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.
Dear Pamela,
I am a junior at Purchase College Conservatory studying Vocal Performance. I am currently being trained to sing classically, however on the side I sing some Gospel, Jazz, and Pop. I truly love all styles of music. From Leontine Price, Jessye Norman, and Kiri Te Kanawa to Cece Peniston (Club/R&B), Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, and Aretha Franklin. I grew up in a very diverse background singing with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and we used to sing pretty much everything. People call me an old soul because I don't really like the music of my own generation, it just does not move me. Basically, I feel very torn between two worlds. Because I love Opera as well as the other styles of music, and I would not like to disappoint the people who believe that I have potential to sing Opera. I also don't want the singing of the other styles to mess up what my voice teacher is trying to do for me. Is there any way or technique to pursue several genres? Also is Opera singing a natural form of singing? How does the voice naturally develop? I am asking these questions because some people are naturally born with a voice to sing, prior to training. I am just curious to know how it sounds. Thank You very much for your profound knowledge. I know that its a lot that I am asking but I just wanted to know your perspective.
Thanks.
Answer Hi Jasmine,
First of all - great picture! You look awesome! You ask a very good question - hard to answer. Who do you study with at Purchase? Have you talked to your teacher about this?
I happen to think that learning how to sing is pretty basic. That is - you have to understand the basics of how to sing in order to sing every style of music. So if you learn beautiful bel canto singing - that should be the start. Then if you want to sing a different style of music - that's different. You might make adjustments in the sound or approach - but your won't change the breathing or production of the voice.
The only reason not to sing too much on the side when you are studying is that sometimes when we sing in situations where we have sung before studying - we fall back into bad vocal habits. For example, I had a friend who made his living singing as a Cantor. He could not stop singing as a Cantor while he was working on changing/improving his voice and working in opera. He certainly did improve (he had a beautiful voice, for sure) - but everytime he had to sing in the Cantorial style - he had to perform - so he tended to go back to some of the bad habits that he had been able to break in the studio. So it might be that your teacher wants you to get your technique down solid before delving into the Gospel, Jazz or Pop style.
Now, since I haven't heard you - I don't really know if this is the case. If you are a natural singer (and you are right - there are some who just sing - think of Eileen Farrell - now there was a woman who was a fantastic opera singer - but boy, could she sing pop/jazz songs as well!) You should listen to her opera recordings and her pop songs... she was a natural torch singer. Not too many opera folks can do that. Now - you may be one who can.
So - I would talk to your teacher about this - but you are young - and as long as you are learning a technique that leads to beautiful singing I don't think there is a problem to wait a bit to sing the other styles.
If you have a Youtube or recording of your singing, I would be happy to listen. I'm sure you are terrific!
I hope this helps a bit - it's hard when you have a lot of possibilities!
)