Lessons for singing
"up-and-comers" are available in more formats than one might imagine.
Most singers understand the need for private voice coaching to help them form a
foundation of practical technique -- breathing, support and resonance skills.
However, singers may underestimate the value of group clinics, large and small,
and summarily dismiss them as unnecessary or, quite frankly, beneath where they
see themselves on the musical food chain. Instead, group classes can add a
whole new dimension to a singer’s education.
Larger group
settings of twenty-five or more singers may require a lecture format with
perhaps a small number of attendees having the opportunity to perform to
demonstrate important points. In addition to basic technique, these group
settings may involve specialty techniques as well as insider industry
information that could be very valuable to a singer who is working to build a
career.
Not all private
coaches have access to current music industry information and therefore could
not normally pass it along in a private setting. A large master class or
workshop is a great way for a singer to get a significant amount of information
in a short amount of time, as well as the opportunity to network with others in
the music industry. Large group clinics may provide the opportunity to receive
lessons for singing from a high-caliber celebrity vocal coach otherwise
unavailable to many singers.
What a singer gets in a small group
setting that they don’t usually receive in a private lesson or a large group
setting, is the opportunity to learn by watching and listening to other
singers. Both seasoned and beginning singers get to hear and see themselves
through the eyes and ears of others in the workshop. If there's a technique
that’s been eluding a performer during their private lessons for singing, they
may grasp the concept when they see it working in another singer. The light
bulb turns on.
Many vocal coaches prefer to present
small group clinics which provide the opportunity for each participant to
perform and receive positive critiques from them as well as the other
attendees. When the other participants agree with your results, you'll notice
the room is full of "Bobble Heads" nodding up and down in agreement.
Small clinics tend to have a more intimate feel than a larger class and the
attendees often bond and continue those friendships outside the classroom.
When
researching group lessons for singing, large or small, be sure that the vocal
coach is well known and respected by others in the music business. Ask for a
client list to see which artists they’ve worked with. If none is available,
request to see references from past attendees. Ask about the format of the
clinic; how many attendees are expected; will you have an opportunity to
perform; will there be guest speakers; who are they and what is their
specialty. Google them on the internet. A clinic may cost a bit more than
private lessons for singing and might involve travel, but the right clinic can
bring new information into the mix and make a huge difference in the career
path of a singer.
Put what you
have learned to use, but don't throw away everything you have already
discovered with your private vocal coach. You still can benefit from one-on-one
private lessons for singing with the right voice coach, as well as from small
and/or large group settings. Large group clinics provide a way for singers to
obtain a lot of information in a short period of time as well as to learn about
the music industry, and the all-important personal networking. Small group
settings allow singers to improve their techniques while watching others, as
well as through constructive comments when they perform. Choose your workshops
or clinics carefully and you should find the benefits of attending more than
worth your while.
Nashville
vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams reveals the trade secrets that have already
helped hundreds of aspiring singers become celebrities: Tim McGraw, Martina
McBride, Dixie Chicks, Miley Cyrus, Huey Lewis, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill,
Jason Aldean, Christina Aguilera...
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me on Facebook
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