What does "mature" voice mean?

Question:I recently went to an audition and they had me sing three songs and then they said that I had amazing "natural talent" and some other junk before polietly saying that I needed my voice to mature. I'm pretty sure I sang everything pretty well, so what is this mature thing? And how do I make it happen?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I recently went to an audition and they had me sing three songs and then they said that I had amazing "natural talent" and some other junk before polietly saying that I needed my voice to mature. I'm pretty sure I sang everything pretty well, so what is this mature thing? And how do I make it happen?

Hello Kristin,

Just about all the answers already given are right on the mark, so I probably won't be saying anything new, but I'd like to respond and encourage you anyway.

What a wonderful thing that judges should have identified you as being an 'amazing natural talent!' That says a great deal about your potential as you and your voice develops in the coming years.

When they said that you 'need to let your voice mature', they meant it quite literally. The sound you are producing now - though wonderful - still has the characteristics of a "young voice" for whatever part they needed.

As you (and your voice) get older and develop, range, timbre, strength, and character of tone will also develop ("mature"). Your range will increase. The timbre or quality of sound will change from "sounding like a little girl" to the "sound of a grown woman". Your ability to express a larger variety of tones from subtle pianissimos (very quiet sound), to powerful intense sound will grow. Even the character of your voice will become fuller, "warmer" and stronger. This is what is meant by letting the voice mature.

Guess what? The best thing you can do is to continue to sing every day and learn healthy singing habits. There's nothing that will "make it happen" in a hurry. If you're not college age yet, then don't worry. Give yourself time. Your voice will develop and your auditions will increasingly result with openings to parts you'll enjoy singing. Be open to accepting small parts when large parts are given to someone else.

If you are not studying voice with a good voice teacher at present, when you're 16 or 17 may be a good time to begin. In the meantime, keep singing, and enjoy the process.

Best wishes.
PS. There are "artificial ways" of "sounding older" (if you're a good imitator), but the danger there is forming bad habits from doing so. I don't recommend it.

They want a older sounding voice.

Every show calls for a different kind of voice. For example, in casting Les Mis, a casting director would look for a more mature sound for Fantine and a less mature sound for Eponine. As you get older, your voice will naturally begin to sound more mature (even Kristin Chenoweth sounds more mature now than she did years ago!).

Something that you can (and should) always be doing as a singer is to take voice lessons. This will mature you as a performer and give you the skills you need to carry that "natural talent" throughout your life.

As long as you did your audition to the best of your ability then you did nothing wrong! :)

I hope this helps!!!

It's probably an age thing. A voice tends to gain character and different tone over time and this is probably what they're talking about.

you can't necessarily make this happen.... as we grow older, and sing more often, our voices take on other qualities that a younger voice might not. For instance, child stars often shine, but reach optimum success as they age, and find their own true style. If you listen to Christina Aguilera's first album, and then listen to her most recent one, you will find her voice has a very different quality... it has more depth, more resonance, and sounds heartier, as opposed to Britney Spears or Hilary Duff, who's voices probably will not mature because the nature of their voice is head-voice and childlike. We still love them all, there's just a difference. Best advice for you is to continue singing, and just wait until you've reached that maturity level.... don't rush things, as that never works. Continue singing-- its a beautiful thing, and maybe take Classical Choir... its what I did to enhance my voice maturity wise... Choral music teaches you proper use of Bravado, in addition to enunciation, stoccatto, and other musical foundations that help you as a singer. Just some tips! :-)

maybe it just means your voice after puberty