More than two hundred years after Bel Canto, the golden era of virtuoso singing, the need is more urgent than ever to return to the voice building principles responsible for the greatness of that era. The governing principles of “Free Voice” (the Bel Canto method) is arguably the most advanced and effective form of vocal instruction for 21st century vocal students.
Today, the overwhelming majority of so-called voice teachers are not voice teachers at all. They are "singing teachers." Concepts of correct posture, placement, projection, and of course, the sacred cow of how, when, and where to breathe are central to improving one's singing. However, rational thinking people can easily conclude that correct breathing will not change or improve the function of the larynx (or singing instrument)! Improvement in the singing instrument can only be achieved by a reconstruction of the laryngeal muscles that control pitch, intensity and vowel. If the tone is dysfunctional and you enjoy an advanced breathing technique, you may only boast of being able to sustain a dysfunctional tone of a longer duration.
Over the last 150 years, there has been a mass exodus from Free Voice principles that build the singing instrument. Contemporary vocal instruction completely discounts repairing, building, balancing and blending of the upper and lower registers. The manipulation of the interacting muscle groups through pitch, intensity, and vowel (the essential components to the development of an advanced registration) have all but disappeared from the contemporary teaching landscape. In short, if you are currently paying a voice instructor that does not provide independent vocal manipulation of the upper and lower registers, you have attended the wedding, but the bride will never arrive!
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