Sure Vocal lessons.
I studied Classical (i.e., "Opera") for a few years. My favorite vocalists are Ronnie James Dio, Eric Adams (from Manowar - a very "Dio-
ish" singer in his own right), along with Ian Gillan (who happens to be Eric Adams favorite singer
) from Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.
My ideal vocal style is quite incestious....especially when you conside the fact that both Dio and Gillan sang for Black Sabbath with Gillian joing after Dio quit.
This type of singing requires a lot of lung power, and proper breathing techniques otherwise you can hurt yourself by trying to push too much air.
Ian Gillan, because he smoked and didn't take care of his voice properly, wound with with polyps, so he had to have an operation and couldn't sing for 8 weeks. I can't afford an operation like that.
And I doubt I could make it 8 weeks without singing because I enjoy doing it.
I was a smoker, so my instructor took me as far as she could, and then told me " Now, you can either stay where you are, or you can quit smoking and come and see me in 6 months and once We've made sure that you haven't damaged your vocal chords - move forward from there."
So like an idiot I kept on smoking.
I quit smoking 3 months ago, but she has moved to another state, and now I'm going to have to find another vocal therapist/coach to work with.
I liked her because she was about 45 and had studied opera for over 25 years, and she wasn't just pulling my leg...she was the first choice vocalist for the local Orchestra.
So yeah, you would look for Vocal Lessons, Vocal Coaches, Vocal Therapists, etc.
Think about this:
A Baby can scream and it's loud. why? Because a baby breathes properly....as we grow up, we turn into "shallow" breathers...our lungs never fully expand, and we never use all of the oxygen in them.....yest mot of us can not scream for as long as a baby can- even thought it's lungs are smaller.
The baby just hasn't picked up any bad habits.
So, half of vocal therapy has been getting rid of bad habits, and changing my diet.
I quit smoking, using any dairy or animal products (these cause phlegm production), and I don't use sugar, or drink soft drinks.
Essentially my diet consists of about 80% raw vegetables.
I drink about 2 Gallons of water a day.
You don';t "have" to go to the extremes that I'm going to, but I have a goal to reach, and I am willing to cut all of the "junk" out of my life to attain it.
I run a minimum of 30 minutes per day 7 days per week, and I lift weights 3 nights per week.
All of this is directly related to my vocals.
Why? because if you want to be serious about your singing, the very FIRST thing that you have to remember is that you ARE the Instrument....and if your body is in really bad shape - it's like playing with cheap drums, or a really crappy guitar.....it's just not the same as having a quality instrument.
Tim
