Singing From Your Soul

I have always loved to sing and from a very young age I knew that's what I wanted to be! A singer!

I grew up listening to Barbra Streisand who was my major influence in my love for singing(along with my mother.) I remember my mother singing to Babs while cleaning the house and singing "Second Hand Rose", "He Touched Me". "Song Bird" etc. etc. etc.
If it was a Barbra Streisand song I knew it! Not only the words but every inflection and could anticipate how she would end a song or go for the big notes.

Unfortunately...I did develop a few bad habits from trying to emulate her sound. One of which was moving my jaw to the side when I sing and probably
pushing my chest up into my head to gain volume up high which I believe caused a lot of my breaks but...nonetheless I loved singing. But until now...I haven't been able to access the real voice I had hidden inside struggling so hard to get out!

We'll get back to that story but...imagine me at age 5...I must get a picture from my mother! Anyway...I had long straight hair, dressed up in dresses most of the time that my mother made and I was always twirling around singing. I lived to watch the "Donny and Marie" Show and "Lawrence Welk!" Can you believe that?

The next step...Kindergarten...to be continued...

Here I am...five years old and it's time for music in my Kindergarten class. Oh how I loved music! I was born loving music!

I don't remember what we were singing but as we were singing it and some people were having a hard time catching on. So Mrs. Burns said "Everyone listen to how Jennifer sings it and then do the same."

GULP! WHOAH! I was being pointed out as an example of how to sing correctly.(That would be the last time in my life.)

So...I sang. I think it may have been "Doe a Deer a female Deer." Mrs. Burns said "That's beautiful Jennifer...now everyone else try it."

That was the first moment that I felt so excited about possibly having a God given talent that was just there. I hadn't had voice lessons yet but I did love to sing and always had. This was it! That's what I wanted to do! I wanted to be a singer!

I actually think I knew that before I was five but that gave me an extra boost of confidence that someone else actually agreed that I might have a gift.

So...the story starts off nicely but I have and still have many struggles ahead of me!

I bought a new singing program about a month or so ago and it is AMAZING!!! I don't usually endorse products unless they work.

I haven't even gone through the whole program which has 14 CD's I believe and it is sooooo amazing!

I started out doing the exercises and could start on an A flat below middle C and maybe got up to a high C and now...only doing it two times a week which is when I bring my son to pre-school...my range has changed to a low G below middle C and I reached a crazy G above High C. Now this is just in the exercises which in the beginning are not using any vowels but...still...it is AMAZING!!!

I have so much more to write about this program!

I'll be giving you some tips from this great program!

If you are interested in learning more about it visit Brett Manning's Singing Success Program

There is a free lesson on the site and many "before and after" clips. He also lets you watch snippets of his teaching sessions.

The Program I mentioned earlier in my lens is "Brett Manning's Singing Success Program." Not only I think it's amazing but here are just a few "Singing Success" Stories of his clients.

"For the first time in my singing career, singing is now as easy as speaking. Thank you Singing Success and thank you Brett Manning."
Lyndon Barrington Allen
Dove Award Nominee

"Brett possesses a fully integrated knowledge and systematic approach to developing a healthy, natural sound, combined with a wonderful artistic sensibility, keen ear and positive approach. Brett is my first and only voice teacher. Since studying with him I have added over a half octave to my voice and feel an easy release throughout my entire vocal range. I can recommend Brett to professionals at the top of their game, as well as those taking their first steps to discovering their potential and everyone in between."
Steve Cosmo Mallardi
Broadway Musical Director:
Les Miserables and Jekyll and Hyde

Mr. Manning,
I'm sure that I don't have to tell you how incredible your program is. I just feel like I need to share something with you, about my recent experience with it. Again, I have no doubt that you hear similar stories all of the time, however...

I just purchased your Singing Success Course three weeks ago. I have had significant vocal damage over the last two years due to GERD, and had lost approximately four notes from my upper range, which is the original reason I ordered your program. After listening to your video and the Introduction CD, I was convinced that your system could help me. I then began my "therapy" using Lesson One of the technique sessions. I was only allowing myself to practice 10 minutes a day for the first week. Then, as I began to feel better, I began extending the time. I now do two 20 minute sessions a day, with a half hour break in between. I moved on to Lesson Two yesterday and then went out to Karaoke with my friends that evening. I planned to only sing one song with an easy range.

Well, I ended up singing three songs with absolutely no pain! Additionally, my last song was Bridge Over Troubled Water (the Simon and Garfunkle version). About halfway through it, I realized that my control over the R&B licks was effortless! Then, when I got to the the high part after "Sail on, Silver girl" I made the jump without any extra push, whatsoever! And that's not all!! When it came to the highest note of the song (my recent limit), I just knew I would own it, and so I actually shot up two extra tones, just for a beat, to really make the moment my own. My friends were dumbfounded! All of this with no stress, no strain, less than half the air, and most importantly, no pain!!!!

In other words, in just three weeks with your system, I have achieved the following:

1) Obvious relief and apparent healing from the scorched vocal cords.
2) A total revamping of my singing technique (beginning stages)
3) New, easier control over my vocal "licks"
4) I've regained the vocal range that I had "lost" over the last two years

While I still have breaks between my co-ordinations, they have become much less noticeable and I am confident that they will fade away as I continue. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart! I believe that you are a gift to all singers from God himself!
Randy L. Heyer
West Palm Beach, FL

Dear Brett, I purchased the Singing Success program and love it. I was asked to sing a solo at church. After I sang the solo, people keep asking me to sing again. Especially my choir director. This is all thanks to you!
Liz Jackson
Greensboro, GA

"After 40 years off and on Broadway and God only knows how many voice teachers, finally a method that really works. Hallelujah! God bless you Brett!"
Richard Mathews, NYC

"We love you, Brett!"
The cast of Elton John's Broadway smash, "Aida"

"After 17 years of singing professionally, with several #1 hits, I feel like I've found my voice only in the last few weeks! Brett Manning's amazing technique added almost an octave to my range in one lesson. Instead of straining and only sometimes reaching high C's I now sail right past high C to high G with no vocal strain! Thanks Brett. This feels like magic.

By the way, my children have used your program for years now and they all have fat bank accounts from singing studio sessions in some of the nicest studios in Nashville. We are all very grateful, as you can imagine."
Morgan Cryar
Dove Award Nominee

"It is only on a few rare occasions during an entire lifetime that one meets a Master Teacher: one who truly inspires and permanently changes the course of a life. Brett Manning is such an individual."
Claudia Goodman
The Goodman Family

Hello Brett, I bought your curriculum about a year ago, ... just to update you, my band recently released our first CD, and have gotten very good reviews...We got 2 calls from Word Records--Otto Price saying he loved it. I'll keep you posted. If you want to hear it, check out our site below.
Lonnie Bos
Tracing Days www.tracingdays.com

This is Joe Pignato from Central Florida. I'm one of your phone lesson students from a while back. I'm just writing to say thank you, thank you, thank you!!! My voice seems to improve a little more everyday with your methods. I'm doing things I never thought I would be able to do!"
Joe Pignato
Orlando, FL

I have been going through your Singing Success material and have been able to sing freely much higher than normal without putting strain on my voice. I could have kissed your feet when that happened! My voice went well above soprano high C, which I haven't been able to do for years. When I was young I had an incredible voice and range but I have been neglecting the gift for years, sad to say. I feel that you have been placed in my life for this very purpose...so I can sing beautifully again.
Sandra Pearce, Seattle WA

Dear Brett: I am a vocalist with a Bachelors and Masters Degree in vocal performance. I have been singing all of my life and I have been studying singing for seventeen years.

I have been frustrated because of what the so-called pedigreed teachers have been telling me for years, like "supporting from your diaphragm, bring the sound forward, lift your soft pallet". All my singing life I've asked God, "how is anyone able to express and feel free in singing with all this."

As a result, I've had a lot of vocal issues and have been straining for my head voice and of course as a result, I have lost three notes (upper register). I always knew that there was a way to
unlock my voice but what always frustrated with the techniques my professors of voice have been giving me.

I was never able to feel free in my performance or with my talent. I prayed to the Lord and as a result, the Spirit of God led me to your web site and your "Singing Success Program." I got it in the mail and let me tell you this "OH MY!"

The First lesson exercise I found my whistle tone and not only that, now I can sing higher WITHOUT ANY STRUGGLE OR STRAIN. I 've got my head voice back and then some. That
was all on the first day of receiving your system.

Keep on with your ministry and your career. You are helping a lot of singers and musicians become liberated in their art. You are truly a gift to all singers. When I get my Grammy Award, I will definitely be thanking you. I am telling all my friends in the biz. May the Lord Bless and Keep
you in all that you do.

Joshua Jones, Pennsylvania

Brett Manning's Mastering Vibrato lives up to the expectations established in his Singing Success program. Brett has created a 3-CD instructional product designed to help students develop, strengthen, and control their vibratos to establish the sound and vocal quality they seek in a variety of musical genres.

The 3-CD program embodies the perfect combination of instruction, modeling, practice, and application. Not only does Brett explain the dynamics of vibrato, but he also models the techniques for enhancing vibrato and gives his students the opportunity to practice the exercises he demonstrates. He also gives excellent instructions and examples intended to ensure singing success and vibrato mastery.

Pedagogically, Brett's Mastering Vibrato program (along with his popular Singing Success program) is one of the best vocal instructional programs on the market today. The only thing better is one-on-one instruction with Brett."
Kristie J. Rowley, Ph.D.
Education Policy, Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

"Brett Manning is by far one of the most effective and efficient voice teachers. His intimate understanding and knowledge of the myriad of vocal demands required of every level of singer, makes him invaluable to the creative process. Brett consistently produces MARKETABLE vocalists of the highest quality, through an ongoing, healthy involvement with the newest sounds and styles utilized by only the cutting edge artists. I would recommend Brett Manning to singers who have the greatest commitment to improving their track record."
Greg Enriquez
World-class vocal instructor
Las Vegas, NV

"It developed my voice and helped me accomplish my dream."
Deneyse Ellen Varnsdale
Miss Southwest Michigan, 2003

As an already established recording artist in the Christian music industry, I thought there was more from my voice that I still wasn't getting out of it. Brett Manning helped me find an extra half octave on the top end of my range and gave me a deeper, richer tone with far less effort.

I've been busy painting our old house that we are moving back into(long story)and so I haven't had much time to really practice. But of course I've been singing as I paint and pack. I can easily do my exercises as I do things but I always have the urge to just sing and forget about the exercises. I know we all do this! We just want to get to the singing but...if we just warm up for a half an hour or so a day then it will keep your voice in fairly good shape for that inpromptu break out in song.

When I get a little more settled in one home I will be posting vocalises that you can use on a daily basis to help you warm up.

I may even have snippets of me singing although as soon as I try to sing...my daughter starts singing over me!

She has an adorable little voice so I'll have to start training her soon!

Have a nice day and sing out loud!(without straining)

Jennifer

Even though I don't have as much time as I'd like...these CD's can be done anywhere in the car,in your house or just anywhere you're not embarresed to do the exercises. Now I have some videos on this site of me singing and I still have some vocal problems only because I haven't gone all the way through the program. I have a lot going on and had to stop but I did see a difference with power and can sing talk a little better. That is one of my problem areas.
Even though I don't have much time the exercises that I have done have stuck with me and I remember what they are for and I pull them out when I need them.

This year's resolution is to practice more regularly, get through these tapes and start writing songs and recording them. In the meantime you will hear me sing in my bathroom acapella mostly with no mic affects or anything. Yes I do need more work but at least I feel confident enough to show a tape of myself where as before I had this system...I would never ever do that!