How to become a great singer | Think Like A Musician

Key Concepts

Vocal Instrument: The human voice as a musical instrument that can be learned, developed, and expressed.
Emotional Conveyance: The primary goal of singing is to convey emotion and tell a story, not necessarily to achieve technical perfection or a wide vocal range.
Vocal Registers: Chest voice, falsetto, and head voice, each with distinct characteristics and uses.
Squillo: An Italian term referring to the projection of chest voice into the upper register.
Riffs/Melismas: Vocal embellishments, to be used judiciously.
Vocal Fold Mechanics: The interaction of vocal folds (muscle folds) in producing sound, including the concept of "barely touching" versus "completely touching" for different vocal qualities and accuracy.
Vocal Health and Stamina: The importance of practice, rest, hydration, and avoiding strain to maintain vocal health and endurance.
Practice and Repetition: Crucial for building vocal stamina, muscle memory, and confidence, especially under pressure.
Voice Development as a Lifelong Journey: The idea that one's voice continues to evolve and mature over time.

The Voice as an Instrument: Exploration and Expression

The video emphasizes that everyone possesses a "vocal instrument" and encourages listeners to explore, hold, and share the music within them. This journey into singing is presented as a process of self-discovery and emotional expression, rather than solely a pursuit of technical virtuosity.

The Foundation: Feeling and Storytelling

A central argument is that great vocal performances are first and foremost about feeling. The speaker highlights artists like Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole, who, despite not having exceptionally wide vocal ranges, were able to deeply connect with audiences through the emotion conveyed in their words. The supporting evidence for this perspective is the observation that "It’s whoever’s voice is able to best convey whatever story it is that they’re telling and whatever emotion it is that they’re trying to convey."

Examples of artists who embody this principle include:

Alison Krauss: Described as "not singing notes," but rather having "the notes of existence... emanating from her."
Zach Bryan: Acknowledged as potentially not the "best vocalist in the world," but highly effective because he "is telling these stories and you believe him."
Leonard Cohen: Praised for his "baritone speaking, melodic spoken delivery."

Conversely, artists like Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Beyoncé, and Stevie Wonder are mentioned as examples of "more acrobatic vocalists" who also possess significant emotional depth.

Personal Journeys and Influences

The speaker shares personal anecdotes illustrating the diverse paths to singing:

Family Influence: Parents were gospel singers, with a family joke that "if you can't sing, you'll get sent back."
Early Exposure: Hooked by a tape of the musical "Les Miserables."
Coping Mechanism: Used guitar and singing in secluded locations to cope with being the "new girl at a lot of schools."
Community and Mentorship: Came to singing through school choir and was influenced by "eccentric singer-songwriters" encountered through a family music shop.

Exploring Vocal Registers and Techniques

The video delves into the technical aspects of the voice, explaining different vocal registers and techniques:

Chest Voice: Described as the "most natural to speech," originating from the chest.
Falsetto: Characterized as "thin and high," with a noticeable "flip" when transitioning.
Head Voice: Achieved when singing high and mixing registers, creating a distinct sound.
Squillo: An Italian term for "bringing chest voice up into your upper register," enabling loud projection.
Breathiness: A technique used for intimacy or a softer vocal quality.
Riffs/Melismas: Vocal embellishments, with a caution against overuse, as it can become "annoying." The technical term is "melismas." The speaker notes that "Great singers give you the melody and then once in a while... we’ll add a little moment."

The Role of Experimentation and Choice

A significant theme is the importance of experimentation in understanding and developing one's voice. The speaker emphasizes that "you have to be curious and you have to be interested. You have to be excited about all of the many choices that you can have in the way that you tell a story."

The choice of vocal register and technique is dictated by:

The song itself.
The specific moment in the performance.
The lyrics.
The emotion being conveyed.
The desired intensity.

For example, intimacy or a "sexy" tone might involve more breathiness, while energetic or frustrated emotions might utilize the higher register.

Developing Vocal Strength and Accuracy

The speaker discusses a personal learning curve regarding vocal strength and pitch accuracy:

Soft Voice vs. Strong Voice: A soft voice, where vocal folds "barely touching," can produce a pleasing tone but makes pitch accuracy difficult. A strong voice, with vocal folds "completely touching," allows for easier note hitting.
Training for Strength: The realization that training with vocal folds completely touching builds strength, which in turn improves pitch accuracy when returning to softer singing.
The Value of Mistakes: Vocal cracks and mistakes during practice are framed as positive indicators of the voice getting stronger. "The mistake is good."

Vocal Warm-ups and Health

Practical advice is offered on vocal warm-ups and health:

Warm-up Exercises: Examples include lip rolls, tongue rolls, and various vocal exercises (e.g., "veee-eeeoo," "ooo-ooooh," "vvvhhhh," "Zzzzhhhh," "eee-iii-aaahh," "ney-ney-ney-ney-ney-ney-ney-ney," "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-aaahh," "Haa-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-aaahhh," "Yeee-eee-eehh-eee"). These are used to "loosen up your vocal cords" and "get rid of the little break between the falsetto and the chest voice."
Marathon Analogy: Singing, especially for extended periods like a "90-minute set," is compared to a "marathon exercise" requiring proper preparation.
Vocal Cord Misnomer: The term "vocal cord" is clarified as a misnomer; they are "folds of muscle."
Avoiding Strain: Excessive pressure or strain on the vocal musculature can lead to "nodes," causing pain and limiting flexibility. Avoiding strain is crucial, as "if you strain a muscle, you have to take time off."
Rest and Hydration: The voice sings better when "rested" and its quality is improved when "stays hydrated."
Daily Practice as Caretaking: Consistent daily singing is presented as a "caretaking method" to build vocal stamina.

Practice, Repetition, and Stress Management

The importance of practice and repetition is highlighted, particularly in managing performance anxiety:

Muscle Memory: Even when feeling nervous, practiced vocalization allows the voice to "know what it needs to do."
Building Stamina and Confidence: Repetition builds the necessary stamina and confidence to perform effectively, even under stress.

Voice Development as a Lifelong Journey

The video concludes with a profound perspective on voice development:

Continuous Evolution: The body and voice change and mature over time.
Coming into One's Voice: The speaker, having sung professionally for decades, feels they are "just coming into my voice" at age 55, suggesting that the exploration and refinement of one's vocal capabilities is a continuous, lifelong process.

Conclusion

The video advocates for a holistic approach to singing, emphasizing emotional authenticity, continuous exploration, and diligent vocal care. It demystifies vocal techniques, encourages experimentation, and frames the development of one's voice as a deeply personal and ongoing journey of self-discovery and expression. The core message is that while technical skill is valuable, the ability to connect with an audience through genuine emotion and storytelling is paramount.