I have to admit- I was not a fan of Taylor Swift for the first few years of her remarkable career. I, like many people, felt that she was another industry-produced, pretty package with very little vocal talent. And her early performances were fairly dismal, vocally speaking. She could not seem to sing in tune, and her voice was reedy, thin, and small. I was sure she would come and go in no time.
But, today, Taylor Swift is a wonderful example of perseverance and the benefits of hard work. Her voice has improved and she has much better control of pitch, tone, and high notes than she used to. What happened?
What happened was she got singing lessons. She has learned to use her voice correctly, to sing in her chest voice in the lower register and to connect to a mixed sound in her upper register. Her singing has improved and her intonation (pitch, or singing in tune) in public performances is much better. She has obviously worked very hard to improve her singing, and it has really paid off.
Don’t be fooled by artists who claim they never had a voice lesson. Most of them are not telling the truth. Everyone needs training- the right kind of training- to develop a world-class singing voice. The right kind of lessons won’t change your natural sound, but will help you produce that sound in a healthy manner.
So if you are considering a career in singing, be smart (and hard working) like Taylor Swift. The smartest investment you can make is the right vocal training.
I wish you all the best as you reach for your dreams! Tricia Grey, MM
At Sing Like a Star Studios you can learn the vocal technique of the stars. If you don’t live near Atlanta, you can take voice lessons with Skype. Please visit our website at www.singlikeastar.com and click on the GET STARTED tab to register for a professional vocal evaluation and consultation.
