Deniw quoted:
> I read your post on the SG list about vocalists and I could tell you know
> what you are talking about. I have a question for you, can vocal lessons
> make a "bad" singer good? I don't have a good voice. If I took vocal
> instructions from a good teacher, could I get a good voice? Or would all
> the proper training not do someone like me any good?
I'm probably not able to answer that question much better than you, but I'll
give you/him some hints on what I did and am still doing to get my voice
straight:
1. BEFORE EVER THINKING OF STARTING TO SING ( emphatic, not yelling upper
case ) I think everyone should, or must, look for a speech therapist or
equivalent professional, have the voice analyzed both accoustically and
through equipment. If necessary, see an ENT specialist too and at the same
time ( or better, look for an ENT who works integrated with the speech
therapist ) to make sure and, if necessary again, treat whatever problems
remain. Ask to have your larynx taped and analyzed. One of my biggest
problem has been forcing to sing low ( like a 'man', due to my body frame
and look, to fulfill mine and the teachers' expectations ) while I'm a tenor
( and maybe a contertenor ). I would have avoided that ( although I still
try. Do as I say, don't do as I do! ) if I had paid attention to my doctor
as soon as he heard my voice and then taped my larynx: "If you get angry and
try to scold someone with a rough voice, you'll probably get voiceless. On
the other hand, go the other way round and you won't have many limits." It
doesn't sound as a compliment to a man, but it's THE TRUTH! )
2. Participate in discussion lists like these. You can learn a lot and have
references for research.
3. Select a teacher who's able to teach exactly what you want, or can
explain why what you want is preposterous, who listens to your expectations
and tries to fulfill them within your natural limitations. Don't hesitate to
change teachers when you notice that, although he or she is great, he/she
may not be able to help YOU. Natural-born singers are likely to learn with
any teacher, but not us.
4. My experience: DON'T GO TO TEACHERS WHO SAY THEY TEACH ONLY POP SINGING.
That generally hides someone who can't sing at all.
5. Try to determine exactly what your limitations are ( the more you study
about singing, the more you'll notice problems you didn't even suspect ) and
look around to find out a solution to them, which may not lie in singing,
but in related areas most teachers ( at least in Brazil ) seem to be
completely clueless of: Alexander technique, yoga, TM, SPEECH THERAPY,
Reichian therapy, Bioenergetics ( Even if you're an atheist like me, Esalen,
in California, may offer you workshop that will help you regardless of the
explanation they give to it ) , etc and how they relate with singing.
Maybe I could think of some more advice, but I'm not inspired ( it's too hot
here today ).
Bye,
Caio Rossi
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