How Long Will This Take?
by ICX
As a child, you asked this question from the back seat during vacation drives. Your parents rolled their eyes and said, "Just relax." A few years later you asked the same question to friends while waiting in line for concert or movie tickets. They, too, rolled their eyes and said, "Chill out." This reply has never calmed you down because it doesn't answer the question. Allow me, then, to finally put your mind at ease with regard to developing your voice. Learning to sing will take the rest of your life.
Don't despair. Even if you're a "the beer is half empty" kind of person, this is still good news. It means there's no reason to put off starting that band, recording that demo or stepping up to the mic at the local karaoke club. I know you want to wait until you're good. Why embarrass yourself if a couple of months of vocalizing will make you a better singer? The problem is that a few months can easily turn into years and your situation remains the same: you'll always be better in a few months.
Like speech, singing draws heavily from motor reflexes. Developing new behaviors to improve your voice is like learning a new language. The old behavior (original language) is so imbedded in your reflexes that a constant conscious effort is required. First you think what you want to say in your mother tongue and then manufacture the appropriate word in the new language. In time this process streamlines; you begin to think in the new language. When the path from mind to body is simultaneous, actions become effortless.
If you speak English, the quickest way to learn Spanish is to live in Spain with a local family and fall in love with their neighbor. In no time you'll be sonar en el Espanola. For the voice, singing in public is the same as a visit to a foreign country; it forces you out of your safety zone and into survival mode. True, this can bring up some bad behaviors, but first-time anxiety is a reality no matter how long you prepare. The more you sing in public, the less you'll panic. Soon you will notice your unnecessary habits and relax them. The adjustments you make in the presence of others become incorporated into reflex sooner than the repetitions done in private.
Obviously, I am a believer in teachers. Having an outside pair of eyes and ears to alert you of misguided energy greatly speeds development. The advantage of living in a foreign country to learn their language is that you are surrounded by a nation of teachers. Since we can't live onstage, taking voice lessons, reading books, listening to tapes and viewing instructional videos will keep you challenged. These are not substitutes for live experience, but they work well in conjunction. Another way to speed your development is to record or videotape rehearsals and gigs. It helps to note the gap between your perceptions of a performance versus the reality caught on tape. If you can get past the feelings of inadequacy, you'll learn far more from a bad performance than a good one.
I know it's idealistic to suggest that singing is a lifelong pursuit. You don't need a Ph.D. in Spanish to find a toilet in Spain. However, getting into the heads and hearts of those you meet while visiting a foreign country requires a relaxed command of their language. The same is true to touch an audience when singing. Sure, a few mechanical pointers can get your voice in tune, but that won't create a bond. To move strangers takes experience and courage. Use teachers, books and tapes to discover the physical sensations of singing. Use audiences to discover yourself. If you care to, you can spend a lifetime improving your ability to convey a song. So what are you waiting for? Cante ahora y para el resto de su vida.
