You’re Talented — So Why Isn’t Your Voice Improving?

This video is for some of you who already have a pretty good voice. Maybe you’re even called talented.

But for some reason you still feel like you’re hitting this wall with your voice and not seeing the level of singing you want.

Today let me break this down for you all.

Real quick! For those of you who don’t know me. My name is Ivan, I love making music and also teaching singing to students all around the world. On this newsletter my goal is to make learning to sing simple. If that’s up your lane, consider subscribing. If you want to improve your voice faster, check out the links down below for ways to work with me

If you want to inspire our next episode! Drop in the comments below what you want me to talk about next.

1. Talent exists on a continuum.

How I define talent is the natural ability to pick up a skill.

But instead of it being a zero or one thing

Imagine singers as this continuum.

The further towards the left you are. The better your natural ability to figure out singing without guidance.

The further towards the right, the harder your chances or natural ability are figuring out singing without guidance.

Now compounding this over the passage of time. And this is why you get singers who are just “gifted”

Now what causes this? Personally think it’s a mixture of a few things

(1) Physiology

Things like vocal length, the shape of throat

For example, I’ve noticed that voices that are lower generally run into more technical issues. Perhaps this is because they’ve had to relearn their voice post puberty

(2) The correct environment

Think of it this way. Even the most TALENTED singer didn’t come out sounding amazing.

They went through this phase of exploration. Figuring out what feels better. What doesn’t.

What allows them to sing high. What doesn’t.

And most importantly, doing this is an environment that supports this exploration.

For example, imagine each time you were are kid and you’re trying to explore your voice. But all you’re told is to be quiet, or stop making those sounds.

What do you think this does to your learning experience?

2. The dilemma of each group

Now that we know talent is a continuum.

Let’s talk about the dilemma of each part of the continuum.

To the people on the very far right, who have little natural aptitude for singing including myself

Our challenge is often we have a completely inaccurate view of how singing needs to be.

Most likely, we won’t figure it out on our own. Some of us have realised this and quit singing.

Others have gone for coaching.

Now what about those more on the naturally talented side?

What are your challenges?

Generally for those further on the left, especially if you’ve been singing for some time.

You’ll have a pretty decent voice.

People might even tell you that you sound great.

But you’ll notice an invisible wall with your technique that you keep hitting.

Maybe the voice isn’t as consistent or accurate as you like.

It doesn’t feel FULLY under your control. And no matter how you practice, it doesn’t seem to resolve.

Why is this?

That’s because up until this point.

Most of the changes you’ve made to your technique is pretty intuitive. You’ve done what felt good and it’s taken you far.

But as you get better, the changes you make need to be much more subtle.

And often without a true understanding or the framework of how the voice works

This can only go so far.

3. Figuring out the last 20%

What can bridge this last 20% is simply understanding how the voice works from a fundamental level

For example, asking simple questions like

(1) What does it actually feel like to change pitch? To engage the muscles that help you lengthen and thin the vocal folds

(2) What does it feel like to change volume precisely? To have the cords come together with finesse?

And I understand that this might feel “intuitive”

But really ask yourself, do you know the answer?

Or have you just relied on your natural talent.

Even if you feel like you know the answer, the more subtle in which we can notice this. The better.

Because here’s the key thing for natural singers.

Once again, you’re not looking for drastic changes.

You’ve figured out most of it on your own. You just need a skilled teacher to guide you through that last 20%

Anyway! I hope this answers your question.

If you found this episode useful, please share or give it 5 star wherever you’re listening from. This really helps spread the word and means the world to me. If you’d like to study with me, links are down in description. Take care!

Extra Links/Resources

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