Do i have any talent? Can i sing? Advice please

[annabelle3]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:07am

Ok, so deep breathe ... i have no aspirations of being a Broadway singer, i just wan't to know if i have a voice that is good enough for a stage somewhere, i'd love to do regional or national theatre.

Am i wasting my life with this dream? Would anyone be so kind as to listen to my upload on soundcloud and give me some feedback.
I used my laptop instrumental and recorded with my ipod, no professional equipment or enhancement, just raw, unpolished me.

Please let me know what you think.

https://soundcloud.com/ozgirl13/someone-like-you-jekyll-hyde

Thanks to anyone who does take a moment to listen, i'm in desperate need of advice. Do i let the dream go?

[DustyC]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:22am

*sigh* I hope the experienced posters are nice to you! Good luck with your dream!

[goldenboy]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:31am

I went to take a listen. There are many posts that come up. Which one is you?

[annabelle3]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:32am

Oh no, is it that bad? I haven't actually sang that song for years it's just I've come out of a long period of sickness and it was the first one i could remember.
I don't have a degree in musical theatre, my training was in acting.
I have no delusions of having any special talent, i just wanted to know if it was a voice someone could one-day pay for, even gladly in the ensemble is all.

[annabelle3]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:33am

It's this one Golden Boy - https://soundcloud.com/ozgirl13/someone-like-you-jekyll-hyde

[goldenboy]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:36am

I thought you sounded really good. Go ahead and pursue your dream.

[Patronus]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:45am

You certainly have talent and it takes a lot of moxy to post something like that for all of us vultures to pick out.

My honest opinion is that you have a nice foundation, but you need work. If you are serious about pursuing this I'd recommend getting with a voice coach who can work with you on your phrasing, breathing and help you learn better control of your voice.

You have the raw talent and that's the stuff that can't be taught. Now you just have to put in the work - and that isn't a bad thing at all.

Best of luck!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:46am

There are all kinds of voices in musical theater, and some of it's biggest stars weren't singers at all. You mention that you have acting training, so that's a great start.

If you want to sing on stage, the best advice is get a reputable voice teacher. Even the best singers take lessons, and everyone can improve.

I'd say that you have a good foundation, but could definitely be helped with some training, especially if you want to be able to sing powerfully and in tune.

Definitely audition for whatever you want as you're certainly good enough for that. The worst thing anyone can say is "no thanks"...then you go on to the next.

Best of luck!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:47am

I swear, I didn't see Patronus' post before posting mine!

[Patronus]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:51am

Sure you didn't doodle! Sure you didn't.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:58am

I'll add to mine. Vocal coaches and voice teachers are two different things. I suggest starting with a voice teacher if you've never studied voice. They will work with you on technique which is necessary for everyone. From breathing, control, warm ups, intonation, etc.
A vocal coach is more someone to help find appropriate songs, developing a character, preparing for auditions, etc.

Both very, very helpful, but two distinct jobs. Build your technique first would be my suggestion.

[annabelle3]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 10:25am

Does that mean you think i have the raw talent where if i worked my butt of to perfect then i would have a shot at being cast in shows one-day (not Broadway, i'm an Aussie so that ain't ever going to happen) I don't have the "Degree in Musical Theatre" either.

You guys are helping me allot so thank you ever so kindly for your time. I spent all my life wishing i was born in the USA.


Updated On: 3/14/13 at 10:25 AM

[suestorm]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 11:00am

im no pro ANNABELLE but i love everything about you! y
our voice,
your ambition
and your bravery!!

Too bad they dont have another GREASE type reality show where Laura Osnes was discovered!!

[finebydesign]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 11:09am

" i have no aspirations of being a Broadway singer, i just wan't to know if i have a voice that is good enough for a stage somewhere, i'd love to do regional or national theatre. "

Yes you do, and you will sunshine in someone's future production. Start auditioning for some small-time stuff! With some training you'll get better.

"I spent all my life wishing i was born in the USA. "

Don't, it's not a cake walk here to find opportunities. At the very least you can get to the West End and Canada I think.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 11:16am

You don't need a degree in musical theater. If you want it enough and are willing to deal with all that comes with pursuing your dream then that's all that matters.

Classes are always worthwhile. Experience is invaluable.

[Miss Piggy2]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 11:31am

I would like to say that I never post on this! I do enjoy the "banter" between people.. But your post made me set up an account and write back.

I think you have a lovely voice! I follow with what a couple of others posted - working with a voice teacher would definitely help strengthen you voice and a good coach could help you find material to make you shine!

I think you mentioned somewhere that you are Australian? I have MANY Australian friends that have had great careers in Australia and throughout Europe.

You must keep working hard and don't let auditioning get you down...(easier said then done!)

I wish you all the luck in the world!! Follow your heart!

[SamIAm2]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 3:50pm

I have to say that I agree with both the evaluations of your potential and the advice about how to reach it already voiced here.

I tend to be very picky about what I listen to, often hitting "play" and then hitting "stop" about 1/3 of the way into the performance. I liked your recording well enough to listen all of the way through and enjoyed it enough to want to offer you encouragement. I am no great expert, but I do know what I like.

[annabelle3]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 5:23pm

Oh my goodness, a million thank you's to you all. You have no idea how much hope you have restored in me.
I have zero confidence and have lost many years to crippling depression and anxiety and i just thought it was to late for me, i was to untrained and maybe i didn't have any talent after all.
You have all been so kind to offer your advice and constructive criticism.
It has helped me enormously.

Really, thank you so much to all of you who took a moment to listen and comment. xx

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 6:08pm

annabelle, lots of community and stock theaters would love to have your voice in their shows! (I'm using American terms. I don't know what the Aussie equivalents are.)

But listen to Patronus and Doodle: you tend to lose control (and thereby pitch) when you sing loudly in your upper register. Any decent teacher can help you with that.

I'm not even sure you need as much work as you seem to imagine, but hard work never hurt anyone!

Your lower register is quite lovely, IMO.

[diamonds]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:13pm

The Voice , Singing Competition Off Broadway Broadway the world is your oyster. Would it be bad if she she sent a tape to musical directors ?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:23pm

Good luck to you annabelle. You definitely have potential. Follow your heart, follow your dream and the best of luck to you!

Updated On: 3/14/13 at 09:23 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 9:46pm

I think GavestonPS gives you good advice. Your lower register is wonderful, just get some training for moving between your chest voice and your head voice.

I don't know if you get Smash where you are, but you might study what Megan Hilty does with her voice. She does some wonderful belt singing, but in this last episode where she sings a pretend song from Dangerous Liaisons, she really showed a new quality to her voice.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 10:26pm

Compared to other posters here, my music knowledge is very limited, so make sure you listen to them. That said, I do agree you need training and work on your belting. The beginning of the song was beautiful fut the Belting parts sounded a bit raw, which is nothing a good vocal teacher couldn't fix. You have a very lovely voice. I would suggest trying to experiment with your chest voice, see where that takes you. Listen a lot to whichever song you're working on and try to find as many versions as you can, find the one that's closer to your voice. That's what I do to when I'm working a song. Overall you have a beautiful voice and I have a feeling you will go very far!! Keep Dreaming and Working!!

[Kad]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 10:35pm

Don't let where you were born hinder you. Theatre is global and transcends nationality. People who want to see theatre populate every country. There are opportunities for you! Theatre does not begin and end in New York. And I'd say it's the stuff being done elsewhere that keeps theatre alive.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 11:10pm

I think you have a lovely voice, but it definitely needs work. As many others have said, find a good voice teacher who can train you properly, and you have great potential. Good luck, and if you can dream it, you can achieve it!