Technique...Am I bothered?

[Sheridan]

Just how important is it to have good vocal technique?  You may argue that some singing megastars have never had a singing lesson in their lives. Is your prime concern that ‘all trained voices’ sound the same and you don’t want to lose your individuality? You may feel that working on style, performance and interpretation is time better spent.  Maybe it all sounds like a lot of boring hard work and is it really worth the effort anyway? In other words, ‘Am I bothered?’   

Any singer can be a better singer with a solid vocal technique.  Talent and technique however are clearly very different things.  A talented artist can appear brilliant, but in nearly every case voices acquire far greater depth, resonance, body, power and range when backed with a solid foundation of technique. The other big issue of course is that a correctly used voice will last longer, surely a positive for anyone who enjoys singing.

The idea that all trained voices sound the same is quite ridiculous. This opinion stems from the days when all singing training was classically biased. There are certain rounded vowel sounds and ways of pronouncing words that can give the impression of a ‘standard’ and often rather formal sound. I am a firm believer that individuality is pretty much everything.  ;)Technical training needs to support and enhance a unique voice, and certainly not mould it into a so-called ‘trained’ sound that we’ve all heard a million times before. If a voice has an appealing ‘gravely’ or ‘husky’ quality, then rather than get rid of it let’s back it up and support it, thus enabling the artist to produce his or her sound seemingly effortlessly and without any strain to the vocal folds.

Is it more fun working on style, interpretation and performance? Generally in the short term, yes, but here’s the point: When you really do understand and are physically able to apply the technical stuff, singing is far easier, your voice will have considerably more variety and you will enjoy singing more than ever. You can have the power you so desire, you can reach those higher notes without praying for them and you can sing your heart out without your voice feeling tired afterwards.

Finally, at least for now, is learning technique boring? I would say the direct opposite is true. Learning the tricks of the trade is fascinating and surprising; in many cases you can feel the benefits immediately!  The challenge therefore, is not in learning how, but in changing the habits of a lifetime. Take the pressure off yourself, learn some technique, get sold on it, and gradually you will find yourself integrating it into your performance. Go on people, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain! 

[Jenny*]

As well as technique, there is experience, or do those two things come as a package? Regardless of talent, to go to a vocal coach and to gain experience and learn technique must be of benefit to everyone? Even the best singers I have read about still go to a vocal coach because there is so much to learn.

[Brian]

Hello

I am a vocal coach so of course it is my opinion that there is always something to learn. Technique increases with experience in most cases Jenny but I have had the most experienced performers stood in front of me with the technique of a monkey and then on the other hand youngsters with technique way past there years. If ya don't wanna learn, then you are not going to be oen to coaching.

Evan as a coach, you learn something new every day. There is always something different wiht each student. It Would be like to hear more on this subject if there are other coaches out there. Getting to meet and talk to other coaches is rare.

Brian UK

[Sheridan]

Yes, I'd agree there... 

Good sound technique (ie. breathing, support, placement etc) can improve with experience, but equally habits can be formed - both good and bad.  Learning to resonate your voice differently or how to support your breathing isn't necessarily the hard bit - forming new habits, or worse still replacing the old ones is the tricky bit. 

I also find that I learn so much while teaching others.  So often I am placed in a position where I have analyse what I do in order to correct or help someone else. Sometimes a so-called 'break through' is a revelation to me too!  The day we stop learning is surely the day we start to stagnate.

So, singers, how do you like it to be?  Do you want to feel that 'technique' presents answers to vocal problems when they occur, or would you rather develop a solid and lasting technique to cover every eventuality... Or do you actally believe that your vocal technique is more tham adequate?

Your views please...

Sheridan 

[loisbradley]

I think a lasting and trained technique on your vocals, is better than not having.I sang A moment like this [leona lewis] 4.or 5 times today, and not having enough lessons with technique meant that I couldnt sing it again I am sure you will put that right Sheridan.I could still sing it but my vocal chords didnt want to know the low notes. Where am I going WRONG.
lO B X
Technique I am bothered

[Tyreece]

I have read the opionions of the you guys and theres some good advice to be taken. I do not go to a vocal coach unfortunatelt but would like to very much but I get coached at college by a great teacher. I am in a group and a choir and am of the opionion that you can get good technique through many avenues. When you sing with a group of people you learn so much by them. I am not saying to copy people but you see how their technique helps them and that they use different techniques to you that you might not have tried. From singing in my choir and groups I have picked up on so much. It must be great to go to a coach but it is also great to join a group of singers and learn from them too. I have started to talk to a few people online about singing and got some tips to. I don't know Leona Lewis music but she is talked about here so I am going to go look her up 

[Jaz x]

Sheridan, can you please magic up something that we could take and have AMAZING technique... please  ?

I think that technique is important, but sometime the less you think about getting these things right the easier they come. Stopping thinking about what you have to get right means you dont think about getting things wrong.

Technique is important but so is having fun.. you have to ask yourself if you plan to take a careea in singing, if you are technique would be a good place to start, but if you're just doing it for fun and so sing in public you dont imbarrass yourself too much then maybe technique isnt all you have to do.. am I making sence? I rarely do 

Jazzy xx

[rainbow]

Magic is a good idea Jazzy. Maybe you shold speak to the wizard rock guy that has posted on the general board 

What I woudl like to ask is whether you take different types of music into the equation when you teach or learn vocal technique or if you have to learn the same technique to start with whatever sort of singer you are?  I sing country and also a bit of rock. My voice is mostly a country sound because that is what I do best so do I need to learn technuque different to other singers, say a pop singer? Also could learning technuique make be better at doing other stuff. I would like to sing something a bit different but it doesn't suit my country voice. I would love some advice and you guys seem to know what you are talking about  Thanks

[Sheridan]

Great point there Rainbow!!   

Vocal Technique should definitely NOT interfere with a singer's individual style.

Whether it be country, rock, blues, R & B, jazz, the technique should back up the singer's natural style and voice, and certainly not make all singers sound the same... There are always ways of helping someone technically, and a good vocal coach should definitely adjust what they teach to suit the artist's style..

If you wish to sing more than in one style, then that can be so exciting as you learn to adapt your vocal instrument to the style!  All cool stuff!  I hope that answers your question.

Sheridan 

[Jaz x]

Rainbow can I just point out that I for one haven't a CLUE what I'm doing  but that makes it all the more fun..

Jazzy xx