Singing Style vs Singing Technique

In my previous weekly video I compared Singing Technique vs Singing Genre. Inside this video I’ll compare Singing Style vs Singing Technique and why, as a singer and a student of singing,  it’s vitally important for you to know the difference.

 

 

Singing Style vs Singing Technique

As a review, what is singing technique? Singing technique is a vocal pedagogy.   

 

Wikipedia says:

“Vocal pedagogy is the study of the art and science of voice instruction. It is used in the teaching of singing and assists in defining what singing is, how singing works, and how proper singing technique is accomplished.”

 

Specifically I teach you vocal exercises that establishes the vocal registers of chest, middle and head voice. I teach you how to move easily from your chest voice to middle, and to head voice without straining, cracking, or breaking into falsetto.

 

The exercises cause students to increase their upper range and strengthen and improve tone quality. In turn this improves their confidence and ability to sing.

 

In contrast, singing style is a combination of the genre of music you sing, your unique vocal characteristics, technique and interpretation of the song.

 

Building Blocks of Style

 

What are the individual elements or building blocks of a singing style?

 

The musical genre itself has a distinct feeling. This makes each genre unique in it’s own way. Think country western. Now think opera. Can you hear and feel the difference? Even if the songs are about breaking up with your lover, the genres generate very different styles of singing.

 

Elements of the musical genre help create different singing styles. These include but are not limited to, lyrics, musical composition, melodies, volume, rhythms, and cultural expressions.

 

Within each genre, singers use their unique voice, interpretation, and vocal technique to sing the songs.

 

Each singer brings their own expression of the song that only they can contribute. This makes them unique…unlike any other singer. This is individual singing style.

 

Some style choices that make a genre’s song new and unique might include any or all of these: changing the beat or rhythm, varying the melody, adding licks or runs, embellishments, changing the key, slight word variations or additions, changing tempo, and varying volume.

 

Your Unique Singing Technique

A style contribution only you can make is your unique singing technique and voice…unless you’re trying to sound like someone else…in which case you lose your uniqueness. At best, now you just sound like the other singer. At worst, you sound like you, trying to sound like someone else.

 

Your best and unique sound, built on the foundation of great singing technique, is your most powerful style choice. It is your voice and is the key to gaining and keeping true fans. It’s what will be consistent from song to song. It’s what’ll set you apart from the rest of the world.

It’s your voice people will recognize, even when you sing songs from varied genres. Pavarotti sounds like Pavarotti whether he’s singing pop or opera. The same is true of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Lady Ga Ga, Bing Crosby, Michael Jackson…we recognize their voices no matter what genre or style they’re singing.

 

In essence your voice becomes your style and your brand!

 

The tone quality of your voice makes you distinct….even when you speak…we recognize your voice. The same is also true when you sing, no matter what you’re singing.  

 

Singing a specific genre is simple. Developing a style within a genre takes time. Often you have several singers with genres that are influences in your style development. Great singing technique should be the foundation of it all. Otherwise, you may face limitations in your singing.

 

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Vocal Type – A Great Technique Foundation

Knowing your vocal type is a great technique foundation and is critical to developing your singing technique. Do you know your vocal type?  I’m not talking about whether you are soprano, alto, tenor or bass.  Your vocal type is what you tend to do as you sing through the first bridge of your voice.

 

Go to PowerToSing.com and take the vocal test. Take the quiz and discover your vocal type. Then go to the Knowledge Center and watch the videos about your vocal type. Download the free exercises and start practicing. They will help you progress rapidly.

 

I’m Chuck Gilmore with Power To Sing. You can sing higher with beauty, confidence and power.

 

I’ll see you inside the next video.