But here's the twist: Im already 24. I believe I have listen to the radio a little too much and am having a really hard time finding my own "voice" because I am hearing too many other artist own tones and voices. What do I do? Is it worth to take vocal classes and purchase vocal books in order to help me locate my voice or is it too late? Almost every singer i come it to contact with or bio's I read all state that they have been singing since they were really young. Me on the other hand am now just dipping my fingers in the art now. Im really, really passionate about learning to sing and performing vocally. However, my mind is mature enough to realize that such a dream isnt easy to act out. To me its more than worth it but am I fooling myself. Please help.
Hi.
Whether you can be trained to sing well really depends on your definition of "well" as well as your objectives (do you want to be an opera singer? be able to sing to your dog without him moaning? earn income? go on American Idol?) It also depends to some extent on your age, although since you're 24, you're a prime candidate for vocal training because your voice is fully mature and will only get better over the next 10 years or so.
First, don't be intimidated by people who began their vocal training at a young age. Classically trained vocalists don't often begin their serious training until they're adolescents (although they might begin learning music or performing in a children's choir before then). Musical theatre performers may begin acting and belting out music at a very young age, but that's a very particular sort of vocal technique that can wreak havoc on the voice if not done properly. Pop singers may begin at young ages, too, but they wind up doing terrible things to their voices. There's a reason why so many pop singers use backup vocals and special effects to augment their singing.
Second, here are a couple of basic singing tips to get you started:
- Learn how to breathe like an athlete. Full, deep breaths that expand your rib cage and down into your stomach. Not wimpy breaths that sit up in your chest.
- Spend some time humming. A good hum will result in feeling vibrations in your lips and maybe your nose. Don't clench your teeth when you hum and keep your tongue relaxed. Don't try to hum notes that are outside your comfortable range. Hum five notes at a time, on a scale, up and down.
- Flutter your lips. This is good both for your enunciation and your breath control. Try to flutter your lips as long as possible on a single, deep breath. For this exercise, a lip flutter is just like what you'd do when making faces at a baby. Sort of purse the lips together and blow air through so that they flutter up and down really fast.
- Learn some basic repertoire. More on that later, but some good songs would be lullabys (All the Pretty Little Horses), gospel (Amazing Grace), and light Broadway melodies (Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Te-Do from Sound of Music).
My best recommendation to you would be to go to your local community college and sign-up for a one-credit choir ensemble type class or, if you're eligible and they have space, voice lessons. If you're of a spiritual bent AND have access to a GOOD church choir, you could also try asking the choir director for private instruction, too.
As far as finding your "voice" is concerned, my guess is that you're trying to find your own personal style. I have a couple of thoughts for you:
- Avoid listening to anyone's musical interpretations (not recommended!)
- Listen to everyone's musical interpretations (preferred!)
- Steep yourself in the basics (folk song, Broadway melodies, gospel, light opera, etc.)
If you have the money and commitment to buy a textbook for singing, I highly recommend "Basics of Singing" by Jan Schmidt. This is a staple of college 100-level introduction to singing classes everywhere and gives you that basic knowledge you may need of vocal techniques, language, and repertoire. It is more geared toward the "serious" singer rather than the pop singer, but it is highly useful either way.
By the way, if you live nearby a university, you can contact the department of music and ask for a list of the graduate students there who are in pedagogy programs. Most graduate students (as well as some seniors) take vocal students, both to supplement their income as well as to build experience. Lessons would be significantly cheaper and, if you get a teacher who can also play piano, you won't need to pay for an accompianist either.
By the way, don't get discouraged because you may be a late bloomer. The only things that can really get in your way is you and perhaps your sense of pitch (if you're tone deaf). I know one woman who started singing in her late 20s after a divorce and a new start on life, and she now sings with a small opera company in lead roles in California.
Good luck.