“You should throw in a couple of songs that you sing during a tap set,”Australian pianist Chris Cody advises me over a café at his apartment in central Paris during an interview for a Qantas magazine article. I nod in agreement. But I haven’t sung solo in years and have had a tendency to favour body over voice when the choice has arisen … Though I know he’s right. So, during my next interview, with Lido singer Wendy Lee Taylor, I manage to get a little breathing lesson to get it all started. “You should check out Vocal Alchemy” she enthuses. “They’re online singing lessons from a teacher I know, Tim Smith, in Melbourne. He’s fantastic.”
Six months later, I have signed in- and am now in the midst of engaging, fun and insightful online lessons that offer techniques and exercises to avoid strain, develop stability and allow natural colour… and that’s just in the first few lessons. Produced by Laura Hamilton, Tim will be touring Australia with workshops in May. He tells Ruby TV a bit about his method and what to expect from the lesson both online and live.
1.What is Vocal Alchemy?
VOCAL ALCHEMY is the result of over 20 years of professional international teaching, lecturing and performing, providing performers with all the vocal techniques that are proven to work. With the advancements being as they are, rather than write a book, this vocal knowledge and experience has been captured on video and audio and is now easily accessible to singers all over the world, whilst at the same time providing the facility for practical application on the part of the singer. Vocal Alchemy is online learning in the performing arts arena, designed with the singer in mind.
2.Why did you set it up?
Vocal Alchemy came about for more than one reason. I had been wanting to write a book for many years but due to vocal coaching commitments, I never could find the time. Technology and Performing Arts and Science all have one thing in common and that is that the only constant is change. Artistic Producer Laura Hamilton hinted that online knowledge and skills can be reviewed and updated as frequently as each area of our understanding grows. With Vocal Alchemy’s video lessons, I can add and update them as my understanding of voice evolves. The current videos reflect 25 years of professional practice and enquiry, but everyday I learn more about voice through my teaching, lecturing, listening and personal research.
3.Is it just for singers or who else can benefit?
Vocal Alchemy is for EVERYONE! The lessons and their content are organised in such a way as to be immediately accessible to beginners and experienced singers alike. And because my own experience has been across so many different vocal styles, the lessons contain singing techniques that range from classical to contemporary and everywhere in between. My approach to voice teaching is based on the emotional centre of vocal sound and consequently, even very experienced trained singers will benefit from the techniques and insights that are included in every lesson.
4.What are five things people may get out of the online lessons?
Subscribers will:
– learn to unlock their own unique singing voice based on their emotional expression ;
– master multiple singing techniques useable immediately right across the vocal spectrum from classical to belt;
– benefit from years of practiced teaching that explains singing in very easy to understand ways;
– unlock dramatic changes in their approach to singing that will make their singing easier, higher, louder and much less effortful, and
– get huge value for money from the 32 lessons and mp3 exercises.
5.Tell me about the upcoming workshop tour around Australia- who is it aimed at and what will they get out of it?
THE BROADWAY VOICE WORKSHOPS are aimed at singers, dancers, actors and singing teachers – anyone who has an interest in exploring and learning world’s best practiced vocal techniques as currently featured on Broadway. They explore classically-based techniques as featured in shows such as DR. ZHIVAGO and LOVE NEVER DIES. They explore numerous extreme contemporary techniques necessary for show like WICKED and LEGALLY BLONDE. And they then combine these two fundamentally different approaches to voice as a way of unlocking the Holy Grail of music theatre singing; the Mix Voice. All of this vocal technique is explored through a central, acting-based approach to music theatre singing.
6.Why are you so passionate about the voice?
Because we all can sing and much of the time I hear people doing it the hard way when I know that they could sing soooooo much better! My own journey as a singing student was not always an easy one but I have now unlocked so many of the mysteries that plague many of us as younger singers. I used to hear wonderful singing and despair that my own voice was so tight and sounded awful! So now my work at Vocal Alchemy is aimed at helping others find their true voice and sing with all the heart and desire they can muster!
7.Why is it important to learn more about our voices?
The voice is the sound of your heart! Without a voice that you can use freely, the world will never truly hear you! We are all capable of expressing thousands of different vocal sounds and Vocal Alchemy teaches you how to unlock ALL OF THEM!
Tim’s will tourAustraliaduring May. Participant places Adelaide are sold out but places for Sydney 2nd-3rd June) and Brisbane (19th -20th May) are still available and 5 places left for Melbourne.
For info and check here.
Check out what others have said about the worskhops:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p7Cs46gCS0[/youtube]
