I've been working on singing and thinking about booking some solo gigs and I am going to a voice coach to get some help and advice. I am interested if anyone has done this and did it work out for you or not. Did it improve your singing and how?
Anyone Here Ever Take Voice Lessons?
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Opsimath
Senior Member
Anxiously awaiting replies!
HeyMikey
Enlightened Member
I was never a singer, doing mostly back up do-whops in my old band days. When I started solo acoustic I was not happy with my voice and lack of range. I few years ago a friend who is an amazing vocalist hooked my up with her coach of 20+ years.
I’ve been taking lessons over Skype for I guess 3-4 years now and think it has paid off. I feel my tonal quality and control has improved from learning proper technique. I was singing completely “wrong”. I’m a high baritone. My range has improved to the point where I can get close to tenor range. Before I topped out at F, now I can hit a solid G, fair A, and on a good day hit and run a quick Bb or B if I’m healthy and warmed up.
Right now we’re working on falsetto, mixed voice and transitions from and back into full voice, to extend my usable range even more. At my request I spent a lot of my lessons just working on exercises and technique, Now I split it to that as a warm up and then half working on songs.
Since Covid I haven’t played anywhere but have started getting the itch again to do so and try some songs I couldn’t do before. I’m relearning songs I tried in the past but couldn’t do, to find that they are now achievable.
Fair warning, I find singing very difficult - like learning a new instrument. It takes practice and unless you are naturally gifted takes time. Just like anything. For me it is very rewarding. I’ve never been a singer, but now I’m starting to get comfortable and more confident.
My coach’s name is Angeliki Theoharis. Ex-opera but don’t let that scare you. She teaches all styles. She also teaches at U of Tampa. She’s the real deal.
Ping me if you want an introduction.
I’ve been taking lessons over Skype for I guess 3-4 years now and think it has paid off. I feel my tonal quality and control has improved from learning proper technique. I was singing completely “wrong”. I’m a high baritone. My range has improved to the point where I can get close to tenor range. Before I topped out at F, now I can hit a solid G, fair A, and on a good day hit and run a quick Bb or B if I’m healthy and warmed up.
Right now we’re working on falsetto, mixed voice and transitions from and back into full voice, to extend my usable range even more. At my request I spent a lot of my lessons just working on exercises and technique, Now I split it to that as a warm up and then half working on songs.
Since Covid I haven’t played anywhere but have started getting the itch again to do so and try some songs I couldn’t do before. I’m relearning songs I tried in the past but couldn’t do, to find that they are now achievable.
Fair warning, I find singing very difficult - like learning a new instrument. It takes practice and unless you are naturally gifted takes time. Just like anything. For me it is very rewarding. I’ve never been a singer, but now I’m starting to get comfortable and more confident.
My coach’s name is Angeliki Theoharis. Ex-opera but don’t let that scare you. She teaches all styles. She also teaches at U of Tampa. She’s the real deal.
Ping me if you want an introduction.
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I bought a block of six lessons probably five or six years ago. I thought I might have an octave in me at most. By the second lesson I was up to two octaves simply through proper breathing. The first lesson my voice coach asked me what my goals were and I told him I wanted to sing and not embarrassed myself doing so. After my sixth lesson he told me to go forth and sing. The biggest thing I took out of it was confidence. I might go back some day and buy another block of lessons but just those six made a huge difference.
Opsimath
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Online or in person?
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When I retire next year, I want to do this. Just one among a hundred things I want to do...
Opsimath
Senior Member
Please keep us updated!
The Guilds of Grot
Enlightened Member
I have taken singing lessons.
I was between bands and after having a taste of singing with a band I thought I would see if I could improve things. I signed up with a Vocal Coach at the then Freehold Music which was conveniently located right across the highway from me.
The gentleman I signed up with was Mick Walsh. I was totally unaware of Mick's resume but it was quite extensive. Please see the following links.
https://newjerseymusicteachers.com/mick-walsh-vocal-coach/
https://www.musiclessonteachers.com/3097/mick-walsh-voice-coach
https://www.instagram.com/rockvox2018/?hl=en
He actually wrote a hit song while he was in England:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Cash_(Money_Talks)
Now that his credentials are out of the way, lets get to the matter at hand.
First of all, I found that for the most part I was doing most of the singing fundamentals correctly so that was nice to know. What we worked on at the beginning was all the practice scales to help with my pitch. Working with intervals helps you hit the correct note that you are looking for. He also taught me various breathing exercises. He had given me a CD of the scales and I would play it and sing along as a warm up on the way to gigs when the new band started up.
Once we had the basics ironed out and under control, we moved on to working on songs. Since I wasn't in a band at the time I choose songs I had been singing at karaoke to see if I could improve them. I was able to download some karaoke tracks to sing along with and he recorded me on his laptop. We would then critique my performance note by note then record it again until I got it perfect.
At first this was fun, but eventually it got a little boring as there was really no goal to reach. If I was in a band at the time I would have worked on songs I was singing in the band to perfect them. Since it seemed that nothing was happening, I stopped taking lessons.
Bottom line, it was nice to know I already had an understanding and control of singing fundamentals. And while I was able to improve my pitch ever so slightly with the continuing practicing of scales and intervals, the thing that you really can't change is the timbre or sound of your voice. That is something that for the most part you are born with. While I can pretty much sing in key, I do not process a pleasant sounding voice.
Putting myself out there, here I am with just my B-50 acoustic bass as accompaniment:
So taking what you have and to relate that to a cover band situation, the trick is to try and sing songs that are in your range and tone.
Like this:
As you can see in that video I was a little chunky at that time. Since I have lost a substantial amount of weight and gotten in much better physical condition, my singing air control and air volume has improved immensely! Songs that I would run out a breath before the end, I can now sing to completion. Two examples are "Two Tickets to Paradise", and "Learn To Fly".
I was between bands and after having a taste of singing with a band I thought I would see if I could improve things. I signed up with a Vocal Coach at the then Freehold Music which was conveniently located right across the highway from me.
The gentleman I signed up with was Mick Walsh. I was totally unaware of Mick's resume but it was quite extensive. Please see the following links.
https://newjerseymusicteachers.com/mick-walsh-vocal-coach/
https://www.musiclessonteachers.com/3097/mick-walsh-voice-coach
https://www.instagram.com/rockvox2018/?hl=en
He actually wrote a hit song while he was in England:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Cash_(Money_Talks)
Now that his credentials are out of the way, lets get to the matter at hand.
First of all, I found that for the most part I was doing most of the singing fundamentals correctly so that was nice to know. What we worked on at the beginning was all the practice scales to help with my pitch. Working with intervals helps you hit the correct note that you are looking for. He also taught me various breathing exercises. He had given me a CD of the scales and I would play it and sing along as a warm up on the way to gigs when the new band started up.
Once we had the basics ironed out and under control, we moved on to working on songs. Since I wasn't in a band at the time I choose songs I had been singing at karaoke to see if I could improve them. I was able to download some karaoke tracks to sing along with and he recorded me on his laptop. We would then critique my performance note by note then record it again until I got it perfect.
At first this was fun, but eventually it got a little boring as there was really no goal to reach. If I was in a band at the time I would have worked on songs I was singing in the band to perfect them. Since it seemed that nothing was happening, I stopped taking lessons.
Bottom line, it was nice to know I already had an understanding and control of singing fundamentals. And while I was able to improve my pitch ever so slightly with the continuing practicing of scales and intervals, the thing that you really can't change is the timbre or sound of your voice. That is something that for the most part you are born with. While I can pretty much sing in key, I do not process a pleasant sounding voice.
Putting myself out there, here I am with just my B-50 acoustic bass as accompaniment:
So taking what you have and to relate that to a cover band situation, the trick is to try and sing songs that are in your range and tone.
Like this:
As you can see in that video I was a little chunky at that time. Since I have lost a substantial amount of weight and gotten in much better physical condition, my singing air control and air volume has improved immensely! Songs that I would run out a breath before the end, I can now sing to completion. Two examples are "Two Tickets to Paradise", and "Learn To Fly".
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HeyMikey
Enlightened Member
There are so many little things to do for technique. Especially if you are not a natural like me. It is hard for me to get them all right at the same time until I know a song cold without having to think about it.
- quick breath and breath timing for the lines
- keeping support from diaphram
- keeping upper palate open, not closing up
- keeping mouth position rounded / vertical, not wide
- singing from the upper head, not throat. This took a while to get.
- coming over the top and leaning the chest into it
- maintaining steady air, and airiness,
- carrying through and supporting final notes, not letting it die out
- oh, and trying to stay in freaking pitch.
- quick breath and breath timing for the lines
- keeping support from diaphram
- keeping upper palate open, not closing up
- keeping mouth position rounded / vertical, not wide
- singing from the upper head, not throat. This took a while to get.
- coming over the top and leaning the chest into it
- maintaining steady air, and airiness,
- carrying through and supporting final notes, not letting it die out
- oh, and trying to stay in freaking pitch.
Prince of Darkness
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I've done some lessons with 2 or 3 persons, none dealing with genuine (live) conditions like mike in front, guitar in hands, relevant vocal techniques applied... None ever taught me much (or anything), and one ended up having dreadful consequences ; among things I heard a few basic principles could work for strictly acoustic singing I believe. Sometimes too, they help in making me aware of little things I can improve here and there, but not much... I've never been really helped at all cause they didn't know, play or practise the music I like, the one I was listening to, or that I wrote... One opera singer 
, a choir nasty singer girl , a pseudo-jazz poser ...
Would have been much better off without them (except for the 1st one who was quite a good person and seemed well intentioned)...
Many of us can sing naturally well ; getting it rhythmically accurate is often what fails it seems.
, a choir nasty singer girl , a pseudo-jazz poser ...Would have been much better off without them (except for the 1st one who was quite a good person and seemed well intentioned)...
Many of us can sing naturally well ; getting it rhythmically accurate is often what fails it seems.
AcornHouse
Venerated Member
I’ve never taken any singing lessons, but during my academic career I’ve observed quite a few lessons as well as sat on recital juries, etc.
Whatever your skill level and style desires, what a good teacher can do, as some have posted, is teach you better technique — breathing, warm-ups, etc. — so that you don’t damage yourself trying to do what your vocal chords aren’t ready for. (Stephen Tyler doesn’t just start screaming cold, he makes sure he is good and warmed up before a show.) They can help you expand your capabilities and help you train your ear.
But, as mentioned, you need someone who knows what they’re doing. Just because THEY can sing, doesn’t mean they know how to teach others to do it. And it helps if they know the style that you want to sing. They don’t have to sing in that style, but they need to know what it takes to do it.
Read reviews carefully; one of the big advantages of the online era. If you can’t find anything about them online, there’s probably a reason for that.
I would suggest taking one lesson before springing for any multi-lesson package. Not just to see if they know what they’re doing, but also if they’re compatible. If you’re not comfortable with them, it’ll be hard to get anything out of it.
Whatever your skill level and style desires, what a good teacher can do, as some have posted, is teach you better technique — breathing, warm-ups, etc. — so that you don’t damage yourself trying to do what your vocal chords aren’t ready for. (Stephen Tyler doesn’t just start screaming cold, he makes sure he is good and warmed up before a show.) They can help you expand your capabilities and help you train your ear.
But, as mentioned, you need someone who knows what they’re doing. Just because THEY can sing, doesn’t mean they know how to teach others to do it. And it helps if they know the style that you want to sing. They don’t have to sing in that style, but they need to know what it takes to do it.
Read reviews carefully; one of the big advantages of the online era. If you can’t find anything about them online, there’s probably a reason for that.
I would suggest taking one lesson before springing for any multi-lesson package. Not just to see if they know what they’re doing, but also if they’re compatible. If you’re not comfortable with them, it’ll be hard to get anything out of it.
Canard
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Yes. Highly recommended. I don't have time for a detailed technical response. It was a very positive experience. Singing is psychology/attitude. Singing is posture. Singing is a different awareness/understanding of music theory. But it is much more than musical technicalities. You need a good, sympathetic teacher, especially if you cannnot initially sing or sing well. If you don't fell comfortable at lessons, you have the wrong teacher.
davismanLV
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What Kurt has stated above (and has been reiterated by several) is it in a nutshell. In Junior College I joined the choir and then as I took more and more music classes, I also was asked to join the Renaissance Singers, a rather exclusive group. With all of that going on I did end up in vocal classes. The best of that, which has been stated above, is about warming up and breath control and pitch control.
Warming up and vocal exercises are critical. Such as in C - E - G - C, and then back down again with the G - E - C. Then take it up a half step. Usually with piano. Lather, rinse, repeat. Getting the basics along with the breathing and pitch practice will help a lot. I heard some fellow students who weren't very good become decent vocalists! It's all about taking the time to learn and practice, practice, practice. As I've gotten older I've become better in my higher range.
So to answer the title question, yes I have. And using those techniques have helped immensely.
I've been taking singing lessons for three years. I don't gig. I play with my duo partner in my home studio. We write songs and record. Shortly after I started taking singing lessons, I'd listen to recordings and realize I was not singing on pitch. I didn't even know that until I took lessons. I'd say I have zero natural singing ability. Now I can mostly sing on pitch and I find the recordings listenable. It's a long road for me. Now I'm trying to obsess less about pitch and just sing and let the tone of my voice be musical instead of simply accurate. My partner says my singing is better than ever. It's definitely frustrating to become aware of your limitations, but I'm glad I've persevered. I recommend in person lessons as there's a lot of stuff about posture, jaw openness, etc that I think is hard to evaluate over zoom or just audio.
davismanLV
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I had a friend like that.
Jeremiah was a bullfrog
Was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word he said
But I helped him a-drink his wine
I can't believe I just did that. Forgive me....
West R Lee
Venerated Member
Never had a voice or guitar lesson, but since Grot put himself out there, here's maybe the one I'm most proud of. I guess if I ever took it seriously enough, I'd take both guitar and voice lessons. I guess all of my life, especially with the endless hours driving over the years, I just try to mimic what I hear on the radio. I've always just tried to match the pitch of the artists. Obviously with some artists, that's impossible for me, but over the years it's seemed to help at least in small measure. Now if you pull up next to me at a red light, and I'm just getting down, you'll know why.
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