Preserving the tool ....DJs are now taking voice lessons Some deejays are now taking a new, serious approach to their craft. They are taking voice lessons! Deejays like Bling Dawg, Sean Paul, Madd Anju, Stitchie and Red Rat are learning (or have learnt) the finer points of music, presentation and voice preservation. Eyebrows might be raised as to why deejays need voice lessons when little finesse is brought to their vocal delivery. Marjorie Whylie, musician and voice technician, told The Sunday Gleaner however that voice lessons should be done by deejays because several of them are mis-using and abusing "the instrument" and might be in danger of suffering permanent damage. "The first thing is the preservation of the voice; most deejays sing from the throat, which will cause a problem later on. I try teaching them to protect the voice without interfering with their style. I give them the same exercises I give to other singers. I encourage exercises, particularly swimming, that develop the chest muscle and helps breathing," she said. The lessons also include articulation and breathing exercises. She encourages students to hum as much as possible "as this keeps the vocal chords warm." "Humming encourages you to elevate the point of articulation, using the resonating cavities in the head combined with the chest," she said. Miss Whylie also teaches deejays how to vocalise without putting pressure on the throat. According to her, singing from the throat brings on hoarseness, which leads to laryngitis. The drummer/pianist recalled Tuff Gong's focus on a new set of artistes, including eight deejays, whom she was called on to give voice lessons to. "Deejaying is very damaging to the voice, there is no way they can keep it up without causing damage. That is why the lessons are so important, so they can bounce right back," she explained. DJ Sean Paul is one of Marjorie Whylie's students. "I started doing voice lessons because I want to be prepared for any vocal opportunity that might come up. The lessons are helping me to strengthen the voice and teach me how to use the vocal chords the right way," the entertainer explained. The deejay, who does two one-hour lessons weekly, said that he has now learnt he was "over-projecting". He has learnt techniques to protect his voice and "a lot of other things that help with performing and recording". "I encourage other deejays to get lessons because it is very important. Even when I stop the lessons I will go back and get some warming up and refreshing if I have a big show coming up," he said. Deejay Madd Anju said he has slacked off on his voice lessons, but he will be resuming soon. "My voice lessons are to improve my vocal ability and learn how to use my voice. Deejays are like rappers; most of the time deejays deejay off-key and it still work out because of dem style. But it depends on what you want from the business and how serious you take it. Sometimes we can do things to damage the voice and we don't even know it," he told The Gleaner. The deejay, who came to prominence with A Wha Dis Fadda? said that his voice was his livelihood and he wanted to preserve it. Deejay Bling Dawg also does voice lessons. The main reason behind his new schooling is "learning about keys". "I used to deejay off-key a lot. Me have some cassette and when me listen to some of dem, dem come like a joke. Me can ride de riddim better now. I'm getting to know keys so that if something off, I can identify it. I am also learning breath control," he explained.
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