Nuggets of Truth

Each Lesson will contain somewhere at least one nugget of truth or key to successful singing. If you learn nothing else, grab these and hang on. These will be the major objectives of the lessons, with generally one objective per lesson. This provides you with a chance to practice the key truth in that lesson before moving on to a new lesson. This is NOT a crash course based on the sink-or-swim method. You can spend as much time as you need developing each technique. Those who want to fast-track this method should basically grab the "nuggets" from each lesson - this is recommended, however, mostly for those with some musical background looking to strengthen their technique. - If you feel you're getting lost, by all means, SLOW DOWN!

Each lesson here is worth at least a month of voice lessons, sometimes several, although this method is not meant to substitute for quality, one-on-one lessons with a voice teacher. Each instructor will often develop methods, practices, exercises, and concepts based on their own vocal history and voice, and a private instructor is often better able to guide you into the unique aspects of YOUR voice.

In an effort to protect against unproductiveness, the lessons, exercises, and concepts here are based around the basic, simple vocal production - the things that work for almost everybody - with less emphasis on each individual and what sort of problems or reactions he/she is having and more on the mechanism and the production. As you practice each "secret," you will begin to develop your own groove. The best lessons would be the ones that allow you to be creative. So, basically, it's about doing what feels right.

Dispelling Myths

Libraries, bookstores, and often the shelves of many voice teachers contain a mixed assortment of ideas and theories. Some are written by doctors, and even though what they say might be 100% true, doctors often have a way of communicating that only fellow doctors understand. Many of the methods presented in this odd lot of books will likely clash with a book somewhere down the shelf - often the information from one book directly contradicting information from another book. One authority will say breath control is the key, another, the strengthening of the diaphragm, another, posture, yet still another might say all of that study is a worthless waste of time, favouring instead an "alternative"! You could spend a lifetime in the study of these "stepping stones" to vocal freedom and in the process, lose the true, basic foundation for success. I and my fellow partners are constantly refining the process to make it simpler. Really, the basics are pretty much all child's play.....and doing the exercises correctly takes away all the stress and headache. Confusion stops here!

Know Your Voice

Any muscle in the body NEEDS exercise, but if it doesn't feel right, don't do it! Anything that causes stress should be avoided. Pain should be avoided at all cost!

Most people can go out and buy a piano, clarinet, sax, or guitar already made! What about the time it takes to put that instrument together? See, you don't have to think about that. On the other hand, each and every voice must be BUILT from scratch - ONLY THEN can you take effective control of the resources you have developed.

Effective Technique

Problem? Yeah! Suppose you buy a shoddy instrument, let's say a clarinet? What if the clarinet cannot produce certain notes because of improper workmanship? I've seen many a student get frustrated over the fact that they can't play a specific note.

That is where the vocal artist has an upper hand. You see, your instrument is what you make of it. If you practice, you work on relaxing everying from the chest up, focus/visualize your sound into the "mask"(forehead area, I'll discuss this later), regularly exercise the vocal cords, and everyday try to go slightly further than the day before, you will have crafted your voice into a high-quality instrument. It's not how much voice you have, but how you use the resources.

Harmony: Yin-Yang

I'm not saying that you have to give up those things, but if you are "in tune" with what is happening with your voice (...yes, and body) and you follow the health tips that I point out in the lessons, your voice, not to mention your whole body, will be all the better. Actually, I challenge you! Try the health tips - I mean seriously - for two weeks and see if it doesn't make a difference.

Practice, Practice, Practice...

If I suggest that an exercise be practiced five times a day everyday this coming week, I would be able to tell you if you didn't (if you were taking private lessons from me)...AND you might miss out on an important new advancement your voice might make.