Say NO to pretty

Today's lesson: Say NO to pretty!

So many of us get stuck - even in a vocal exercise - shooting for a "pretty" or "good" sound. We then punish ourselves for falling short of some perceived ideal of what's acceptable. I see this manifest all the time in my students (and if I'm being honest, in myself). The frustration of missing the mark we think we should be hitting, or of not making the sound we think is "good" ravages our self esteem and then makes it impossible to progress. I would invite us all to consider that pretty (or good) = BORING. One dimensional. Why not simply make noise and explore the awesome range and dynamic possibilities of the human voice? How much more fun is that? Our goal is to develop a toolbox of vocal skills that can then tell a captivating story. When I'm able to remember this, practice is a much more positive experience and, happily, closer to the results I hope for. For today- let's let go of self judgement, adopt an attitude of exploration and MAKE NOISE! Rediscover your love of singing!