4 Exact Things You Need To Create Your Dream Voice
Are you struggling to sing and just not loving how you sound?
I should know. I spent years trying to sing and write songs about what other superstars were singing and writing about. They were having success, so I figured I'd follow in their footsteps.
The problem was that my voice was missing.
So yes, you've got to keep it real! Whether you think so or not, you have a special calling and the world needs what only you have to offer.
It's true!
Here are the exact 4 things that have allowed me and the singers I work with to find their unique voice, often in just 90 days of training in my I Heart Singing program.
1. Get an understanding of WHY you want to sing better. What is your motivation? Do you truly love creating music or being on stage? Do you have a special message to share? Are your motivations due to something else? The truth is, once you have a deep emotional desire for something and expect that to manifest, then nothing can stand in your way. If you are not passionate about your singing, you will not get the results you are hoping for!
2. Get proper training. Some of you may know that I am passionate about vocal technique and have studied with some of the top coaches in the industry in search of the best training methods to strengthen, maintain and protect your voice. This quote from Enrico Caruso sums up my findings perfectly:
"There is far too prevalent a tendency to shrink the real hard technical work which must be accomplished before lasting success can be attained. No matter how naturally talented any individual vocalist may be, he or she cannot possibly produce the best results as a singer unless the particular organs have been subjected to a proper and sufficiently long course of training."
3. Give it your all. Put in your hours every day, and don't tolerate distractions. Be responsible with your time and energy and stop make excuses. Study the greats that have come before you, but also allow what makes you special and unique to come forth. Do you have a soulful, heartfelt message to share? Or are you a belting machine with a fierce attitude? The more you believe in you, the more others will too.
4. Act, don't react. This applies to all areas of your life, but especially to your singing. Untrained singers react--they get emotional--and that just makes singing difficult! Often when I work with young or beginning singers, they get sad, frustrated, angry, complain or play the blame game. What you actually need to do when you make a mistake is to take new action. Get out of the fear and out of the pain and sing it again, but this time focus your mind on on your body. Get out of the mind jargon and self-judgement (i.e. "I sound bad", "That sucked!") and get into feeling and observing the the body so that you can decipher what you need to do to physically improve your sound. Become a scientist and investigate your mistakes. For example, do you need more breath support? Or are you squeezing your neck and need to keep your throat open? Getting emotionally charged up and judging yourself won't help you find your voice. Taking action instead will!