Singers beware…..or should I say parents beware for your child. Check out this scenerio.
You daughter is 13 years old, has a beautiful voice and loves to sing.
You have started to take her to singing lessons every week to the lady across town. She is the teacher everyone takes their children to. She has been teaching for over 30 years. The students all have beautiful voices. Some of these students have gone on to pursue singing as a career, and a few have majored in voice at university.
The students are auditioning in jazz bands and orchestras, theatre productions and radio. Some are looking for record deals and travelling in a band. Unfortunately, some of these singers are not getting “the job”, largely because of ONE REASON.
Are you ready for the reason? Are you sure you’re ready? It’s very simple.
These students, with their beautiful voices, are unable to sing powerfully in their lower register. That’s right. That’s all it is. Power in the chest register.
Their technique is so developed in the head register (with an open throat and lowered larynx), that they have trouble allowing this to change in order to sing pop, rock, contemporary, and Broadway……yes….I said Broadway. To these singers, this feels “wrong”.
So, in closing, parents beware. There are different ways to train the voice. Do you know how yours is being trained?
I think it is so unfortunate that universities do not offer training or classes on modern vocal technique. The singing voice of today needs to sound “current,” since that is what the music industry is looking for. As a singer myself, who is passionate about singing pop/R&B/soul styles, I wish there were more education opportunities for myself and others who love to sing these genres. I once auditioned for a Jazz program in Toronto, and the professor said that I was talented, but that I sounded too “pop.” I was not accepted into their program because I sounded too “pop.” I think that’s wrong, and all singers should have the freedom to be versatile, especially in school. Universities should offer both classical and modern vocal technique training. It would be up to date with famous pop singers of today, plus it would make a singer become more prepared when entering the music industry (a versatile voice!). I’m surprised no one has developed a school within Canada that focuses on only modern vocal technique… there needs to be a school dedicated to pop singers. A pop singer should have every right to receive a university degree in modern vocal technique, as much as a classical singer can receive a degree is classical vocal technique. I’m hoping that change will happen one day!
Thanks for commenting. Your post says it all.