Voice lessons...later in life...in Austin, TX???

[bwguyhottie]

Posted: 7/20/04 at 8:51pm

Hi....In about a month I am moving to Austin to go to UT...(theatre major)...while they have a great program....it is more straight theatre oriented than it is musical...

This is good for me because I myself only have experience in straight theatre (though I love musicals)...but

I plan on taking some dance and voice so that I can improve in those areas...I doubt that musical performance would be my forte...but any improvement would make me more marketable as a performer.

1. I am 18...anyone else START singing at this time in life...I think my voice makes a good sound...good tone and all..I just don't know the technique to make myself hit notes

2. Anyone know of any voice teachers in Austin..I plan on checking out some of the teachers in the music department, but didnt know if any of you could give me a heads up.

Thanks!!!

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 7/20/04 at 9:04pm

You call that later in life? Many people would not recommend voice lessons until this point in your life, anyway. Go for it! Supposedly UT has a decent reputation for voice, but I'm skeptical b/c a teacher I had went there, and while she had a gorgeous voice, she didn't know the difference between raising the soft palatte and opening/relaxing the throat (raising that palatte only affects nasality). You never know, you might love it. Don't count out a career in MT, I was a music ed-voice major at NYU with a decent voice at best until my last semester, when I met Greggory Sheppard. He did more for my voice in one semester than my last teacher had done in 3 years, and he really turned me into a performer. If you feel like you're not making progress, don't let anyone tell you otherwise, switch teachers. I still have a long way to go, and probably don't have the drive to make it even into equity, but I'm still thinking of getting my MA in MT Performance b/c of him. So, in short (something I'm not very good at doing): GO FOR IT!

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/20/04 at 9:08pm

Check your voice out with a teacher. Do you know how many people out there think they have a nice tone?!?! lol

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 7/20/04 at 9:14pm

ANYONE can learn to sing, even if they think they can't. If a teacher tells you that you don't have a "nice tone" tell him/her that he/she can go f*** themself and have no business teaching voice! This from a voice teacher!

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/20/04 at 9:19pm

Well, some people really do not have a nice tone but that's what the teacher is there for, right!

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 7/20/04 at 9:24pm

Tone is something that can be learned. Sometimes, though, people need voice therapy in addition to lessons b/c their speaking voice can cause issues. Also, if there's something physically wrong, that person might need voice therapy and/or surgery, depending on the problem. It's all fixable, though.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 7/20/04 at 9:30pm

When you said "later in life," I thought you meant LATER, as in 40's, 50's, 60's. If you want to learn to sing well, 18 is a great age to start. Go for it! I started voice lessons in my 40's and I love it.

BTW, you know I live in Austin, too. Have a great time at UT. PM me if you ever need anything.

[Amneris]

Posted: 7/20/04 at 10:37pm

i really think MusicPos2 is awesome lol...i read everything you are writing and I can;t agree with you more!

[bwguyhottie]

Posted: 7/21/04 at 1:30am

Thanks musicpos....by later i nlife i just meant that some performers....start out singing when they are still an embryo...but thank you for the support...i'm going for it