Classical Singer
You never really see a current billboard band with Classical Guitars on a poster, why? Honestly because they are boring, that's right I did say BORING! At least that's what the perception is among beginners all over the world, "Slash never used classical guitars on stage!", which is true, I think. Anyway, its not the case that your favorite guitarists are never seen using them, its more along the lines of how they start learning the guitars altogether.
On The Fighting Side Of Classical Guitars
Classical guitars really are great guitars, when I first started learning guitar, my family did not have the money to buy me the latest feedback laden guitar and amp, so I had to settle for my old fathers guitar that was tucked away in his tool room, "No wonder he tucked this away I thought, if he had not, my mother would have probably used the fretboard as a table", but still I took out the guitar, blew off the dust and took it into the land of the living, at that time I did not really know it, but that guitar was classical.
One night I was sitting down watching television, my father over the other side of the room, and a show came on about The Beatles, both of us immediately perked up, these were his boy hood super group(along with millions of others), and to me, they were also god-like people who I grew up listening too, anyway as that program unfolded, which was a brief history all about The Beatles, their was a part in it where Sir Paul McCartney was explaining a song he wrote, he sat on a stool, and into shot picked up a classical guitar, and started to play "And I Love Her", and I thought to myself if he is using one, then so should I be!.
My Beginnings with Classical Guitars
Its only now I look back after many years of playing guitar, that I can take some pride in the fact that I started with classical guitars, It really did bring my playing along really well, those nylon stings were soft, nonabrasive, and easy to press down onto the neck, that huge fretboard was plenty of space to be able to play individual strings without hitting others, it was large enough to also help me stretch my smaller fingers out(which would come in handy in my later electric shredding years), it also has such a great sound to it, even though sometimes cheap, most classical guitars sound amazing, I can't say the same for some cheaper electric brands.
Now sometimes when I play my classical guitar I wished I would have used them allot more over the years, sometimes its easy to turn up your amp, plug in your electric, and have your playing washed out by the huge fuzz behind you, and it still sounds great!, but really, its just masking your mistakes, so that even if you did hit a couple of the wrong strings, you meant it right?. I've seen so many good electric guitarists come away from that wall of sound, then just sit down with a classical guitar and just die, there playing really isn't that good to be honest!.
My point
My point is that, even though you never see great bands today using classical guitars, It doesn't mean they are pointless!, if you ever want to give up guitars because its too hard to play, give one a go, its allot easier to learn on than an electric or acoustic let me tell you, and maybe you favorite artist did use one, or does use one, that's great, It makes you a better guitarist to be able to adapt to many different guitars, and what better way to start than a classical?.
A little word to finish off, watching television the other day, viewing one of my favorite bands Coldplay playing Viva La Vida's "Violet Hill", guess what singer Chris Martin was playing, that's right one of his classical guitars, and very well I might add, see, there making a comeback, look out for posters.
Why Study the Classical Approach to Singing?
As a voice teacher early in my career, I receive lots of requests from up- and- coming R&B, contemporary Christian, and Pop artists. They almost always begin by telling me who they are as an artist, and then, their goals for voice lessons, usually, getting better high notes, less 'breaking' points, better breath control, etc. They have called me because after reading my profile or asking around, they have been told that I am qualified to meet that need.
So.... why the confusion when I tell them I teach the classical method?
Classical method meets all these needs. People in 'popular' music tend to use their chest voices so much that their head voice becomes airy to nonexistent, and their voice loses its natural 'color' or beauty. The classical method teaches how to use your head voice in all parts of your range so that their is always an evenness of sound and tone color from top to bottom, and its less physiologically draining.
Now, don't get me wrong, SPS, or speech- level- singing is also taught, in fact, teaching 'style' is a specialty of mine, but just like we have to bake the cake first before we spread any icing, so is it wise to teach the basics before we teach style!
Keep in mind, I am NOT trying to turn you into an opera singer, as that takes a lifetime of intense focus and training, but I guarantee learning to tackle even 1 Italian aria will do wonders for your instrument.
I hope this helps.
Be blessed, and Happy Singing!
I love to hear from you. If you have specific questions, let me know. Canada, USA, UK only.
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