detail of the tie knot on the bottom of the shirt.

The details of the shorts. I wear size xs.

This is how they look on me.

How to sing? - The first step

When you get a new song as your assignment, try to do the following steps.

1. Try to sight read by hum all the notes there with the right rhythm.

This is the most important step to develop sight reading skills and you teach your ear and brain how to produce the right pitch with your voice.

One of the most important things for singer is to sing the right notes. Unfortunately many singers fail to do so, even some of the most famous ones.

Without singing right notes,  hitting the right pitch, it does not make sense to learn singing.

2. Sing the notes with solfege and letter name.

Solfege works as guide for your right pitch. Never skip this step. If you do not know any solfege, well......better not to call yourself singer.

Letter name is very important for students in North America to pass the exams. (C, D, E, F, G , A, B)

3. Sing and Clap

Sing the right note with solfege and clap the right rhythm.  Believe me, it is the most difficult part for students, but it's the best way to test yourself if you understand what are written on the sheets.

One of the most essential things in music is to sing(play) the notes at the right time with right rhythm. Rhythm is the heart of the music. If your heart stop beating you are dead, so do your music. Music is life, is art, is everything.

Do everything with metronomes. Starting with lower speed, and gradually speed up.

Remember, this is ONLY the very first step in your learning process!

Review: Estee Lauder Perfectionist CP+R serum

(image from esteelauder.com)

This serum is supposed to do something for people with wrinkles. I am in my 20s and do not have wrinkles, but I like to try any product anti-ageing.

Actually I am little bit disappointed with this product. It's so expensive. It retails at $110 for 50 ml. Basically it did nothing on my skin.

It has some light waxy texture to it and with a silicone feel, which I feel it's more for makeup products not for skincare. I suppose it is the texture that blurs lines so that people feel it works dramatically and instantly to reduce lines.

In my view, any cosmetic effect in skincare products is cheating. This serum is simply a primer with fancy skin care ingredients to me.

Review: Shiseido Super Refining Essence

(image from http://www.ca-e.shiseido.com/sc/product/view.asp?S=11304)

I like shiseido's airless pump packaging for serums. It's more sanitary to use.

This essence is categorised as serum. The texture is between liquid serum to cream. It's more towards to light gel cream texture.

The cream feels very emollient on the skin and it's absorbed quickly. I can use it either alone or with cream. When my skin is not dry, I use it alone and it works well for me. Non greasy at all so I use it before my Clarins sunscreen.

It has some ' shiseidoish' floral fragrance in this product. I am not fond of this smell not do not hate it either. Just wish it was fragrance free.

It makes my skin smooth and radiant as it claims. I am not sure if it reduces the wrinkles because I do not have any. It keep my skin hydrated whole night and I wake up with glowy skin.

It retails at $88 CAD plus tax for 50 ml. As a department store serum the price is quite reasonable. But it works nothing fantastic on my skin, (actually there's no skin care products work that way so far) I think I will find something else works the same way with cheaper price.