In previous blogs I have been somewhat critical of classically trained singers trying to perform the pop genres. In those pop genres (non classical) I include country (old and crossover), pop ie: Miley Cyrus, Demi Lavato, the young Britney Spears, Selena Gomez and the like. Then there is the new musical theater such as Rent, Mama Mia, Putnam County, and In the Heights which require a pop vocal approach.
I come from an instrumental background. I played trumpet and still do. My singing was, in the beginning, based entirely in hymns and classically oriented church music, with a little gospel mixed in. I am telling this part of my musical life to let you , the reader, understand my stance as it relates to singing in any style. I started taking private voice lessons when I was about 10 years old and had not undergone my voice change that occurs during puberty. My 1st voice teacher is a man by the name of Bill Schahn and it was he who guided me through the somewhat tricky transition of the cambiata (Italian for changing voice.) It is he who has helped me to help others go through this changing voice period, which has become a specialty in my studios. This approach is equally useful for girls as well as boys, since girls experience, to a lesser degree, the same issues as boys during puberty.
I do not discourage anyone from pursuing a classical music career. having made a living for more than 8 years as an opera singer in the US and in Europe. What I do discourage is someone trying to apply the traditional operatic vocal approach to any of the popular genres. Just as a matter of fact, the opportunity for someone in America making a living from being an opera singer in the US is approximately less than 1 in 500,000. Whereas a career or some portion of one’s income derived from some form of pop music (other than opera) is approximately 1 in 4000. MUCH BETTER ODDS!!
