Improve Your Singing Voice Through Feeling
Written by singerii // // Performance Advice for Singers // 18 Comments
I started this blog speaking mostly on vocal technique, which I do think is paramount in creating a great singing voice. However, the BIGGEST, most important factor of improving your singing voice has nothing to do with vocal technique at all. It has to do with connecting with your audience. So, how do we do that? First, we have to understand the following phrase:
“Music is Emotion You Can Hear”
Each song you sing has a dominate emotion, and some songs touch on several emotions. It’s these emotions that make the piece the wonderful work that it is. Without that emotion tied to it, the song quickly becomes boring and fades out of our minds. This is why certain songs really touch you, even though you may not know why. This is why certain singers, though they may lack real talent (or even the ability to hit all their notes accurately) can still get a great response from the audience. People can feel what they’re singing, and that’s what counts most!
All that being said, right now you’re probably thinking, “So Ken, how can I make this happen?!?”
To Improve Your Singing Voice, You Must Connect with the Song, then Connect with Your Audience.
Many singers focus their practice time on learning the right words, accurately singing the melody, and making sure that they can nail that high note. These are all important things, but the reality is that doing this is only the first, most basic step of preparing a song.
To really have a kick butt performance, you’ve got to be able to sing with genuine emotion, sharing with others just how you feel, causing them to feel it too.
Have you ever noticed the person with the most dominate emotion in a room can bring everyone up or down with them? This is true of singers too, and let me tell you, that mic in your hand automatically makes you the dominate person in the room.
So think about it… what emotion are you contagiously sharing with others? Is it fear and discomfort? Is is excitement? Sadness? Passion? Joy? All you have to do is check in with your own feelings at the time and odds are this is how you’re making others feel. If you don’t believe me, do some study in psychology. You’ll find this can be scientifically backed up.
So what can we do to help this? First off, you have to get personally involved in the message of your song. Each song tells a story, and that story makes people feel a certain way. You may not be able to relate with the exact story of the song, but odds are you can connect with the emotion through some other experience in your life, so use it! Genuinely feeling the emotion of a piece will automatically help you express it better, helping you keep your audience focused on you.
Now, to take that even one step further, if the main emotion of your piece is sadness but you’ve got a smile on your face, your shoulders are confidently back and you’re bouncing around like Tigger, this is probably not going to be overly convincing to your audience because lets face it, in their eyes, you’re living a lie. The opposite is true as well (ie – the song is happy, but you look scared out of your mind).
So the way you present yourself has a tremendous effect on how others view your performance. This part is really hard for people at first because singing in front of a crowd can be really nerve racking, but I promise if you keep at it, refusing to give up, you’ll master it!
Long story short, in order to best improve your singing voice, you’ve got to make the emotions of your song come to life! This emotion should be made obvious through the words you say, how you say them and your body language. Master this art and every audience you get in front of will be putty in your hands.
I’m Ken Taylor, and I hope this singing tip helps you take your voice and performance to the next level!
Happy Singing!
18 Comments on "Improve Your Singing Voice Through Feeling"
I totally agree with your comment. I am one of the worship leaders at church. I realize how important it is to not only know the words to a song, but to live the song. People will always know if you mean it. Say it like you mean it, and sing it like you mean it.
ken that is such good advice i`ll use it too
Its the one and only art of singing with passion. Feel the emotions of the song when ever you sing it. Just create an image in your mind and feel it from the heart, so every one will like your singing style whether the song is good or not good
I like what you are doing. I am in Kenya I got you through Google and am really interested in becoming a good vocalist right now. I teach music, piano and gutar.
I just want to say that firstly, your a very good writer with this subject. This post speaks volumes about real singing and the passion that is required.
Secondly, I want to see more article releases here and hope to. I would like to share some traffic with you at my blog (linked on my name).
You’ll be seeing me again. Keep up the great work here.
I agree with you as well…When I am singing I become so emotional that everyone around me, including myself, would cry. I almost allways connect to what I am singing. I love to sing and I do it every day. I don’t know what I would do without it!!! XD
Wow!! That is such great advice. I have a show coming up at my school in 3 days and want to read some advice on how to impove your singing. And I really did get what I wanted. This was great Thank you so much you really inspired me to take it a step higher in my performance.
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You’re very welcome!!!
This technique is really derived from public speaking and acting technique which is an essential skill for most singing performers. You need to connect with your audience during a song by making eye contact with as many people as you can. Try to make everyone feel that you are singing directly to them. Song choice is really important also. You may chose songs that your core audience can relate to so that you evoke those euphoric emotions.
Good one!
The word is spelt “dominant”, “dominate” is a verb not a noun, but otherwise this is a very true and important tip, thanks for sharing
Guess that’s why I’m a singing teacher and not an English teacher
Thanks thoough… glad you enjoyed the articles otherwise
Wow this is so true and one of the main reasons singing is still my dream. Threw lyrics is the one way I can express myself!!!! Plus I want to help people threw lyrics and being a role model for them and showing people I’m not perfect so they can learn from my mistakes. Or even if they are going threw something that maybe I am, have or will go threw they can look to me and use me as a example.
Anyways I have always said I want to sing my own songs and that it’s important you mean what you are singing because it makes for a better performance and if for some reason you can’t sing one of your songs or a song you relate to then listen to the song your going to sing so you can get into the charecter of the song. I love writing songs. So far I have written 6 and started another one that I won’t finish until I relate to so it Willa crispy mean something so when I sing it, it will actually mean something to me.
One thing that I am working on is trying to focus on what I’m singing instead of focusing on hitting the notes. If your concentrating on the words and actualy meaning what your saying. So if you are deep enough into what your saying you won’t even think about the notes they will just come naturally. The higher notes that may be hard for to hit when your trying will come so naturally because the notes are you talking but singing. So the different notes sill come naturally because you are expressing yourself.
The thing is its not easy to do that you have to really try to find a way to make your self forget about hitting notes. For me I try to sing some of my songs or put on my iPod and listen to a song I relate to. Like according to you by Orianthi I love that song and relate to almost every word in the song. Now the notes might be a bit high for me but when I put all my attention on the words and what they mean to lemans what I mean when I sing them it’s just so much easier! I love listening to songs and twisting the lyrics to mean something to me then singing them so I can express myself threw them.
Anyways I could go on forever but I won’t lol It is just my dream to sing and I really don’t see myself doing anything else I’m trying to find a back up plan but nothing is sticking out to me. Singing is my passion and I hope one day I’ll make it into the business. I’m only 16 so I have many years to practice and learn what I need to do so but still I am putting all my effort into my music. I feel if I don’t sing I am letting the world down. Anyways like I said I could go on forever.
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I can really sense your passion for singing through your writing! I wish ya the best of luck!
Well said.
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Thanks!
Cool that’s interesting im gonna try it
Interesting if I’m sad I sing the sad song if I got any other feelings kind of live scared and anger and stress I can sing of those things. And how do I sing perfectly and correctly?.
Your tips are well versed and 100% helpful!!!!!
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Thanks! Glad I could be of service
I agree i will try these tips, hopefully i will become one of the best singers!
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I’m routing for ya!
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