You might think that you are not a good singer. Whether you are wrong or right the important thing to note about your singing is that it can always be improved with training. The tragedy is that too many people do not sing because they think that they are awful singers and are convinced that this cannot be changed. Many are tone-deaf and unable to pick out the differences in pitch.
Most people believe that they are bad singers who can sing in tune but are totally helpless when it comes to changing the tone, characteristics or colour of their voices. The good news is that certain elements of one’s voice can be changed with training.
Monotone Sound
The first amongst these elements is the MONOTONE in ones voice. Monotone is the dull sound. For instance, when one sings it sounds like one is talking and not singing. It lacks melody and is boring to listen to. If you find that your voice isn’t warm and melodic like professional singers, it may be because your voice cannot make a fuller sound and is broken.
The reason for this is that we must alter the shape of our mouth when we sing which is different from when we talk. And while it initially feels weird it results in a more interesting sound.
Range
The second element of ones voice that can be changed with voice training is RANGE or the singing of low and high notes. Very often people try hard to hit notes that are difficult by panicking and pushing a bucketload of air at it hoping that it will make the note stick but in reality, it doesn’t. And while there are a limit to how low or high a person can sing depending on the uniqueness of the voice, for someone who is a beginner there’s room to stretch.
For low notes, people need to ensure that they get good vocal closure. Working around their speaking voice can be a useful way to achieve this. For high notes, people need to allow their vocal chords to stretch. Trying to make a police siren sound is a great way to stretch one’s vocal chords.
Vocal Strength and Projection
The third element that can be improved with voice training is the STRENGTH, WARMTH, FULLNESS and PROJECTION of ones voice. Some people have weak voices and cannot project without yelling. Experts state that there are a few factors involved in projecting one’s voice without straining it. The first factor is breath support which doesn’t come naturally and needs to be learned and the second is confidence. When one begins to learn something new, initially it feels a little awkward.
One is never sure whether one is doing the right thing and people usually do not want to take big risks for fear of embarrassing themselves. Especially for those who are new to singing it is likely that they do not commit to notes that sound strong or high. These are the notes that call for more air pressure without pushing uncontrolled air out.
A good example of projecting without the tension involved while yelling is calling out to a friend across the street. When one does this one does not feel that the throat is sore or tight. In fact, one has released one’s voice energetically without a gale force of air.
Consistency
The fourth element is CONSISTENCY or STABILITY of the voice. Trainers state that people more often than not model their singing the way they talk. Meaning that one does not tend to think about controlling the way one releases air to ensure that it is a long and slow consistent line of air. If one sings each note using a small puff of air, it makes one’s voice unsteady and unreliable. Reason why it is necessary to work on breathing exercises where one teaches the body how to manage ones breath preventing it from being inconsistent and shaky.
Vocal Tone
The final element of the voice that can be altered with training is the BRIGHTNESS and DARKER TONE COLOUR of the voice. Again voice trainers believe that the way one shapes ones vocal tract can alter the tone or colour of ones voice and it can sound anything from thin, dark, bright, rich, warm to dull.
