Conference mr1pst::music

Bill,

>    	Do you think anyone can have a good singing voice with
>    	lessons and or just practice?

I don't know...depends what you mean by "good".  I think anyone can have fun
singing, and lessons/practice can help anyone to make the most of the vocal
instrument they have.
    
>    	What is the way to practice?

That would vary a lot for different people.  The main thing would be to get
warmed up first before starting in on something difficult.
    
>    	What is the mask?

Singing "in the mask", for me, is a feeling of vibration in the bones of the
face, sort of a "buzzing" feeling.  This is generally a good thing for the
sound, it adds resonance and helps the voice project better.
    
>    	What is covered singing?

A "dark", almost "swallowed" sound.  The larynx can move up and down in the
neck.  It tends to float up for high notes and down for low, but you can
deliberately position it as well.  You get the "covered" sound by keeping the
larynx low.  This sound is commonly used in the operatic style, and rarely used
in popular music these days.
    
>    	What is the Belcanto style of singing?
>        Isn't it only singing with your speaking voice?
>    	
>	The reason I'm asking all these ?s is because I started
>    	take lesson from an instructor that teaches Belcanto. Been
>    	to a few lessons, and starting to feel he is teaching me to be
>    	an opera singer. You know very classical like. I normally sing
>    	with more head tones and he's telling me not to, cause it's not
>    	the proper way to sing. 
>    
>    	I'm I worrying for nothing. Is classical training the proper
>    	way to train.. Even tough he making me sing lower then I LIKE to?
>    
>    	This guy is surpose to be the best Belcanto instrutor in the
>    	area. 

Bel canto is the operatic style.  So it sounds like that's what this instructor
does best.  It's not the only way to sing.

Thinking about what I would want to get out of singing lessons, it comes down
to just two things:

 1. to learn how to sing safely, without hurting my voice
 2. to learn how to sing the music I like as well as possible

Somebody who teaches bel canto should be able to teach you how to sing safely. 
If you don't want to sing opera or classical material, though, and this
instructor won't help you get a good sound that is appropriate to the style you
want to do, maybe you need a different instructor...

>    	If you were to try to instruct someone on how to sing,
>        what advice would you give? Techniques?
    
Well, that's a pretty big subject...  You'd probably do best to find an
instructor that you can work with.

If you're close to Littleton MA, I'd recommend Charlotte Russell
(508-486-3442).  Her approach is based on recent research in voice physiology,
and is style-neutral.  Basically, there are a lot different structures in the
vocal tract that can be controlled independently, each of which do different
things to the sound of the voice, kind of like the knobs on a guitar amp. 
These can be combined in various "recipes" to produce the sounds associated
with different styles.

-Lance-

    
    I don't know if "anyone" can achieve a "good" voice (however you
    may define "good") with lessons, but they can certainly get
    "better". I think the most important thing you can get out
    of vocal lessons, regardless of the style, is how to breath
    correctly. Proper breathing techniques will enhance the abilities 
    of even the worst shower-singer...
    
    /Billy_K

    
    
    	I feel that an identity is very important to have.
    
    	Meaning, when a person sings, he sould always sound
    	like him self during every song..
    
    	I hear many local/cover band lead vocals sing like a 
    	different person in almost every song. Maybe thats there
    	goal, to imitate the original artist. But when someone
    	heres me sing, I would like them to here ME, and not have
    	them say "Hey! He sounds just like so-in-so). I've had it 
    	happen. That one of the reasons I persued lessons. To find me!
    
    	Being a song writer, it's pretty much the same as someone
    	telling me my song sounds like someone elses.. :-(
    
    
    		Bill                                                  

>    	Meaning, when a person sings, he sould always sound
>    	like him self during every song..

There's a difference between "I sound like myself" and "I sound like this
because it's all I know how to do".  Hopefully, with training you'll be better
able to use your voice to express whatever it is you conceive of, in your own
songs or other peoples'.

-Lance-

    
    	Lance,
    
    	What I ment was, because I can get a variety of clear
        sounds/pitches from my voice, and my taste in music is
    	so wide, I've been singing so many different ways over the
    	years. 
    
    	Judging by my speaking voice, I am a baritone. But I can get
    	a wide variety of sounds from my voice with the use of headtones.
    	Though labeled a baritone.I enjoy using a very clear and controlled
    	tenor sound. And with the use of falsetto, I can get a siprano
        sound.
    	 
	Anyway, I just want to find a sound that people can identify ME
        with. And use this to identify Bill Ouellette.
    
    		Bill 

Ah, now I get it...

I suspect you do in fact have a unique and identifiable sound/style.  That's
partly the physical characteristics of your vocal instrument, and partly the
musical decisions you make whenever you sing.

If you read the GUITAR conference, there are thousands of notes in there about
how to get different tones out of different equipment, but when all is said and
done, most people agree that what makes a guitar sound unique is primarily in
the fingers of the player. Singing's no different.

-Lance-

I'm glad someone started this...


Short of actually taking real lessons, i've been coached
by people who I thought sang very well,,, and I believe half
of the battle is how well your pitch is, and the other half is
your level of confidence/comfort while performing.  Breathing,
phrasing is all important, but if I can't 'hear' the notes I need
to sing, I'm lost.....


Only other problem for me is I never LIKE what my voice sounds 
like, wether it's spoken recording (like an answering machine)
or in song.  I've been at it for many years now, and still never
like what I sound like on tape save for once or twice,,,,

I assume one can do something about that...


For those who take lessons,,, what's the cost per average ?

I'd like to try taking some instructional training in....

/r

    >>  Only other problem for me is I never LIKE what my voice sounds like...
    
    This is what John Lennon always said.  He always was trying different
    effects and causes (like lying on his back) to get a sound he liked.