Singing classes from an opera singer

mesha123 · 2023-02-24T20:16:31+00:00

Hi all, My dd sings all the time and seems to really enjoy singing. So I recently started her for one to one singing lessons on the recommendation of a friend with an opera singer. She also teaches pop amd jazz singing. She is doing pop singing at the moment with dd but the teacher said she will introduce dd slowly to the classical singing. We don't have any background or knowledge about music as such. But i have seen lot of improvement in dd's singing since she started learning since about 3 months. She is a lovely teacher and does a lot of her own opera concerts both locally and abroad. I find her teaching very good but most of her singing sounds like opera singing even if it's the other pop songs. I am wondering if it's better to learn through a non opera singer? Also what is the type of classical singing is it opera or something else? Perhaps are there any particular songs that are classical which I can check out? Thanks

Mytholmroyd · 21/04/2023 22:19

Hi Mesha - not sure if I can be of much help but as nobody else has answered I thought I'd chip in. My daughter has had singing lessons since she was 8ish, sung in choirs, taken exams up to grade 8 and theory to grade 5, sung lead roles in musicals (school and amateur operatics) and with a professional company, and performed all sorts of music from early music, baroque, classical, art song, opera, bel canto, church choral, country, does a lot of 1940s 50s 60s, folk, Adele :-) etc. Currently at a conservatoire and with a national opera young company. And she teaches musical theatre to youngsters at a local dance school putting them through their LAMDA musical theatre exams.

She can sing almost any style (and doesn't sound like an opera singer unless she's singing opera!) as her wonderful music teacher who she has had since she was 11 was adamant she should remain flexible focussing on good technique and sight reading skills and not developing bad habits that would damage her young vocal chords and that she be able to hold her soprano part and self accompany on guitar and piano. This has all stood her in good stead and essentially made her a musician rather than just a singer and not pushed her voice beyond what it should be doing too soon and keep a lid on the vibrato!

It's important your daughter enjoys what she is singing but also that it is age appropriate. If you want some ideas you could look up the song syllabus for the ABRSM grade exams (just do a google search) - my daughter took her grade 3 when she was 10 - so anything from grade 1-3 should be fine. Might give you some ideas.

I have never heard of singing for an 11+ exam so cannot comment on that but Grade exams are good to have if considering applying for scholarships etc.

almostwarm · 21/04/2023 22:28

My dd's music teacher is an opera singer, with an excellent background. Dd sings a range of styles with her and she has definitely been stretched vocally.

almostwarm · 21/04/2023 22:30

She is also teaching her to sing in several different languages which is useful ( maybe)

They sing everything from Disney songs, through folk and classical. Not actually any opera I don't think.

Original poster

mesha123 · 26/04/2023 17:09

Mytholmroyd · 21/04/2023 22:19

Hi Mesha - not sure if I can be of much help but as nobody else has answered I thought I'd chip in. My daughter has had singing lessons since she was 8ish, sung in choirs, taken exams up to grade 8 and theory to grade 5, sung lead roles in musicals (school and amateur operatics) and with a professional company, and performed all sorts of music from early music, baroque, classical, art song, opera, bel canto, church choral, country, does a lot of 1940s 50s 60s, folk, Adele :-) etc. Currently at a conservatoire and with a national opera young company. And she teaches musical theatre to youngsters at a local dance school putting them through their LAMDA musical theatre exams.

She can sing almost any style (and doesn't sound like an opera singer unless she's singing opera!) as her wonderful music teacher who she has had since she was 11 was adamant she should remain flexible focussing on good technique and sight reading skills and not developing bad habits that would damage her young vocal chords and that she be able to hold her soprano part and self accompany on guitar and piano. This has all stood her in good stead and essentially made her a musician rather than just a singer and not pushed her voice beyond what it should be doing too soon and keep a lid on the vibrato!

It's important your daughter enjoys what she is singing but also that it is age appropriate. If you want some ideas you could look up the song syllabus for the ABRSM grade exams (just do a google search) - my daughter took her grade 3 when she was 10 - so anything from grade 1-3 should be fine. Might give you some ideas.

I have never heard of singing for an 11+ exam so cannot comment on that but Grade exams are good to have if considering applying for scholarships etc.

Thanks a lot for replying. I will definitely check the syllabus online.

Also, how can we join church choirs. I looked up but hadn't had much luck in my area for kids.

If possible would you be able to share the teachers details and we can enroll with her.

Regards

OP posts:

Mytholmroyd · 26/04/2023 20:04

We are in Yorkshire - probably a bit far to come for lessons!

We have a lot of choirs around us - my daughter started in the junior choir of the local Choral Society. But as well as church choirs there are school choirs, dancing school choirs and local village choirs. Youth clubs may have them and also there are county and national youth/children's choirs, that are often run by folk at the local education authority (LEAs) music service who may also be able to deliver singing lessons through the music in schools programme, e.g.
https://www.northyorkshiremusichub.co.uk/ensembles/county-youth-ensembles/youth-choir/

You could perhaps ask at your local LEA they may know of ones in your area?

A lot of them probably depend on voluntary choir directors and accompanists I guess.

Youth Choir - North Yorkshire Music Hub

The North Yorkshire Music Hub was set up in early 2012 and works in partnership with local and national arts programmes and organisations.

https://www.northyorkshiremusichub.co.uk/ensembles/county-youth-ensembles/youth-choir

Original poster

mesha123 · 28/04/2023 16:00

Mytholmroyd · 26/04/2023 20:04

We are in Yorkshire - probably a bit far to come for lessons!

We have a lot of choirs around us - my daughter started in the junior choir of the local Choral Society. But as well as church choirs there are school choirs, dancing school choirs and local village choirs. Youth clubs may have them and also there are county and national youth/children's choirs, that are often run by folk at the local education authority (LEAs) music service who may also be able to deliver singing lessons through the music in schools programme, e.g.
https://www.northyorkshiremusichub.co.uk/ensembles/county-youth-ensembles/youth-choir/

You could perhaps ask at your local LEA they may know of ones in your area?

A lot of them probably depend on voluntary choir directors and accompanists I guess.

Thanks a lot will do

OP posts: