When you think about yourself as a singer, how do you imagine yourself?
Are you willing to take your voice to the maximum potential, studying for a long term goal of success? Or is your desire only to be a good performer or singer/ songwriter where you simply use your voice to accompany your originals with an instrument?
In whichever of these cases that apply, you have two important things to think about: Your “Vocal Technique” and your “Creativity.”
To develop control of your voice and your singing it is a requirement to have a good Vocal technique. Simply put, you must practice, practice and practice.
Singing is about “repetition.” It is about doing the same exercise, the same song over and over until it feels right. This is not merely practicing, but rather it is about vocalizing each time in the perfect way.
The goal is not only practicing what we do right, but to exercise what we do wrong. Additionally, it is important to practice with purpose, analyzing each exercise. You should be able to ask of your vocal teacher the purpose of the exercises he or she is addressing with you. This understanding will provide clarity in which areas of the voice you are working to improve and how these particular exercises are intended to help you accomplish results.
Creating daily habits centered around practice and your routine of repetition will help you to improve your skills as a singer. This training will also give you confidence as a singer. Whether you are a beginner or advanced you must work hard to develop and maintain your skills, and your craft: your voice.
In addition to honing your voice as an instrument, being creative is an important skill to develop in your singing as well. You have to be innovative in each performance, with each interpretation. This means not always singing only in your comfort zone, performing the same way as you have before. The main idea is challenging yourself with new ideas, phrasing, emotions; it is about exploring all you can deliver in every one of your performances. Asking yourself for more to reach your audience and going through the song on different channels.
This is not merely about virtuosity, but rather about putting your soul into each concert, and into each song, therefore creating a new reality every time you sing. Singing is about the perfect balance of repetition and innovation. Both must come together to develop the singer and artist you are within.
-Debora Lebendiker-