Vocal Music Advice

Is it possible for everybody to be able to have a nice singing voice?  I feel like my voice is that nice, but I want to make it soothing like ‘hello-goodbye’ or something like that.  So is it possible for all people to have a nice voice?  What would you suggest?   Should I take voice lessons or what?

Answer: Hi Jim (not his real name),

I don’t think I’ll be saying anything original.

Most anyone who has the desire and the perseverance to receive coaching from a competent voice teacher can improve their voice, improve their sound, improve the degree of flexibility the voice has, improve the voice’s expressive qualities and its range.  To become a good singer, one also has to have a “good ear.”  This means that you find it easy to sing in tune when you sing a melody, and also possess some innate musical sense.
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I’m not doing this intentionally, but when I relax my tongue and round out my vowels I seemingly age my voice 25 years.  So, when I perform I take steps to lighten my voice, and that I have to do intentionally.  Is it possible for a young female singer to have a naturally matronly voice?  What should I be doing differently?

Answer: The fact that you’ve captured the feeling of a relaxed tongue and jaw while a teenager is a MAJOR PLUS!  Most college voice majors are having to learn this from scratch and make it a habit for life.   You’ve gotten a head start.  Brava!

What you’ve described is the concept of the “open throat”.  It naturally warms, enriches and amplifies the sound.  This is good.  Don’t try to undo it.  Just be careful to not fall into anything that is tension-filled.  A large “mature-sounding” voice is to be cherished.  Make the most of it.
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