I'm not the best singer.
But I'm okay with that.
It's cool to not be good at everything.
If you're anything like me, and until recently you thought that "musical theatre" included all singing, then now is the time to figure out your voice.
I'll never be loud and belty like my friend Marie. I'll never have a huge range and power like Chris Cauley and Emily Smoot.
I'm just not built that way.
But I can own my voice, right? Just like I try to own my short stature.
It's so easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others and wondering why we can't be just a little bit better at things.
I used to be one of those people, and it almost ruined me.
Everyone is different, though, so why should I try to be anyone else but my true self?
So if you're like me, singing is probably really hard. Or else you're a prodigy who sings like an angel. Either way, here's how I learned to stop worrying and love the voice God gave me:
1) Sing what you want to sing.
I'd sing whatever music I wanted before the show, even if it was completely off-key or not rhythmically perfect at all.
Everything in musical theatre is a luxury, so it's not worth wasting your breath and your time trying to be the best at singing every single note.
I'm also a terrible rapper. So I just don't do it.
There are so many different styles of music out there, and you can tell from the video above how much work goes into singing well.
Some people were naturally better at it than others, and that's okay! I'm never going to be Patti LuPone or Lea Salonga.
But they've likely never been me either, so there you go!
Give yourself permission to sing whatever you want because it's okay if you're not an expert on everything. If you really want to sing a song, do it!
2) Make your own path.
I was guilty of this in the past. I would pick out my favorite artist or character and try to emulate them vocally.
This is totally okay when you're first starting out, but you have to remember that you're not that person.
So even if your range is way too high for the character's part (happened to me a lot), or if you have some sort of physical impediment that makes copying an action difficult (I had an overbite), learn how to make it work for your unique self.
Don't imitate anyone else. You might even surprise yourself!
3) Listen to other people's interpretations of your favorite songs or show song.
Take your time with this. Don't rush it, and don't think it's a competition; these are just things to use as inspiration for your own creativity.
If you're shy about showing off in front of others, that's okay. You can watch a video of someone else soloing and sing along like you're playing a part on a CD with the music turned off so you don't sound like an idiot.
4) Find your true voice.
I'm working on this right now. I feel like I tend to find it best when I'm relaxing and laughing with friends. All of my best songs come from enjoying being around my friends and not thinking too much about how good I am at everything all the time; this is an important element of learning to love yourself for who you are, too.
5) Listen to other people's voices in general.
I've been a student and know how difficult it can be to imitate teachers' voices. If you're a teacher, try not to ask your students to copy you; instead, encourage them to find their own voices. The best thing you can do for any student is help him or her discover who they are and what they like- that's when they really shine!
6) Pay attention to your own breathing.
This sounds silly (and it was something I was taught when I was in elementary school), but if you're hyperventilating, your voice will probably sound awful. If you're not sure and you think it might be an issue, ask a friend to help you figure out what's going on with your breathing or coach you through a breathing exercise. The most important thing is to stop singing when you panic!
7) If what people say about your voice doesn't make you feel good, change it.
I have a friend who told me she's been told that her voice is too loud and needs to be "deeper." I've decided that if I'm going to sing in musical theatre, let the world tell me how loud my voice should be. I'm going to go higher and higher, and show those people that I can hit all the notes and belt like nobody's business.
If someone tells you something that doesn't make you feel good about yourself, don't let it get to you. You can't change what other people think about you, but you can change how you react to what they say. I hope this helps!