Everyone can sing. Children are born with the innate ability for language and music. However, your voice is unlike any other musical instrument because it is part of you.
People will call me and say that they have an “awful voice” and want to improve it or that their child sounds like a famous pop singer (I will leave you to guess which one). Believe it or not, everyone is born with the ability to sing as you have two vocal folds, a vocal tract, articulators, resonators, lungs and a diaphragm so your instrument is within you. Even though you have the instrument most people don’t know how to use it correctly. That is why you hear of a number of pop or rock singers who have voice problems like vocal nodules or suffer from other vocal abuse.
Your instrument is unique to you. Your voice is like no other. You have heard about “voice prints” used in Artificial Intelligence (AI). An analogy about this type of technology is: You can go to a music store and buy a mass-produced guitar and it will sound like every other guitar built by that company, using those same properties: inexpensive wood, same glue, same dimensions, same inexpensive strings etc. However, you can spend thousands of dollars on a handmade guitar by a master musical craftsperson and it will have its own unique sound unlike any other guitar because the craftsperson will use some of the finest woods and highest quality strings to blend the richness/brightness of the instrument with clarity of sound. That guitar has its own “voice print” or specific sound that only that particular craftsperson can produce. That’s why you hear of musical instruments worth millions of dollars. Each one has its own unique “sound print”. In the case of the human voice, that “sound print” is called a “voice print”. Voice prints are like fingerprints for your own, individual voice. No one has one exactly like yours!
The “voice print” uses spectrographic software that can record, analyze and play back the voice showing pitch and voice quality over time. You can download an inexpensive, simple app that will show you your pitch and intonation of your voice. Of course, you will not get a true “voice print” on a free, smart device app but it will give you an idea of how this technology works.
When you are able to see your voice on a spectrometer you are better able to develop your musical “ear.” Developing your “ear” means you can learn to distinguish among pitch and timbre (color) of musical instruments and voices. Watching the spectrometer while you sing will help you develop your musical ear much faster as you can also watch your voice change as the teacher guides you using vocal exercises to improve your unique set of voice qualities.
This spectrographic analysis gives the student the unique experience unlike any other. This technology shows you your voice’s pitch and timbre as you sing so your teacher can correct your voice and you can see the changes live on your screen! This technology is awesome and students like the real-time analysis.
With all the technology today, if you are looking for a voice teacher, inquire who utilizes these 21st Century technologies in your area or online so you can learn faster and better than ever before. Even though voice teaching is an art it involves a great deal of science. Have fun and enjoy your singing journey!