vocal techniques

[milfus]

Hey,as the need for me doing melodic vocals is rising, I have been searching for techniques and lessons and drills to no end, they are helping immensely, but the problem I am finding is there is a lot of misinformation, so I am having to reference like 20 different sources and look for the most common factors and practice those, which is working, except for the unique and inspiring in the lessons and drills that I cant sort out, which get left by the way side.So I said to my self, hey self, theres a board full of really talented vocalist that could probably help you out with removing all the chaff and point you towards the right stuff. to which I responded, DAMN why didn't I think of that? to which I responded back, cause, you are slow. At that point there wasn't any point talking anymore because I was being petty.Before it comes up, I am NOT looking for a vocal coach, I have too much basic technique (posture, resonance, diaphram support, mouth shaping, tongue placement) to cover to even think of wasting a coaches time, and honestly I would like to wait until the fine tuning stages before enlisting one anyway, at least get out of my obvious rough spots. So if you can sing pretty well/know how to sing well, and could point me to a few spots and just kinda vouch that its all valid, or tell me whats valid on it and whats kind of questionable, I will love you forever, there is just 20 answers for every freakin question. I know that singing is personalized, and no one does it the same, but I was hoping to personalize it AFTER I master the basic techniques. Keep in mind two things, one, I am only about 4 weeks in on the vocal training, and two, if its a matter of just plain hard work, it wont deter me at all, So if something seems too involved or over my head or somethin, feel free to cut it, if something seems like a ton of hard work, lay it on me.

[hummingbird]

I'm afraid I don't know of any method written in books or articles or provided on CD/DVD that effectively assists someone to experience the correct sensation or establish good habits or sing in the healthiest manner possible. The trouble with all that stuff is we read/hear it through our current state of understanding. However, I will say that healthy singing is singing with ease & refinement at the same time and that it takes about 3 months to get a basic foundation assuming one has decent instruction and is practicing efficiently; takes 1 to 3 years (or more) to develop the voice. OTOH, I was very impressed with Steven Memel at the Rally, so if he has any resources, I'd take a look.

[jh]

Hi Milfus,I think Brett Manning´s stuff is pretty darn good ( http://www.singingsuccess.com/ ). It´s based on Bel canto and the method (SLS = speech level singing) was originallydeveloped by Seth Riggs ( http://www.sethriggs.com/ ) (his client list is impressive).It’s not cheap, but it’s so worth it. IMHO. - JH

[dommydom]

only way my voice got bigger and better was from busking 2 nights a week for 10 hours at a time whilst competing with city traffic to get my voice heard.. not sure i would reccommend this method as im not sure exactly how good it was for me... singing till my voice was hoarse... then singing till it hurt... then till i couldnt sing at all... then if there was still a crowd paying money and making requests, basically just shouting. then sleeping all saturday and not talking till i did it all again saturday night...

[stephen]

I'm with the bird on this one.

[stephen]

BTW ear training helps alot where singing is concerned and there are some great programs out there. Aurelia and Earmaster are two good ones.

[milfus]

ah, I have absolute pitch, allready did that training =0), I can hit a pitch a mile away, it just comes out sounding weak and all my resonance and stuff is messed up. I will definitely check the links, I know eventually I will need a coach/someones who knows whats up, to help me develope, but right now I am more lookin to pass assignments, I will worry about like american idol later *snicker*

[stephen]

I have relative pitch. So you could probably teach me a thing or two.

[milfus]

actually, what I found that helped me, is all absolute pitch is, is relative pitch with anchors, like if say you always go relative off C, and you can tell the octave, then in time you pick up the rest and walla, you turned your relative pitch into absolute pitch and it will concrete for ya, retaining the notes right is all it takes, and that just comes naturally by keeping that specific note anchored. That isn't in a book anywhere, just how I personally made the jump. It is handy though, cause that way it works as fast as relative pitch, like you get the interval and the note at the same time, and you don't have to abandon your old method, just kinda add on to it, well that and about 6 months to get your ears to really define the note differences (pain in the butt, but it gets easier as you go, until its like really obvious)

[vicky]

Hi everyone....please excuse me jumping on this thread...I'm pretty familiar with Seth Riggs, but I've been wanting to ask someone about exercises for holding a note and making the pitch non-warble...the end of my phrases don't sound as good or in tune as the rest....any hints for working on this?Sorry if this seems like a basic question, but I took Seth Riggs for a year and ran out of money (the teachers charge twice as much as I charge when I teach, and frankly, musicianship wise I kicked this teachers ars, so the price got to me), and now I simply can't afford it...any hints?vtbp