Tuesday’s Tea is a weekly blog post where we talk about discoveries we’ve made as emerging artists.

My love/hate relationship with my voice

I know I am no Ella Fitzgerald or Adele when it comes to singing, but that will not stop me from opening my mouth and letting the world hear me. I have a love/hate relationship with my voice, mainly because I never really trained my voice until four years ago. However, you can always find me singing in front of crowds regardless of my inexperience. That is the beauty of ignorance, and ignorance is truly bliss. I was happy not having any training, and was satisfied with singing at church functions, in the choir, or with a small band. With that being said, when I entered the world of musical theatre, I could no longer deny, I was lacking in the vocal range and breath department. It took me auditioning for musicals in high school, knowing little to nothing about phrasing, releasing the breath, clarity in consonants. I was hit with a full glass of “be humble & sit down sweetie” when I observed the opera singers, musical theatre fans, and naturally talented voices competing for the same role I wanted. I was in shock, and instead of giving up on my voice right at the moment, I still performed with confidence and joy. Yes, I did not get the role I wanted (I low-key gave sis who did, the stanky eye when I found out). Instead of quitting on my dream of becoming the next Idina Menzel, I made a pact with myself to get my voice in check and scout for a vocal teacher. I found one, and she was great with me, we met throughout the year, and I noticed a difference in my tone and voice. In my last year of high school, I got co-lead for the musical Kiss Me Kate, and I rocked the stage with “Tom, Dick, and Harry.”

When I started the BFA in Acting at the University of Alberta, which I am currently in, all my confidence in my voice went out the window. University can sometimes break the spirits of the strongest people, and I was one of them. Slumped with the student life blues, and stressing out about becoming the next big shot lawyer. A very long story to explain, nevertheless, before deciding to audition for the BFA acting program, I was aiming for a political science degree – the end. With that being said, I did not pursue that career path, and now I spend a lot of my time on the floor stretching, warming up my voice, talking to myself alone in studio spaces, and rehearsing for shows till midnight. Anyhow, back to my love/hate relationship with my voice… so my voice needed some TLC, and Kim Wanat, our singing teacher, was the right person for the job. I can proudly say my singing has come a long way, and Idina Menzel should watch her back because, in three years, I will be graduating and coming after her gigs. What I took away from working with Kim Wanat is the power we hold over our progress and potential. For the longest time, I wanted to just be comfortable with my singing voice, which led me to believe that good was good enough instead of aiming for more. This left me feeling disappointed with myself and upset that I did not get the musical roles I was striving for.

Additionally, joining a conservatory program with many great singers surrounding me did not help. Our singing teacher always encouraged us to be kind to ourselves and where we are with our voices. I think that was a constant mantra to myself after every class, and whenever I shared a song. If singing interests you and you do not have access to a vocal coach or teacher, there are other ways to shape up your voice.

Online Singing

What is fabulous about having access to online lessons either on YouTube or other websites that offer lessons is that you can create your routine for your voice, and it can be done in the comfort of your home! In my class, what I found excellent about being surrounded by a group of people who come from different performance backgrounds is that everyone is in various stages, and you can learn from each other. I was not always confident with my singing voice, but I found joy in singing and that joy was a catalyst to wanting to be a great singer. I encourage you that It’s never too late to take up singing! And if you have any further questions for me about who to go to for a 1 on 1 lesson in Edmonton, feel free to contact us today.

Online Resources

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