Daughter has started singing along with piano, and appears to have a reasonable voice. (she plays 2 instruments to post grade 8 standard) and has good pitch, almost perfect in fact. She's still at school and hopes to study music at uni eventually, but singing will have no part to play in this. She just enjoys it, but is aware that her breathing technique, tone, range etc. all need improvement, and rather than strain her voice, pick up bad habits etc. we are interested in purchasing an instruction book on technique, excercises etc.
Does anyone have any suggestion?. In case people are thinking, lessons are the best way, we can't afford them long term I'm afraid, although have maybe considered trying to find a decent teacher to give her maybe just a few lessons to show her the basics, but its hard to differntiate between the good and bad, and someone who only wants to give a months worth of lessons only. She's not looking to join a choir and doesn't want to sing in vocal ensemble at school as material they sing is not to her liking. Likes mainly contemporary, pop, musical theatre etc. Any suggestions appreciated.
Full Version: technique books
From the perspective of a singing teacher/vocal coach:
Just a month's worth of lessons won't do anyway, that's like thinking 4 piano lessons will set you up with the basics, which they effectively don't - why do people always think this might work with singing, when it seems to be quite clear that it doesn't work with any other instrument?
It absolutely understandable if you can't afford lessons, however in that case, I would steer clear of books as well.
This might sound strange, but if singing, as you say, won't play any part in her musical career, and her singing voice is natural and alright, you might actually do more wrong than good if you try exercises without supervision that you don't really understand. It's not just about copying the right tune in that case, it's also about doing it technically correct, and it will be impossible for you to check this.
If she mainly likes Pop and MT (and I mainly teach contemporary singing techniques, so I'm not adverse to it), she might on the other hand already have bad habits, because depending on when she started to sing along with it, she might have sung songs for adult singers at too young an age (common problem). If that's the case, you won't be able to correct these problems on your own.
It's completely different with someone who already sings and has some understanding of what's going on - in this case, books can be very valuable. I would say though that some basic understanding of how the voice works and WHY you do these exercises, and also what exercises help with any given problem, is essential. You might actually purchase a book which is completely worthless for your daughter, because the exercises in it are not focusing on what she needs. And to find out what she needs, you need someone to tell you what she needs, and that's impossible without hearing her.
Maybe not what you wanted to hear, but my professional opinion. I'm quite sure though that other singers who don't teach might be less adverse to recommending something
Just a month's worth of lessons won't do anyway, that's like thinking 4 piano lessons will set you up with the basics, which they effectively don't - why do people always think this might work with singing, when it seems to be quite clear that it doesn't work with any other instrument?
It absolutely understandable if you can't afford lessons, however in that case, I would steer clear of books as well.
This might sound strange, but if singing, as you say, won't play any part in her musical career, and her singing voice is natural and alright, you might actually do more wrong than good if you try exercises without supervision that you don't really understand. It's not just about copying the right tune in that case, it's also about doing it technically correct, and it will be impossible for you to check this.
If she mainly likes Pop and MT (and I mainly teach contemporary singing techniques, so I'm not adverse to it), she might on the other hand already have bad habits, because depending on when she started to sing along with it, she might have sung songs for adult singers at too young an age (common problem). If that's the case, you won't be able to correct these problems on your own.
It's completely different with someone who already sings and has some understanding of what's going on - in this case, books can be very valuable. I would say though that some basic understanding of how the voice works and WHY you do these exercises, and also what exercises help with any given problem, is essential. You might actually purchase a book which is completely worthless for your daughter, because the exercises in it are not focusing on what she needs. And to find out what she needs, you need someone to tell you what she needs, and that's impossible without hearing her.
Maybe not what you wanted to hear, but my professional opinion. I'm quite sure though that other singers who don't teach might be less adverse to recommending something
QUOTE(Dugazon @ Aug 11 2011, 02:44 PM) 
From the perspective of a singing teacher/vocal coach:
Just a month's worth of lessons won't do anyway, that's like thinking 4 piano lessons will set you up with the basics, which they effectively don't - why do people always think this might work with singing, when it seems to be quite clear that it doesn't work with any other instrument?
It absolutely understandable if you can't afford lessons, however in that case, I would steer clear of books as well.
This might sound strange, but if singing, as you say, won't play any part in her musical career, and her singing voice is natural and alright, you might actually do more wrong than good if you try exercises without supervision that you don't really understand. It's not just about copying the right tune in that case, it's also about doing it technically correct, and it will be impossible for you to check this.
If she mainly likes Pop and MT (and I mainly teach contemporary singing techniques, so I'm not adverse to it), she might on the other hand already have bad habits, because depending on when she started to sing along with it, she might have sung songs for adult singers at too young an age (common problem). If that's the case, you won't be able to correct these problems on your own.
It's completely different with someone who already sings and has some understanding of what's going on - in this case, books can be very valuable. I would say though that some basic understanding of how the voice works and WHY you do these exercises, and also what exercises help with any given problem, is essential. You might actually purchase a book which is completely worthless for your daughter, because the exercises in it are not focusing on what she needs. And to find out what she needs, you need someone to tell you what she needs, and that's impossible without hearing her.
Maybe not what you wanted to hear, but my professional opinion. I'm quite sure though that other singers who don't teach might be less adverse to recommending something
I wholeheartedly agree with everything my esteemed colleague says here.
In fact I'll go further and say in the wrong hands books about technique can do more harm than good.
Dugazon and I possess something no book on a shelf can provide, a pair of working eyes and ears and a trained brain to interpret what we see and hear. That is why people pay for music lessons pure and simple.
I can normally hear what is wrong with my back to a pupil and suggest a way to put it right. When I'm facing them and look at them, particularly if I walk around them and observe side on I can normally confirm what my ears are telling me. I very much doubt that Dugazon is any different.
Of course it is much better conducting a lesson facing a pupil as one can do encouraging things like smile at the pupil when they get things right, but there are times (normally when I am accompanying) when that isn't always possible so I swivel on the Piano stool or sit half-way round and demonstrate facing and play side-saddle (works for exercises only) or deliberately use the backing track for a bit so I can watch.
I know music lessons cost money, but they are worth the money (especially singing lessons as the potential for harm is so great)
If anyone wants a reason to justify the cost of getting right first time I have two words - Julie Andrews!
QUOTE(TRACY @ Aug 11 2011, 10:51 AM)
Daughter has started singing along with piano, and appears to have a reasonable voice. (she plays 2 instruments to post grade 8 standard) and has good pitch, almost perfect in fact. She's still at school and hopes to study music at uni eventually, but singing will have no part to play in this. She just enjoys it, but is aware that her breathing technique, tone, range etc. all need improvement, and rather than strain her voice, pick up bad habits etc. we are interested in purchasing an instruction book on technique, excercises etc.
Does anyone have any suggestion?. In case people are thinking, lessons are the best way, we can't afford them long term I'm afraid, although have maybe considered trying to find a decent teacher to give her maybe just a few lessons to show her the basics, but its hard to differntiate between the good and bad, and someone who only wants to give a months worth of lessons only. She's not looking to join a choir and doesn't want to sing in vocal ensemble at school as material they sing is not to her liking. Likes mainly contemporary, pop, musical theatre etc. Any suggestions appreciated.
I'm not a teacher but have been having lessons for over two years with my current teacher, and singing for a lot longer before with other teachers and by myself. I know you said it wasn't an option but I honestly think lessons would be the way to go. Would she be prepared to sacrifice some of her lessons in one of her other instruments for a while as a compromise? I sing contemporary music and musical theatre and I would say it's really easy to get into bad habits; I know I did.
I bought some books on technique before I started with my current teacher but, to be honest, without a teacher they were pretty useless. Coming back to them now, they're much more helpful because I know what they're talking about.
If you could find a good teacher and maybe even have a lesson a fortnight or something I think you'd find it would make a great difference to your daughter's voice. Just be sure to find someone who teaches pop/musical theatre as not everyone does.
Good luck! I hope you find a solution for your daughter.
I'm also a singing student (I've been taking lessons for several months), and completely agree with what's been said.
I'm a curious, "scientifically-minded" person, so I did read some books about technique and singing physiology. But, this was more to help me get some background, as well as understand what was going on and what my teacher was getting at or coming from. It did help me understand that I did something correctly when certain things began to fall into place, but there's absolutely no way that I would have been able to teach myself anything from those books without having experience beforehand. Unlike other instruments, you can't see what someone's doing and copy them. You really have to learn how to use the correct muscles by feeling, and you need a trained pair of eyes and ears to tell you if you are doing things correctly and safely, and how to modify it if you're not. It can be so easy to strain without realizing it. You also need someone to tell you what YOU need to work on, and a book can only give a lot of general exercises that may or may not be useful to you at that moment in time (assuming you're doing them correctly in the first place).
A good singing teacher is worth their weight in gold (hopefully my teacher won't read this and adjust their rate
) ...
Would it be possible to trade services for singing lessons if cost is an issue in your area (i.e. you didn't say how old your daughter is, but maybe she could babysit for the teacher or do gardening or something in exchange for lessons or a reduced cost?)?
Good luck!
I'm a curious, "scientifically-minded" person, so I did read some books about technique and singing physiology. But, this was more to help me get some background, as well as understand what was going on and what my teacher was getting at or coming from. It did help me understand that I did something correctly when certain things began to fall into place, but there's absolutely no way that I would have been able to teach myself anything from those books without having experience beforehand. Unlike other instruments, you can't see what someone's doing and copy them. You really have to learn how to use the correct muscles by feeling, and you need a trained pair of eyes and ears to tell you if you are doing things correctly and safely, and how to modify it if you're not. It can be so easy to strain without realizing it. You also need someone to tell you what YOU need to work on, and a book can only give a lot of general exercises that may or may not be useful to you at that moment in time (assuming you're doing them correctly in the first place).
A good singing teacher is worth their weight in gold (hopefully my teacher won't read this and adjust their rate
) ...Would it be possible to trade services for singing lessons if cost is an issue in your area (i.e. you didn't say how old your daughter is, but maybe she could babysit for the teacher or do gardening or something in exchange for lessons or a reduced cost?)?
Good luck!
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