Misguided Voice Instructors

A uniform vocal building regimen is the only way to create a strong and reliable foundation for singing because no other process increases muscular performance. Without a clear idea of a foundation to singing and a uniform method of creating it, voice instructors are typically in the dark about what the real concern of voice teaching should be, and often wander into the world of song interpretation—voice coaching—and think that this is where their answers to proper voice teaching exists. Unfortunately, song interpretation presupposes (or should presuppose) a capable and reliable voice; as a result, students often learn songs without improving as singers.

Voice instructors may also enter the world of singing styles to try to find answers. In these instances, they may analyze their favorite singers, or perhaps draw on their own singing experiences, and employ or borrow stylistic devices and techniques to use for their own teaching. But the premise is wrong from the start. Stylistic techniques are not where voice building techniques are to be found. The voice teacher must go deeper for his answers, to the very ground upon which all singing styles and techniques rest—the vocal musculature.

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Comments

[kate baker]

I do not find that to be true. I am in the NY area and I can list many good voice teachers who work on developing the voice and have wonderful results which is evident in the singers that are in NY. Voice teachers that work on style are considered "voice Coach" and advertise as such. You just have to get with the right teacher that works for you. You should see results immediately in the lesson. Because their is no regulation and no criteria many unqualified teachers are singing so I agree with Gary on that but do some research and get a recommendation for a good voice coach. Find out the background of the teacher, how long they have been teaching, what the students sound like etc.

[Builder Auckland]

Wrong voice instruction may be cause of build bad quality voice. So care for this and follow original instructions.
Builder Auckland

[Gary Catona]

Kate,
First, thank you for reading. Some voice teachers get good results with different singers for different reasons, though if they applied the same approach to another singer, they would not have the same result. Often these teachers will approach different singers in different ways. However, doesn't it make sense that there should be a uniform method for strengthening one's voice that is the same for everyone, excluding physiological gender differences or medical disorders, due to the fact that everyone has similar voice muscles? For example, a personal trainer does not tell each person that comes into his gym to do the bench press in different ways, or to do a bicep curl differently each time. Quite the opposite, they are looking for uniform movements that are consistent each time. Voice building uses isokinetic exercises to strengthen the vocal muscles that are the same no matter what student walks in the door. Once there is a capable, strong voice, a singer could seek out performance coaching, though I believe song interpretation is a personal affair.

[Gary Catona]

Thank you for reading, Builder Auckland!