Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Having a Vocal Breakdown In the Midst of a Successful Career

There are a lot of big name artists and singers in both the classical and popular singing genres who are not capable of sustaining two concerts in a row. This usually happens in the popular field when a well-known act is releasing a new album and a big part of promoting this new album is by going on tour with it. Usually halfway through the second performance the lead singer breaks down.

Vocal breakdowns like this are happening at this moment in time to some of the most famous singers in the popular field. It’s a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Instead of enjoying success in the very thing they’ve always wanted, these singers are living through a nightmare. Young singers need to pay attention to the fact that this is happening, and set the goal of developing VOCAL FREEDOM before developing any big recording deals.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Singing– Not Surgery!

The best way to learn singing is to follow the traditions of the great singing teachers of history. Arguably the greatest teacher to have an impact on the art of singing was Manuel Garcia II (1805-1906). The important thing about Garcia was not just his knowledge, but how he used his knowledge. His emphasis was always upon artistry and expression, not technicalities.

In my initial assessment meetings with new singing students, I like to show them the following quotation from page 956 of Percy Scholes’ The Oxford Companion to Music, Tenth Edition:


Most of the great singing teachers say that the less you know about the physiology of singing the better. Santley wrote (in The Art of Singing): ‘Manuel Garcia is held up as the pioneer of scientific teachers of singing. He was– but he taught singing, not surgery! I was a pupil of his in 1858, and a friend of his while he lived [to 1906], and in all the conversation I had with him I never heard him say a word about larynx or pharynx, glottis, or other organ used in the production and emission of the voice.”
Singing should never be a burden. It should always be a joy!

Monday, September 14, 2015

The Knowledge of Your Own Worth

One of the most important things I tell all of my students at the Bel Canto House is that I want them to change the price tag they are wearing on their shoulders, and that is what I want you to do as well. Don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t worth much! Change the price tag on your shoulder from “$1.99" and make sure that everyone can see it reads: “PRICELESS!”

Everyone is unique. I have been teaching the concept of DNA since long before scientists discovered it with microscopes in a laboratory. Always remember that there is only ONE of you on this planet– and that’s a good thing!

Nature (or God, if you prefer) is not cruel. It doesn’t single out people to receive all the good gifts while not giving those gifts to other people. You have great gifts inside of you and all you need to do is unlock them.

There’s a book that I want you to start reading. You won’t find it on any bookshelf or in any bookstore. The book is inside yourself. If you learn to read that book you will be a very rich human being. Therein lies the true key to great singing, and it belongs to YOU!!