Are people just born good singers or do they practice?
Ok so I'm 15 and it's my dream to be a singer.When I was little,I didn't care about singing or anything,but now I do and I really want to sing and plan on auditioning for American Idol at the age of 18 cause if I tell my parents I want to audition,they would probably just laugh at me and make me feel bad.So I'm just going to take my time till I reach 18 where I can finally make my own decisions.But I alsohave a pretty bad voice and want to change it:/But are singers just born good singer or do they take classes to become better?Cause Adele has a really good voice that most artist won't be able to beat.Thanks
I'm ugly. My friend is beautiful?
Omg I know how you feel. My best friend is so gorgeous and I felt horrible next to her because it seemed like very guy in school wanted her! I learned though that being confident will totally help! I have one of the cutest guys in school now as my amazing boyfriend (of 5 1/2 months:D) and more of the guys talk to me. Try being confident and not comparing yourself to her! Practice standing up straight, smiling, and being nice to everyone, just a smile in the hallway to someone will make them like you even more. Practice will eventually make it come naturally after a little bit!! (My best guy friend told me once that confidence in a girl is very attractive! He's 17!)
Can voice lessons significantly improve the voice of someone with very little singing talent? Or are they really just meant for those with singing talent?Should you see a specific type of voice teacher or would any of them be helpful?
The truth is that often the people with the most vocal talent are the ones who have the hardest time learning how to sing. People get confused a lot of the time because they're used to seeing a standard bell curve, where there's normal in the middle (highest probability) and then on either side there are very low probability "extremely talented" and "extremely untalented." This is pretty inaccurate. In fact, all the stuff that is making the "extremely untalented" group feel untalented is the same stuff that makes them physiologically unique-- and a physiologically unique vocal tract is always a good thing.Put another way: the worst student I've ever heard was this enormous guy. Tons of voice teachers had heard him and determined that he was the least talented student they'd ever heard. His tongue always seemed to be in the way, he had this huge larynx, and this huge neck, and it was all just kind of unwieldy. Needless to say, he's pursuing professional singing now and has one of the most exciting voices I've ever heard. Because all of those physiological traits that make a person terrible at singing are double-edged swords. Which is one of the beautiful things about learning how to sing. The more you embrace your perceived weaknesses, the more they become the things that set you apart and make you better than everyone else once you've mastered them.Now, to get down to the business of mastering them. I totally agree with Kathryn Schekall's answer here, and I'd like to point out that she also describes herself as having had "very little talent" at the beginning. This is standard among people who actually did have talent from the start. My father is a composer, and my whole family has always been musical--but it took a choir director when I was 16 to tell me that maybe I was talented, and I didn't take voice lessons for years after. Until then, I thought I was the least talented singer in the world.So yes, find a voice teacher. Any voice teacher. Preferably someone with some understanding of physiology. And hold them to a high standard. If you don't feel like your mind is being blown in lessons, find someone else, because there are a million teachers and a few of them (the best ones) can really change your life.Good luck!
How do I bring regularity to my meditation practice? How do I keep the spark always lit to meditate and make it a part of my life?
Thank you for asking such practical question. It is good to know that you already have aspiration to bring regularity in meditation.Before I suggest some tips, I would like to share my story:I started meditation practice in Feb 2007. It was easy to sit every morning and attend group meditations until I was in my hometown. In July 2007, I left home for my studies. I found it hard to sit everyday for meditation in hostel life. My room was triple sharing and someone was always there chitchatting.And most important, I did not have that craving for it. Therefore, my meditation practice was quite irregular. I was supposed to sit every morning for at least half an hour, while I was sitting just for 10–15 minutes, only few days a week.But one magical thing was there. Fortunately, that city had a beautiful meditation center and a lovely group of people who used to meditate there every Sunday. That was my favorite place. I used to attend all meditations there. Initially, people’s remarks of ‘Deep, Beautiful Meditation’ were strange to me. I could not feel much difference meditation brought in my state of mind. Still I continued with my irregular individual practice and going to that heavenly place.You know what, even that small attempt of regularly going and meditating in the center, brought big changes in my life. Slowly, I too started feeling ‘Deep’ meditation in that center. And, that was just beginning. Slowly my individual meditation too started getting deeper.Even though I could not meditate daily until I was there (for 2.5 years), sessions at center kept inspiring me to regulate my practice. And, as soon as I began my job and took a separate room on rent, my meditation practice came on track. I could not find 1 hour in morning, so I started with 30 minutes every morning at 7. Fixing the time helped me dive deeper in daily meditation.Within a year, I was doing everything as suggested. Even I could continue this with different phases of life like marriage, motherhood etc..I think when we feel good in something, naturally we want to do more of that. We may not implement everything then and there, but we begin to think about it. Continuous efforts keep that spark lit, as you beautifully said.My suggestion is, don’t think. Do whatever you can do. Walk small steps if big ones are not possible. I am sure one day you will find all time you need.All the best!
Is age 13 too late to start ice skating?
1. Is it too late to start ice skating at age 13? 2. I don't expect to go to any national competition, though would it be possible for me to compete in competitions (not a real competitive or big competition) with skaters my age? 3. How should the skates fit your feet and what are some good brand names that arent too expensive? 4. I'm a little embarrassed about taking beginner classes with five year olds. I know I shouldn't be, but what else could I do for lessons - are private lessons really expensive? 5. I don't currently play any other sports, I have played tennis and softball for a short amount of time. Is it true you need a lot of dance background to succeed in ice skating? I am coordinated, but not a very good dancer. Thank you for your help!
What is the difference between Varnashram Dharma and modern day caste system?
Varnashram dharma as described in the Bhagavad Gita is described as a beautiful organized human society where people live in harmony and peace. How did the caste brahmins let it go out of hand or where did the perversion of the caste system come from? Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who was incarnated as God Himself Krishna, used to embrace the untouchables and He glorified Haridas Thakur as the Namacharya or teacher of the Holy name. Haridas Thakur was considered an outcast and muslim by hindus. But Sri Caitanya loved him so much that when Haridas Thakur died, Sri Caitanya carried his body and wept. He said that now the ocean is a great holy place because Haridas Thakur bathed there. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached that ANYONE including animals can have a chance to love God.
Is singing a genetic talent? Can you learn singing as an adult?
The genetic component of singing has to do with the size, length, and thickness of the vocal folds, which affects timbre and agility, range, among other things, and resonant spaces in your head, the size of the bones, the shape of your vocal tract, the length of your tongue, etc. Everything that comprises your vocal instrument, except for training and technique - how you have learned to use your voice.You can definitely learn as an adult. I started lessons at age 39, because my voice became airy in my mid-late 30's. Turns out it was a poor vocal habit I probably developed as a child. Younger voices can get away with a lot more, but as you age, your voice won't always comply with these tricks. Children who are trained in correct technique from a young age, by mimicking the right way or by trained ears of parents, choir teachers, other singing influences and teachers, etc, will have a better starting point. However, that doesn't mean you can't learn because you never really sang up until now.As an adult, you can choose to prioritize your time for lessons and practice, and you hopefully have more flexible funding that you can direct toward lessons with a very qualified teacher. Go for it. The joy from doing that for yourself will yield many times over when you can sing happily.
Can I learn Bharatnatyam at 30?
Why not?It's not your age; it's your interest and health which matter in learning Bharatnatyam.I always wanted to learn Bharatnatyam from an early age, but my dad was against it.Though he was not strict with us , he hated girls dancing in front of others.He never allowed me and my sister to perform even in school.But I had passion towards Bharatnatyam. Last year I and my son passed in front of dance class .I told my son about my interest to learn dance and that my dad had not allowed it. He immediately dragged me there, saying come and join now. I said no and came back home.He spoke to my husband, and both forced me to join.I hesitated only because of my age, as I was already 36 . But both of them encouraged me to join.Before joining, I called my dance teacher and I introduced myself, and in very low voice I told my age. Without allowing me to talk further she told me, your age doesn't matter, you can learn.I am learning with small kids from the age group of 8 to 15.Yes, for the first few classes I felt awkward in front of small kids but got adjusted within a month, and now if I do wrong they happily teach me.I am not the best dancer, and I may not give any stage shows, but I am happy that at least I know a bit of Bharatnatyam .