Yodeling
Insider Info
You might think the art of yodeling has gone the way of The Sound of Music.
But new artists like Jewel are bringing yodeling back into the mainstream.
Traditionally linked to towns and cities in the Swiss Alps, yodeling is a
deliberately controlled alternation of a falsetto note, plus a regular note.
There are different types of yodeling, and there are a few theories about
why it began.
Some say that the residents of the mountains used it as a way of communicating.
Others believe that shepherds imitating various horned instruments used in
calling their flocks started it. And others will tell you that it was the
result of some mountain lad's irritated throat.
What most people can agree on is that it began in Switzerland, Austria
and Germany.
In the late 1920s, yodeling began to catch on in the U.S. Jimmy Rodgers
was a poor Mississippi railroad worker and musician who heard yodeling and
liked it. He liked it so much that he recorded and released the first country
song in 1927. That first series was inspired by yodeling and was called "Blue
Yodels."
Not long after that, Hank Williams recorded "Lovesick Blues," which is
a classic. From there, artists such as bluegrass legend Bill Monroe brought
yodeling into his work. In the 1940s and 1950s, famous performers Roy Rogers
and Gene Autry followed suit. Now, singers like Jewel and LeAnn Rimes continue
this tradition.
If you want to learn to yodel and aren't sure where to go, try the Internet
Yodel Course. It's a safe bet that the shepherds who yodelled to their flocks
never dreamed this day would come -- plugging into the Internet is a way to
learn to yodel right in your living room.
Norman Gwaltney maintains the site. He performed in a band for 10 years.
The site gives step-by-step instructions on yodeling and sound bites to help
you along. "I have had 20,000 hits from all around the world," says Gwaltney.
Janet McBride is a yodeler with one other claim to fame -- she taught recording
superstar LeAnn Rimes to yodel. Just like learning anything else, it's always
good to get advice from the pros. "Practice is your best friend if you intend
to yodel," says McBride. "I started when I was eight years old and I am still
learning."
Getting Started
McBride suggests that beginners find many songs and different yodel patterns
so that they can perfect their yodel. "Everyone takes their yodeling to a
different level. I suggest you strive for the best you can be. Not everyone
wants to be the greatest, but just be the best you can be."
In yodeling, McBride says that the toughest thing to learn is staying on
pitch. "A yodel that slides sharp or flat is not good. Also, keep the position
of your yodel out of your throat. It is not a throat thing. It is up in your
mouth where your speaking voice is."
The type of yodeling that you do and where you perform will influence how
much equipment you will need. The only thing that you really need is a good
strong set of lungs, which come free of charge! Some yodelers play the guitar
or an accordion, and some buy costumes for their shows. It really depends
on you and your style.
If you try yodeling and like it, you may be able to make a career out of
your newfound hobby.
Entertainer: Take your show on the road. Or appear at special events
like birthday parties.
Manager: Discover the next yodeling sensation, and help to make
her or him a household name.
Tour guide: Travel to the Alps and take people on tours of the
land that saw the origins of yodeling. Hey, why not give your tour group a
taste of your yodeling -- at least you'll have a captive audience.
Links
Internet Yodel Course
Learn to yodel online
Yodel Central
With an FAQ section
Yodel Role Models
Read about these singing cowboys
Margo Smith
Check out her career
Yodeling Queen Janet McBride
Learn more about the woman who taught LeAnn Rimes to yodel
Back to Career Cluster