Which singing method is best?
Simply put, everone is different, and the best singing method or technique is the one that works well for you. Many teachers will claim that their method is the best. As long as the method introduces you to breath and breathing management, tone and resonance, articulation that allows you to be understood without causing tension, and the general principles of good singing, then it’s a good method.
My voice doesn’t work, did I do something wrong? What do I do?
Your voice might stop working for many different reasons, and they can all be fixed. Thinking too much about how you sound as you sing can make you nervous and you may not sound your best. Your voice will not respond well if you are tired; make sure you get enough sleep. If you sang too much the day before, your voice will inevitably get tired. Singing muscles are just like any other muscle. Your singing muscles will need to rest after being used. Emotions can have their affect on your voice as well. If you cry, your vocal cords may swell, which needs to be worked around or remedied somehow.
Do I need to be fat to sing well?
Nope. Your voice has nothing to do with the size of your waist. If that were true, then all great singers would be big and every large person would be a great singer. Actually having more weight can cause more problems in the long run, especially with moving and breathing. If you’re used to that movement, then it’s not a problem. Rather than the size of your waist, the size of your throat really makes the difference.
Do I have nodes if I have a scratchy voice?
You need to put your vocal cords through a lot of abuse to get nodes. Yelling for a day won’t get you nodes. Your vocal cords would swell, but nodes would take much more. Keep in mind that nodes are much like calluses. If you don’t rub the cords the wrong way, you won’t have the problem. If the scratchy sounds continue, try vocalizing high in your range. Nodes will for the most part only affect the high part of your voice. If the sound is husky only in the middle part of your voice, you probably have another kind of swelling other than nodes.
What’s the difference between a coach, accompanist, and a voice teacher?
The coach is a person that can play the piano and will give you good advice on singing. During a work session with a coach you may practice hearing the piano cue for your entrances in your song, work on the pronunciation of words, get tips on how to sing with the correct style, and find good places to breath within the text. A coach gives you the basic, and compliments your voice teacher.
The accompanist has a less demanding job because they do not offer you advice, they just play the piano for you. An accompanist is not cheaper than a coach though.
The voice teacher is the technique specialist. Although the coach may have knowledge of technique, the voice teacher should be the pro and expert. The voice teacher may not play the piano so well but should make up for it with in knowledge and advice on your singing technique. Half of your voice lesson will be spent on technique, and the other half will be on other things.
Want to learn to sing like a star but can’t afford a private singing coach? I strongly recommend you take a look at Brett Manning’s Singing Success.
