If your main goal is to release a CD, then you first must set a date. WHEN will it be released? Take that date and divide it by the number of months between now and then. If your CD has 10 songs and you gave yourself 12 months to do it, you have a song a month to write and record, leaving you a 2 month window to mix, master and produce the final CD. Not a difficult task really IF we stick to it. But saying “I’m going to release my CD in 12 months” but you did not break that goal into smaller, manageable goals, chances are down the road ‘life’ will start to chip away at your resolution until all that remains is the opportunity to make yet another resolution. I know…been there, done that.

Writing all new songs sounds like a daunting task and before we even get started Writer’s Block and host of other ’stuff’ has us crippled. I wrote a weekly newspaper column on songwriting and recording and if you’re interested in reading my take on Writer’s Block and the tools you need to overcome it, check out http://kenncrawford.blogspot.com/2009/07/songwriters-guide.html

This year I am not making another resolution - I’m just going to write and record my songs instead.

~Kenn

When we started our mastering studio, we treated it more seriously than we did back in the day as young recording artists. Of course, it’s obviously a business (whereas, we didn’t all agree that our bands were businesses), but waking up in the morning knowing that the only person you can count on to promote what you’re doing is yourself, and that you have a big responsibility to make it happen, is a major determinate.

If I tried it again, and was starting over with my guitar today, I would take it all more seriously, and I would make sure my band mates did too. Don’t get me wrong, we used to be serious…about our music, but not about our success.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9lJrO3z5j4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyxIrfjla88

There are, indeed, people who are born with more natural talent than others, but sometimes those with less but who are willing to work at it get better than those with more. The important thing is not so much how you “sound” anyway… it’s how you “communicate”. If you learn to make your voice more communicative, it will find a better sound. Some of the most popular and effective artists in the world have limited ability.

Anyone who says that some people just can’t sing has never had an experience with a truly intuitive vocal coach who can help you find the voice you never knew you had.

The question really is; how bad do you want it? How much time/energy/dedication/money are you willing to invest to get it? Do you have to go broke to get it? NOPE! There are some great vocal training products out there, some not-so-great but some which can vastly improve your voice even without personal lessons. You can take a lesson every once in a while instead of regularly. You can read free blogs for vocal information. If you want it bad enough, you can do it.

I wanted to make one more point about why you should invest in vocal improvement as a songwriter: You’ll write better songs, too! When your voice is less limited, your song melodies will become more interesting. You will hear and “feel” the more pleasant sound of your own voice and it will make lyrics come to you easier.

If you really want to sing better, then go for it. There is always a way. You don’t need to sing like Andre Boccelli or Celine Dion in order to move an audience with music that makes a difference. Find your own voice, and if you need to, get help!