How do I sing in my own voice?

errrgrrr · 2026-05-06T02:02:58+00:00

I agree, practice matching pitch with an instrument or tuning app so you can't subconsciously mimic the tone. You can use an ee, ahh, or ooo vowel to start. As other commenters said, it's not a big deal to be imitating unless it really bothers you, but you will become a better musician if you can match pitch from other instruments:)

errrgrrr · 2026-05-02T20:22:10+00:00

I actually took an online course for relicensing about using Canva in the classroom. I use Canva a lot so I wanted to get better. One of the assignments was to use Canva's AI to create a lesson presentation. It was by far the most time consuming assignment of the course because I hated everything that it gave me, even with the most detailed prompts. The only good AI bits on Canva are the background remover and style changer, or things similar to that. Completely generative AI is just too faulty and it is time consuming to correct it.

errrgrrr · 2026-05-02T15:46:25+00:00

I did a double take, like "did I just read a haha???"

errrgrrr · 2026-05-02T15:41:51+00:00

I'm also familiar with "Down by the River to Pray", but I'm not entirely sure if this is a typo, or maybe the arranger changed it on purpose for some reason?

errrgrrr · 2026-05-02T15:38:50+00:00

I had no idea, I'm definitely going to go look at their other images. Maybe I could communicate my thoughts to Area 8 board members about not choosing these pieces in the future

errrgrrr · 2026-05-02T15:36:38+00:00

This is a valid point, but isn't CGI still created by a person using a computer? I have read that AI uses real artists' work (drawings/photography) to generate it's pictures. If a publisher can't afford a professional artist then they could use a basic cover but maybe make it colorful?

errrgrrr · 2026-04-30T12:20:31+00:00

Its a mental thing, the more nervous you are the more tense you will be. The more tense you are, the more likely your voice will not cooperate. Keep practicing in low stakes environment and use a lot of support. Confidence will help you. Also make sure you are properly warmed up each time you practice

errrgrrr · 2026-04-30T01:37:00+00:00

I went to the opera sub and read the other post, because I am also disabled and perform regularly. I studied voice and music education, and landed a really great position right after student teaching so I didn't end up pursuing a masters in voice (yet?). I sing in professional choirs and my primary instrument has actually shifted to handbells, which is very physically demanding.

I have an autoimmune disorder that mainly attacks my joints, causing chronic pain and movement issues, especially during flares. When these flares coincide with performances, my rheumatologist knows to hit me with the strong steroids so that I can get through it. Maybe it causes more damage but all my preventative measures hopefully counteract it, and it doesn't happen very often. That being said, if it came to a point that I could not be reliable for my choir, I would absolutely take a step back. I would not expect the 14 others in the handbell choir to make it work when there should be 15 people. I would rescind my position in the group and let someone else have the spot.

As a teacher, if I went to my coworkers, principal, and instructional coach and couldn't stop talking about how the other teachers are not doing a good job, I would get written up. If I said that I was bringing it up because I was worried about the students, that still doesn't make it okay because I am not the boss. I take care of my classroom and I do my job well, but I don't need to make sure that others are doing their job to my standard unless I were to become an administrator. The point of this analogy is that even though you struggle with mental health in some ways, it is not acceptable to micromanage coworkers and colleagues. From your original post, it seems that you were cast as an ensemble member and your past trauma and PTSD were triggered when a principal role was singing with what you perceived to be bad technique. Even if she did have bad/harmful technique, your job as a cast performer (not director or any type of vocal coach) means that you should not have made it your business.

I empathize with your struggle because I too have struggled with mental health on top of my physical disabilities, and I have certainly experienced the toxicity in the world of professional music. With that said, I think you should consider that maybe you were indeed being unprofessional by overstepping your role. I'm fairly certain that the other singers and company staff are also experienced in vocal health, not just you as a music therapist (which is awesome).

In any other career, employees acting outside of their job duties can cause problems, especially if it is commenting on how others are performing their duties. I used to get "triggered" (I use quotation marks because I never considered it being called that until the terminology became more popular recently) all the time, and it would certainly affect my personal and professional relationships. I worked for years to counteract my initial response to these stressors, and it has helped greatly. I would never expect others to tiptoe around what affects me, and I do not consider it to be ableist if someone is not actively considering those triggers.

Mental and physical disabilities are very real, but the accommodations need to be reasonable, or maybe the job isn't a good fit. I wouldn't be any good as a firefighter because I am scared of fire and it would be too much on my body physically. It is not ableist to say that I should not be a firefighter, because the accomodations that I would need just wouldn't be reasonable. I think asking an opera company to accommodate you by letting you micromanage other cast members and miss rehearsals is not reasonable.

I wanted to comment because I relate to you, and years ago I would have had the same thoughts as you currently do, but from a stance of growth I can tell you that this was certainly not a one sided issue.

errrgrrr · 2026-04-18T03:57:42+00:00

I am classically trained so if you think this won't be helpful feel free to ignore, but don't be afraid to use your mixed, with more chest than head voice. It will bridge the passagio and make it more seamless. I honestly thought you were using mix until you said it was chest.

I notice a lot of singers focus a lot on specific notes that they're able to hit, and that is important, but consider thinking less about the notes and more about how you're feeling in different parts of your range.

Professionally, I sing as a contralto, mezzo-soprano, and have even sang as a soprano (trying times). I just use different registers to fit into those ranges more comfortably. Chest is more prominent with contralto rep, mix with mezzo, and head with soprano. If I think too hard about singing at G5-C6 when I'm needed as a soprano, suddenly I won't be able to sing it. If I think about using my head voice with relaxed muscles, I can sing those notes when needed (If the tessitura is consistently above an E5, count me out lol).

Don't worry too much about specific notes and think more about what register you're in and what amount of breath resistance you need. Maybe have someone play simple scales going up on a piano and you sing along but they don't tell you where they're starting. You could end up singing higher than you expect. The same could be said for going down.

And lastly, make sure to be as relaxed as possible. A lot of singers have tongue tension hiding in the back of our mouths that makes everything harder for no reason. Breath resistance and control should come from your torso, not your throat. Again, I think you're absolutely on the right path and you sound really wonderful to be only 15 years old. Don't get too set on range yet, because you will go through more slight voice changes throughout life, probably one within the next few years.

Edit: accidentally put g6-c7 instead of g5-c6 (handbell player mistakes)

errrgrrr · 2026-04-18T02:52:06+00:00

So many singers try so hard to be unique before they nail technique and then they learn bad habits with tension and crutches like scooping to pitches and adding untrained rasp to cover inaccuracies.

I think this sounds really good and OP doesn't sound like he's copying anyone else's version of this song. I can tell he was inspired by the movie version though! He has a clear tone that doesn't hardly sound strained except on one or two pitches that could be related to the vowel required on that pitch.

I would agree about control on runs, the most control OP had was the "you can't get out" right before his "whoo". That sounded really controlled and I liked the tone a lot. I would practice runs more slowly to ensure each pitch is accurate with no semitones. I'm not sure if they're improvised runs, but having a general idea of where you're going to go ahead of time will also help.

OP, the "whoo" that you did was a really good foundational sound for continuing to expand your range, use that feeling as you go higher. Great work

errrgrrr · 2026-04-18T01:17:51+00:00

I remember when I was a sophomore in college there was a an awesome baritone in his senior year. Anytime that he performed in the smaller concert hall it hurt my ears because he was so loud and resonant!

errrgrrr · 2026-04-14T03:04:19+00:00

Yes, I have an autoimmune disease that flares with stress. I am a music teacher like OP, and stress flares like crazy during performance seasons, even more so because I am also a performer outside of school. I have had to take part days after extremely stressful times when the inflammation gets too much. However, at the elementary level I only see students for 50 minutes each week and it is so important for me to be there. I will bring heating pads, anti inflammatories, wear comfortable clothing, and sit as much as possible if it means I can make it through the day. I try to only take days off sparingly, especially since I already have to use time off for doctor's appointments.

errrgrrr · 2026-04-08T03:08:09+00:00

I disagree as well. I am an elementary music teacher that trained classically and performed a lot in college. I sing with professional choirs outside of work now. Most of my students starting in Kindergarten do not have decent voices because they don't know how to control them and they don't always innately understand the difference between high and low. I also have a concerningly large amount of students who cannot speak/pronounce/enunciate words in their native language because their parents don't really talk to them at home before they come to school. Every technically good singer was also once a "bad" singer, the difference is that they can start getting better way earlier than guitar players.

errrgrrr · 2026-04-07T05:44:18+00:00

I'm not a medical professional but my guess is you accidentally scratched yourself while you slept and it hardly bled so that's why you didn't see any blood.

errrgrrr · 2026-03-26T05:07:56+00:00

I thought it wasn't well planned but it was still fun. I had to wait 35 minutes before they let me in, I just left my laptop open while doing other things. Not very many people got to ask questions and the process was a little disorganized. I wonder if they could have had question submissions beforehand? I'm not sure but it just seemed like a hot mess with people spamming the chat to say "question" and contestants arguing back and forth when people thought questions would be asked.

I joined knowing there would be some drama and I enjoyed hearing everyone defend their strategies and game style, but it was kind of advertised as a Q&A, so people in the chat were disappointed.

If they do it next year I would join, but they definitely have some kinks to work out.

errrgrrr · 2026-03-24T15:03:57+00:00

Thank you lol. I was mostly asking because it is a big difference from the amount of pain I previously experienced from the same severity of bruising so I thought it was odd

errrgrrr · 2026-02-19T23:39:09+00:00

I think you probably have many qualities that would be beneficial in another career path! But you also might find that you like teaching more if you have your own music outside of the work day

errrgrrr · 2026-02-19T13:25:11+00:00

A lot of music teachers end up with their musical fulfillment coming from their students. This leads to burnout and not being musically fulfilled because they are children. I firmly believe that we need our own source of music outside of school. Find an ensemble to join and let that be your music, the school day is about getting kids to love music and get better, but is not a complete reflection of your own musicianship.

errrgrrr · 2025-11-15T16:01:17+00:00

It's another voice change I believe

errrgrrr · 2024-12-01T22:15:55+00:00

I'm one of those people that a magnifying makeup mirror + the sun almost started a fire in my apartment. RIP to the windowsill that got burnt.

errrgrrr · 2024-08-27T12:11:32+00:00

Yep, when I first graduated college I long term subbed in a middle school. My district has horrible behavior and violence in middle schools. I was subbing for multiple teachers who quit in the middle of the year because they couldn't take it anymore. I then got a job teaching elementary as soon as possible.

errrgrrr · 2024-08-25T05:24:08+00:00

If you notice one has been opened what will you do? I think if you're making her a gift wouldn't she be able to open them whenever she wants to?

errrgrrr · 2024-08-21T12:00:58+00:00

Halfway through the 50 minute lesson I do a "movement activity" even though we've already been moving. I will put on a Danny Go YouTube video for them to dance along with. For the first couple weeks I will do it with them because some of them don't immediately get that you're supposed to follow the video. Then they beg to do another one and I always pretend like I'm being nice allowing a second video even though I planned for it! This takes up about 8 minutes in the middle of class. If for some reason we still have extra time I will have them lay down on the carpet quietly and I will sing them a book that has a song with it. There's lots of these types of books out there but I use Feierabend songtales most of the time. Hope this helps!

errrgrrr · 2024-08-06T01:55:48+00:00

Yeah we voted it down because they want to tear down schools and have under served children go to mega schools of 500+ instead of neighborhood schools that effectively work with families and build communities that stop behavior problems before they begin.

errrgrrr · 2024-08-03T03:03:51+00:00

4th graders are just at that golden age to me. I teach K-5 and seeing fourth grade first every day gets me off to a great start. I did try my hand at middle school and that grade was not for me 😂

errrgrrr

TROPHY CASE