Hollywood vocal instructor coming to Singapore in April

[mission]

Speech Level Singing International
Master Instructor Dave Stroud in Singapore
April 3rd-9th 2006

Unleash your potential. What if you could do so much more?

Sing in one clear consistent voice from the lowest part to the highest part of your potential range without cracking, pulling or feeling any strain and fatigue. Impossible? Think again!

What do 120 Grammy winners have in common? They all use the Seth Riggs approach of Speech Level Singing (SLS). Seth Riggs is arguably the world's most successful voice teacher. His SLS technique is used by singers from all genres, languages and styles.

Speech Level Singing allows you to sing through your entire vocal range without flipping to falsetto or yelling. The ability to use the "mix" in singing allows singers to sing low or high in the same comfortable manner as speaking.

This April, Master Instructor Dave Stroud of the Speech Level Singing International organization will be in Singapore to introduce this revolutionary vocal technique.

Dave will conduct two Masterclasses – SLS Foundations and SLS Application. He will also conduct private lessons.

Dave's clients include Terry Ellis (En Vogue), Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon), and Rosie Gaines (Prince & the New Power Generation); actors such as Evan Rachel Wood, (Thirteen, Pretty Persuasion); and stage performers such as cast members of The Lion King, Mama Mia and RENT

Come and discover how this same technique used by clients like Michael Jackson, Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, and countless other stars can help you in your singing and even help prevent or provide therapy for singers with voice problems such as vocal nodules.

This event is hosted by Daniel Singh, Singapore's only Certified Speech Level Singing Instructor and Educational Advisory Group (EAG) Manager for Asia.

Early Bird Package now available till March 25th 2006.

For details and registration, please visit Daniel Singh Vocal Studio online at www.danielstudios.com or call Jennifer at +65 9799 7243.

 

[cloudwind]

Local Speech Level Singing Class

Hi, may I know if there's local permanent ongoing SLS class? How much is it per mth? Thanks.

 

[btherl]

Daniel Singh offers (permanent ongoing) SLS classes in Singapore.. his website is in the first post. There's also Alice at Sky Vocals - Welcome

 

[sage]

Just a note to interested students

K since this is just the latest in vocal trends, I'll just give a little bit of info the ads don't tell ya.

SLS has been a technique used since the 50s and is generally a contemporary style to avoid putting too much pressure on the larynx. Which is a good thing, since it's something most have problems overcoming. So without this pressure on your voice, it helps avoid strain and damaging your voice. Also helps in getting your pitches easier to hit since there isn't the strain to stop you.
I would definitely recommend at least 2-5 lessons till you can understand its application. I attended its convention once, and thought it was a very interesting and useful technique.

However.......... I have to caution or reaffirm that SLS could not and should not be used to replace a complete vocal training programme.

So those interested, it would help tremendously to learn it but do not fully depend on it for complete vocal application. It will help you in some areas and work against you in other areas. So don't quit your old vocal teacher after taking this up k?

Otherwise, enjoy the masterclasses and I hope it'll prove useful to you.

 

[zombie]

hi sage

how does it work against you?

 

[sage]

hi sage
how does it work against you?

I won't be specific and won't go into details at least until after the masterclass is over (to be fair to the rest who -are- interested and in support of this), and because there's quite a few drawbacks. But generally, one of the biggest criticisms is that it doesn't admit the need for enough throat space or alteration of the vowels as the singer approaches the upper passaggio and higher range.

Another thing is that not everyone has healthy speaking habits, so it's not gonna be effective using the technique if that's the case..

All in all, like I mentioned, I would still recommend it; I tried for its techniques myself once as well. I just don't recommend relying on it completely, that's all...

 

[btherl]

One of the first things Daniel mentioned in my lesson was that many regional accents have unhealthy speaking habits .. so I would assume he is aware of the problem and believes that SLS methods can remedy that. My own unhealthy speaking habits didn't seem to prevent me getting a nice sound.

No comment on vowel alteration.. I don't know enough about that to say anything intelligent

 

[cheereos]

Here's my opinion:

There's no one perfect method or technique to any single thing in this world so you can't really say much about that. However, for commercial/pop singing, SLS is the fastest and most efficient way to get you there.

As for healthy speaking habits, it's always good to speak healthily, otherwise you'll just hurt your voice. Higher level instructors can correct your speaking habits, I'm sure Daniel can do it too.

For vowel alteration, I don't know if you mean the narrowing of vowels, but if you do, it's just a technique used to cross the bridge smoother. Not everyone is talented enough to sing every word perfectly so we got to use these 'tricks'.

 

[cloudwind]

I learnt little bit of SLS technique. I noticed it doesn't use lots of diapragm energy.. The limitation I faced is the ability to sing powerfully. Is this true for others too?

 

[btherl]

Ok, here I am passing on criticisms I've heard from other people regarding SLS. I don't have any opinion yet on these. They are

- SLS says that heavier mixes (of chest and head) are unhealthy, but others claim that this is not true, and that this limitation denies SLS users power on their higher notes.
- SLS theory is questionable (well, I kinda agree with this. But really, no-one understands perfectly the theory of singing. And what matters is that the method works, not that the theoretical basis is perfect)

 

[cheereos]

SLS is almost like Bel Canto, the traditional opera singing technique used when there was no voice amplification, so I'm quite sure a loud mix/head voice is possible with SLS. Whether it is healthy or not I've not much of an idea.

cloudwind: Although SLS is a fast and efficient way to connecting your bridges and singing smoothly, singing powerfully still requires time. It's about getting your vocal cords closed. I always hear my instructors telling me to press in but I have seriously no idea how it works. Sometimes I can, and sometimes I can't. I'm still learning.

btherl: I agree with your second point. No one really understands vocal theory. What works is what's best.

 

[btherl]

Regarding vocal cord closure, "me too" Sometimes I have conscious control over it and other times I don't. My old teacher (before I started SLS) would tell me to close my cords, but never told me how. So I usually squeezed my throat to try to get them together, and it never worked. SLS at least has some exercises that will actively close your cords, which is great!

Hmm.. regarding the Bel Canto heritage, I read about another guy (The Voice Teacher) who also claims to teach based on Bel Canto, but he says that SLS is bad. Who is the real Bel Canto heir?

Both of them teach that perfect blending of registers is possible and is the right way, but each have very different approaches.

 

[cheereos]

I've seen that website too and I feel he's also trying some marketing tactics and stuff. We all know there's just not one vocal course that is perfect. But I would trust SLS more since it's worldwide and very widely recognized and it is THE SECRET SHARED BY OVER 120 GRAMMY WINNERS