only tenors for lead roles now? — Page 2

Dreamcatcher, it's worth the investment to spend a little more on a great teacher, if you are getting more out of each lesson. Not all teachers are the same. Often, there is a reason that they are so expensive and in so much demand. Meet with a bunch of them and try them and see which one you like best.

Teth - absolutly you can expand your range. Perhaps your teacher doen't know how to do that. Just as I described current women's voice tecnique, the same goes for men. It's a very convincing mix. ex: Sam Harris, Billy Porter, Gavin Creel. There is no reason other then your teacher doesn't know this kind of tech. that you shouldn't be able to do that.

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Updated On: 1/17/05 at 02:28 PM

Teth - that depends on whether it is your ACTUAL range or all you think you're capable of.

Example: I used to sing alto and balked at anything above E. 6months with my singing teacher & I'm first soprano (up to highB - C on a good day!) and loving it! I've always had the ability to hit those notes, I've just never felt I could so stopped myself from going for them - my nerves closed my throat off.

Similarly, we have a lad at our amdram company who classes himself as tenor 2 (2nd tenor - tenor 1, or first tenor, is the higher), but the other day he was singing No-One But You in a silly high key, and even though he was singing quietly & had had to be bullied into it cos he felt it was too high, he sounded FANTASTIC!!! He could easily be a first tenor if he let go of the nerves.

Work with a good singing teacher, who knows when you're going too far and will guide you into the higher notes gradually, and you may well be able to extend your range, if only by a few notes.

Thanks for your input.

A lot of times, I think I get scared and think that I won't make it to a certain note. And when I can though, I really feel as though I could go on to a even higher note (don't know if I really can though yet).

I guess my question is, is your teacher developing your head voice. Thae part of your voice somehwere between chest and falsetto. That's how you get flexibility in the voice and that's how notes above G are easy...

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she's off her rocker anyway. Lol, I don't know...We got so caught up in college crap that I barely have fun with any of the stuff I sing, its all ultra classical.

She's actually been working on me trying to become a counter-tenor and she wont push low notes because she is a fraid I will lose my tenor range.

To be quite frank, if she is afraid of that, I strongly suggest a new voice teacher.

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I'm a huge believer in the Seth Riggs vocal technique.

Seth's most radical theory is that there is no difference between your "chest" and your "head" voice. Using his exercises, you can completely eliminate any "break" in your voice, and you will gain at least four notes on both the top and bottom of your range.

Seth has a network of accredited teachers teaching his technique all over the country. He has also published a book and CD which contain his exercises, called "Singing for the Stars."

Performers who rave about the Seth Riggs technique include Bette Midler, who insists that she had no control over her voice until she started working with Seth.

Dreamcatcher - you're welcome. It's really important that you feel comfortable with the teacher. You want a teacher who will make you feel good and encourage you. It can be damaging other wise.

Seth Riggs, who Veuve is talking about, I believe he's in LA, so you might want to check him out. But correct me if I'm wrong, Veuve, but I think he's massively expensive. Something in the multiple hundred of dollars per lesson.

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Well if the def of head voice is only that, then I guess so.

My vocal coach uses his own method I suppose. Here's his website: http://www.geocities.com/broadwaybelters/

wouldn't it be better to establish a classical voice style and then transfer over?

I don't think that there's one way of doing it. Some people start classically and some don't.

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If anyone is interested, you can go to Seth's website:

www.sethriggs.com

There's a full list of his accredited teachers all over the country, and lots of information about his technique, as well as endorsements from celebrities he's taught, which range from Josh Groban to Bernadette Peters.

In LA, I studied with Richard Balin, who was terrific. In New York, I studied with Badiene Magaziner, who is even better.

There's also information about Seth's master classes, which can be a great (and affordable) introduction to his technique.

Updated On: 1/17/05 at 04:02 PM

Well I guess I do feel an improvement.

The problem is probably partially due to the fact that I only go to a lesson every 3 weeks or so. In between, there's not really a "set" practice routine for me to follow (he doesn't believe in directly telling what his students should be doing).

Thanks guys. Now I know what things I want to work on in my next lesson.

Updated On: 1/17/05 at 04:06 PM