Most singers have been directed, “Just sing it like you’re talking.”
Ok, sure. But how… and why?
For the answer to why, here are my insights from working with and interviewing several producers.
A producer’s job is to get the best performance possible recorded for the sake of great music. S/he needs to get you there as quickly as possible for the sake of economy. So then why does the producer want you to, “Just sing it like you’re talking.”?
First of all, when you are talking, having a conversation, telling a joke, goofing around, you are yourself. You are relaxed and natural. Stage fright eases back when you are calm. You will have much more fun in the studio when you are chill.
Your voice is stronger when grounded in speech. There’s a deeper tone of voice. And the voice is more consistent and reliable. That give you confidence.
Secondly, a good producer understands that natural, conversational singing is the best way to connect with the audience – live or recorded. Speaking is communication. Speaking is connection. Singing like you speak is powerful. Singing that does not communicate is simply boring.
You speak on pitch in normal conversation, you just don’t think about it that way. You could actually notate the pitches of a conversation on the musical staff. The melody and tone quality of the speaking voice is responding to the feeling and purpose of what you want to say.
Thirdly, talking the song on pitch connects you more deeply to what you are communicating. It takes you away from imitating another artist or trying to sound a certain way.
Unless you are a master impersonator, you can only be a bad imitation of another singer. Being yourself might seem as though it’s not enough. Rest assured that being yourself is most important to a great performance.
Being you is unique. Enjoy the artistic freedom and vocal freedom to share your passion.
Producers know all this. What they don’t know is the how of singing like you talk. For that you need a master voice teacher, certified to teach SingLikeYouSpeak®. For more information, contact Sally Morgan and to start singing with power, freedom and confidence.
Watch this video to hear more from Sally about working with a producer.
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ABOUT SALLY MORGAN
Sally Morgan wrote the book on contemporary vocal technique — literally. Sing Like You Speak® is specifically designed to restore the effortless vocal production that is natural to the human instrument making your singing powerful, joyful and free. Singing so simple it feels like talking to your best friend without sounding trained. Sally has been successfully teaching people how to sing for more than 40 years. That is how she turns decades of learning into days.
Every master begins as a disaster – including Sally Morgan. She gets it that you need to sing for the same reason you need to breathe. She’s felt the pain of not knowing how to release the amazing voice trapped inside. She’s felt the longing to be accepted as a great singer.
That longing became an obsession with finding solutions to vocal challenges. Sally spent many years developing those solutions into what became the Sing Like You Speak® vocal technique that is now empowering singers worldwide.
In both 2018 and 2019, Sally was a featured workshop presenter at SXSW® where she introduced an enthusiastic audience to the power of Sing Like You Speak®.
Sally has helped her clients heal vocal damage, expand vocal range, land a Broadway show, record their original music and tour internationally without vocal fatigue or strain. Besides teaching workshops Sally teaches private voice lessons and has developed online singing lessons – Sing Like You Speak® Academy.
You can see and hear some of Sally’s clients on Broadway stages, Off-Broadway, in Musical Theater – Regional, on Major Label Recordings, the Conan O’Brian show, A Prairie Home Companion and in Federal Courts, the PA House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate. Sally teaches singing voice lessons in NYC and worldwide on ZOOM as well as online voice lessons on the Sing Like You Speak® Academy
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