COMMON QUESTIONS
These are some of the most common questions people ask.
What is Songkraft?
Songkraft, which approaches the study of voice and performance holistically, is a program for vocalists interested in achieving the standard for excellence. It addresses craft skills and performance awareness and helps singers find performance opportunities. It's exceptionally good at helping those who struggle with self-limitation find and become comfortable with their authentic voice.
What is Singease?
Singease is a methodology authored by Tim Mallandaine. It acknowledges the masterful vocal capacities each person has acquired through learning to speak. It puts those capacities to work by approaching singing in the way that one might learn to speak a different dialect. Music is also carefully selected to provide the graduated conditioning essential to helping students learn to meet professional standards. The methodology explores, exposes and excludes habits which hinder natural flow-state performance by helping people to put their natural voice to work.
Who can sing and become an exceptional singer?
"Great singing sounds easy because it is easy. What's difficult is learning to make it easy." JTM
Anyone can sing. Only a tiny percentage, less than one percent, of the population cannot sing well. People who adamantly state that they can’t or don’t sing can often be heard singing in their car or shower.
Research has very clearly shown that talent is a myth. As Daniel Coyle wrote in his book “The Talent Code,” you’ll need a good coach, ignited passion for what you are doing and regular deep practice to succeed.
Why do so many people say that they can't sing at all?
They are usually overly concerned with how their voice sounds and what someone else might think, so they limit themselves.
The spectrum of great-sounding voices is very broad. The sound isn’t a significant consideration. It’s all about the feel, how the voice is used, and not how it sounds. For example, consider the difference between the voices of Whitney Houston, Rod Stewart and Leonard Cohen. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder ... and, in this case, the listener’s ears, not the singer’s.
Great singers are known for their capacity to render songs, and all vocal sounds have the potential to contribute to wonderfully unique singing.
Why do only a few people choose to learn more about how to sing?
There’s a considerable lack of awareness of the profound physical, mental and emotional benefits of singing. Also, far too many people buy into the talent myth and believe they can’t sing, missing out on all the good that singing offers. Many believe that learning to sing is not a worthy pursuit. Therefore, they find it hard to invest in themselves. They believe that coaching costs would waste their money. Of course, they’d likely change their minds if they listened more closely to people who choose to get involved.
What can be done about performance fear and anxiety?
Fear and anxiety can be so constant and debilitating that they are often perceived as unavoidable, which is simply not true. With learning, the fearful and anxious responses that limit performance capacity can change and become the energy that fuels ignited performances.
Singing well means learning to think in ways that effectively address emotions positively. Our brain responds almost identically when we are excited and afraid. Physiologically, fear causes us to hold or restrict our breathing, and excitement does not do so. The key is learning to make singing feel good by focusing on and improving breathing. The basic fact is that it won't sound good if it doesn’t feel good.
Who should sing?
Everyone should. The physical, mental and emotional wellness benefits alone are reason enough.
Should advanced singers have a coach?
Learning to sing is a life-long undertaking. Therefore, every singer should have someone to provide a coaching perspective that supports their continued growth and vocal health. This is particularly true for professionals interested in maintaining their instrument through the rigorous demands of a performance career.
Do singers have to write their own songs?
A Google search will reveal that there are a lot of great singers who aren’t outstanding songwriters. Whitney Houston was one of them. Of her 39 Billboard top 100 songs, she received co-writing credits for only two.
All Songkraft performers are encouraged to create their own songs. That might include writing lyrics, singing a melody and partnering with a musician who can help create an arrangement. In the music industry, singers who work this way are referred to as top-line writers, which means they write the melody and lyrics. There are many ways to create music; excellent materials for beginners are available online. Find a co-writer, start a duo, join a band, and jam away. Whatever works, works.
Writing songs is a beautiful experience, and it isn’t hard. While it takes a lot to become a great songwriter, you only need to be willing to try it by writing down a few words and making up a melody. Guinness lists Happy Birthday as the most recognized English song. It’s a great example of how something simple can catch on. Try writing something. You'll probably like it.
How do you start a career?
Do things in the correct order. A ‘finished’ voice attracts attention, and an unfinished voice attracts the wrong kind of attention. Being able to sing at an elite level like Lady Gaga or Josh Groban undoubtedly gives you a leg up. So, work hard until you know you have something to offer, and then start to show up to present what you’ve created. Don't show up and struggle. Work until you would be comfortable on the same stage as your favourite artist. You’ll know what to do and where to go next when you can do that.
Why Songkraft?
Songkraft supports singers in discovering the natural ease and the skills, range and endurance required of today’s professionals. Through explorative processes, inclusive of all styles of music, singers find and take advantage of their total vocal capacity.
