AboutPamela Thomas Expertise Questions on Opera performance, repertoire, vocal technique, acting for opera. I have some 20 years experience in opera in both leading roles and chorus. I have sung with New York City Opera since 1981. I have studied voice in NYC for over 20 years and have also taught technique and coached singers in acting.
Anyway.
For the past year I have been listening to and loving opera. (My favourites are "Der Holle Rache Kocht in Meinem Herzen, He Shall feed His Flock (from Handels Messaih) Casta Diva, Placido Domingo singing La Vie En Rose and schuberts Erlkonig)
I REALLY would like to become an opera singer but I have a few problems.
Well I already do voice (contemporary) and I like my teacher and have fun in the lessons, I dont want to stop doing those lessons. I have been doing them for 3 and a half years so my and my teacher is a family friend, so its sort of hard to stop the lessons, because of this and I do enjoy them (and they are working, like I can sing)
Secondly, I live in Australia. And not in Sydney or Melbourne, in Adelaide. I have no idea on how to find a teacher. I dont even think there are many voice teacher's that teach classical technique.
My friends pay me out for liking opera and if I started singing it, they'd just be like "omg youre gonna be a big fat lady, screaming her head off." Please dont say, dont worry about what they think because I do.
My piano teacher said with my range I should have become a classical singer. (My range is C3 - G6) But I dont really think that he knows much about classical singing.
If I were to become a classical singer would I still be able to sing like contemporary songs without sounding weird?
By weird I mean like Montserrat singing with Freddie Mercury or Placido Domingo singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
LOL...
Thankyou. I know this is a really long question but please answer.
Oh yeah.. I am 13 nearly 14
Answer Hi Jasmin,
13, nearly 14 is young! You can search the web using Australian voice teachers and there are many choices. The best site is the Australian National Association of Teachers http://www.anats.org.au/
click on "find a teacher" at the top. You should be able to find someone. Or you can email them and ask for suggestions. I'm sure they will be glad to help.
As for your friends - they should be happy that you want to follow your dream - they will follow theirs! And by the way - opera is no more for fat ladies (well there are some) but now you have to be thin and beautiful as well as sing well - that's because so much of opera is being filmed now!
Keep taking piano lessons - that will help you. And don't be in such a hurry - you have plenty of time. And you should be able to sing pop songs just fine... if you can sing like Montserrat or Placido - what do you care about singing over the rainbow? You'll be making so much money in opera - you won't need to!
You should see and hear as much opera as you can - that's how you learn as well.
