Dive into the Music Industry’s Best-Kept Secret: The Bel Canto Singing Technique – The Mega Force Behind The Most Iconic and Legendary Voices! Learn It NOW at Beautiful Voice!
The Bel Canto method has been a critical factor in the success of some of the world’s most renowned vocalists. This extraordinary group includes Ariana Grande, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Beyoncé, Dimash Qudaibergen, Adele, Dua Lipa, Demi Lovato, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Tina Turner, Annie Lennox, Shirley Bassey, Christina Aguilera, Gladys Knight, Amy Winehouse, Etta James, Donna Summer, Shawn Mendes, Freddie Mercury, George Michael, Steve Perry, Elton John, Andy Williams, Michael Bublé, Stevie Wonder, Bing Crosby, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Nat King Cole, Luciano Pavarotti, and numerous others. Despite their diverse musical styles, techniques, and genres, all of them share foundational training in the Bel Canto method. This technique equips singers with the vocal strength and flexibility required for remarkable performances.
At Beautiful Voice, our experienced singing teachers (voice teachers), who are also vocal coaches (voice coaches), bring the transformative power of Bel Canto to singers of all levels. Each lesson is designed to meet the unique goals and aspirations of every student.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: Can I learn how to sing later in life? Or do you have to start taking singing lessons as a child or teenager?
A: Absolutely, you can learn to sing at any age—from four years old to 104. The process remains consistent regardless of your age. To sing professionally, it’s essential to understand the science of singing, which will help you achieve pitch control, maximize your vocal range, develop a beautiful tone, and more.
Q: Do you offer virtual or online singing lessons?
A: Yes, we do. Most of our voice lessons are conducted via Zoom or FaceTime. The rate of improvement with virtual lessons is just as effective as with in-person sessions.
Q: Do you offer singing lessons for children and toddlers? If so, starting at what age do you accept children?
A: Yes, children can begin singing lessons with me as early as 3.5 years old. Notable singers like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey started their lessons around this age. At “Beautiful Voice,” our vocal techniques yield similar impressive results. For instance, all the female students I teach can perform whistle notes with proper training and time.
Q: I'm terrible at singing. Will voice lessons with you help?
A: Yes, voice lessons can significantly help. Training is essential for everyone, whether you naturally gravitate toward effective singing techniques or need to learn them. For example, specific physical techniques can resolve pitch issues.
Q: I think I am tone-deaf, but I still want to learn to sing. Is there hope?
A: Absolutely. Only about 1 in 10,000 people are truly tone-deaf. The vast majority of people can learn to sing professionally with the right training. None of my students who initially thought they were tone-deaf turned out to be.
Q: How often should I take voice lessons?
A: Ideally, voice lessons should be taken once a week. Lessons every other week are less effective. If you aim to improve quickly, you can take multiple lessons per week.
Q: For how long do I need to take singing lessons?
A: Students who apply the techniques taught in lessons will notice immediate improvements. Lessons can be 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or 1 hour long. One-hour lessons typically offer twice the improvement of 30-minute sessions. Most students start with one-hour lessons weekly and may reduce to 30-minute sessions once they reach their desired level. Professional singers often take one or two-hour-long lessons each week.
Q: How many months or years of voice lessons with you will it take for me to become "decent" at singing?
A: It varies based on your starting point, how quickly you learn, and your proficiency goals. Whether you aim to sing confidently at karaoke or book gigs in NYC, the required time differs. For instance, booking a job in NYC might take about a year of weekly lessons, while recording studio vocals could require additional training. The complexity of the songs you wish to sing also affects the duration. Some male students achieved singing styles like Jim Morrison and Freddie Mercury within 6 to 9 months.
Q: After I've reached my desired level of singing ability, would I stop taking singing lessons? Or would I continue taking lessons for maintenance?
A: It’s best to continue taking singing lessons to maintain and further develop your skills. Typically, once you’re satisfied with your level, you can switch to 30-minute weekly lessons. Stopping entirely often leads to a decline in skills over time. Many students who stop lessons find themselves only halfway between their starting point and their previous proficiency. Consistent weekly lessons are ideal for ongoing maintenance.
Q: Do I need a vocal coach, a voice coach, a singing teacher, or a voice teacher? What is the difference?
A: These terms are synonymous. Some teachers focus more on performance, earning titles like vocal coach or voice coach, while others emphasize vocal technique, being referred to as singing teachers or voice teachers. At “Beautiful Voice,” each lesson encompasses both aspects, allowing students to work on technique and performance simultaneously.
Q: Are these general singing lessons, or do you teach specific genres?
A: I teach all genres, including Pop, Rock, R&B, Musical Theatre, Opera, Jazz, and more. While the foundational technique remains consistent, each genre has its unique phrasing and style.
Q: What happens in singing lessons with you? Do students sing scales?
A: In my voice lessons, students work on specific songs and engage in voice-building exercises. They can choose songs for auditions, showcases, weddings, etc., or I may recommend songs that aid vocal development. During the voice-building portion, students perform exercises that enhance their overall voice. These exercises are highly effective, and students who execute them correctly usually notice immediate improvements.
Q: I sing out of tune. Is there hope for me? Will voice lessons with you help?
A: Yes. There are specific rules for pitch control, and each pitch issue has a cause that can be addressed. Every instance of singing off-pitch can be corrected with proper training.
Q: Do you offer singing lessons in preparation for auditions, also known as audition prep?
A: Yes. If you have a song for an audition, scheduling a one-hour lesson is ideal. In this session, I’ll break down the song, identify areas for improvement, and provide custom voice-building exercises if needed.
Q: I have taken singing lessons with other voice teachers, but there has been little or no improvement in my voice. Is there hope for me?
A: Yes. There are many vocal techniques, each producing different results. The Bel Canto technique, which I teach, is the most effective for achieving fast and professional outcomes. I am well-versed in all major vocal techniques and have found Bel Canto to be the most successful for my students.
Q: Bel Canto is an opera technique. Will voice lessons with you make me sound classical? I want to learn contemporary styles.
A: No, you won’t sound classical when singing contemporary styles using my technique. Singers like Whitney Houston, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Freddie Mercury, and Jim Morrison effectively use the Bel Canto technique in modern genres. The phrasing and stylistic elements adapt to each genre.
Q: I want to learn how to sing Musical Theatre. Would singing lessons with you be a good fit?
A: Yes. Bel Canto is excellent for Musical Theatre as it enables powerful singing, belting high notes, dancing while singing, and more. Broadway stars, including Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz," utilize this technique effectively.
Q: My voice goes hoarse often. Will singing lessons with you help me with hoarseness?
A: Yes. The vocal technique I teach includes comprehensive practices to prevent hoarseness, which is often caused by vocal abuse. My method ensures you avoid any form of vocal strain.
Q: I have vocal nodules, vocal cysts, or vocal polyps. My doctor advised me to find a vocal coach to prevent future vocal disorders. Will voice lessons with you help?
A: Yes. Many ENTs refer patients with nodules, cysts, polyps, or combinations of these to me. If you have nodules, I can guide you on how to naturally dissolve them without surgery.
Q: I sound fine when I sing in the room, but a recording studio producer said my vocals were out of tune. Will singing lessons with you help me learn how to record studio vocals?
A: Yes. I teach students how to perform studio vocals effectively, maintain pitch in the studio, develop a unique vocal tone, and more.
Q: I learned to play multiple or a single instrument on my own without lessons. Singing seems similar, but I struggle to stay in tune. Why is that? Will singing lessons with you help me learn to sing professionally?
A: Yes. Singing is primarily an internal process, making it harder to self-teach compared to playing an instrument, which is more external and observable. My lessons provide the necessary guidance to achieve professional singing standards.
Q: I want to learn how to sing and dance simultaneously, like musical theatre actors. Will voice lessons with you help me accomplish that?
A: Yes. My technique uniquely allows you to dance while maintaining pitch control, avoiding breathlessness, and singing with a beautiful tone—all essential for Musical Theatre performances.
Q: I am a natural singer who never took singing lessons. One of my issues is being out of breath on stage. Can you help?
A: Yes. This issue can be effectively addressed using the singing techniques I teach.
Q: I lose my voice often and suffer from frequent hoarseness. Will singing lessons with you help me fix these issues?
A: Yes. Frequent hoarseness is often caused by vocal abuse, such as speaking and singing with glottal attacks. I teach techniques to prevent vocal abuse, ensuring you maintain a healthy voice.
Q: My high notes are weak or don't sound good. Do I have a small vocal range? Will voice lessons with you help?
A: I often receive this question from singers using other techniques or those who haven’t taken lessons. My system works for everyone who applies it correctly, helping you expand your vocal range and enhance the strength and beauty of your high notes.
Q: My tone sounds terrible. Is that just my voice? Can it be improved by taking singing lessons?
A: Yes. In voice lessons with me, I teach you how to develop a beautiful vocal tone. Creating a beautiful tone is a science—some people do it naturally, while others need guidance, which I provide.
Q: Is it true that stress "kills" your voice? I find that my performances suffer on stressful days compared to less stressful ones.
A: Stress can negatively impact your singing performance. However, the vocal techniques I teach create muscle memory by practicing songs in stress-free environments. This muscle memory allows you to perform effectively even when stressed, minimizing its impact on your voice.
VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON LESSONS
Virtual Lessons:
Students can choose between in-person lessons and virtual sessions via Zoom, FaceTime, and other platforms. Private singing lessons typically last 30 minutes or 1 hour. To schedule, please text your name and availability for specific dates to (646) 334-3456.
Students who apply the techniques correctly will notice a significant improvement after a one-hour lesson. Therefore, I recommend starting with a one-hour lesson. In a 30-minute session, there’s usually not enough time to achieve noticeable improvement. After the initial one-hour lesson, students who continue with 30-minute weekly sessions still experience substantial progress. One-hour weekly lessons offer roughly twice the improvement compared to 30-minute sessions.
Singing is not a talent; it’s a science and a skill. Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey learned the same vocal technique taught at “Beautiful Voice” starting at age four. This technique is the foundation of their exceptional vocal abilities. In contrast, singers who use other techniques may achieve inferior results. During the first lesson, I provide a brief overview of major vocal techniques. Only one technique proves most effective for achieving professional results—the vocal technique taught at “Beautiful Voice.”
In voice lessons at “Beautiful Voice,” you will learn to:
Sing in tune (pitch control)
Develop vibrato
Create a beautiful tone
Belt out high notes
Build a strong, robust voice
Add color and highlights to your voice
Some of the best examples of singers using this vocal technique include Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, Whitney Houston (in her prime), Mariah Carey (in her prime), Leona Lewis (in her prime), Freddie Mercury, Jim Morrison, and Luciano Pavarotti.
Private Lessons:
Song Selection: Students work on specific songs of their choice, or based on teacher recommendations. These can be for auditions, showcases, weddings, etc., or songs I suggest for vocal development.
Vocal Exercises: During the voice-building portion, students perform exercises that significantly improve their overall voice. If executed properly, these exercises offer significant benefits, delivering an instant improvement to your singing voice.
Advanced Training: Advanced students learn to record studio vocals, perform successfully on stage, and work with professional studio and stage equipment.
Singing is a Skill, Not a Talent:
While some naturally excel at singing, most benefit greatly from structured training. The techniques taught at “Beautiful Voice” ensure that anyone can learn to sing professionally with dedication and proper instruction.
Also, in private lessons, students sing old-school Bel Canto exercises that improve the quality of their voice. These exercises activate vocal resonances and have various other benefits. The use of vocal resonation gives the singer:
color (in the voice)
highlight (in the voice)
depth
fuller voice
richer sound
a unique vocal tone
In addition, these exercises also give the singer:
a vibrato
vocal agility
belting ability
much stronger high notes. (Most students will hear a noticeable improvement in their high notes in the first lesson.)
If the above-mentioned voice-building exercises were executed properly, one should hear a noticeable improvement in the voice after the first 1-hour private singing lesson.
For professional singers and those who aspire to become such, it's best to take 1-hour voice lessons once a week. For hobby singers and children under seven years old, it’s best to take 30-minute lessons.
VOCAL THERAPY SINGING LESSONS:
If you are looking to take voice lessons as vocal therapy for vocal nodules, vocal cysts, vocal polyps, and general vocal abuse, “Beautiful Voice” is the right place. These lessons can be taken via Zoom or FaceTime as well.
Answered by Irina Fields