Article May 10, 1993 Issue

How you can find your natural voice

God has given all of us a unique way of expressing our spirituality.

Kathryn V. Wood

After an exhilarating writing course last summer, our professor sent us on our way with this thought-provoking advice: "Go forth and write in your natural voice."

Those words really struck a chord with me. I recalled a voice teacher, a Christian Scientist, who had once told me, "When your technique has been perfected, your voice should sound as naturally produced as a bird sings—flowing, joyous, easy. You and the bird are simply praising your creator in song."

Early in my life, before I found Christian Science, I had a small-town "professional" singing career going. At around thirteen I was earning fifteen dollars for singing at weddings and ten dollars for funerals. I felt pretty good about my budding "career" until some well-meaning people in the pop-music field suggested that I change my voice from soprano to a low contralto in order to sing blues and rock songs. This kind of music, they explained, would appeal to a wider audience, and I'd make more money.

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