Success-What Does It Really Take?
Cherie
Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 122
Only a few weeks into this, I realize it's going to take much more than buying a popular CD pack promising to contain all the answers to lousy singing, learning some vocal exercises and then experiencing a vocal transformation. I've tried all that with a few other vocal programs and even some instructors along the way. In a way, maybe all those attempts led me here.
My singing history began over eight years ago after my Dad passed away. Years before, I was a ballet dancer. I missed the performing and all of it so, so much but those days were over. I was grown, married with kids & an average life. I could go to zumba every week and exercise with a bunch of women to music or spend a pile of money on ballroom dance and actually compete in unGodly expensive costumes with thousands of rhinestones. I enjoyed painting. (a lot less expensive). Then a light went off and I realized, "I should be a singer!" So at 50, I thought, "You were a great dancer, you can be a singer! How hard can it be?" Since then, I've purchased books, CD's, sporadic lessons & watched countless YouTube videos. Every single time I bought a vocal program or expensive lessons with a new "vocal coach" I had childlike hopes and dreams for discovering what in the world I was doing wrong vocally. There is no question that I have improved since I first started this but overall my progress has been disappointing.
A little over a year ago when I decided to try yet another vocal method & purchase the KTVA program, I did it because, honestly, I am endlessly hopeful and I'm a dreamer. I can't believe I can't do it. To some, I may be too old, as well, but there is a little spark inside that is still burning after all these years. Everyone has a unique set of challenges. I have my own collection. They are obstacles like brick walls and I believe there is a path through them. It just has to be found.
So.... for my Christmas present more than a year ago, my grown son & husband both chipped in & got me the KTVA pro pack of CD's and DVD's. Yeah! During Christmas vacation I opened it up and wondered what magic I would find in this wonderful bundle. I began the exercises. I was pretty devoted during the next 10 days. Our vacation ended. We came back home. I returned to my day job & life's daily responsibilities resumed. I began to skip the exercises for days, then weeks and eventually months went by. It stayed on my music bookshelf with all my other CD's and vocal books.
Life went on to Jan. 2017. That's when, out of the blue, I got really sick. It turned into pancreatitis overnight & I almost died. I was in the hospital for a month. Lot's of prayers were answered. I completely recovered. I came home really weak and bummed out to say the least. I decided to make some life changes just to be safe like giving up any wine and actually all alcohol of any kind and following a very healthy diet. I retired from my day job & decided I'm going to make this singing dream come true if it's the last thing I do!
I still sing as a back-up singer in a local tribute band but we only perform 2-3 times per year. It's not even close enough to satisfy what I hope to do. 3 weeks ago something prompted me to pass over all my other vocal CD programs on that bookshelf & pull out my KTVA Christmas present program again.
I am approaching this the same way I did as a young ballet dancer so many years ago. It's basically a partnership with Ken Tamplin and KTVA. I am going to keep my promise to the program and devote my time and efforts like consistent daily focused training and this program is going to help me go from average to singing better than anyone else! I am adding in some faith on my side that this is the right training. One has to believe that their teacher is correct. I am starting out with cautious optimism which is slowly turning into belief. I have to approach it with a certain amount of trust and faith because significant results won't happen in "days". I guess, not months either. I do hope to hear stepped improvements along the way.
One part of my dream is to become a lead singer with live musicians (not backing tracks) and have weekly gigs. Somewhere in this year, I'm going to try to get a small jazz group going. My voice has to be interesting enough to make some musicians around here want to do this with me. I really hope I will be able to progress enough to get started performing regularly within 6 months. I have tons of great dresses to wear with piles of rhinestones.
When this works it may be just another success story in a string of many for Ken Tamplin. Dreams can come true at any age, right?
My singing history began over eight years ago after my Dad passed away. Years before, I was a ballet dancer. I missed the performing and all of it so, so much but those days were over. I was grown, married with kids & an average life. I could go to zumba every week and exercise with a bunch of women to music or spend a pile of money on ballroom dance and actually compete in unGodly expensive costumes with thousands of rhinestones. I enjoyed painting. (a lot less expensive). Then a light went off and I realized, "I should be a singer!" So at 50, I thought, "You were a great dancer, you can be a singer! How hard can it be?" Since then, I've purchased books, CD's, sporadic lessons & watched countless YouTube videos. Every single time I bought a vocal program or expensive lessons with a new "vocal coach" I had childlike hopes and dreams for discovering what in the world I was doing wrong vocally. There is no question that I have improved since I first started this but overall my progress has been disappointing.
A little over a year ago when I decided to try yet another vocal method & purchase the KTVA program, I did it because, honestly, I am endlessly hopeful and I'm a dreamer. I can't believe I can't do it. To some, I may be too old, as well, but there is a little spark inside that is still burning after all these years. Everyone has a unique set of challenges. I have my own collection. They are obstacles like brick walls and I believe there is a path through them. It just has to be found.
So.... for my Christmas present more than a year ago, my grown son & husband both chipped in & got me the KTVA pro pack of CD's and DVD's. Yeah! During Christmas vacation I opened it up and wondered what magic I would find in this wonderful bundle. I began the exercises. I was pretty devoted during the next 10 days. Our vacation ended. We came back home. I returned to my day job & life's daily responsibilities resumed. I began to skip the exercises for days, then weeks and eventually months went by. It stayed on my music bookshelf with all my other CD's and vocal books.
Life went on to Jan. 2017. That's when, out of the blue, I got really sick. It turned into pancreatitis overnight & I almost died. I was in the hospital for a month. Lot's of prayers were answered. I completely recovered. I came home really weak and bummed out to say the least. I decided to make some life changes just to be safe like giving up any wine and actually all alcohol of any kind and following a very healthy diet. I retired from my day job & decided I'm going to make this singing dream come true if it's the last thing I do!
I still sing as a back-up singer in a local tribute band but we only perform 2-3 times per year. It's not even close enough to satisfy what I hope to do. 3 weeks ago something prompted me to pass over all my other vocal CD programs on that bookshelf & pull out my KTVA Christmas present program again.
I am approaching this the same way I did as a young ballet dancer so many years ago. It's basically a partnership with Ken Tamplin and KTVA. I am going to keep my promise to the program and devote my time and efforts like consistent daily focused training and this program is going to help me go from average to singing better than anyone else! I am adding in some faith on my side that this is the right training. One has to believe that their teacher is correct. I am starting out with cautious optimism which is slowly turning into belief. I have to approach it with a certain amount of trust and faith because significant results won't happen in "days". I guess, not months either. I do hope to hear stepped improvements along the way.
One part of my dream is to become a lead singer with live musicians (not backing tracks) and have weekly gigs. Somewhere in this year, I'm going to try to get a small jazz group going. My voice has to be interesting enough to make some musicians around here want to do this with me. I really hope I will be able to progress enough to get started performing regularly within 6 months. I have tons of great dresses to wear with piles of rhinestones.
When this works it may be just another success story in a string of many for Ken Tamplin. Dreams can come true at any age, right?
Comments
The great thing about your previous training in ballet is that you can understand the benefits of training and how nothing comes without effort. If you put in the effort, slowly but surely amazing things are possible. BTW, I also was a professional dancer haha.
I have only been doing the program for just over a week at this point and have done the exercises daily. I can only say I am blown away by the changes that have happened - of course there will be plateau moments, that is the nature of training, but so far the change is dramatic. In fact when I listened to myself recently I was surprised it was my voice. I have recorded myself singing before and while I could always carry a tune, I was amazed at this new quality my voice has.
From your dancing background you will recognise a good teacher when you see one, I am convinced that Ken is 100% the real deal. I have watched him one on one with students in some of his videos here and what he is able to see and hear and bring out of them - as long as they put in the work is jaw dropping. I think the best part about watching Ken, is that he doesn't let anything slide, he catches it all.
Ultimately though it comes down to your own effort, so keep up the good work! It's not time to die yet.
When we treat today like there might not always be a tomorrow, we tend to get a little more serious about what we want to accomplish.
We all can tend to let things slide that we should be focusing on if we really want to see results.
I'm glad you made it through this one, Cherie, and now that you have a new fire going, you can do a lot with it. The best vocal program can't do much for us when it sits on a shelf or in a computer, but we're saving it for later.
A lot of getting a successful group going is putting yourself into a position to be the vocalist someone wants, when the opportunity arises. Right place, right time, right skills.
I'm fortunate enough to have fallen into a group about 10 years ago, and we've played almost every weekend (for pay) the entire time I've been with them. I've been in bands since I was fourteen years old, but this one has really lasted and really played a lot of gigs. It's almost a nuisance to play that much, but I know I'm really fortunate to be in such a position. I've held down 60 hour per week jobs while playing two or three nights a week.
When I was younger, I was in bands that had record deals, went out on the road, and my only job was being a musician. That didn't last forever, and reality eventually had its way with me. But I never stopped playing. It wasn't until more recently that I decided to actually learn to sing, instead of being a self-taught "background vocalist". I took several expensive vocal programs, and got only minor improvements. KTVA helped me to change that, and gave me the ability to find my voice and develop it.
Opportunities are out there, but you have to find them, and sometimes you just have to be fortunate. But you have to put yourself in the position to be available when the right opportunity comes along, and you have to seek out those opportunities. Part of that is you doing your daily workouts, paying attention to your own progress and what you need to focus on, and preparing yourself for a future that you can't see until it's right there looking you in the face.
But are your dreams of performance realistic? Yes. There is no time like the present to prepare yourself for availability with the right qualifications. There is competition for the positions we can fill. Vocal flexibility and adaptability can figure-in heavily when musical groups are forming or selecting new candidates. Opportunities do exist, but they are sought-after.
Get your voice shining like those rhinestones. Then go out and shine.
Bob
You and me both didn't wake up one day and decide to put on some toe shoes and perform with artistry on stage executing grande jetes and triple pirouettes! It took hours and hours, hundreds of classes, iron will determination and many failed attempts. Every single blister and sore muscle was so worth it but it sure did not happen overnight!!
I'm glad I kept persevering with this and searching to find a legitimate program and it's amazing creator in Ken Tamplin. I am also really excited that he seems to know what he is talking about and has found a way to offer a real working plan to us dreamers in our quest toward really developing our voices as singers!
I wish for you, Matsy, very few obstacles, great effective training and success with your singing! Something tells me we just have to succeed!
I totally agree. I wanted to be a singer since I was 12,yet I only got the guts to begin singing when I turned 20 due to how naive I was.
I heard a lot of non-sense like that so often.
Someone being able to sing in a Pro level without training for years is just as possible as a newborn child being able to speak 5 languages in a native level.
That was utterly unprofessional,really.
I've hear people saying that kinda thing over and over.
Stuff like "my mom\son\daughter\cousin\best friend forever\pet\imaginary friend is the only one who can sing here! All others are trash!!"
Truth is: the only ones who can't sing are those who can't speak. Mute people.
If we're talking about achieving happiness and fulfillment, I've gotten that, and that is something that is truly invaluable. Isn't that the entire goal in life anyway? How you measure success depends on what you are really going for in life. So to answer your question, when it comes to singing, the best thing you can do is know exactly what type of voice YOU want to develop. I sing purely for pleasure. I have gotten so much joy from it and have felt so spiritually lifted and encouraged by doing it that that's really all that matters to me. I think this is what being a musician is all about. I call that a success.
If you mean how to become professional and make a living doing it, well, I think you need to set your sights on producing a good quality full-length album. And try to do this as soon as possible, because the record industry as a whole is quickly diminishing in size and relevance these days as we get more and more into the digital age. This has both advantages and disadvantages, because on one hand, it's great that digital media allows information to be transferred so quickly and easily across the world. But on the other, theft and piracy is a big problem for the artist. Not really sure what the best advice is there. I have friends who get millions and millions of online streams and they make like $20 off it. So I don't know how you can possibly hope to get paid with that type of thing going on.
When I do the exercises, I am concentrating on the physical aspects of singing. Succeeding with those seems pretty cut and dried. If I train and strengthen my vocal muscles, learn the concepts and eventually become able to execute them with precision, then I should be able to get better tone and flexibility with my voice. I realize this accomplishment would not be the "end all" in the singing journey. To write a song and move a listener emotionally and be a true artist encompasses much more but every great ballet dancer had to spend years at the bar brutally working out day after day repeating physical exercises before they were ever able to bring an audience to tears watching them interpret the music through dance on a stage.
I believe this technical component is critical for singing too. It's emotionless. It's hard work, strength building, repetitive muscle and body training comprising the physical components of singing. I am at the beginning of that training. I'm at the bar! If I work really hard and consistently and efficiently maybe I will be able to move along at a good pace. I hope so.
From my years as a dancer I know that dreaming and wanting is nice but won't do much other than waste time. It's fine to feel those emotions but laying around wishing won't train my voice. Daily focused workouts will. For now, approximately, 80% of my focus is on the physical, 15% creativity and maybe 5% music business! As I fall asleep each night, I dream.
There are many courses out there that can compliment the KTVA training "speedsongwriting.com" being one of them.
To neglect this aspect is kind of like training super hard to become a top-notch racecar driver, but neglecting to install the steering wheel once you've been strapped in to the cockpit.
Sure you can do covers; but at some point, if you want to move beyond the Chrysalids stage, you'll want and need this skill.
Looking towards being a good musican is very different from being famous,wealthy and immortalized.
In the 70s,Prog Rock was the thing. In the 80s,near all bands had to get "eletronic" stuff in their music,otherwise they wouldn't survive that era.
Gentle Giant ended because they wanted to stay Prog during the 80s,so...
I got to say becoming and staying famous has something with to do with follow the trend of your time,otherwise you'll please a very small audience.
Your comments brought up some interesting points. I've been changing my thinking about the direction that I want to pursue musically. I live in the central part of California. Musically, it seems that what is most popular with band followers here is typical rock, pop and dance/cover band style music.
I sing back up in a Fleetwood Mac Tribute band. Tribute bands also generate pretty big crowds. I haven't been singing very long (about 7 yrs ago I sang my first very weak note!) A year later, I got the job in the tribute band. I have been with them ever since. It has been a good beginning musical experience for me. I sing harmonies, a bunch of oohs and ahhhs but no lead songs. I'm somewhat known to the local band followers only because I am one of the 3 original band members or maybe just as the blonde back-up singer on the side! It has been interesting and a good learning experience. The band has been successful locally. Our musicians are really good but the band never has managed to break into the next tier. We have done relatively few out of town gigs.
As a tribute band, we are basically impersonators of the world famous artists. I have thought that perhaps in this type of band, if the lead singer doesn't have a clone type resemblance to the original artist it might, unfortunately, be the deal breaker when trying to move forward into the bigger, more competitive markets no matter how good the singing and playing. There are lots of Fleetwood Mac Tribute Bands out there and I am sure every Fleetwood Mac Tribute is compared in every way to the original band members who are all still performing! Our band keeps going though. We play around here 3-4 times/year and have a big local following.
My personal goal has been to improve enough to eventually become a lead singer in another band with more variety. I want to sing entire songs & be able to perform every week instead of just 3-4 times per year! As I have been learning from this experience and going along these past few years, the idea of becoming a Tribute impersonator who's job it is to look and sing like an original artist is appealing to me less and less. Ideally, I would like to find a way to grow artistically with my own identity rather than be known briefly as a singer who looks & sounds like an original famous person.
Ken T. and his many KTVA student covers have been so interesting & idea provoking to me because he doesn't do covers in a way that only mimics the original! More often, he knows how to highlight the greatness of the original songs & at the same time enhance the unique vocal qualities KTVA student. I like his own covers so much and those of his top students as well as and even better than the original iconic song! To me, that is really incredible.
Ultimately, singing original music or singing current music my own way would be a huge step forward for me. Growing my voice and improving technically would be a great step in that direction. In the meantime, any and all singing experiences are valuable and I am grateful for all of it. I appreciate and respect my musician friends who work very hard to make a living in this business. Whether it is a tribute or a cover dance band or solo acts it's all a competitive business for singers and musicians trying to excel. Pursuing unique creative artistry & getting the available local gigs and tips don't always ride in the same vehicle.
My first though of sounding just like my favorite vocalist got less and less appealing. I realized I could sound like me instead of like him. I realized that my voice can become just as good as his. Achieving his level depends on how much I dedicate,just like he and all others who sing like a pro did.
I agree it seems fairly harder to be an original musician in all aspects.
If you're creating a Led Zeppelin tribute band,you'll look for drummers that play like John,guitarists that shred like Page & bassists that perform like Jones.
All of them are expecting you to sing like Plant.
There will be waaaay more people up to this than making a brand new band,on which each member plays and composes like himself (and they all agree with you singing like yourself)... It seems just tought,expecially if you don't have a very,very regular voice.
When I first bought my CD/DVD pack I actually scheduled a lesson with Ken Tamplin. Looking back, I think I could have waited until I had spent a few months on Vol. 1. esp since I was only able to have the one lesson. I should have prepared more. I got a lot of new information! Ken had to spend most of the time on the beginning initial basics as I am sure he realized that was what he had to do. I don't regret the private lesson at all. I am so happy I discovered KTVA and it was an absolute pleasure meeting Ken Tamplin. He is very sincere & very professional.
This Spring, I finally began working on KTVA volumes on a consistent basis. The techniques I am learning from the CD's and DVD's and what I remember from that one private lesson at my beginning are the best vocal instructions I have ever received anywhere. I am not about to give up on any of it. In fact, I want to be someone who, at some point, is a testament to the truth of this vocal method. I believe it is a great vocal program. My biggest weakness is that sometimes I get a little impatient. Ken Tamplin and his wonderful moderators have addressed that as well. They emphasize that it takes time and work.
I appreciate the support and direction I get here. All the moderators and discussions are extremely valuable resources. At some point, I want more than anything to take advantage of personalized lessons. I think it will help me a lot but once I can do that I want to be as ready as I can to make the most of every single minute of the lesson.