BECOMING AN AMAZING SINGER

Dear Jellybean,

Lately I've been thinking more and more about singing. I can sing alright, but I can't go really high (like the yell thing). When I'm singing along to a song I hear myself as a good singer, but I've recorded myself and it sounds--horrible! I know I can sing alright but when I listen to a recording it sounds like I'm trying really hard and that I'm really quiet. I've been wondering: what do vocal lessons do? If you aren't born an amazing singer, can you become one? Also, there's something that's been bugging me: When you listen to a CD or recorded song by a singer, it sounds amazing, but a lot of the time when they sing live they sound really bad. Why is this?! Do they altar their voices in the recording studio or something? My biggest dream is to somehow become this great famous singer, or to sing a solo at school, but I'm not even in choir and I get extreme stagefright. Can you help me? Thanks a HEAP!!!
-Solo-somethin?

Dear Solo-somethin,

Unfortunately, vocal lessons can't turn just anyone into Kelly Clarkson. Some people are born with natural singing talent, just like others are born with a natural talent for drawing or playing hockey or writing poetry. If you aren't a great singer before taking vocal instruction, chances are that you won't be siging any record deals after you've taken lessons. But if you enjoy singing and would like to become better at it, vocal lessons can help you improve your singing ability to a certain degree. Voice teachers work one-on-one with you to teach you about proper breathing and singing techniques to help you sound better when you sing.

As for stage fright, it's a pretty natural feeling. Most people get freaked when they have to perform in front of a crowd. Vocal lessons might help you become more confident about your voice - even if they can't make you into a totally fabulous singer - and that confidence can go a long way towards eliminating your nervousness about performing.

When it comes to recorded music, even people with amazing natural singing talent sometimes need extra help. Just as you suspect, almost all the singing you have ever heard on a CD or on the radio has been electronically assisted. When singers go into a music studio to record a song, their music producer uses a bunch of electronic gadgets to "enhance" the singer's voice, making it sound completely smooth, professional and perfect. When you see someone live in concert, unless they're lip-synching to a recording of themselves, they rarely sound as good as they do on their album. That's because there's no electronic help, and also because it's hard to sing perfectly when you're running around a huge stage or doing exhausting dance numbers.