CRACKING / BREAKING BETWEEN YOUR LOW NOTES AND HIGH NOTES:
Does your voice flip between your low notes to a soft/airy head voice on high notes making you sound uneven and lacking control? Is one part of your voice strong with volume while the other part feels weak and too soft to be heard? This reduces your vocal range drastically and keeps you from increasing the range you already have. The good news is that this problem is common and can be fixed. Sure we all have habits that we have developed over the years but that doesn’t mean you can’t change them. Other people have. So can you!
PUSHING AND STRAINING TO HIT NOTES AND TO PRODUCE VOLUME:
Okay, this is one of my favourites to talk about and sooooo easy to understand! Do you push to sing high or difficult notes? Do you jam the sound into place causing neck muscle tension and strain on your throat? Do you sometimes sing with a nasal sound? Singers mistakenly think that if they keep doing the same thing over and over the voice will improve. It will not! In fact, “practice does not make perfect” as the saying goes, “practice makes permanent” so be careful what you do as you may be stuck with it for a very long time. Voice strain is a one way street to voice damage and lots of wasted time trying to get your voice to do something it simply won’t do. The listener feels the difference between someone who has an effortless sound vs someone labouring over their voice trying to go from note to note. What feeling does your voice deliver to your audience? Straining will kill your confidence and frustrate the heck out of you. Knowledge is power so get the right information the “first time” and get your voice on the road leading to where you want it to go.
LACKING POWER WHEN YOU SING:
Do you sing with a soft voice that lacks power? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you, can you say that again? Do you feel your voice lacks a solid foundation needed to have control over your voice? Does your voice feel tired and dry not only when you sing but at the end of a day of work or speaking? You may even yell just to be heard. You need to get back to the basics and pump it up! Breathing, projection, intonation don’t just happen, you need to understand them and build them so the strength you need will be there, all the time, no matter what.
I admit I’m a little “tongue in cheek” here but the same voice issues are heard over and over and over. People make cd’s, go on auditions, and pay an enormous amount of money on training that simply doesn’t get them very far. I am here to help you change all of that. If you are ready to do what it takes to develop the unique and special qualities in your voice, give me a shout.
Call 416-436-8063 for a no pressure phone consultation to learn more about your voice. You can also email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . All emails are returned within 24-hours so if you don’t receive a reply please resend.
About Me:
As a Vocal Coach I am lucky to be involved with many interesting projects. I have helped with searches for vocalists for EMI Records, Canadian Idol, award winning producers and the Hummingbird Centre to name just a few. I have worked with vocalists from Sony/Curve and EMI Records preparing for recording, performing and touring.
When a vocalist develops their instrument “vocal” and “style” techniques are used allowing the voice to reach its greatest potential. Some people overlook that and simply imitate singers or styles, which never develops the voice or produces the unique qualities of their voice. Often they receive voice information not relevant to their specific voice needs. This results in confusion about how to sing which does not produce results, only frustration.
My work has been published in the book “The Perfect Rehearsal” written by Dr. Timothy Seelig, Ph.D from the USA in his latest book entitled “The Perfect Rehearsal” in his chapter “Vocal Health in Rehearsal”. I am the only Canadian voice expert asked to contribute to his book so I am very appreciative to have been included in a book written by a man of his stature and musical accomplishments.
I have facilitated Voice Clinics at the Mohawk College – Careers in Music Conference, Winterfolk Folk & Blues Festival, Corporate Public Speaking Conferences, has facilitated training sessions for artists with stage fright, ADD, ADHD and anxiety issues and has acted as judge for TIMA (Toronto Independent Music Awards).
I have trained privately through the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, have extensive training in Speech Level Singing and have attended the University of Pittsburgh’s Contemporary Voice Care Group training to help others maintain and rehabilitate the health of their voices. I also have my certification in Educational Kinesiology which speeds up the learning process and creates a balance between the technical and creative mind. Incorporating that balance while singing is important to bring out your best and full voice. I am a member of SOCAN.
Perhaps you want an occasional lesson to fine tune a few things or maybe take lessons regularly to learn all the fundamentals of voice. Regardless of your goals you need a Vocal Coach with the knowledge to develop your voice properly for life-long singing. I’m here to help.
I offer a free consultation so don’t hesitate to schedule one either by phone or in person to talk more about your voice. I also offer lessons which range from a complete and honest analysis of your voice, to voice fundamentals, to style development, to performance skills and more.
Thank you for supporting Canadian musicians. I know together we can elevate each other to not only reach but exceed our dreams.
Donna Flynn
