Advanced vs Beginner Singer: The Difference is Not What You Might Think
Posted on 22. Dec, 2009 by Per Bristow in Performance, Singing
This article is in regards to two very interesting emails I received about the Sing With Freedom program (www.TheSingingZone.com). One was from a “beginner” and one from an “advanced” singer, and I think there is a great learning experience here for everyone.
The first email was from a concerned potential customer wondering if the Sing With Freedom program also works for someone who is a complete beginner and who has never sung before. He was concerned because he had seen a bunch of testimonials from professional singers.
The short answer is yes. But how is it possible that it work for beginners as well as professionals?
When it comes to learning an instrument there is a distinct difference between a lesson that is designed for a beginner, versus one that is designed for an advanced player. However, that is not necessarily the case when it comes to developing the voice.
You may think you are a beginner because you haven't sung much, but your voice may still be strong, free, resonant, and flexible. You have after all used it your whole life, (which makes the process of learning to sing different from learning to play a piano). It is very possible you can develop at rapid-fire speed. Since you are a “beginner” and have never really explored your potential, you really have no way of knowing, do you? The truth is that being a beginner can be very beneficial. You may not have developed a lot of bad habits (or limiting beliefs).
Now, even if you do have physical restrictions or weaknesses in certain muscles that haven’t been developed yet, you might have a very flexible and adaptive mindset which will make you learn fast.
Now let’s look at email number two: You should first know that it is very rare that we get a refund request for the Sing With Freedom DVDs. However, a few weeks ago my support staff got an email from someone who liked to point out that he was an “advanced singer”. He requested a refund because he had “reviewed all the lessons in one sitting and didn’t feel he learned anything new”. Therefore, in his opinion, “the program must be geared only to beginners”.
Now, I could have told him that there is one way I can guarantee with a 100% certainty that he will not gain any results. And that is if he reviews all lessons in one sitting.
In fact, I did tell him that before he started lesson one…
The first thing I do in lesson one of the Sing With Freedom program is to lay out the strategy of how to get the most out of the program. Naturally, it is in my interest too that you experience wonderful results. I make it clear that that to get the desired results you need to DO the exercises with me. When you become engaged in making sound the way I show you, you will inevitably make new fascinating discoveries about your instrument. I also encourage you to work on each lesson for several days before you move on to the next lesson, because you will make even more discoveries that way. For people who do the program it becomes abundantly clear why that is. And for those who embrace these strategies, the results are often wonderful – for singers of all levels.
Interestingly enough, this person chose to "review" the lessons in one sitting, which is naturally rather worthless. To "review" is something very different from becoming engaged in exercises, experiments and discoveries.
Now, the reason I bring this up is in regards to the art of learning. This person may believe he is an advanced singer, but he is not an advanced learner. Most likely, he is not very successful in his endeavors simply because he hasn't understood how to learn effectively, and also seems rather unwilling to understand it.
The “know it all” attitude makes growth impossible. it is probably the worst trap we can fall into. The level of knowledge we believe we possess at any given moment is rather irrelevant. Human beings, companies and societies grow and evolve because of the mental attitude within each human being.
The true professionals – the artists and human beings who are able to influence others in positive ways – are the ones who never stop learning and growing.
The reason many beginners and professionals alike get such nice rewards from the program is because the program is about encouraging new discoveries. It is about making you feel muscles and movement on a deeper level than before. This way you can release tension and develop strength, flexibility and freedom and as a result you become freer and more confident in your expression. This is of course crucial for both “beginners" and professionals.
So I would like to encourage you to let go of the tendency of categorizing yourself as a “beginner” or “advanced”. The only thing that counts is if you want to grow and develop from where you are.
Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject below.
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Joann Kircher
28. Jan, 2012
I just received the email containing the download – I first read some info as was directed prior to download and I must say that I already like the approach. I am a songwriter and my goal is to be able to sing well enough to record my own demo vocal tracks. I am very excited, but honestly I am also experiencing some fear as I am finding all sort of reasons why this may not work. Thankfully, I have the courage to speak out to that chicken inside of me and tell that chicken; “SHUT UP, I AM DOING IT ANYWAY!.
I will check back in with my progress.
Kindly,
Joann Kircher
(California)
Joan Sambury Alleyne
29. Dec, 2011
Hello Per, You have allowed me to feel such a sense of freedom and joy by allowing my vocal chords to do what they are really designed to do. My life has always been filled with so much stress and tension that I had forgotten what it feels like to relax. Even now after you have shown me how to and given me permission to do so, I still sometimes must tell myself to relax. Singing is so much more joyful. Thanks, joan
Jacki Blackburn
27. Dec, 2011
Hi Per,
Your concept sound very interesting, having been taught that singing is a very physically demanding discipline, diaphram, breathing, support the voice and loads more.
Using all the above and still being crippled by nerves, throat closing, dry mouth and abject terror when faced with an audience plus, the sound being totally different and strangled when compared with singing alone, you promise to be a breath of fesh air.
Confidence minus, the only way is up!!
Jacki,
Season Lopes
17. Dec, 2011
Hi Per,
I just ordered the downloads and for two days I was afraid to open them . I sat down tonight and went through the exercises and found that my voice started moving right away. I started to feel this tiny bit of joy building up inside of me as I relaxed my voice and body and could feel the sensation and freedom happening. When you began talking about control and then fear, I had been just starting to feel this emotional pain in my soul and I could feel that I wanted to cry. I believe that fear has inhibited my singing for so long and to find that to be so in the first lesson was truly amazing to me. It’s been a huge struggle to know the extreme limitiations within my voice and in turn to hear compliments about my voice when all I could feel is tension, strain, and no resonance. I’ve carried this mental message of “no..no..I can’t…I lost it a long time ago.” I am so excited and I just want to play and play and play with it and see where it leads before lesson 2. Your teaching style is so sweet and encouraging and I already feel like a have a true friend with the most honest of intention to help me fly!! I did feel alittle like Stevie Wonder and by gosh! my neck feels so much better! Thanks Per!!
Season~
César Nieto
11. Nov, 2011
Hello Per,
I really like receiving your mails full of energy and courage not only to be able to sing properly (I would say in my personal case “decently”) but to open your heart and your spirit to do something beautiful to give to yourself and to share with others. At the moment it is hard for me to get your interesting course due to my financial situation, but I expect that during the coming year it could be easier. In the meantime I would like to keep having your stimulating mails. Greetings from Spain (Gosh, so many good singers here, even in the streets!!!).
Yours,
César
Jerry Goss
10. Nov, 2011
I never had a good or even average voice. I am 81 now, and wondered if I could get something out of these classes.
As a child in grade school we had a romaning musical teacher. He took care of 15 schools or so. He had a very good voice, opera training. He would call us up to his desk one at a time. After I made a feeble attempt to sing. He declared to the teacher in front of me that I never would be or learn to sing. End of story, and my attempts to sing. A monotone voice I had and have to this day.
I would love to yodel and church music.
This will be very interesting.
Jerry