Many singers have heard of things like ‘breath support’, a ‘relaxed throat’, ‘twang’, ‘vibrato’, etc. But which of these vocal techniques are essential to develop a healthy way of singing?
I often explain the basic elements of vocal technique by four steps but rule #1 is: Good singing ALWAYS has to feel good. So no tention, no pain.
Watch this video where Pavarotti and Friends (Michael Bolton, Bono, a.o.) sing Nessun Dorma during one of their concerts. Michael Bolton is doing a great job but he doesn’t use the proper vocal techniques. Luciano Pavarotti shows a superb vocal technique, no tention, no effort except for breath support! If Michael Bolton would train his vocal and breathing skills he would for sure sing almost as well as Pavarotti.
The next four steps are necessary to achieve healthy singing, no matter what style you are singing (opera, pop, rock, jazz, etc.) The basics are all the same:
Relaxed jaw
Open throat
Larynx position
Breath support