How do you guys feel about Voice Lessons?

Hey guys-

I posted a thread a while ago with a few links to some songs I recorded. I began singing in my car when I was about 17 and finally worked myself up to where I could record a song that I felt deemed worthy of sharing.

To my surprise, a lot of people were shocked I could sing since my singing voice doesn't sound anything like me, and they really seemed to like the outcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtG8GHwx9tQ&context=C3c61d2aADOEgsToPDskJy588JSQQzTk7c2yRWwCNp

But transitioning to performing live is another beast. Basically, if I have 5 takes to nail a chorus, I can usually get it done. But combining everything and doing 1 giant live take seems like a HUGE challenge. My main issue is just pitch control.

Do you guys recommend voice lessons or anything of the sort? I'm an artist, and it made natural sense to pursue instruction when I wanted to get better at something.

With that said, a lot of people seem to just be 'natural singers' and some not so much. I'd love to improve my pitch control so I could perform in a live situation, but unsure if voice lessons would help with that, or if it'd just help me with breathing and etc, something I'm not as concerned about.

To sum it up, what are you all's opinions on voice lessons? The instructor is certainly a large variable, but has anyone taken them with relative success?

If you're serious about singing, then definitely take some voice lessons. A good voice teacher will teach you techniques on how to sing properly and healthily, so that you don't burn out your voice. Most people don't know this, but almost all singers with major acts have vocal training and coaching. I currently take voice lessons, which I find are helpful. I noticed a big improvement in terms of tone and range. I say you should definitely consider it.

Well first off... I dig your voice. I've had 1 singing lesson. I sang professionally for 10 years before that. I wasn't ready.

Well, since you have a very clear idea of your personality vocally, and you have very clear ideas of your obstacles, yeah. But choose your teacher wisely. Look for what is going to help you with want you feel you lack, and make sure you stay on track with improving those things.

I say that because you say:

I personally love your mentality. You have something, but you're aware of what you want to make better in your thing. So stay on track, and make sure your teacher does too. They can have a tendency to pull some off their target. Stay on target. You've got something cool, so make it better, and make it so you can hear it your head, and pull it out your ass, on stage, at rehearsal, whenever you need and want.

Most people seeking out instructors don't have a developed idea of who they are vocally, musically, and emotionally... but you seem to. Still...

...what I did, and I'm much like you, I think, I read a few technique books, and I got a vocal warmup CD. That... was key. To put it together, how to breath and how to support the note I want to sing. How to get the mechanics of my palette, my tongue, my throat, my lips and my nasal passage... all of it, out of the way of my true voice. I use that CD for all my singers I produce, and me when I sing a demo of mine. This:

http://www.singingvoicelessons.com/store/voicelessons.html

It's corny, and perfect for me. I use it my car or through Pro Tools right before I sing a track.

But I also read this 100 year old book that is the blueprint for all vocal techniques coming after. It's awesome if you can stretch your understanding to the point that, techniques, good ones, are based in solid traditional ideas.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-sing-lilli-lehmann/1100059592

And I read this...

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Singing/dp/1592570860

Also a great way to understand the mechanics of your instrument. But really, doing that CD, is an ongoing journey of understanding how my voice works and how to optimize what I have already. You already have something. You might give the CD and books a try...

Thanks a lot for the advice Lee! It's definitely something I need to research and study up on- using my voice as an instrument. As I mentioned, I've been surprised that to my voice is fairly appealing to some people I know. If my natural tonality was completely unappealing, then I'd be wasting my time with lessons.

I'll do some research and see about getting a warmup tape. Maybe recording a live video is what I should focus on next- then trying to perform my music.

The stuff Lee mentioned is great. I suggest getting a key board if you don't have one already.

Play a scale and sing it.

Work on relative pitches. Get to a point where you can play a note on the piano and sing the 4th or 5th.

Hi, Guys!

Just a heads up...

I'm moving this to the HC Singers' Forum, which some of us worked to get.

I never tried this. Thanks for the idea, Rhino55.

Hey, we're the 1 singing lesson twins! *holding up hand* Gimme 5! lol

Ahhh. I wondered why so many songwriting forumites had commented on this thread! lol

Voice lessons are good if the teacher is good.

At the very least, they should give you perspective on yourself that you might not have already. That counts for something, I think.

I'm considering ordering some of the aforementioned Voice Singing Lessons audio CD's, if nothing else than to get me some good warmup exercises. I have a 30 min drive to and fro school everyday, so that's some extra time to work on the pipes.

My main problem though is just pitch accuracy. Even some of the guys that I like listening to aren't that great when it comes to nailing stuff live. Guys like Aaron Gillespie and others (the guys I typically emulated to develop my sound) don't hit things quite like I would want to. Especially starting out- if you don't have a fanbase and don't impress people with a live performance, you're never going to gain any popularity. JMO anyways.

I disagree. My natural tonality was HORRIBLE when I started taking voice lessons. I had 3 completely separate group of friends

tell me that my voice was the worst voice they've ever heard out of all the times they've done karaoke....OUCH....

So that inspired my to take voice lessons.

A few weeks ago, I got my first good comment during karaoke from one of those groups.

So I'm doing something right.

For a vocal warmup/workout, I use the vocal workout routine from Anne Peckham's "The Contemporary Singer".

It is 31 minutes long and has a separate workout for high and low voices. It covers a wide range of sounds and rhythms.

I alternate between the High and Low workouts (High,Low,High,Low,High,Low, Day of Rest) every week.

I've been doing them for 6 months straight and it has done wonders for my voice.

Week after week I can feel more things happening as I sing.

As my vocal muscles (or whatever you call it) became stronger, my pitch got better and better.

So in addition to breathing and technique, I think physical exercise of your throat and vocal cords improves pitch.

There are tons of other vocal methods/workouts. So just try to find something that you like and stick to it.

another vote for SINGINGVOICELESSONS.COM I have all her CD's and use them regularly for wam ups and practice...

Not disagreeing with you, but IMO there are some people who's voices just aren't ever going to sound appealing. Even I have friends who are good singers in terms of technique and pitch, but their voice is generally unappealing to a lot of listeners I talk with.

I'm guessing you probably had a decent voice in terms of sound, just didn't know how to harness it. That's kind of how I am now- i feel good enough about my tonality and sound- it's just taming the beast so I can perform and gain some listeners/have fun performing.

For the time being, I play in a gigging band that pays some bills. It's just funny to see fans come to our shows and request MY songs they heard on youtube. Only for me to decline to play them bc I can't sing live nearly as well as I can record.