Even Amateur Carolers Can Make a Joyful Noise

There’s something about the holiday season that makes even the most amateur singer want to join in when it’s time for traditional Christmas caroling. Renee Grant-Williams, the voice coach for some of Nashville’s top-name stars, says caroling should be a joy for everyone — even the most unlikely singers.

“The point of caroling is to celebrate the season, so relax and have fun,” says Renee Grant-Williams. “Who cares if your pitch is off? And who can remember all the words to ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ anyway?”

Grant-Williams offers basic tips to give anyone’s singing voice a little boost:

1. Breathe by relaxing the throat and lower diaphragm muscles. Picture air falling from the throat to below the waist. Don’t fill up with air. Too much air in the chest area creates pressure around the neck.
2. Stand with a solid grip by pressing onto the ground with the balls of the feet. This takes strain off a singer’s throat and supports the tone.
3. The jaw should always be loose, but not necessarily wide open.
4. Try to feel the song vibrate at the top of the head rather than in the throat.

“I can’t guarantee that you’ll get a recording contract if you use these tips, but it might make singing carols just a little less intimidating and a lot more fun,” says Grant-Williams.

Grant-Williams says it’s important for carolers to protect their throats anytime they sing. For outdoor caroling, she encourages the caroler to layer clothing and use a scarf to keep the throat warm. For soothing tired throats don’t forget to take a thermos of something hot to drink. But she says don’t overdo it with the spiked eggnog because alcohol can be drying to the entire system as well as the throat.

“And please, when you sing, think about what the words really mean,” says Grant-Williams. “That’s probably the most helpful tip of all. It always amazes me how simply thinking about the words and their meaning can improve the tone.”

Grant-Williams works with celebrities including Faith Hill, Keith Urban, the Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw, Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), Kenny Chesney, and Huey Lewis. She has created a three part DVD that covers basic technique as well as a daily warm up CD for singers . Grant-Williams has been quoted by Cosmopolitan, US Weekly, TV Guide, Business Week, Billboard, Southern Living, the Associated Press, UPI, the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Globe, and the San Francisco Chronicle. She has appeared on many broadcast outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Bravo, USA, MTV, CMT, GAC, BBC, PBS, and NPR.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Renee Grant-Williams, call 615-259-4900 or visit www.MyVoiceCoach.com