Do singing lessons really help?

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 9:32pm

title explains it all

[elvenprincess971]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 9:35pm

Absolutely. Having one on one time with a professionally trained coach can do wonders... they can easily see your mistakes and correct them without worrying about any other students. You wouldn't believe how much a singer can improve with just a few lessons... I'd definitely reccomend it.

[christeap]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 9:52pm

Oh my goodness yes!


I didn't take lessons for a long time and I certainly wish I'd started earlier. Strenthening your technique is crucial in order to be healthy and put out the best quality sound. If I may add on, when I decided to switch to classical lessons it worked WONDERS, and I really wish I wasn't so stubborn when I was younger and my mother was trying to convince me to take classical lessons.

Definitely recommended :)

[LiLMuNkEe22]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 10:14pm

i highly doubt there are any musical theatre stars on broadway who have not had at least one singing lesson.


its the best investment you could ever make, by far.

[lilprima2b]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 10:27pm

If I could send you clips of me singing a few years ago and me singing now, you would understand the power that is voice lessons!!! It's like dance - you wouldn't call yourself a dancer if you didn't take lessons; you need a technical basis to work off of.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 10:57pm

Yes! Basically, lilprima2b hit the nail on the head.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 11:44pm

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

But be wary, a bad teacher can screw up your voice and technique for the rest of your career.

But if you don't have a teacher, honestly, I don't feel you can naturally have the kind of power and technique that lessons give.

[StarStruckGB]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:31am

Yeah, I've been batting around the idea of seeing a voice teacher, but I always thought I'd look into it more once I got into college.
If that makes any sense.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:34am

As is the case with acting, (good) training can only help you, and as others here have pointed out, it is very rare to find a musical theater professional who hasn't had at least some vocal training. If you have the economic means to do so, I highly recommend getting at least one year of weekly private lessons under your belt if you are looking to go into show business.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 1:13am

I believe Carolee Carmello has said she didn't take voice lessons, so I mean, there are a FEW people out there who didn't, but I too highly recommend lessons. If nothing else, it's a good way to check in and make sure you are doing everything correctly. I've improved so much because of voice lessons.

[ExpressThis]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:16pm

yep! I didn't have voice lessons until August of 2006. and since then, I've improved SO much. It's vital for a music theatre major to have voice training because i figured out that there's more then just belting! :)

[theatreholic]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 6:25pm

YES!
I've been coached by Philip Bettencourt and Angela Ortiz. While they're not popular coaches...they're very accomplished. Philip is in a whole bunch of musicals and Angela has an indie-style CD.

Since 4th grade, my voice is definitely much stronger.
I don't think anyone can be as sucessful without training.

[justagirl2]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 7:10pm

Absolutely. Not only does it help in the ways everyone else mentioned, but it also prepares you for singing in front of people you don't know--something I used to be TERRIFIED of.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 8:04pm

thanks everyone!

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 9:46pm

The absolute best thing u can do is seek out a Speech Level Singing certified vocal coach; u can see if there is one in ur area by going to:

http://www.sethriggs.com ... the higher the level, the better.

Expensive, but "extremely" well worth it!

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 11:42pm

Yes! I only joined school choir at the end of 8th grade, and now in the middle of 10th grade, I am a million times better than I was before with voice lessons. Granted I have an amazing teacher and am fairly talented-but even the best of singers with amazing natural talent need voice lessons. The skills and control to be a great singer isn't built in.

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 1:48am

tmm_fan has a tendency to absolutely without hesitation say that SLS technique is the way to go.

others will do the exact same with classical. the debate will probably commence as it does on a million other threads when that subject comes up.

basically, try out a few different teachers. if there's a college in your area that has a good MT/voice program, see if any of their teachers have room in their studios. i have had 3 teachers/one who doubled as a coach, and their styles were completely different. the one i'm with now has improved my voice IMMENSELY within the past months and i wish i had been studying with him for years.

a good way to help with choosing a teacher is to hear a bunch of his/her students. then you will be able to hear similarities in their voices, and if you hear anyone straining or voices that sound overtired -- steer clear of that teacher. you don't want to do any permanent damage.

if you want to hear my opinons on SLS/classical or the differences between teachers i've liked and haven't liked, feel free to PM me. i don't want to get caught up in any debates in threads.

hope that helps!! go for it!

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 1:26pm

I've re-iterated time and time again that if classical works best for u, awesome; I simply know that from both personal experience and the experience/witnessing of many, many others, if u want a sure-fire, "gauranteed" higher range in a short amount of time and continue to build on that, do sls. I don't know how else to say it; sls is a gauranteed winner, and anybody who talks coherently can benefit greatly from it. I know that for a fact.

I'm just responding to people seeking out help with singing lessons ... I mean, how else do u suggest I answer them?

I don't wanna start a huge debate here; I am just sick and tired of some people obviously having such a low opinion of me in this forum, and all because of this sls thing. Which many of the critics here have never even tried, might I add.

Updated On: 12/16/06 at 01:26 PM

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 2:03pm

tmm_fan --

i feel like you may have read my post completely differently than i meant it.

if SLS works for you- great. if classical works for someone - great. i suggested that a few teachers be tried (from different backgrounds) to see what works for the student. i'm not bashing you, trust me.

and i don't have a low opinion of you, and i wouldn't make judgements of someone based on what their voice training is. that would be a weird way to decide whether or not i value someone's opinions. you have no idea about my background or training. i haven't even criticized SLS once, so please relax a little.

i think it's great that you are able to share that SLS has worked for you, you may note that i said that others would advertise classical the SAME WAY. i wasn't just targeting you, you just happen to be the one who brings up SLS the most, and you had just mentioned it in this thread.

i recommended that ssWHOO PM me so that my opinions on different techniques (some even outside of SLS and classical) wouldn't get involved in this discussion, as that's not what it's about. i feel like you assumed that the PM would entail me bashing seth riggs and all the other SLS teachers, but i was really going to explain how the different techniques worked so that he/she could have an idea about what they were getting into.

please don't assume i'm attacking you. i'm not. i'm trying to help out a kid who's wondering if voice lessons are worth the time and money.

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 2:16pm

OK, got it. Others on this message board -- and the off-topic one -- have previously attacked me and all ... thanx for at least clearing this up :)

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 2:17pm

re SLS and classical, I've tried both and they both work well for me.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 8:59am

Sporti, I would actually love to have that sort of info on the this thread.