Why you are not tone deaf and why everyone can sing.

I cannot count the amount of times people say to me, ‘God you wouldn’t want to hear me sing!’ or ‘I’m tone deaf’ or ‘I can’t sing at all,’ and so on and no matter what I say to assure them that isn’t the case they won’t hear it. It makes me cranky and a little sad and I wonder, why do so many people think this about themselves?
 
Is it because they have been told by somebody one day that they sound bad? Is it because they hear themselves and think they sound awful? Perhaps they have tried lessons with a crappy teacher and walked away feeling disheartened? Perhaps they really don’t sound too good at that point in time. Does that mean they can’t? Or never will? Well in my opinion no it doesn’t.
 
I believe everyone can learn to sing. Yes, it’s true there are different levels of talent, of starting points, but everyone can improve their voice, their pitch, their performance, and confidence with some lessons with the right teacher.

You don’t need to be the next Ariana Grande or Beyonce to sing.  And you shouldn’t want to be, you should want to be the next you. After all, there is only one of you, just like there is only one Ariana and one Beyonce. There are millions of different voices in the world, each one unique and with its own gift to offer.
 
I can still hear you arguing, but ‘I really am tone deaf!’
 
Honestly you aren’t.

True ‘tone deafness’ or Amusia is actually very rare. Amusia is a cognitive disorder that does not allow an individual the ability to detect, recognize or preproduce musical notes. Now if you are telling me you sound off, then you can HEAR that you aren’t singing the right note. If you can speak with different pitches, you are not tone deaf. So let that misconception go.
 
Singing the correct pitch, or singing in tune is essential for the singer, no one wants to listen to a singer singing out of tune, but rest assured, singing in tune is a skill you can practice.

This is how I suggest you start. If you have a keyboard or stringed instrument, choose one note that is comfortable for you, that sits within your normal speaking range or a range you feel comfortable singing in and strike that note. Listen carefully to it and then recreate it with your voice. Play random notes within your comfort zone and repeat the process. Do this for a couple of minutes a day and your ear will improve and you will get to the note faster. Don’t do it for too long because your ear, brain and voice will become weary, just a couple of minutes once or twice a day will suffice.
 
Once you feel comfortable with this, then you could try singing a verse of a song you love, again, one that sits comfortably in your range and see how you go. If this doesn’t eventually work for you, then perhaps there is another vocal issue going on. But have patience, you are learning a new skill.

​I said it makes me cranky when people say they can’t sing, and that is not because I am cranky with them for thinking that but because they have probably been told they can’t, or maybe they compare themselves to singers who have had years of training and experience. That is not being fair on themselves. I don’t want anyone who has loves to sing to hold themselves back.
 
My point is if you want to sing, don’t let anyone, including yourself stop you and I can help. I have a special offer currently running where I am offering vocal assessments for half price. So, let’s chat and see what we can achieve together.

​To sum up.
 
1.Everyone can sing. Yes even you.
 
2.Practice tuning your voice:
            Play a note on a piano or stringed instrument.
            Listen to it.
            Sing it.
            Repeat process on different notes.
            Once comfortable, sing a little of a song you love.
 
3.Book in for a half price online vocal assessment.
 
Happy Singing.