In a recent video, we talked about the differences
between classical and contemporary technique.
But here's a good question, why not just hedge your bets
and learn both.
Is that even possible?
Stick around, we're going to answer that question
right after this.
Sound check.
Check one, check two.
Hi, my name is Dr. Dan, and welcome to Voice Essentials
where we develop your voice and improve your sound,
because here at Voice Essentials,
we believe that every single voice deserves to be heard.
Now, last week, I did a video that
talked about the differences between classical technique
and contemporary technique, and we
identified a range of things that makes them different.
That enable the voice to sing contemporary material
well as opposed to classical technique, which
sets the voice up to sing classical technique well.
Now, Lazlow Strutts writes a great question.
And he writes, is it actually possible to develop
both techniques?
Great question Lazlow, and I'm here
to unfortunately tell you I personally
don't believe that it is.
Now, up front, there are going to be some people,
and I dare say I'm going to get a string of comments
below of people saying, no, you definitely can.
There are great examples.
Music theater is a good example.
We have singers that are constantly
having to do-- one minute they're doing Wicked
and the next minute, they doing Les Mis,
using completely different setups.
I agree.
They are doing different setups but if we think about music
as being on a spectrum where we have ours is over here,
and we have heavy metal over here, there's this scope,
isn't there? of different materials
from classical to contemporary.
The reality is that I am yet to hear a music theater singer who
goes from singing metal right through to singing,
you know, a German [INAUDIBLE] or an aria.
The reality is, their scope is generally
somewhere in the middle.
They're shifting between those two places.
And because the muscular set up required
for classical as opposed to contemporary,
as we explained in the previous video, is different.
And our muscles develop a memory.
They develop a way of being coordinated.
It's the reason why we have to train them in the first place.
Because often, the way your muscles
want to operate the voice is not the most efficient way.
So we have to train, we have to embed new muscle memory,
and therefore, the muscles start to operate,
develop a particular way of functioning.
And so because the difference of the function
between classical and contemporary is so distinct,
and so-- and there's so much variety between the way
that those two functions operate the voice,
you can't just simply switch, you know, flick a switch
and go from one to the other.
You need to train the voice one way and then to the other.
And more often than not, even in professional music theater,
a singer can't go from singing in Wicked one week,
to immediately singing Phantom the next.
Sound check.
So just so we're all clear on what Dr. Dan thinks
about this highly controversial subject,
I don't believe that you can set up the voice to concurrently
simultaneously do both classical technical set up
and contemporary set up at a functional level,
with the muscle memory being what it is,
to a high professional standard.
You can-- every single voice can make a choice to be either or,
and every single voice, with work and time,
can shift between the two.
They just can't run side by side and, you know, click a switch
and go between one and the other.
I know this is a controversial subject,
and I've got many respected colleagues
who have voiced their disagreement with my thoughts
on this.
I would love to hear what you think about this.
Leave your comments in the comments section below.
and let us know again, what has been your experience?
Have you seen or heard someone-- maybe on YouTube?
Maybe you can leave a link to someone
who you believe is exhibiting both classical and contemporary
at the same time.
Remembering that we're talking about a full scope here.
Yeah, I would love if someone could show me
someone going from singing, you know, opera
right through to full on metal, and both ends of the spectrum,
really nailing both types of voices.
If it's your first time here at Voice Essentials,
we would love for you to become a part
of our ever-growing global family
because we believe in you.
We believe in your voice, and we believe
that you can improve and develop your sound,
so that your voice is heard.
Because everyone has a voice and everyone's voice
deserves to be heard.
But until I'll see you in the next Voice Essentials video,
my name is Dr. Dan.
Sing well.
[CHEERING]