Saturday, November 24, 2012

But won't studying voice make me an opera singer?

In a word...no.

I hear the excuses - from many different people:  "but if I take lessons, it'll change my sound",  "I don't want to be an opera singer, so why would I take lessons?"

etc etc etc blah blah blah.

This is ignorance talking, and sometimes fear.  Fear of the unknown.

You can't call yourself a singer if you don't sing.  You cannot BE a singer if you don't have access to your FULL instrument.  Period.  How do you access that full instrument in order to know how to use it well, if you don't study?

As with ANY discipline,  study and technique is crucial for its longevity and its ability to excel.

Why wouldn't you want to know how to use your voice in the best possible way?

Studying voice, with the right teacher, will open technical possibilities,  knowledge, behavior,  approach,  and even STYLE that perhaps you had no idea about!

Until you truly access your instrument fully,  you simply cannot know what you are able to do, capable of, or not.

Singing is like any discipline or athletic activity.  The more the instrument is developed or "trained", the more possibilities exist.  The less chance of injury.  The more real the opportunities.

Athletes cross-train.  It doesn't mean they will excel or even delve into certain aspects of that training, but it is in the training itself, the PURITY of what the body learns and develops from that training that allows that athlete to then take on his/her speciality.

The dancer studies and develops technique.  The basis of the technique, what is at the core of the body function of technique does not mean that dancer will be a ballerina.  What happens at the barre allows for the dancer to move into the technique of other forms of dance, and have the technical FREEDOM to explore where their body and inclination allows them to be.

The actor who is fully realized, studies and develops behavior.  He/she can look at many different methods and approaches,  work with classical text,  understand breath and support,  and know no matter where they are cast, they are able to fulfill those requirements and embody that style and those characters.

Singing is the same thing.  The instrument begins with physicality and athleticism.  If this is not understood, it simply cannot take on what the mind and spirit want to always do.

Studying voice should and will make you a better SINGER.  Period.

If you call yourself one,  why wouldn't you want to be the best you can be and allow the challenges of that to lift you to the next level?

Potential is nothing if not realized.

Natural talent only exists to a certain point, and then evaporates with skill is required.

Knowledge is power.

Behavior is key.

Knowing how to do what you NEED to do in order to access the many facets and levels of artistry is CRUCIAL to being a singer, an artist, and someone who has the chops to last!

Flying by the seat of your pants can be exciting until you fall.  And generally the seat of those pants rips hard and suddenly the Emperor has no clothes on.  Everybody sees it.

The truly "great" artists - those that span time  in EVERY genre of singing - study.  From opera to music theatre, to pop and rock to jazz and more.

The greatest players and singers,  the greatest actors and dancers,  the greatest athletes ALL STUDIED!

Learning how to use your instrument, your voice,  allows you more possibilities, not less.  It will not change your voice, it will ACCESS your voice.  Learning how your instrument works,  discovering how to use it in a healthy way will not change your choice of style, but in fact FINESSE it.

Why wouldn't you want to access MORE instead of staying with less?

You don't know until you try.  You cannot try until you realize.

If you say you want to sing,  then truly understand what it means to access the voice.  YOUR voice.

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