I had a think to myself, what does it really come down to? What's really important to build a beautiful voice?
Since I know that anyone who can talk, has all the right 'bits' to be able to sing, I am always trying to help people make the MOST of these incredible vocal instruments that we carry around with us every day of our lives.
And I want to make your access to the beauty and richness of your voice, as clear and easy as possible, so you can get the maximum buzz out of your singing.
So, this is what I found when I distilled it down.
1. Rich Resonance
2. Fantastic Phonation
3. Exquisite Expressivity
I'll explain each of these just enough...why it's key, what to avoid and what to aim for.
WHAT? Resonance basically means to 'Re-Sound' (or 're-verb') ...i.e. how the intial sound of your voice gets shaped and amplified in your resonating chambers.
WHY? So that it has depth, projection and richness, and a spectrum of beautiful qualities.
To achieve rich resonance we want to:
AVOID muffling or closing down our resonators.
AIM to open them up, maximise those spaces, and learn how direct sound into the different ones for different effects.
HOW you do this is totally dependent on activating various muscles in your throat, mouth and face.
WHEN you get good at this, your voice sounds unbelievably rich and ringing, and charms the ears of your audience like nothing else!
(I ADORE helping people get good at this!)
WHAT? Phonation basically means 'making sound'. This is about how your vocal folds produce the initial sound of your voice.
WHY? They need to do it in the most balanced, healthy and precise way possible, so that your voice sounds good and you don't run into problems. So with phonation we want to:
AVOID being stuck with an overly breathy or pressed / hard-edged sound production.
AIM for a balanced, free and flexible vibration of your vocal folds.
HOW you do this is totally dependent on the openness of your throat, the releasing of tongue tension and the right amount of breathflow.
WHEN you get this right, your voice sounds sweet, strong and incredibly versatile.
(I love helping people get good at this!)
WHAT? I'm sure you know what this means... i.e. how we give subtlety, variety and meaning to our communication in singing, through expressing all the nuances in the lyrics and energy of a song.
WHY? So that each song we sing is engaging, magnetic, full of dynamics and authenticity, and entertaining!
To achieve exquisite expressivity we want to:
# AVOID singing with dull or monotonous tone, volume or rhythm; Avoid not sharing the meaning of the song.
AIM to bring varied dynamics appropriate to each word or phrase and really feel what we are singing.
HOW you do this is totally dependent on telling the story or meaning that the lyrics express, and having the both the spirit and the vocal qualities that brings this out.
WHEN you get good at this, your songs sound magic! YOU get a profound sense of connection with your singing, and your audience get a deep connection from their experience of hearing your songs. PRESENCE arises.
(I find it deeply fulfilling to help people get good at this.)
And are you wondering which of these 3 keys is most important for you personally to develop?
Do you wish you knew what the specific strengths and weaknesses of your voice are?
If so, then I know you would benefit from having a Personal Vocal Assessment with me. Finally you'll get to discover, clearly and constructively, what the unique qualities of your singing voice are and what could be better.
I welcome you to find out more about this tailored session and book a slot. Just visit this page: My Personal Vocal Assessment
I hope to connect with you there, and in the meantime, enjoy making the most of the 3 Keys!
