Why Voice Training Is Essential for Singers: What the Stars Have to Say (Part 2)

PUBLISHED IN BUSINESS TIMES NEWSPAPER DEC 5, 2014 == Tanzanian’s in general, from my experience, tend to drag their feet about this. Well I suppose it isn’t in our culture.  You’re more likely to come across parents who would discourage their children from pursuing music in any way shape or form, than parents who would send their kids off to piano, guitar and voice lessons. Which explains why it somewhat becomes inconceivable to most, why voice training is even necessary at all. To help clarify this so you can make an informed decision, this is the second installment of what the stars have to say about the benefits of vocal training. I’ll kick off this article with a pop star who really needs no introduction—Madonna. And here’s what she had to say back in the 80s when she was starting out: “Like all young singers, I want to get my voice together with as much strength, quality and control as I can. It seems to me that there is always some new style, new sound or new direction in popular music. I’d like to be ready for whatever happens. Working with Seth is building a vocal coordination which prepares me to meet all these challenges.”

Recording artist and singer Janet Jackson – the younger sister of Michael Jackson, has sold over 140 million records. She is ranked as one of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary music. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) lists her as the eleventh best-selling female artist in the United States, with 26 million certified albums. In March 2014 Fuse listed Jackson as the third most awarded musician of all-time. In November 2014, Jackson was voted 'Queen of Pop' by a poll conducted online by VH1.com.  And this is what she had to say back in the 80s: “I began to study with Seth when I was 14 years old. We vocalized 3 ½ octaves and evened all the breaks. Today, some years later, we still vocalize and sustain nearly 3 ½ octaves of vocal range and continue to strengthen the bridges.”

Another pop icon I had to include in this article is actress, singer and dancer Jennifer Lopez. She ventured into the music industry in 1999 with her debut studio album, On the 6. With the simultaneous release of her second studio album J.Lo and her film The Wedding Planner in 2001, Lopez became the first person to have a number one album and film in the same week. Her 2002 remix album, J to tha L–O! The Remixes, became the first in history to debut at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, while her fifth studio album, Como Ama una Mujer (2007), received the highest first-week sales for a Spanish album in the United States. With past record sales of 55 million and a cumulative film gross of over $2 billion, Lopez is regarded as the most influential Hispanic performer in the United States, as well as its highest paid Latin entertainer. Here’s what she had to say about her vocal coach: “I first met Seth during the Living Color series. Right away, the balancing of the bridges or breaks in the vocal range began. This technique holds you together vocally during extended recording schedules, and/or the tours to promote the album.”

And on that note, I hope these testimonials have shed some light on what goes into preparing and nurturing the vocals of some of the biggest pop stars in the world. I certainly do hope this inspires you.

If you want to improve your singing voice, read my Vocal Training Product Review for Home Learning article in which I recommend vocal training programs that cover the entire spectrum in voice training to include: Pitch, Tone, Vocal Agility, Head Voice, High Notes, the Mix, Vibrato and MORE. Click Here!

Read MORE on What the Stars Have to Say Part 3 Below

Why Voice Training Is Essential for Singers: What the Stars Have to Say (Part 3)

You are the instrument, learn to sing like a pro!

JOETT
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