Are voice lessons necessary for a singer?

This is an age old question … Ethel Merman was once told by the Gershwin brothers to never take voice lessons as voice teachers would ruin her voice. I beg to differ – a good voice teacher could have taken her powerful voice and help her create an unstoppable voice.  One might say she never lost her voice and her sound didn’t change – but as she became older – her voice sounded less and less like singing but rather like shouting — here’s two examples:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AiRDBvqqcA]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFLM1z4v1pI&feature=related]

It’s a shame – she had such a powerful interesting voice – with some good vocal training – she could have become an amazing singer – instead of just a power house singer.

There seems to be this “idea” that people can either sing or can’t .. I disagree – give me the worse singer ever and I can help them become a decent or even good singer. Add a little of that magical “talent” (which I will be blogging on soon – what is talent) and a great singer is born.

I would ask you this? Would you prescribe yourself medicine? probably not! Singing is no different … you may have a “natural” voice but you won’t sound polished.  Judy Davis (Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Barabra Steisand – she taught them all and more) once said ” …you must understand how the diaphragm and lungs work and how to let them function normally”  Most singers have no idea how their voice works and sound like it? I don’t know how many vocalists walk in my door complaining of tightness of chest, sore vocal chords, etc. the list goes on. If you don’t know how the voice works how can you have longevity as a singer.

Barbara Streisand  is an excellent example of how Judy Davis took a singer and turned her into this amazing singer

look @ before and after Barbara

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8rpGAizaN8]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_g3kkGH8Mo&feature=related]

If you don’t believe me – try singing “don’t rain on parade” that is one hard song

So you say — but I’m just an ordinary person –they’re legends …. trust me with a strong understanding of technique – you can too become a singer

one of my voice students (taking lessons for 3 yrs.) has generously agreed to show before and after videos of what voice training can do!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4I84yXChHo]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VpVampmEx0&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL]

Limited time offer: for the month of February – your 1st voice lesson is on Pardalis Music Studio (some conditions apply)  – for more information email us @ npardalis@hotmail.com