I had my first singing lesson/coaching session last night...

[Twinfan]

As I mentioned in a thread a few months ago, I bought a singing book that helped improve my backing vocals.  However I was still struggling a little with high note control, and wondering if I was doing things right, so I've hooked up with a rock and metal vocal coach:  www.talenasmith.co.uk

I had my introductory session last night which lasted around 45 mins and cost £15.  In the session, we went through some anatomy of the voice, an introduction to the correct way to breathe for singing and she did an assessment of my current vocal abilities.

I discovered that I'm a baritone (which is lower than I thought I was) and explains why the higher notes don't come quite so naturally to me.  I'm also not starting from ground zero, as there are elements of my chest voice that are quite well developed already, so I'll be working on vocal flexibility, breathing, upper head voice and power.  She thinks that after 6 months coaching I'll be in good shape to achieve my goal - fronting a rock band  :o

All in all, quite a successful and interesting evening.  I'll be going for sessions every two weeks and I'm looking forward to seeing if the work pays off!

[Afghan Dave]

Good luck mate, sounds productive and like good fun.

I'm trying the http://www.stevielange.com VOCALIZE CD

Got it from Jon/Feline -- I think it is the way ahead for my David Coverdale/Paul Stanley ambitions.  :? :lol:

[Twinfan]

And good luck to you too mate!

[Ian Price]

I've always wanted to sing but know that I would sound pretty awful. I don't think any numebr of lessons will cure me of a bad voice!

Dave and Dave, clips are essential on this one!

[Twinfan]

Ha ha!  Not right now, give me a month or two  ;)

[ToneMonkey]

Fairl play, hope it works out for you.  I think I'd be beyond help on this one.  I couldn't even get into the priamry school choir when I was a nipper.

[Afghan Dave]

Dave and Dave, clips are essential on this one!

Yeah..... Mmm...  "Dave n Dave"

We could be the electric Proclaimers!!   :P :lol:

[Twinfan]

How awful would THAT be???  :lol:

[AndyR]

Nice one (the news bit, not the proclaimers bit :lol:)

[WezV]

Fairl play, hope it works out for you.  I think I'd be beyond help on this one.  I couldn't even get into the priamry school choir when I was a nipper.

i am the same.  i very clearly remember the smirks on my music teachers faces when i tried

[mikeluke]

I used a lady vocal coach in Reading and it was really useful.

http://www.helenbolton.co.uk/

She was very good and helped me with the basics of breathing, range etc etc

Once funny outcome - First exercise we did was to pick a song and sing along to a backing track just to get an idea - we did Summer of 69 - her comment was "God, you are LOUD!"

Not sure if that was a complement or not...

[ToneMonkey]

Fairl play, hope it works out for you.  I think I'd be beyond help on this one.  I couldn't even get into the priamry school choir when I was a nipper.

i am the same.  i very clearly remember the smirks on my music teachers faces when i tried

Yeah me too.  I only wanted to get Wednesday afternoons off.

[hamfist]

Dave and Dave, clips are essential on this one!

I'd also really like to hear some "before" and "after" clips, even though you might feel a bit embarrassed about making the "before" clips public.

it might give possibly give me (and others ?) some hope that I could improve my voice.  At the moment I'm loathe to spend the money on lessons as in 25 years of singing BV's and even fronting a band a few times, I don't think my voice has improved one tiny little bit. I suppose I'm really not convinced that any amount of training could improve it.

[38thBeatle]

Sounds interesting Dave. I sing 50% of the bands songs and do backing vocs for the ones I don't sing lead on. I have no training whatsoever though have read up on it but even so, could do with proper lessons. My first wife was ( and still is) a trained singer and she used to advise me but proper voice training has to be the way forward. Good to see Stevie Lange's name- I used to watch her at The Bridge House at Canning Town in years gone by.

[Philly Q]

Dave and Dave, clips are essential on this one!

I'd also really like to hear some "before" and "after" clips, even though you might feel a bit embarrassed about making the "before" clips public.

+1  :D