Speech Level Singing Technique Explained

There's a lot of confusion and misconception as to what singing really is. Now, according to the man who invented speech-level singing technique--name withheld, cos I don't want to start a debate or offend anyone putting themselves out as the ultimate source of information on this technique.

So let's begin...

"When it comes to singing you have to be able to deliver a song in a manner that best suits the mood and style of that song, and the way you feel about that song. Your success or failure in doing this depends a great deal on your vocal technique, the way you use your voice. The better the technique, the greater the command you have over your voice. And the greater the variety of material you can sing.  

No-matter if you sing pop, musical comedy or opera, there is an effective technique that helps you sing more easily and comfortably, many hours at a time, day after day. It’s called speech-level singing technique, or simply, speech level singing. 

Speech level singing means no matter how high or low; or how loudly or softly you sing, you never do anything that prevents you from singing with the same, comfortable easily produced voice when you speak. 

Even though you use a greater pitch and dynamic range when you sing, nothing should feel any different in your mouth or throat. There should be no tension in your tongue, your jaw, soft pallet or your neck. 

If you’ve taken voice lessons before, or have sung in a choir, your voice teacher or choir director has probably instructed you at one time or another to give your tone more support. Sing from your diaphragm. Let your tone resonate. Place your tone forward. Project your voice…and so on. 

However, such instruction can be confusing and even dangerous. I’ve seen it destroy many fine voices. Singing technique associated with this kind of instruction can only cause your voice to jam up, and your body to become stiff and rigid. 

These kind of instructions have a tendency to talk in result. To explain to you what singing should be, rather than how to allow it to happen. With speech-level technique, you need only concern yourself with one thing when you sing: speech. 

Your tone production must remain consistent—or as we say, connected from the bottom of your range—that is your chest voice, all the way into the extended upper range of your head voice. 

AND you must coordinate that connection from a vocal posture that is exactly the same as when you're speaking comfortably… that is, your speech level. 

With speech-level singing your voice is automatically supported, your diaphragm and all your breathing muscles work the way they should to supply your vocal chords with just the right amount of air. 

You don’t need to push, tighten or manipulate anything to have a strong, clear and dynamically flexible voice. With speech-level singing, your voice is automatically balanced with just the right amount of top, middle and bottom harmonic qualities. 

You don’t sound muddy, dark, throaty on low tones; or slatey, pinched or strident on high notes. 

With speech-level singing your voice only gets better as you get older, there won’t be any loss of range, quality or power; BUT to develop speech-level singing technique you need the training. Or if you’re like most singers, retrain your voice, with the help of special exercises." 

I hope that helps. It sure did help me better understand what we're dealing with.

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

JOETT - Voice Coach & Author 

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