Miley Cyrus (Destiny Hope Cyrus)
Disney's Hannah Montana
I get hundreds of e-mails and calls every day from Miley Cyrus' fans wanting to know about Miley, why she worked with me, and what they can do to have a successful singing career. So I've created this page to answer those questions.
Miley came to work with me in the summer of 2005, before she moved to California with her family to begin working on the Disney show, Hannah Montana, with her father Billy Ray Cyrus.
From the first moment we met I found Miley to be warm, friendly, and very, very funny. We quickly developed a bond as friends as well as student and voice teacher. I began calling her “Smiley”, because she always had this great big smile on her face. I didn’t know for almost a year that Miley was taken from her nick name, which is short for Smiley.
One main reason Miley came to work with me is, like all serious singers, she wanted to be sure that she was singing correctly. It was important to Miley that she protect her vocal instrument so her voice would last.
Miley was born with “natural talent,” but even natural talent needs direction. And what she needed most was to learn some good basic techniques. During her time with me Miley and I worked on breath control. A singer should breathe the air into the lower part of their body so they can use the muscles down there to sing and protect their throat. To learn the same breathing techniques as Miley click here.
We also worked on how to support her sound so that she could hit those high notes with ease and carry her high notes longer. Miley sent me a note after she moved to California and said, "I miss you so much! My voice is so much better. I can hit high notes without sounding like a dying German Shepard!!..." Miley was really funny when she was making fun of herself. To learn how to support your sound click here.
A lot of Miley’s fans write and ask me what they can do to achieve the same “super stardom” that Miley has. I won’t say it’s not possible, but very few artists ever reach the place in their careers that Miley has. The list is very short, I think she will come to rank up there with the Beatles, Elvis, Michael Jackson, Patsy Cline, Madonna, Marilyn Monroe. BUT I can give you some advice on having a successful career in music.
1. You must have talent. I can help you to correct many things about your voice, but I cannot give you talent.
2. You must work hard at your singing career. I can assure you, Miley does, her life is no picnic. She’s up early, she practices, she works on her music, and her acting. She gives up “normal” teenager stuff to improve her craft.
3. Get a good foundation. If you want to learn the same breathing, support and resonance that I taught Miley I highly suggest that you begin with my Vocal Master Class on DVD.
4. Once you have a good foundation, find a vocal coach that teaches breathing from your lower abdominals. If you are interested in working with me or one of my associates you can reach my office via e-mail at MyVoiceCoach@aol.com. We can set you up for a voice lesson, either in the studio or by phone, if you cannot get to Nashville. (If you are under 18 please have your parents contact us.)
5. Practice, practice, practice. Need I say more?
6. Take our "Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Star" quiz at the top of this web page. If you have what it takes then you will be a star some day!
I wish you luck.
Renee Grant-Williams
