Changing singing technique - Estill vs. Classical?

[ghostofpp]

Thought I'd ask just on the off chance any singing NAPMs could offer some advice... I've been working all summer towards some singing auditions for a jazz acapella group and one that sings more 'pop' things. (That said, there will also be Musical Theatre ones, and that's my 'thing' if I had a 'main thing'!) Both v. hard to get into, but ultimately they're looking for outstanding singers I guess I'm a soprano and my old teacher specialises in a classical approach, however I did not feel much progress with her so decided to go to an Estill teacher just wanting to improve my voice really and give myself the best chance of success... Little did I know, it's a totally different method, and my classical teacher said that her technique would conflict with Estill so I'd have to choose!

I really don't want to damage my voice doing Estill and not be able to sing high anymore, but I felt definite progress when I went for that one lesson with the new teacher! Feeling utterly confused - can anyone advise? Ultimately, I just want to sing with better technique!

[pg]

I do think there are different techniques to learn - but I don't see why you can't learn more than one. Hopefully there will be more knowledgeable NAPMs along soon!

When I was at drama school I did struggle to master "speech style" singing after classical training. I didn't have to unlearn anything though - I just needed to learn something new. If I could master both then I could swap between the two. I don't think I could claim to have mastered either...

My dd had a lot of classical singing lessons - but she loves to sing jazz and MT. If you want to pursue a career then I think it makes sense to investigate (with sympathetic and experienced teachers) what sort of instrument you have. DD has a huge (as yet unmastered) operatic soprano voice with particular brilliance at the very, very top of the range - but she also uses a different bit of her instrument to sing the repertoire she really enjoys. She accepts that her "instrument" is probably best suited to opera, but it doesn't stop her singing other stuff for fun. If you have classical training, from a good teacher who has nurtured your voice and guarded it against damage as you have grown up - then you have a wonderful base from which to go on and explore other techniques (in my opinion - which is not that of a singing teacher/expert ).

[CatKat_0]

I'd like to help but I'd have to look up what estill is.....?!!? Sorry - I hope you can find someone to help, is choir mistress still a member here? She might be able to help you?

I would have thought that you should be able to learn all types of singing together but not damage your voice, but I don't know for sure, so you'd be better off asking someone with experience.

I hope it all goes well for you though, although perhaps a confusing time and a tough decision to be made - it sounds like you still have lots of positive options to consider, and a beautiful voice if you're good enough to be singing at your level in either style.

[islandofsodor]

Hi

My husband is an Estill certified teacher. The Estill model is based around research & vocal safety is at the forefront of anything. In fact he finds that speech therapists are becoming g increasingly interested in it. He is also a classically trained teacher and does not find that Estill conflicts with his classical training at all

What it does is isolate the precise muscles used to create different voice qualities. You do one thing to produce 'opera quality' for classical singing but something else for other voice qualities used in musical theatre or pop for example.


There are Estill teachers and practitioners in some of the leading conservatories, theatre schools & opera companies in the world. One of the reasons dh likes this method is that unlike some methods it ackknowledges the validity of classical training for that style. Sone other methods (I won't name them as they don't like criticism) stipulate you only do things their way.

[CatKat_0]

Thanks for sharing this - my little DD loves to sing but already sounds more "opera" than "pop" singer.

I will certainly be doing more research if she's keen as she gets older.

I've certainly learned something today x

[ghostofpp]

I do think there are different techniques to learn - but I don't see why you can't learn more than one. Hopefully there will be more knowledgeable NAPMs along soon!

When I was at drama school I did struggle to master "speech style" singing after classical training. I didn't have to unlearn anything though - I just needed to learn something new. If I could master both then I could swap between the two. I don't think I could claim to have mastered either...

My dd had a lot of classical singing lessons - but she loves to sing jazz and MT. If you want to pursue a career then I think it makes sense to investigate (with sympathetic and experienced teachers) what sort of instrument you have. DD has a huge (as yet unmastered) operatic soprano voice with particular brilliance at the very, very top of the range - but she also uses a different bit of her instrument to sing the repertoire she really enjoys. She accepts that her "instrument" is probably best suited to opera, but it doesn't stop her singing other stuff for fun. If you have classical training, from a good teacher who has nurtured your voice and guarded it against damage as you have grown up - then you have a wonderful base from which to go on and explore other techniques (in my opinion - which is not that of a singing teacher/expert ).

Sounds like your daughter has the perfect combination I agree, I don't see why learning both isn't possible. My classical teacher, however, scared me with an example of a student whose strength lay in an operatic quality, who nonetheless switched to MT/"speech singing" and couldn't sing high anymore... But I guess it's all to do with not neglecting one or the other.


islandofsodor - wow, very useful, thank you! I find Estill very interesting. I've only had 2 lessons with my new teacher and the results are incredible. The reason I mentioned damaging my voice was that, when I practice alone, I'm scared of accidentally doing something wrong because it's a totally new way of singing for me. Especially when singing high notes. That said, we haven't covered that yet as, despite being a soprano, I was taken right down to sing in low "belting" range to get used to the feeling and getting my vocal folds to meet properly. My parents weren't impressed with my growling...

[bruno2]

My dd has been singing classical and musical theatre for a number of years, dd is almost 16 .Herr teacher has been Estill and classically trained.