- Are we there yet?
Every parent has heard these words winged from the backseat
on a long summer vacation drive.
We all want to arrive,
but when it comes to developing great vocal technique,
how do you know when you've reached your destination?
- [Female] Sound check, check one, check two.
(guitar plucks)
(drums beat)
- G'day, my name is Dr. Dan,
welcome to another Voice Essentials video
designed to help you realize the full potential
of your singing voice.
The other day I received a call from a young man
inquiring about private singing lessons.
After we had discussed price and process,
he asked the perfectly reasonable question,
so how long will it take for me to become a singer?
Mostly, he wanted to know
how long the journey was going to take,
and more importantly,
when would he know that he had arrived?
Now this is not an unusual question
from people inquiring about singing lessons,
but over the years I've noticed
a growing dissatisfaction with my answer,
which has remained relatively consistent over time.
I told the young man the same thing
I've been telling interested inquirers for years,
and that is to develop a solid foundational technique
for contemporary vocals,
you'll need to commit to between 18 months to two years
of consistent singing lessons.
I think the reason my answer
is often received as less than agreeable
is that we live in a modern world
that is fast-paced and driven by immediate gratification.
It would seem that even in the period
that I have been teaching singing, just over 20 years,
people are less willing to commit themselves
to the process of development.
Sure, they value the product,
but they may not be willing to pay the price
that the product warrants.
Now, I know there are plenty of people out there,
many of whom are here on YouTube,
who suggest that you can learn to sing in a few easy lessons
and the TV talent show magic of zero to hero
in 10 short weeks doesn't help matters either.
I get it, the allure of the quick fix is super appealing.
But the reality of human anatomy is that it takes time
to form muscular and mechanical response
that is efficient, safe,
and above all, aesthetically pleasing.
And this is why I'm always talking
about the vocal development journey.
A journey takes time,
but I also understand that we've set out on a journey
to go from A to B.
There does need to be a purpose behind our travels,
otherwise, we'll all wander aimlessly
and eventually arrive at no where.
So, to the point, how do we know when we've arrived
at a great technique for singing?
Well, as I've just suggested,
every successful journey starts with a good travel plan.
For example, people who are new to singing
often want to develop their vocal range.
Now, there is nothing wrong with this goal,
but there are some way points that the developing singer
needs to visit first to ensure they don't wreck their voice
by stretching beyond their current limits.
Case in point, you can learn to sing higher,
but first you must learn better body alignment,
vocal track shaping, breath management,
and a raft of other skills
required to safely explore the extremes of vocal range.
And this is why programs like the Voice Essentials One
online course are so handy,
because they lead you along a pathway
designed to assist and guide your vocal development.
If you're interested,
you can preview the first module for free
to see if it's right for you.
Now, maybe you've already been working your way
along a vocal development pathway,
but you're feeling a little discouraged,
as well as a little disorientated
as to where you're going with it all.
Trust me when I say
this is a very normal part of the process.
The longer the journey,
the more often you will need to pull out your map,
reorientate to your current surroundings,
and maybe even renegotiate the endpoint to arrive safely.
For example, perhaps you have a goal
to sing covers in a rock band,
and let's just say you set that goal in January
as a New Year's resolution.
Nothing wrong with the goal,
except perhaps the expectation
was that you would simply
watch a few learn to sing videos online,
successfully audition for a band, and be gigging by June.
Now, theoretically, that timeline could happen,
but for most mere mortals like you and me,
the schedule is a little off,
and probably needs adjusting.
How much adjustment is required
is governed by the unique set of parameters
around each individual.
In the example I've just outlined,
did you notice the way points
between the start point in January
and the expected endpoint in June?
The first way point was watching the videos online.
Now broadly speaking,
this accounts for the necessary skill acquisition
required to do the task.
The recalculation occurs when you realize
that you may need to invest
a few more hours, days, weeks, and months
into your skill level before you are ready for an audition.
The second way point occurs when you start auditioning
and you are either unsuccessful on your first attempt,
or you are successful but you soon realize
that for all their hype,
the band is never going to leave their mom's basement
to actually do a gig.
The way point can be disheartening
if it comes as unexpected.
There is one final way point, you may have missed it.
It's the gigging.
I know you might be thinking, but that's the end goal.
Well, yeah, it could be the endpoint
if you only intend on doing one gig in your lifetime.
But I think it's safe to say that your first gig
wont' be your last.
The first will merely be the way point towards the next gig,
and trust me when I say that these way points
need continual reorientation
as you navigate your way through the exciting minefield
that is live performance.
Now, this all might leave you feeling
like you never truly arrive.
Well, yes and no.
While it is true
that vocal development is a lifelong pursuit
with ever-changing goals,
we can learn to celebrate the milestones along the way.
For example, every couple of years
my family and a I take a driving holiday
that lasts about 10 days.
Now, this might sound like it's a little odd,
but one of our favorite parts of the travel vacation
is the discovery of new rest spots alongside the freeway.
Some rest spots have become favorites
that we visit each time we make the trip,
while others remain in our collective memory
as places to definitely avoid in the future.
I'm guessing your vocal development journey will be similar.
As you develop your technical skills
and as you start to perform,
you will establish milestones at specific way points.
Celebrate the moment
you can sustain a strong, even, and accurate tone.
Cherish the unsolicited feedback from the audience member
who notes your developing confidence on stage.
These are not moments
that signal you have finished your development,
but they are moments of arrival.
Like the rest spots on my family drive holidays,
they will not be the endpoint,
but they can be memorable and a lot of fun.
I'm Dr. Dan, sing well.