You are here:

Acting in Plays, Singing/Actor and the importance of voice

Advertisement

Expert: - 2/18/2010


Question
Hi, Im currently an actor in training, and I know their is an importance in training your voice and what happens when you do it but is their any site or information available in regards to why we do it and why it is so important for actors to do voice work whilst its not for people in other professions. I've been trying to find through other sources clear and concise answers in regards to this but I only seem to find things in regards to voice work as a narrator or presenter.

Best Regards!

Answer
Hi, Anton –

Thank you for the question.

I’m the Theatre Arts major with an emphasis in acting who wound up a professional singer. During my freshman semester – when my goals were oriented toward Shakespeare – I knew I needed extra help with my vocal production. In those days, professional actors did not wear body mics. During rehearsals, I was getting hoarse. And “vocal rest” was not the solution.

I was familiar with one of the best Classical voice coaches in San Francisco – and I had heard a number of that teacher’s clients in a variety of performances. They were amazing. I also had a burning desire to explore the operatic repertoire. I made an appointment and was accepted as a student. Six months later, I made my singing debut and was handed my first paycheck.

From that point and up to right now – I embrace the discipline of a vocal artist. In addition to musical exercises, the daily “life style” is similar to that of an athlete training for the Olympics. It includes a daily and reliable physical work-out and all of the health-maintenance choices that go with having to deliver your “product” – your performance – in front of a ticket-buying audience. Add to that your critics and judges in the first row, and, specifically for performing artists – employers such as producers and agencies – watching your profits and losses and listening to the audience response.

Part of my job as a professional vocal coach is to prepare my clients to compete for a job. I’m happy to know that – as with my first teacher – the vast majority of my clients come to me through recommendation.

With respect to your essential question – all I have is my own experience. From the White House to a local pancake house, I am constantly aware of and constantly assessing the aspects of communication and message.

No matter your future employment, learn how to maintain yourself and to stay at your best.

I am a professional singing teacher and vocal coach in San Francisco.  When you are in the Bay Area and want to book an appointment, contact me through Craig's List. This week’s connection is: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/lss/1600089019.html
You may also contact me through my website: http://www.thebeltersmethod.com/The_Belters_Method/Welcome.html
I am the Editor and Publisher of SanFranciscoSentinel.com.  All my articles and interviews about the Performing Arts provide a link to my personal e-mail.

Take a look at my You Tubes:

Lorena Feijóo - A Look at "Giselle" with Seán Martinfield
”As Time Goes By” – aboard Cunard’s Queen Victoria
”Embraceable You” – Gershwin and Rodin at the Legion of Honor
SAMSON & DELILAH – Meet Seán Martinfield

Below are links to my recent interviews and articles about what's happening on San Francisco's cultural scene:
ZAHI HAWASS – Comes to San Francisco March 8th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=61026

SHANGHAI – Now At the Asian Art Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=60643

KING’S SINGERS – Wednesday Night At The Herbst
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=60396

PIANIST MISHA DICHTER – A Conversation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=59695

DOUBT – At New Conservatory Theatre Centre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=60246

JOSHUA ROMAN – Hot young cellist debuts this week at SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=60102

PROGRAM 3 – San Francisco Ballet Presents Three Balanchine Masterworks
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=59912

OEDIPUS EL REY – A World Premiere At Magic Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=59283

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF – Some Fancy Fiddling By Harvey Fierstein
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=59193

PROGRAM 2 – SF BALLET, OPENS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=59092

SHAKESPEARE GARDEN BUST TO RECEIVE FULL CONSERVATION TREATMENT
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=58886

SF OPERA SCREENINGS AT SUNDANCE KABUKI
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=58846

CUNARD QUEEN VICTORIA DAY IN SAN FRANCISCO
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=58475

ZUILL BAILEY – A Conversation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=58241

CREATION – A Challenging Film Biography on Charles Darwin
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=57307

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – Announces Repertory and Casting for 2010/11
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=57087

SF BALLET – 2010 Repertory Season Opens Saturday, January 23rd
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56811

DAVID PERRY – On the “Dos and Don’ts of Social Media”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56487

NATHAN GUNN – A Hit At The Herbst
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56056

CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM – Our Struggle: Responding to Mein Kampf
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=55889

HELGI TOMASSON’S 25th ANNIVERSARY – SF Ballet Gala, January 20th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=55822

NATHAN GUNN – In Recital At The Herbst Theatre, January 12th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=54863

100th ANNIVERSARY – A Landmark Celebration for the American Conservatory Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=55040

SF FRINGE FESTIVAL – Now Accepting Applications For 2010
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=55544

HARVEY FIERSTEIN – Is “Tevye” in Fiddler On The Roof
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=54638

CRITIC’S CHOICE: CD – MICHAEL MANIACI: Mozart Arias For Male Soprano
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=54523

NEW ORGAN SERIES – Premiers January 17th at Davies Symphony Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=54383

ROBERT DOWNEY Jr. – Not Holmes For Christmas
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=53947

CRITIC’S CHOICE – CDS, Pianists: Mitsuko Uchida, Temirzhan Yerzhanov, AND Jonathan Biss
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=53812

CARTIER AND AMERICA – Exclusive Exhibit at the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=53619

DAMES AT SEA – Now At NCTC
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=53326

TOM ORR – “Jingle Bell Jock!”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=53061

THE 39 STEPS – Hitchcock To Stage Is Too Fabulous
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=52598

ME AND ORSON WELLES
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=52241

THE NUTCRACKER – SF Ballet Is In Grand Form
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=52127

CAMINOS FLAMENCOS – A Conversation with Yaelisa
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51761

A CONVERSATION WITH LUCIE ARNAZ – This Week At The Rrazz Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51605

9 Grammy Nominations To Telarc International and Heads Up International
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51457

SF CONCERT CHORALE – At Mission Dolores Basilica
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51300

SF SILENT FILM FESTIVAL – One Day Only, Saturday, December 12th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51233

THREE GRAMMY® AWARD NOMINATIONS – SF Symphony Is The Best
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51083

PETER, THE WOLF, THE AX, a 5th, and HOLIDAY PIPES
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=50376

HOB NOB ON THE HILL – Annual Gala at the Fairmont Hotel
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=50108

CARTIER – Exclusive Exhibit at the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=49806

ON THE ORGAN – At the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=49615

AMISH ABSTRACTIONS – Fabulous Quilt Exhibit Now at the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=49241

GAUTIER CAPUÇON, Cellist – Debut with San Francisco Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=48337

MEDIEVAL MOURNERS – Coming to SF City Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=48259

VERY POST MORTEM: Mummies and Medicine
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=47785

JANE MONHEIT – This Sunday At The Empire Ballroom
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=48083

JOHAN BOTHA – South African Tenor Makes SF Opera Debut As “Otello”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=47706

MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT – Live From The Nokia Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=47063

EXOTIC EROTIC BALL – 30th Anniversary, Friday and Saturday At The Cow Palace
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=46654

DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT – A Hit for San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=46210

FLEETWEEK – Weekend Bash at Pier 39
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=45837

FLEET WEEK – A Conversation with Airshow Pilot Tim Weber
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=45460

HALLOWEEN AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL – Nosferatu, The Vampire Film Classic of 1922
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=45154

CD – THE PLANETS, A Mind-Blowing Meditation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=44236

SF OPERA’S “Abduction From The Seraglio” – The Trills and Frills of Captivity
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43985

SOUTH PACIFIC – A Total Winner In San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43862

MACY’S PASSPORT 2009 – Glamour and Giving Galore in San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43233

IL TRITTICO – Patricia Racette Debuts In Puccini’s Trio of One-Act Operas
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43109

IL TROVATORE – Opening Night A Stunning Success For San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=42392

CD – ZUILL BAILEY and SIMONE DINNERSTEIN, Beethoven’sComplete Works for Piano and Cello
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=39415

NORMA SHEARER – Hollywood Dreams Made Real
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=38082

THE EGYPTIAN (1954) – A Swords & Sandals Cultural Encounter at the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=37554

SALLY KELLERMAN – Hot Lips for Hot Hits at The Rrazz Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=33009

TUTANKHAMUN – And The Golden Age Of Pharaohs
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=32878

DIANE BAKER – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=32007

AMANDA KING – AT THE RRAZZ ROOM, THIS SATURDAY NIGHT
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=30037

CAMERON CARPENTER – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=24462

AT LAST! – ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=27122

A Conversation with Ruben Martin, Principal Dancer with SF Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22107

Best regards,
Seán Martinfield

Acting in Plays, Singing

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Sean Martinfield

Expertise

I am a professional vocal coach in San Francisco. In addition to answers from a previous web site (Askme.com - where my "tag" was "VocalCoach") I have published over 2000 responses related to vocal training - particularly as it relates to Musical Theatre and Opera. I have 24 years of experience as Personal Trainer to singers and actors in the San Francisco Bay Area. I sang professionally for 20 years and know what it means to live the life of a musician. I can determine your voice category, i.e., Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Alto Belter, etc., and how to broaden and strengthen your range. Need an audition song for a Broadway Musical? I will give you suggestions that are appropriate to your vocal category and to requirements specified in the audition notice. I have also created a vocal methodology, "The Belter`s Method". It will enable those in Musical Theatre to practice more efficiently because it focuses on the demands of professional performers as well as to those auditioning for school and community productions, and as University and Conservatory performing arts majors. If what you want is a better voice and more control over your career moves and choices, contact me. Also, as the Editor of SanFranciscoSentinel.com, it is my privilege to review productions at the San Francisco Opera, Ballet and Symphony, as well as Broadway National Tours booked into San Francisco's Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theatres. I also review works by A.C.T (the American Conservatory Theatre) and Magic Theatre. I cover select films, tributes and retrospects, and various international film festivals – particulary those booked into The City's opulent Castro Theatre – including the LGBT Frameline Festival, International Film Festival, Silent Film Festival, Jewish Film Festival, etc. For private vocal instruction, I can be contacted through SanFranciscoSentinel.com. Look under: Seán Martinfield, Sentinel Editor and Publisher.

Experience

As a vocal coach, I work primarily with singers and actors throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. My students range from absolute beginners to working professionals, from pre-schoolers to senior citizens. The vast majority of my clients come to me through recommendation. I know how to identify any singer's vocal category, i.e., soprano, tenor, alto, baritone, etc. I know how to muscle-up every singer's vocal range and to expand it beyond conventional definitions. I have developed a vocal methodology for those who want to know how to belt, THE BELTER'S METHOD. As a singer who spent half of his career doing Bel Canto, I know that classical or Italian methodologies do not work in Standard American music. Bel Canto cannot be "adapted" to meet the needs of contemporary American music, including the demands of the Musical Theatre. There are a number of major components to my work as a vocal coach. The first is to identify the client's vocal category and to strengthen and maximize the vocal range accordingly. Then it's about teaching a reliable vocal workout that will enable the client to gain better control of their musicianship. That includes scale work to expand the vocal range and to improve placement, breath control, and diction. Then we work on material for the audition portfolio, the immediate job or assignment, a recording session, etc. My task to is to better equip singers and actors who are hoping to or relying upon their performance skills and vocal endurance to maintain a career in the Performing Arts. My clients regularly appear in cabarets and musical productions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Some have worked in New York and gone on National Tours. For more information, Contact me at: Broadwaybelters@yahoo.com

Education/Credentials
San Francisco State University – BA in Theatre Arts; graduate work in Theatre, Philosophy, and Comparative Reiligion. Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley – Graduate work in Ethics

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.