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“Be realistic Jewel. No one is begging you to sing. You never win first place. No one raves about your voice like they do so-and-so. Don’t be one of those people who think they can sing but really can’t. Be realistic.” I wonder- but don’t ever really want to know- how many times I’ve told this to myself in my lifetime. I fell prey to the cultural misconception that the only way stars are born is through incredible natural talent. Talent they were born with. Talent that takes no training. Magical talent. The day that someone told me I could actually work and practice my voice into doing what I wanted it to do- I was dumbfounded. I mean, sure I believed that with the right warm-ups my voice wouldn’t crack…or if I practiced the notes I’d be able to actually hit them. But I had NO IDEA that I could work my way to hearing actual power in my voice. That this “pretty” and “choir-like” voice could produce a strong sound and even the fancy “professional” stuff I heard other singers do. I thought all THOSE things were talents you were born with…or…weren’t born with, in my case.
Then I met Ryann Lecklider. If you heard her sing the power and control of her soprano range would leave you in wonder. But even more wonderful to me was her story. Basically…she once was just like me. She had always loved to sing, but didn’t consider herself to have the talent of a leading vocalist. Then she started taking lessons. Then she got serious and started really training and laboring over her voice. With the right leadership, that gave her the right knowledge, she discovered her voice was a science, and that with consistent practice and work her voice would do things you’d think singers were only born with.
When I heard her story I began to hope. And then I began to work. And I can tell you today that I too have heard my voice do things that I never dreamed would emit from my throat, and it’s not because I was “born with it”…it’s because I worked it. I worked it hard! It doesn’t matter if it’s singing, or acting, or an athletic sport. If you were born with the passion deep in your gut and some natural inclination, all you need is the willingness and determination to put the labor in and you can become excellent at what you love.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
