- You could be forgiven for thinking that I believe
singing is all about the technique.
I mean, I've got a massive bank of videos
discussing the virtues of singing technique
on the Voice Essentials channel
as well as a truckload of singing exercises
designed to improve your technical ability.
But let's be clear.
You can be the most technically proficient singer
going around and still be a pretty hopeless singer.
Today's video is all about making sure
you don't put the cart in front of the proverbial horse.
- [Woman] Sound check. (amp reverb)
Check one, check two. (crowd yelling)
(amp reverb)
(upbeat music) (crowd cheering)
- Hello everyone! (upbeat music)
Dr. Dan here with another Voice Essential singing tip.
I know that a lot of you troll your YouTube searching
for singing tip videos so you can develop your voice
and improve your sound,
and that's why I've got a YouTube channel.
I really do want you to be the very best singer
you can possibly be.
But I also know that if you get
your learning priorities wrong,
you'll be investing a whole lot of effort
into a process of learning to sing
for a reduced level of benefits.
It's all too easy to spend our time as developing singers
work-shopping fun scales and vocal activities,
but if this is all you ever do with your voice,
then you're possibly missing the point entirely.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again.
Singing isn't all about better technique.
Singing is about communication.
Yes, there certainly are vocal techniques
that will enhance a singer's ability
to communicate more freely and effectively,
but if a singer unwittingly places the cart
before the horse, making their singing all
about the technique,
then they run the very grave risk of producing
a perfectly boring sound that kills off
the very message that they are seeking to communicate.
- [Woman] Sound check. (crowd cheers)
(amp reverbs)
- Ultimately though, this is not an either or game.
The challenge of the cart and a horse illustration
is you actually need both.
You just need to have them set in the right order.
So when it comes to your singing,
remember that your main aim is to communicate
the lyric of your song.
Yes, I do want you to have enough breath
for each phrase, and it's preferable
if your notes are generally in tune,
but these are ultimately secondary to the message.
Think back (screen whooshes)
to the most memorable live singing performance
you've ever witnessed.
(screen whooshes) What was it about that vocal
performance or presentation that impressed you?
I'd wager that the first (text box whooshes)
and foremost, that the standout quality
of your favorite singing performance
was the singer's ability to connect with their audience.
Somehow they got to you.
Yes, they may have displayed excellent intonation.
They may have even been a technical god.
But I'm betting the standout quality was their ability
to communicate, and that's what I want for you too.
I want your audience to be moved emotionally.
Yes, technique can and will assist
your ability to communicate,
but allow the desire to express yourself
to drive your need for technique,
not the other way around.
- [Woman] Sound check. (crowd cheers)
(amp reverbs)
- I'm intentionally going to cut today's video short,
because I have a piece of homework for you.
I've put together a playlist of some of my videos
that I think will help you to develop
a better performance outcome.
(screen whooshes)
Your homework is to watch at least one of those videos
and do the activity suggested in the video.
(screen whooshes)
It's all too easy here on YouTube to bounce
from one video to the next (text box whooshes)
never really implementing the activities or learning.
Let's make today different.
Now I'll place the playlist link in the notes section below,
so be sure to check it out.
Of course, if this is your first ever
Dr. Dan Singing Tip video,
you're possibly thinking that the video was light
on when it comes to practical activity.
(upbeat music) Guilty as charged,
but my regular subscribers and I are on a journey
of vocal development.
So today's video is just the next instruction
in a long line of practical singing tip videos
designed to improve your voice and develop your sound.
So if you'd like to join us on this fun-filled journey,
hop over to my channel, hit the subscribe button,
and get ready to love your voice again.
At Voice Essentials, we're in it for the long haul!
So until I see you in the next Voice Essentials video,
hopefully as a part of the playlist,
I'm Dr. Dan.
Sing well.
(crowd cheers)