Dear singer, would be singer, and/or music director, and voice teacher:

John Gardner, in his book entitled "Excellence", said: "Some people have greatness thrust upon them.  Very few have excellence thrust upon them.....they achieve it!  They do not achieve it unwittingly by "doing what comes naturally," and they do not stumble into it in the course of amusing themselves.  All excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose!" To sing and/or speak well needs to be a constant life long experience of attaining beauty and excellence in vocal production! There has never been or will there ever be any singer that "runs out of breath while singing!"  They "think" they do!  This subject will be discussed during seminars or extended lessons in my home.

We are what we are because of what we do with our opportunities!

As stated, learning to sing well is a lifelong learning experience.  First of all, singing is not a talent or a gift!  IT IS A HIDDEN CAPACITY.....NOT REVEALED.....FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF CORRECT TECHNIQUE. It is a well honed craft.  Singing is a highly developed skill.  Many choral directors and voice teachers alike, teach songs (just chase notes and bang out rhythms) and the student thinks the teacher is really helping them to sing better.  In essence, the students are just learning songs......and remember....practice also makes "permanent....WHETHER IT IS RIGHT OR WRONG!"   This kind of inadequate inept teaching will never change the "timbre" (the quality, color, and texture) of the voice.  It is so vitally important to understand.  Learning to sing well is truly a life long learning experience.  As you noticed on the home page of this web site that singing is not a talent or a gift, it is a hidden capacity not revealed for lack of a clear understanding of correct techniques and proper concepts applied in producing the voice.  Singing is a well developed "craft" with many many hours of "sweat and blood".  Truly, it is a well honed craft.  Many choral directors (and voice teachers alike) just teach songs by learning the notes and rhythms before presenting the music to their groups and feel like they are doing a really great job.  When in essence, they need to gain knowledge how to improve the total quality of the choral ensemble by studying more and more about the process of vocal production.  Directors need to understand that beautiful intonation will never be acquired until all voices are molded with "oneness" with proper energy source, purification of all vowel sounds, brilliant resonance, and vibratos on every pitch.  Vibratos that never "stick out."that teachers do not teach you......no individual really teaches you.....you teach yourself!"   EVERY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (including the voice)  MUST HAVE THREE

ANY GOOD STRUCTURE THAT IS WELL BUILT, MUST HAVE A SOLID FOUNDATION. BOTH AESTHETIC AND ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES MUST BE FOLLOWED. WE SHOULD DRAW ON THESE PRINCIPLES IN PREPARING THE CONSTRUCTION SITE BEFORE  DEVELOPING THE VOICE. THERE MUST BE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ANATOMICAL PRINCIPLES AND THE PHYSICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS WHICH CAN PRODUCE A FUNCTIONALLY FREE VOICE.  THE VOICE IS A PRODUCT OF FUNCTION, AND IT MUST CONFORM TO THE LAWS OF ACOUSTICS

WHEN WE CONSIDER "TRAINING THE VOICE," WE SHOULD BE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH WAYS AND MEANS FOR PERFECTING ALL OF THE COORDINATING PROCESSES OF MUSCLES THAT ARE ENGAGED IN FREE PHONATION.  TO SING WELL, A SINGER MUST BE WILLING TO "FREE THEIR PERSONAL AESTHETIC JUDGMENT."  YOUR SUCCESS ALSO DEPENDS ON YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE INCORRECT HABITS.  WE DO NOT BREAK HABITS, THEY ARE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES.  OLD HABITS KEEP US INHIBITED WITH POOR VOCAL PRODUCTION.

A VOCAL TECHNICIAN, CHORAL DIRECTOR , AND SINGER (who sings well) WILL NEED TO HAVE A BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF ANATOMY, PHYSICS, ACOUSTICS, PSYCHOLOGY, AND FUNCTIONAL PHYSIOLOGY. EVERYONE CAN LEARN FUNCTIONAL FACTS, HOWEVER, THE APPLICATION OF THOSE FACTS WITH SENSITIVE AWARENESS IS THE HARD PART. DO NOT TRY TO SING . LET THE VOICE SING.

THE ROAD CALLED "TOMORROW" LEADS TO THE TOWN CALLED "NEVER!"

EXCELLENCE IS MORE THAN A WISH; IT'S  A PURSUIT THAT NEVER STOPS!

ORDER THE VOCAL STUDY ALBUM: "BASIC TOOLS FOR VOCAL FREEDOM" TODAY!  YOU MAY CALL, WRITE, FAX, OR E-MAIL YOUR ORDER.  VISA AND MASTERCARD, MONEY ORDER, OR CHECK ARE ACCEPTED.  ALSO, IF YOU ARE A DIRECTOR OF A CHORAL GROUP, CALL, WRITE, FAX, OR E-MAIL TO SCHEDULE A "VOCAL FREEDOM SEMINAR".   THE SEMINARS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, SEMINARY, CHURCHES OF ALL DENOMINATIONS. 

MY TEACHING INCLUDES SEMINARS FOR NATIONAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND AREA SEMINARS.

Many people that have attended my seminars the past few years are coming to our home for ten intensive private lessons.  All lessons are video and audio taped for the individual to have for additional training back in their home.  Presently (2007) individuals of all ages and backgrounds are either flying or driving  from twenty-one states.  They are guests in our home with lodging and meals  The cost for the ten one-hour lessons is $1,000.00!  All individuals leave much improved and most pleased in their progress with total vocal improvement!  What a thrill to see how those that really want to improve their voice make such a drastic enhancement with their awareness of finding VOCAL FREEDOM!