Hmmm ... I wish I'd been around on JPF back when this topic was started, but I wasn't. And, though there is certainly some excellent advice above, I was surprised to find one huge one omitted.

It goes along with acting and having fun, but it flies somewhat in the face of "formal training", and all the focus on "Am I breathing correctly?", "Is my posture OK?" etc., etc. I think, for someone who is experiencing inhibition, yet who has pitch ability in place, trying to focus on ALL of those things can tend to add to the insecurity.

So here's my addition (or possibly replacement):

Sing purposefully loud and off key.

Yep. That's it!

You see, the problem is often that people are afraid of losing control. If you permit yourself to sing off key -- i.e., that is the actual goal right now -- then you allow yourself to get the volume and emotion without having to think about how you sound (or, rather, being able to PURPOSEFULLY sound bad). Then it is not a factor.

Pretend you are that karaoke singer who thinks she can sing -- the one that is kinda-sorta-almost in the ball park, but yet so "not on" that she winds up being actually entertaining because of how bad she is. Practice the song this way, making it your goal to sound as dreadful and loud, overwrought in your emotion-vs.-sound, as possible.

Don't scream and distort your voice. Just sing slightly offkey on purpose. Make that your GOAL. Sing the song with all the emotion of that karaoke girl who thinks she's on key. Use facial expressions. In short -- mock her in your singing. Do this to radio songs. Sing along, imitating that friend who sings along, but is (eeeeek) not quite on tune.

Once you can sing really awfully on purpose, and nice and loud with emotion, and can do so for a couple friends ("as a joke", of course), then work on repeat performances, keeping the volume and expression, but bringing yourself back into pitch (which has always been totally within your control, just not expressed fully).

Make the goal being REALLY BAD, and you may find it helps you become quite good.

I'd love to know how this works for those who take me up on it.

Baz / Erik
www.eriktyler.com
www.soundclick.com/eriktyler

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"The only way to get anywhere is to cross a few lines."

[This message has been edited by TheBaz (edited 11-30-2004).]

"The only way to get anywhere is to cross a few lines."