Sarah McBRADY
Country & Christian Singer I Actress I Vocal Coach
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
VOICE LESSONS
Can anyone learn how to sing?
Absolutely! If you can talk, then you can learn how to sing! Whether you're a complete beginner or at an intermediate, advanced or even professional level and no matter how old your are, If you are determined, committed to your passion and willing to take the time to practice regularly, your voice will improve faster than you had ever imagined. The key factor here is desire!
There are just three main requirements:
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1: Stay in touch with your desire to improve your voice.
2: Be willing to play and to fake it until you make it.
3: Be willing to put yourself first - even if it is just for a few minutes a day.
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Remember that using your voice well is not about having a special gift, performing on stage, becoming the star of your church, family or community production. At the deepest level, the reason why we need to develop the voice is to allow it to be as expressive and flexible as possible. By setting your voice free, you're also setting yourself free.
I "Can't Sing on Pitch", Am I Tone Deaf?"
It is very unlikely that you are tone deaf because only 2% of the population actually is. Tone deafness is a rare condition that results from damage to the ear, ie: from a high childhood fever.
So, if you are one of those people who cringe at your own or others' missed notes, I'm happy to let you know that you are NOT tone deaf, you are only tone shy and these pitch problems can be fixed with proper training.
Am I Too Old To Start Singing?
Of course not! You can start singing lessons at ANY age, you can get discovered at ANY age and you can come to the public's attention at ANY age. Believe me, you're not too old or too young to go for your singing dream or for any other dreams that you may have. Just GO FOR IT and allow yourself to shine!
Do I have to audition?
There is no audition required to begin voice lessons with me — only a desire to sing and improve your voice!
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Unfortunately, I am unable to provide any set curriculum for clients that are looking for vocal certification. However, I am able to customize a schedule to certify the amount of time or lessons that clients have completed with me, if requested.
What Do I Need to Prepare for My First Lesson?
While all voice lessons are individually tailored for the needs of each student, I always will begin with a brief discussion about any prior vocal training you may have had (if any), your vocal goals, and any additional questions.
From there the lesson is usually divided into 2 parts: Vocal Warmups and Technique Exercises, followed by Material Song work.
You are welcome to bring backing tracks of songs l that you’ve been already working on, or that you would like to start working on with me. If you need any backing tracks, just let me you know as I can get them for you and put them in your key free of charge).
With that in mind, the time spent on each of these aspects of the lesson depends entirely on your goals.
Can I Record My Lessons?
Not only are you always welcome to record your lesson, I also highly encourage it! Many of my students use their phones to record their lessons, or you can bring a recording device of your choosing. Recording your lesson is a great way to review and continue practicing what you worked on with me!
Can I Exercise My Voice Too Much?
Within reason, the answer is no. Singing is a sport, so consider your vocal training as if you were going to the gym. At the very beginning, a vocal warm-up of 15 minutes once a day, or even every other day may be sufficient until you build up vocal stamina. But once you get used to vocalizing and your vocal instrument is stronger, a daily warm-up of approximately 30 minutes is not too much.
Can I Learn Singing Without Reading Music?
Yes of course! Some of the most popular singers and composer have never learned to read music. Aside from Opera singers who need to follow complex notation, many professional singers do not read music. The voice is an instrument to itself so you do not need to read music or play an instrument to learn how to master it. But If you want to learn to read music then please go ahead but it isn't a pre-requisite.
The only pre-requisite you need is the desire to want to become a great singer and match your desire with a great vocal technique.
Can I Learn Singing Do You Recommend Any Kind of Non-Physical Exercise To Aid Vocal Development?Reading Music?
Yes! Singers perform best when they are physically fit and healthy. Cardo-vascular exercise is excellent for your general health; yoga is good for praticing deep, relaxed breathing; pilates training can also helps to develop core body strength. I would say that any routine that enhances physical and mental strength and discipline is beneficial to building your voice.
What Causes Vocal Problems in Singers?
Weak, uncoordinated, abused, or overly stressed vocal muscles and vocal folds.
Singing is an athletic activity and, like any sport, it requires the appropriate muscles to be strong, coordinated, and responsive to the physical tasks of singing.
Singing in keys too high for one’s voice causes the larynx to rise in an unhealthy and stressful way which often leads to vocal deterioration and vocal disorders such as vocal nodules (calluses on the vocal folds).
Finally, the vocal muscles are not indestructible. Unhealthy lifestyles and poor habits like smoking, taking recreational drugs and drinking too much alcohol could ultimately lead to a SERIOUS decline in vocal ability.
Why Shouldn't I Keep My Larynx Lowered When I Sing?
The Lowered Larynx is a technique only used during exercises and should NEVER be used consciously and consistently while singing.
During singing, the larynx is very active and may assume a variety of vertical positions depending upon the kind of singing being performed. For example:
- When you are singing high notes softly, your larynx automatically rises to meet the physical requirements for this kind of singing.
- When you are singing in full-voice, sustained, powerful singing in low notes, the larynx may naturally drop slightly.
- and to give another example, the male falsetto voice always requires the larynx to rise.
You Didn't Find The Answers You Were Looking For?
If you still have any questions about the Method I teach, please do not hesitate to contact me at sarah.mcbrady@outlook.com.
Your emails and questions are very important to me and I will always do my very best to get back to you as quickly as possible.