Listen, listen, listen

Discovering Your Voice

Introduction

The first thing you have to learn when trying to discover the voice inside your body is to aim for what sort of singer you want to be.

Identify Your Style

• Genres to Consider:
  • Pop
  • Classical
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Rock

Listen to as much material as possible. Educate yourself with the singers that made their music sound rich, vibrant, full of life, and energy.

Sing Along

Choose your favorite tracks to sing along to. You may not be able to get through each song the way that the original artist did, as they have been singing it for years and you're just starting.

• Tips:
  • Attempt certain phrases or sections of the song.
  • Perfect those segments as a good starting point.
  • Gradually develop the song, building strength over time.

The Importance of Listening

Listen, listen, listen!

• Focus on:
  • The original artist who sang the song.
  • The piano player.
  • The phrasing and instrumental accompaniment, which tells a story as well.

This listening creates direction for your voice to go in. You lead from the tune.

Influences from Great Artists

Many artists who pioneered styles like jazz, blues, and rock listened to their predecessors.

• Examples:
  • Freddie Mercury
  • The Beatles (who drew from old rock and roll singers like Chuck Berry and Little Richard)

When discovering your voice, accept influences from these artists, their styles, creativity, and passion for singing.

Avoid Impersonation

Important Note:

• Don't try to sound like them.
• Avoid impersonation, as it can hinder your growth.

I made the mistake of trying to sound like singers I admired at a young age. For example:

• I would listen to Freddie Mercury and attempt to emulate his style.
• I tried singing big notes like Pavarotti without understanding what I was doing.

This was my way of embracing and exploring my voice and understanding where it lay in my body.

Final Tips for Discovering Your Voice

1. Listen to a lot of music that you want to sing.
2. Be influenced by artists, but don't copy them.
3. Discover your ability within that song and how you can bring something new.

Creativity in Music

Each song you listen to doesn't have to be performed the same way. You can add your own flavor, your own notes, and play around with the music.

Classical Music Interpretation

When it comes to classical music, remember that many scores were written by amazing composers like:

• Verdi
• Wagner
• Puccini
• Mozart
• Handel

Composers often wrote musical scores as guidelines, not rigid rules.

Dynamics and Interpretation

• It's important to stick to certain phrases and dynamics, singing louder and softer, longer and shorter, but you can still make a song your own.

Conclusion

Try to listen to lots of material that you want to sing, choose your favorite songs, and make them your own. Have fun at the same time!