Getting a singer into time?

[Pbassred]

I've been rehersing a charity show. One singer wants to do Nina Simone's "I'm feeling good."
The trouble is that despite a great voice, she can't seem to come in on time. She ends up singing the last verse 1 or 2 bars adrift!
(A slap or telling her to work harder are not options its charity and I need to encourage her.)
Suggestions anyone?

[Deacon_Blues]

Is timing an issue for her in this song only or is it a general problem? Does she know she has a timing issue here? If it's only in this song, ask her to practice the song together with the record and count the beats 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4- etc.

If it's a general problem, encourage her to learn to play some drums, or any instrument. It could help to get a better feel for rhythms.

[Rids]

I don't know that song, but if it has drums, get her to use the kick drum as her 'cue'.

[Reverend G-Money]

this is a tough one. we rehearse to a click and it sounds crappy. when we play live and try to flow with the singer (complete garbage i know... ), we have some good stuff. We ALWAYS use the click in rehearsal for this purpose exactly. Live is more of an energy thing, but it helps in the long run.

Do you time off to drums? Do you have a click or headphones? Pipe that "click click click click" through her head a few times. it fixed me i tell ya.

[Stumpy]

Originally Posted by Pbassred

I've been rehersing a charity show. One singer wants to do Nina Simone's "I'm feeling good."
The trouble is that despite a great voice, she can't seem to come in on time. She ends up singing the last verse 1 or 2 bars adrift!
(A slap or telling her to work harder are not options its charity and I need to encourage her.)
Suggestions anyone?

have her look at you when you get to that part of the tune. You open your eyes wider and nod your head when it is time for her to come in. Then you do it all over again, until you think that it is right. Then tell her what a good job she is doing.

My thoughts

[T-Bird]

Hi, Pbassred

IMHO Rehearsing to a static clic is one of the best ways to lose the timing completely if there's no clues in the melody parts.

It's also a good way to drive one insane , I hate clic with a passion, but that's just me

I'd choose, well I have one, a programmable clic like Tama Rhythm Watch RW100 or BOSS Dr. Beat DB88.

Here's a comparison of those two:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~marcz/percussi...etronome1.html

There's others as well, I'm sure.

That way You can get the timing right in rehearsals, but if there's nothing to cling to in a live situation, that could prove disastrous.

Regards
Sam

[Phalex]

Ha!! Great question. I have never played with a really good singer that could actually count. I think the two may be mutually exclusive!

I want to know the cure for this one too!! (So far I'm thinking shock collar!)

[CrashClint]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I want to know the cure for this one too!! (So far I'm thinking shock collar!)

Wow!, great minds think alike!

I have had this problem more so in church before. If you can step forward and get the singer to turn slightly your way enough to see you, I have actually mouthed the count while slightly bobbing my head. If they are supposed to come in on 1, I will move both my head and shoulders up on the 4 and, then bring both head and shoulders down on the 1 beat. You just have to alter it of course depending on the beat. If the singer is coming in on the off-beat, it just takes a little more practice. If the singer doesn't have ego problems it usually works. I have also used the neck of my bass to make is look less obvious, but most people just think your getting into the music and they do not notice you are counting out to help the singer.

[Jim Carr]

Rehearse her to bits! Make her take entrance cues from you. Done.