“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Let’s be honest… most of us are copy cats. We mimic music, movies, and each other. Some people even get paid to impersonate other famous people.
Churches copy other churches, leaders copy other leaders, singers copy other singers. We dress the same, talk the same, and except for our DNA, we are the same.
I’ve been to churches and listened to the worship leader sing 5 different songs with 5 different vocal tones and sounds. Each one taking on a completely different persona. I’ve done it. I’ll probably continue to do it, at least to a point. It’s strangely normal.
But it raises the question: Have you found your voice?
Are you settling into an easy imitation of Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, or Joel Houston?
If you’re not sure who you sound like or if your lacking a bit of a vocal identity, I’d like to encourage you to find your voice. Find your persona.
To move yourself beyond a mere imitation of the sound on the latest worship album and into a completely new realm. You!
Here are 4 practical ways to help discover your voice:
1. Find Your Range – Not all of us are tenors nor can we hang in the key of B, so don’t force it. Don’t push yourself out of your best and most comfortable range. Find your happy place vocally and stay within it.
2. Find Your Style – Worship music excluded, what’s your favorite genre of music? Blues, rock, gospel, soul? Whatever it is, stick to your style of singing. And don’t apologize for it.
3. Find the Time – We’re busy. I get it. So you have to not only find time, but you have to make time to hone your craft. Set aside regular time throughout the day and week to work on vocal technique. Don’t just rely on your natural ability, work at it.
4. Find Your Favorite Artists – Create a new playlist and put in it your top 3, 4, or 5 favorite artists. Listen to them intentionally. Not to copy them, but to help you define your own voice, tone and style. Become distinguishable.
With a little work and time, you’ll be able to discover your voice.
What’s the hardest part to finding your voice?
Great post Rob. Actually, I am that person right now trying to find my voice since it has only been about 6 months since I stepped out of my box of just playing guitar. It is so hard to not imitate others which was a mold that I had to break with my guitar playing and once I accepted my playing style I focused on being great at that and I began to grow as a player and not look back. I hope vocally I can use the same approach. Thanks so much for the inspiration.
Be Blessed,
Brian
Great Brian! Sounds like you know what youre doing. Good luck man.
Great Brian! I guess it’s similar to finding your guitar style and tone huh?
I think it’s an ongoing process of finding your voice. As I discover and learn new music I find myself seeing how it fits on me, and often times an unexpected song works for me. Vocally, I have a very varied range, and stylistically it’s the same way. I think cause my introduction to learn how to sing was rooted in imitation, and then singing notes by hearing rather than sight-reading music I have an ability to be a bit of a chameleon when I sing. The challenge for me was always to find something that was original to me and not an imitation of something else.
love this post. unfortunately, i was never able to copy another person. everyone has always said my voice is “unique” (i never know if thats a compliment or not) but with my playing i rely heavily on the strumming of Brooke Fraser or Joni Mitchell. So I now know to get my own feel for things.
Thank you for posting this.. I will share this to my team! God bless you more Pastor Rob!