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How much can smoking change your singing voice? One of the greatest singers of all time, and the most recorded musician of all time, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, was a smoker. Not that I would suggest three packs a day based on this, but it can be done. The vocal folds are folds are sheathed when not in use, so as long as you don't speak or sing while exhaling smoke, you won't do much direct damage to them. The biggest effect...

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Is it true that drinking alcohol will hurt your singing voice over time? Alcohol is a dessicant: it replaces water in your body and dehydrates you. Note that this is why you urinate so much when you drink alcohol. Also not that that you urinate clear, a normal indication that your body is well hydrated. In actuality, this is happening because that alcohol is forcing the water out of your body. Anything that dehydrates you is, in an objective sense, bad for...

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My 1989 Olds Cutlass runs poorly and smells of gas. Unburned gas was running out of the tailpipe. Upon removing the spark plugs I discovered that 2 of the cylinders were full of gas. What is wrong? It sound like the fuel going to those two cylinders isn't being ignited. Generally speaking, that's caused by a cracked distributor cap, but your year of Cutlass may or may not have a distributorless ignitions system. If so, the ignition control module may have gone bad, and in either case, there may be an issue of getting power to the plugs. I'm not so up on distributorless...

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My 1984 Oldsmobile Delta 88 (307 4 bbl.) constantly overheats and has lost power. What could be wrong? Pardon me for this answer being more general than model specific. Just trying to be as useful as possible. The prime suspect in any case of overheating should be the thermostat. Pull it out, check its temperature specification (may be two temperatures: one at which it opens, and a cooler on at which it closes again) and drop it in a pot of water with a candy thermometer (don't let the...

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Where can I find information about classical music interpretation? What a huge subject! But I'll bite... First, it's important to know what you mean by "interpretation." If you are speaking from the standpoint of the listener, that's one thing, but if from the standpoint of the performer, it's another altogether. In one case, you are trying to understand how to perform the music effectively, and in the other, how to receive...

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Is it possible for someone to be taught how to sing opera or must they be born with natural talent? Talent? What's that? Who's the judge? Anyone's degree of talent is an inherently subjective matter, especially given that there are those who don't believe that talent exists in the first place. A good teacher can help you to improve regardless of talent (whatever that is). I won't tell you you can go sing at the Met next week, or even be a professional opera...

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I love to sing, but I don't have enough time for lessons. Is there a way I can improve my singing voice without lessons? Join a choir. Choral singing being what it is, choral conductors expect to do more educational work than perhaps any other type performing musician. A community or church choir or the chorus of a community musical theater company will also usually be a fairly laid-back, supportive environment where you can learn a little, make some music and have some fun. and at some point, you might be...

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Is age 22 too late to start voice lessons? Starting age for voice lessons is a matter of much debate. Beginning the study of music early is always a good thing. For boys to learn serious vocal technique before puberty is permissible, as the breathing technique they learn will last their lifetimes, and is easier to learn young than later in life. What they learn as trebles about tone production will do them little good after their...

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Are there any books anyone can recommend to teach singing, including proper breathing and control, etc.? "The Rock-N-Roll Singer's Survival Manual" by Mark Baxter. This book is for people who are singing already (specifically in a popular genre, obviously from the title), and want to learn something about doing it better. Mark Baxter has coached Steven Tyler, Scott Weiland, Gary Cherone, cast members of RENT, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Amiee Mann, Peter Wolf, and others. ...

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Can an average person learn, with practice/training, to sing like a pro? Or must they be born with talent? There is something I call "the architecture of your skull." If you look into high quality equipment, or musical instrument construction, you can learn that the amount and dimensions of space inside of a speaker cabinet or musical instrument is extremely important to obtaining the optimum sound from the speaker or instrument. The same is true of the voice. The size and shape of the...

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Is lip-synching a good singing exercise? No. It does nothing for the voice, obviously, because the voice is not being used. It might seem on the surface like it would be a good diction exercise, but good diction is dependent upon good breath flow. It's probable that, when one lip-synching, one is not moving much, of any air. -EdM.

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Is humming a good form of vocal exercise? Humming is perhaps the best exercise for mask resonance. Make sure that you have space inside your mouth, as though your have a soap bubble in there. And try to aim your sound into your cheekbones and higher, being, perhaps, a bit too nasal (it's always easier to back off on your resonance if your voice gets too bright than to add resonanace into a voice that is dull). Note, please,...

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I am a soprano, I have been going flat on G5 And A6 . I can go to B6 or higher sometimes too sharp. I'm afraid I am ruining my head voice. What can I do to correct this ? At the risk of bad ratings, I'm going to say that this is a question that should not be answered over the internet. A good teacher should hear and see what you are doing in order to help you be more comfortable in that range. The simple answer is the punchline to the old joke about the guy coming into the doctor's office with his right arm wrapped around behind his head, grabbing...

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I can sing most soprano notes, but I can't reach the really high ones. Does this make me an alto, or could I be a true soprano with training? Unless you are a professional singer, range names are nothing but labels. If you are talking about soprano alto notes, I assume you primarily a choral singer. If, then, you sing in the soprano section, you are a soprano. If you sing in the alto section, you are an alto. If you switch back and forth, then you are a soprano one day and an alto the next. If you need a label for that,...

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I have an above-average singing voice, but not anything spectacular. If I take voice lessons, could I possibly improve my range to classical or musical theater level? Absolutely. Talking about range: Everyone has a range, and range on its own is nothing to be proud or ashamed of. Bragging about your range is like bragging about having ten fingers. It's not generally the product of hard work and perseverance, which are things to be proud of. Still, through proper singing technique, ytou can extend your low change somewhat, and depending on...

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My 1993 Volvo 940 has a bad oil leak coming from the rear of the engine on top. It appears to be coming from under the cam shaft cover. How can I fix this? Of course, it is impossible to properly diagnose a car problem over the internet, but... That's probably the rear camshaft seal. It is a common issue on the B230 engine found in the late 240, and four-cylinder sing-overhead-cam 700 and 900 series Volvos. On 700 and 900 series cars, that's where the distributor is, so you'd be looking at removing it, cleaning out the hole,...

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I own a 1984 Volvo 940. Twice in the past few weeks while driving it went full throttle on its own. Both times before the acceleration I was doing about 25 mph. What could be wrong, and how can I fix it? This could be a fault in the Engine Control Unit, the car's computer. It could also be a problem with the cruise control. I would think about the cruise control first. -EdM. '90 Volvo 240DL Wagon "Lola" '72 Volvo 1800ES "Galadriel"

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My 1992 740 Turbo stalls intermittently. One time, a (3-2-1) air mass meter code was set in the computer. Is it unusual for AMM not to set codes all the time? Codes 1-2-1 and 3-2-2 have to do with the AMM. Code 3-2-1 indicates the cold start injector or its wiring. Sure that code is right? If it's 1-2-1, the it is absolutely not unusual for the code not to be set all the time. In fact, it's not unusual for that code to be set when it has nothing to do with the AMM. It could also have to do with the O2 sensor, as the computer compares...

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My 1990 Volvo 740 GL vibrates, mostly in decelleration, or at 4000 RPMs at 45 MPH. It seems to shift smoothly. Could this be a transmission problem? Or the motor mounts? You should first try to ascertain where the vibration is coming from, which may be difficult at 45 MPH. Still, a good sense of where the vibration seems to be coming from can give you a place to start. The things I would consider, in order, would be: If the vibration is coming from the front of the car, it could be wheel bearings, tie rods or tie rod ends, ball joints, or front...

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My muffler is in the middle of the car with a straight pipe running to the rear. What is this exhaust system called and is there a reason why Volvo designed that way? Your question is pretty vague, and there's a lot more information needed here for a definite answer, most notably, what model of Volvo do you have? And does that seem to be the only "muffler," or the only bulge in the exhaust system, or are there others before or after it? But, I'll try... Many Volvos have a pair of pipes coming down from the exhaust manifold that join...

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My 1993 Volvo 850 GLT stops at 25 to 40 mph. The lamda light is on and the diagnostic code is 121 "MAP signal absent or faulty". Are the 2 issues related? How can I fix this? "MAP signal," that's not what I expected. My '72 1800ES has MAP (Manifold Air Pressure) sensor, but my '92 240 and your '93 850 have MAF (Manifold Air Flow), or AMM (Air Mass Meter) sensors. At any rate, they perform the same function, and the literature I have at hand gives a similar interpretation for that code, but using the term "MAF sensor." ...

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I have a fuel injected Volvo and I ran out of gas. I put gas in (5 gallons), but it still won't start. Do I need to re-prime the injectors? How do I do that? I'd be likely to believe you gummed up the fuel filter. Depending on your model of Volvo, there may be more than one fuel filter. In a 240, or a 700 or 900 series, for instance, not only are there two fuel filters, there are two fuel pumps. If you do have a 240, the trick is to use your EARS. Have someone switch the car to on, but don't start it up, while you put your ear to the...

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The trunk of my 1993 Volvo won't lock, which causes the alarm not to function. How can I fix this? Removed. Sorry.

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What kind of modifications can I do to my '93 Volvo 850 GLT to make it look sporty? I've seen some neat underhood treatments for 850s, like kevlar engine covers and chrome turbo ducting. Check at www.ipdusa.com. I was just browsing their 850 section, and they have that sort of engine bay stuff, and a nice selection of exterior trim like exhaust tips, custom grilles, spoilers, even a carbon fiber hood, of you've got a loose grand to blow. By the way, they're...

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I recently tried to start my rarely used '93 Volvo 940, but it won't turn over and nothing electrical works. The fuses work and the battery is new. A jump-start worked, but the engine then cut out. What could be the problem? These symptoms point me to the battery connections, specifically the ground connection. Try this: go to a place like Radio Shack and get a halfway-decent multi-meter. Use it to check the DC voltage of the battery. It should read somewhere around 11 - 13 volts. if it's low, then you know it's either alternator or battery (but I'll wager it'll be okay). If the car runs at...

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Was Wagner anti-Semitic? To this day, Wagner's family claims that Wagner harbored no antisemitic feelings, making the classic claim that "Some of his best friends were Jewish." There were two notable Jewish musicians in the circle of the extremely charismatic Wagner, but it's interesting to note that they both comitted suicide. Wagner's writings include an infamous essay "Das Judentum...

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For how many and which years was Joseph Haydn the Kapellmeister for the Eszterházy family? Haydn first came to Eszterháza to serve as assistant Kapellmeister to Prince Nikolaus (Miklós Jozsef) "The Magnificent" Eszterházy in 1761. He rose to the position of Kapellmeister in 1765. Prince Nikolaus was succeded upon his death in 1790 by his son, Prince Anton (Antal) Eszterházy, a man with absolutely no appreciation for good music, let alone for the fact that that one of the...

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Where can one find a biography for Giovanni Battista Pergolesi? You can check... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Battista_Pergolesi ...of course, and... http://www.goldbergweb.com/en/history/composers/11747.php ...but my predeliction for print sources makes me point you toward Sadie, Stanley, and John Tyrell eds. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed. London: Macmillan Publishers Limited, 2001. ...or... ...

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Where did Mozart study? Though Mozart is thought of as the archtypical child prodigy, It is right not to assume he was not taught. Mozart's principal teacher was his father, Leopold Mozart. The elder Mozart was court composer to Prince Archbishop Sigismund of Salzburg, Austria. He was, as well, a noted teacher and author of an important text on violin playing. Violin was Mozart's first instrument, and he...

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Is it okay to drink beer that was originally cold, became warm, and was then put back into the refrigerator? Sure. No known pathogens (little micro-critters that can make you sick) can live in beer, so it would do you no harm. It would, however, have an adverse effect on the flavor of the beer, so it's best not to let it happen.

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Why is beer usually bottled in glass instead of plastic? Plastic is actually quite porous, compared to glass or metal. This porousness would allow the beer to go flat as well as allowing interaction with the outside environment, which would alter its flavor. This is not such a concern with soft drinks, which sell faster and are more stable, having fewer volitile compounds in them. Metal, unfortunately, interacts with volitile compounds in beer,...

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What is a good beer for a beginner drinker who hates the bitter taste? In addition the mild ale (which, unfortunately, is not widely available in the US) and brown ale (look for Newcastle and Rogue in the US), mentioned in Red John's nicely authoritative answer, you might also try Bavarian wheat beer, also known as Weizenbier and Weissbier, and Belgian white beer, also known as wit bier and bier blanche. Bavarian wheat beers are available in a few styles:...

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Why does France have so few Stouts and Porters? Historically, regions of the world have made fermented beverages with the ingredients on hand. In Germany, eastern Europe and the Low Countries (now Belgium, the Netherlands, etc.), this was grain and hops; in England and Scandinavia, honey and spices; and in France and Italy, grapes. The beverages of the ruling classes were made with ingredients that produced the best, most complex flavors....

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What is Budweiser B3 beer and is it only sold in the United States? I can't find any solid reference to Budweiser B3 beer. I checked Budweiser's website which, as one might expect, has more references to stuff other than beer (music, mobile phone service, auto racing and other sports, various other pop culture stuff) that actual information on their products was difficult to discern. As a side note, I think this does a lot to reflect thir...

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How many beers are in a case? The word "case" doesn't imply a number, just a method of packaging. While generally speaking, a case is thought of as holding four six-packs, or 24 bottles or cans, some American companies have started marketing 30-can cases. This allows them to make it seem like the consumer is getting more for their money (more is better, right? Quantity over quality?). Also, by abandoning...

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Is it true the British love warm beer? No. The British drink most draught ales at what the Americans refer to as cellar temperature. The better question is "Why do Americans love cold beer?" Because American premium, superpremuim (brewing industry terms, not subjective judgements) and light lagers like Budweiser, Coors, Miller, Michelob, etc., would be nearly undrinkable at cellar temperature, 45 - 55 degrees farenheit....

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What does the German 'Reinheitsgebot' for beer mean? A translation of the text of the Reinheitsgebot, or "Purity Law" can be found at http://brewery.org/library/ReinHeit.html. A Bavarian law passed in 1516, It madates beer pricing and, most notably, that beer can only contain water, barley and hops. It was not just the oldest standing food law, but the oldest standing law of any kind, until the institution of the European Union....

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How long can you store beer before it goes bad? Due to the perservative qualities of alcohol and hop oil, no known pathogens (microorganisms which can kill you) can live in beer. So, it's not so much an issue of the beer going bad over time, as it is a matter of when it will taste best. As with some wines (Beaujolais Nouveau and Champaign, for instance), most beer is intended to be drunk young. This is why many beer companies have...

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For whom was Mozart's 40th Symphony written? Although there was no specific commission for Mozart's 40th and 41st symphonies, they may have been written on speculation of payment from an amateur orchestral society in Vienna. They were not premiered until after Mozart had died.

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For whom, in general, did Mozart usually write his works? In Mozart's day, it was fashionable for a nobleman to be seen as a patron of the arts by keeping a court composer to write music for him. The court composer was numbered among the servants, though he was a servant of fairly substantial rank. So, being a composer was (as it had been since the late middle ages) a middle-class occupation, much like being a plumber, a carpenter or a mason. ...

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What prompted Mozart to write Requiem (K.626)? The work was commissioned by one Count Franz Walsegg-Stuppach, via the infamous "grey messenger." Walsegg-Stuppach was himself an amateur composer (being a composer was seen as a middle-class occupation, so a nobleman would never have done more than dabble in composition as a hobby), but one who had a penchant for commissioning works from the great composers of his day (as well as...

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Where can I find the words to Mozart's Kyrie or Grand Mass in C(K.427)? The text of Mozart's Grand Mass in C is the same as the text of the ordinary (those texts which do not change from mass to mass) of any Roman Catholic mass. The words to the Kyrie Eleison, the first section of the ordinary of any Roman Catholic mass, and the only section that remained in Greek when the rest of the mass was said or sung in Latin, are simply Kyrie Eleison Christe...

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What is Mozart's full name? This question could well have been posted by one of my students, as I ask it in class! Names as used were in many ways a matter of style in those days. For example, prior to the French revolution, when it was stylish to seem Italian, Ludwig van Beethoven used to sign his first name as "Luigi." Subsequent to the French revolution, when it was hip to seem French, he used...

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Where can I find the words to Mozart's Requiem (K. 626)? The text of Mozart's Requiem is, of course, by no means unique. It is the standard funeral mass text of the Roman Catholic Church. The authoritative source of the text of the Requiem mass, then, would be the Liber Usualis (the "Usual Book"), a collection of all of the Roman Catholic mass texts and the plainchant tunes associated with them, as authorized by that church, itself....

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Did Antonio Salieri murder Wolfgang Mozart? It is generally accepted among musicologists that Salieri had nothing whatsoever to do with Mozart's death. In a letter Mozart wrote to his father he does state "Salieri is poisoning me," but this is generally considered to be a figurative statement. Mozart had gotten himself dismissed from the court of Prince Archbishop Colloredo of Salzburg (Colloredo's predecessor,...

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My DVD player has suddenly stopped working. It worked fine a few days ago but now the power light doesn't come on. I've only had this player 4 months. What could be wrong? Any number of things may be wrong with it, but if the power light isn't coming on, then the problem is probably pretty "early on" in the system, and relatively simple, perhaps a shorted or broken connection in the unit's power supply. The real problem, though, lies in that word "relatively" and our societal expectation that mass-market electronic devices be...

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