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Assuming a singer can sing on pitch and has a reasonable sense of timing, can singing rock, soul, jazz, etc BE taught? Or does it all have to come from an instinct, a natural feel?

I think there has to be some natural affinity for the musical style. The reason it's tough for a well-trained & experienced opera singer to sound authentic singing any other kind of music is that the voice isn't a fit. It's like asking a body builder to dance ballet. The form is different.

However, if someone sings pop well, and they take say, a jazz immersion course, they can likely take their ability into that style if their mind is open and they are willing to change.

IMO we need to also think outside the box. If I, as a classically trained singer, go and take an intensive workshop in jazz theory and improvisation, and regularly improvise in class / in practice using my instrument; and listen to jazz styles and jazz singers & start with emulating them & then grow into my own interpretation -- just like ANY musician would do -- then with time and practice I would start to be an interpreter of Jazz. Part of it would be my passion for the music & my determination to become part of it.

And if at the end of that road, I wasn't the best jazz improvisor around... I would have still gained immeasurably from the experience of working with great teachers and other musicians, and exploring a genre I love.

H