Many people assume that if they don’t have a natural talent for singing, they won’t be able to achieve much, given that singing is one of those rare gifts that not everyone is blessed with. The fact is that beyond having talent, the great vocalist is someone who is passionate about their job, works really hard, and is prepared to sacrifice and go above and beyond to achieve their goals. Here is what it takes to become a great vocalist.
Passion
Singing isn’t like a standard desk job where you can just show up, do your job, and get paid – it requires a lot of time, devotion, and effort, and you’ll only be successful if you truly enjoy what you’re doing.
If you genuinely enjoy the act of singing, you’ll be able to put up the effort to learn how to sing, practice, warm up, acquire new abilities, and look for employment and chances. You could be a good vocalist, but you’ll never be a genuinely successful, great vocalist unless you first and foremost love what you’re doing. Sure, like with anything in life, there may be moments when your enthusiasm wanes, but you must love singing at its core to not just make it work, but to excel at it.
Voice Care And Health
Many people are unaware of how important it is to take care of one’s voice in order to keep it in top shape for any performance. Warming up and going out on stage to sing isn’t enough! Great vocalists prepare for their performances days, if not weeks, in advance by doing everything they can to ensure that their throat, mouth, chest, and entire body are in tip-top shape. This may entail abstaining from alcohol and certain meals, drinking just the best drink for singers, having lots of rest, and so on. There are several guidelines singers might follow, and a plan must be devised and followed after checking with a teacher and sometimes a doctor.
Singing has a lot of physicalities, just like an athlete practicing for a game, and it may have a significant influence on every aspect of a vocalist’s life. Discovering the rules of what to eat and drink, as well as what to do and what not to do, is just half the battle; a great vocalist must also ensure that they follow these guidelines! Giving up some pleasures might be difficult for some, but it is sometimes what separates the excellent from the good ones.
Time Commitment
As a vocalist, you’ll undoubtedly spend a significant amount of time on stage or in the studio singing… However, that is only a fraction of the time you must give to your profession in order to be a great vocalist. Many individuals who wish to get into music (particularly as performers) may not know this when they first start down this path: the amount of time necessary to be the best is staggering, and it’s one of the many reasons why some people leave this field.
A million and one other tasks will take up your time, in addition to playing on stage and recording music in a studio, and you won’t be able to avoid any of them. You must know your songs backward and sideways, ensuring that you comprehend everything from your breathing to your timing, among other things. After that, you must practice, practice, practice. More practice is always a good idea, even if you think you have a strong handle on the melody. With all of this in mind, it’s simple to realize how much time and effort goes into being a great vocalist.
Controlled Breathing
Forget the lyrics; arguably the most crucial aspect of singing is breathing. You may ruin the song by running out of air in the middle of a note, or you could even miss a cue because you’re too busy taking a breath. This may be a problem for all vocalists. Singing for any length of time is physically demanding, and you must be careful to manage your energy and breathe properly… or you may not make it to the end! Working with a vocal coach is an excellent approach to improving your breathing.
Enunciation
When you reach a certain stage in your career, particularly if you want to sing specific kinds of music such as classical or opera, you must concentrate on some of the more technical components of singing, such as enunciation. Enunciation is the process of pronouncing words, and while it may appear simple at first, it may rapidly become complex and challenging when singing.
It’s critical to break negative habits and build good ones if you want to be a great vocalist. It is habits that turn those who can sing into those who excel at it. Hopefully, this post was beneficial to you on your journey!