Finding your voice in your art builds self-confidence. An artist who has a well defined voice stands out in the crowd. Have you ever started reading an article, or exerpt from a book, and thought, "I know this author." You might have even identified her before looking at the by-line. The same thing happens when you look at art. The masters can be identified by most people. You can tell a VanGough, for instance, from a Rembrant or Monet. Can you pick up a family photograph and determine who took that shot? Do you know the voice, style, of your best friend's paintings? Our artist voices are as distinct as our speaking voices. Even before caller i.d., we would know who called us as soon as the person started talking.

My younger sister, Joy, is staying with me for a few weeks. If you were to call my house, and Joy answered, you might think it was me because our voices are similar. However, there are subtle differences, and I think that the people who are closest to us would hear the difference both in how we speak and what we say. Joy is a voice teacher and works with singers to develop their unique voice. She says that everyone can sing. The people who think they can't sing probably had some "choir" trauma at some point in their lives, were told to be quiet when they sang, or suffered through unfair comparisons. Joy is available for voice lessons while she's staying in the Brainerd lakes area. She can help you identify your unique voice, find your range, and what songs are best for you to sing. If you'd like to work on developing your voice as a singer, and build your confidence, email her at Joy@itsajoystudio.com.
Click over to her blog, It's a Joy, http://joy-ciaffoni.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-successful-day.html, to read more about feeling successful in singing and in life.

Read my writer's blog, Play off the Page, for entertainment reviews and how communities connect through the arts. www.maryaalgaard.blogspot.com. If you'd like me to review your performances, please send an ivitation to me at mary.aalgaard@yahoo.com.

Go. Create. Inspire!