I need more "Expression" in my voice, can any one help?

Question

I am a decent sing, going thro training, I am in two bands at the moment. But I get alot that I need more expression in my voice, are there any tricks out there to help me...I am going to ask my voice teacher, but I dont see her until next week, and I would love to try now, so I can surprise her next week.

Answer 1

Expression is part of singing the song, melding the words and melody. Without the understanding of that, your expression will be flat and lifeless.

Feel the words and speak them aloud as if saying them to someone. If you are saying the words "I love you" to someone you loved, you wouldn't say them flat and lifeless, y ou'd add emphasis where necessary, exactly how you FELT it.

Answer 2

Something I always try if I need a little deeper emotion or expression of such out of a song; is try reading through just the lyrics without the melody playing, as if you were reading a poem. Try and understand the words, where the most prominent and important implications come from within the lines, try figuring *where* you need to express parts of the lyrics more than others based on which parts of the song seem most important to express.

Also, as others have said, it's a lot about connection, about really feeling what you're singing. Reading through to gain understanding of the material can be a great help when it comes to putting the right sound across for it as well as gaining more of a connection with what you're singing.

Also, you can try playing around with your tone and levels of volume when singing, soften it up for lyrics that would demand a lighter sound, make it slightly harsher or harder sounding for more important parts that you need to get across, etc.

Dunno if any of this has helped, but there's my 2 cents ;)

Answer 3

Let me add something I haven't seen anyone else say. Never forget that a musical message is not in lyrics alone! Humans can understand the language of notes in combination, too- in fact, IMHO that is a more powerful way to get emotion across than words can ever be (do you know the first eight Beethoven symphonies?!)

Listen to the melody line alone and ask yourself, "what is the emotional message of this music?" You will find an answer, it might not be someone else's, but that's even better than being a cookie cutter interpretation-wise! Once you have that answer, you have to ask yourself, "how can I express that message when I perform this music?" Trust me, it won't be just by observing printed dynamics. You will find your own subtle dynamics and phrasing that will bring out what you want to say. Simple.

Answer 4

Let me tell you two tricks to doing that, although it sounds simple, it is important to expression.

Dynamics. Meaning, in certain sections, change up the volume. Where does the song feel the most emotion? Build up to that climax and soften up either at the beginning, end or both. With some phrasing, get loud. You can sometimes do both by sudden changes to get the audience's attention. And make the band follow you. If they are playing with the same dynamics the whole time, it isn't completely your fault. Tell them they need to follow your lead with loud, soft, or in between. Sometimes instrumentalists get carried away and forget they need to follow the singer!

Another way to do expression is CREATE AN ALTER EGO. You might be a shy person in your "waking" life, but music is where you pretend to be someone else. Take on another personality and let "him" takeover. That way you will not be intimidated nor will you care how people are perceiving you. They will be perceiving your character! Before you utter a word, concentrate on how that person would act in each song. Whatever it is, you convey that character. Prince is one of the shyest people in the world, but his alter ego is the one who performs. Most successful musicians have split personalities LOL! The one they carry outside of the stage and the one they bring on stage. It might seem corney, but you will be surprised at how the expressions come out. I turned into a better performer with my alter ego. As a matter of fact, I have many ;). If I told you all of them, you might want to commit me LOL! But it really changed my performances and expressions level for the better! Of course use your singing techniques, but bridge that alter ego with it.

Answer 5

I can't argue with any of the answers you've gotten. The way to put expression in your songs is to believe them. A great example is a love song. If you don't feel the love or have a love, its hard to sing it and mean it. The song, "The Vagabond", by Vaughn williams is about just that. You have to feel the beat and feel the emotion. The Erlkonig by schubert is the best example of an emotion song. If you can't express it, don't sing it. You have to be the 3 characters. Same with Musical Theatre. If you can't FEEL the part of Harold Hill, don't do it. own the song. Make it your own. take control. there are no tricks. It comes from inside you.

Answer 6

To gain expression, one must "feel" the music, the lyric, the emotion behind the song. If you learn to read music, it tells you what the composer felt in the instructions, the music, It's generally written in another language, learn it, know it.
Listen to other singers, listen to the inflection, the intonation of pitch, the level at which they sing, move the mike further from your mouth, use your throat and tongue to create a growling sound when need be, a whisper etc. It takes time and talent.

Answer 7

Listen to the words of the song, feel like your in it. Believe that you care about what your singing. Be passionate and want to feel the song. If you use more facial expressions, it also improves your sound. Think about it, and don't get lost in other parts of the band. Think about what YOU are doing at the moment and keep thinking.

Answer 8

Feel the words of the song, make it mean something to you. If you haven't been in the situation of what your singin about place yourself there.

Try scoth-snaps ...basically make the song your own, make them come alive!

http://www.vocalist.org.uk/vocal_techniques.html theres a bit about "Expression" in there

Answer 9

well, when i took voice lessons, that was also my problem. my coach would always tell me to feel my song more. so, that's my advice... feel your song! if it's sad or happy--- it will reflect in your voice.