So you want to learn the easiest way to improve your singing or talking voice? The good news is there are a few instant tips to help singers improve immediately without any practice - if they can maintain it. The bad news is singing takes practice and LOTS of it but if you love to sing that won't really be a problem and is most likely why you are a budding vocalist.
While there are many reasons vocalists are unhappy with their voice or struggle with control while singing, the most common encounter I have with new singers is where they are placing their sound. Vocal resonance or "placement" is where we are projecting and feeling the vibration of our sound we are creating with our vocal cords.
What does this mean? Okay, so try this. Give us your best impression of a jolly old Santa Claus saying "Ho! Ho Ho!" I bet you rounded out your voice by placing your sound farther back in your mouth and as a result the sound not only got round but also sounded further away. This isn't "wrong" per se but it isn't very helpful to most singing styles. (Don't come at me, jazz singers. We're not there yet.) Singing with your resonance getting muddled and muted in the back of the mouth creates all sorts of issues for singers and actors trying to get the most out of their sound.
So next let's have you say "Me, Me, Me!" like a little toddler or I like to think of a talking bee. Whatever image works for you, we just want to bring that sound and vibration forward and into the face. You can place your fingers on your cheekbones closer to the center line by your nose and hopefully you can feel the resonance now in your mask. (aka face, bone structure...aka "singers be like...")
So now that you can feel the difference between these two placements of sound, now let's use "Me" as our anchor into the feeling and replace your song lyrics with the words "Me" instead. (I'll be doing a Tik Tok on this so go ahead and follow me on the socials to get video examples of these blogs.) After you've internalized the feeling of their new placement on your melody, try to bring back the original lyrics while maintaining the mask placement. If you feel yourself sliding into "Santa Claus placement" alternate your lyrics with the "me" sound until you can maintain the feeling.
For most people this will be an instant transformation in their singing. Congrats! If you are still struggling with this concept or want to be sure you are practicing this method correctly, go ahead and reach out to me about singing or voice and speech lessons. There are a ton of other exercises that I can introduce you to that may "resonate" with you more. Yes, I just made a dad joke. You're welcome.
Thanks for hanging out! Don't forget to subscribe to my socials and I hope to have you join my voice studio here in Atlanta or online!