Howdy Vasinger and Vicki!

I think we sort of agree on this.

First of all, Mr Estep was making a very valid point, perhaps a bit overboard, but a valid point indeed.

No one is going to develop their voice into a great singing voice if they are not gifted with that voice in the first place. Yes, you can teach someone to improve, and voice coaching is a rewarding career as you watch someone like whom you mentioned, becoming able to carry a tune and properly utilize breath support. Not that it matters, but I was a voice major at OSU, and I have been through the ringer.

Vick, you seem to be arguing about something I agree with. You are reading between the lines and missing the point.


Too many people think they have talent beyond that which they do. This doesn't mean that they should cower under negative criticism, and rise from the ashes. They should do what they want. This gives great pleasure to an instructor like yourself.

But again, that is not the point.

Actors can develop from lousy to good to great. Not all do, but they hold that potential within. It is a matter of either being born with the gift, or developing it from life experience, and being willing to work hard.

A voice is what it is. A purely physical embodiment of the vocal cords. You can work a mediocre singer into a good singer, a good singer into a better singer and so on, but they will not go on to win Grammies and an have an illustrious top 40 career.

Please watch American Idol. It is entertainment for some, but personally it breaks my heart, and I have to turn it off when I see people getting hurt. A highly publicized marketing event it is, but also, it serves well to get you to see that you are working with a majority of people who think they have talent and have only a little or none, and that those people will never develop into a great singer, good, maybe, but not Barbara Streisand, or Pavarotti.

A voice is a physical gift, and yes, how good it is, is subjective.

We are working on a board where many of the people possess a little bit of talent. But the big boys and girls don't come here for a reason. They want to avoid it because they would be overwhelmed if people knew who they were. So, here we sit all broken hearted, paid to poop, but only farted....

Some of our members have come here looking for help, and that is wonderful. I would encourage them to work on their singing voice, but I am not going to tell them to try out a career that they don't have a great chance at succeeding in.

Sometimes, there are diamonds in the rough. As a singer/songwriter, I have been told by artists that have had #1 hits on the national country charts that you sound like so and so, but you really need to come to Nashville to see how deep the talent is here. That hurt, and I wouldn't want to hurt anyone, but they told me the truth, and I have to respect that.

Even those artists are humbled on a daily basis. I believe those people, they are sincere. But I also know that I had to develop my writing craft in order to showcase the 4 out of 5 stars voice that I was born with. That is a good voice, not a great voice.

You have to make a living, so I don't expect you to say that everyone who was told they can't sing will suck forever.

I am happy for those who have the courage to work on something that they want to improve. I am such a person.

Defender of the meek and mild I am, but if you want an honest assessment of your talent, then get ready for the truth.

There are quite a few people who work the boards in order to make a living, and there is a bit of dishonest assessment given to those who are prospective customers.

That's great, because I am a sales manager, and I understand that we don't lie, we embellish, we augment, and so on. But most people just don't have the talent to succeed at the level I am referring to. And honestly, too many people are telling them that they do.


Blessings,


Johnboy