Ever get tired of hearing your singing voice? You may think that your voice is too soft or too low. Do you sometimes wish you could sing with such power and feeling like the lady in your choir or a singer on TV? Do you ever feel intimidated to try out for a solo part because you feel that your voice just isn’t good enough? Before you give up on singing, you need to realize that answer to improving your singing does not rest in your voice. The answer is your ears! Don’t believe me? Read on.

Many of the greatest singers the world has ever known grew up listening to GREAT singers. They grew up in musical families where music was a part  of their everyday world, or they listened to records, cassettes, and CDs for hours. Unwittingly, they were arming themselves with the most powerful musical weapon there is – -the musical ear. Having a “musical ear” is having the ability internalize the music you hear, moving to its rhythm, feeling its harmonies, and knowing where a melody wants to go even before it gets there. A musical ear is magical and blesses its owner with a beautiful, rich tone.

Now you may be saying, “I don’t have a musical background. In fact, the closest thing to music in my home as a child were the jingles for cartoons or commercials on the TV.” We may not all have the rich musical heritage of, say, The Jackson Five, but we all can develop a musical ear. How? I’m glad you asked.

1. By making a committment – -Polish off that rusty ipod, download some of your favorite vocals and commit to listening to music for 30-60 minutes every day. But you have to really listen. Close your eyes and ask yourself what the singer does with his or her voice to make the music come alive. Go to concerts that allow you to hear live music. You’ll get to see the beautiful rawness of music being created on stage.

2. Don’t be afraid to imitate – -Pause the music and allow yourself to try new vocal techniques you hear. Don’t ever be afraid to make a fool of yourself! It’s the only way to really learn.

3. Record your voice – -You need to hear what your voice really sounds like. It may sound like Whitney in the shower, and Buckwheat everywhere else, but you have to know where you are to know where you need to go. Critically listen to what you do well and what needs improving.

Remember, you can do this if you want it badly enough. Let me know if you have any questions or comments on our post today. And don’t forget to:

SING OUT LOUD!!!!!