We can talk about good technique and why you need it all day, but it always helps to have a first hand account from people who are benefitting from it. We asked some of our students if they would like to contribute a short piece about how vocal technique helped them with their voices. This week we’ve handed over the reins to Laura’s student, Lara. This is what she has to say about how vocal technique, in particular the IVA technique, has helped her with her voice and singing in general.
I always grew up with music, but the particular reason I chose to sing was that I had to sing in front of some other classes on a school trip; we were doing a show one evening and I didn’t really have a choice. In the end I had so much fun with it and I continued singing all the time in my room or with my friends!
When I was in Primary school, I sang in a choir for 3 years. I also played different instruments, such like the flute, glockenspiel, violin, guitar and I currently play the piano.
My dad was always playing guitar and he loved to sing, although he is not very good at it! He always listened to music in a different language, but my mum always loved rock music and my grandma liked German Folk music.
My first singing lessons were in Germany as a Christmas present from my mum, but I had to persuade her first and it wasn’t easy! My teacher at this point was my mum’s friend, who still owns a school for singing and acting.
Two years later I went to spend a year in England, where the first thing I did was look for some singing lessons. So I found a teacher in Mansfield who encouraged me to sing whatever song I wanted. It was a huge step for me, as I was not quite sure if I could sing the high notes and if it sounded right, but the practicing and singing lessons really helped me develop my singing, and it also increased my confidence and shaped my personality.
By that time, I enjoyed listening to a lot of pop punk rock bands like Paramore, Blink 182, Tonight Alive, Journey, Avenged Sevenfold, Pierce the Veil, Arctic Monkeys, The Pretty Reckless and many more! I am really glad I found some music that I like, because now I have something I want to sing and I absolutely love each song I pick.
So I was at the point where music got even more meaningful to me. After seven months I left England and went to Scotland. To be honest, I never intended to go there – I just got the opportunity. But, as soon as I arrived I absolutely fell in love with it!
Then I discovered Your Voice Studio, and made an appointment with Laura. I was very content to go there every Friday although I lived an hour away. (It was also a good opportunity to spend my time in Edinburgh).
So at the first lesson Laura told me I had a “light chest voice” and she was telling me about the IVA technique, and to be honest I didn’t really get it. It was completely new to me! But, in the end I decided to go with it and I do not regret it at all.
Now I understand what she was talking about, and my voice is a lot stronger than before. I make sure I practice everyday to get the best out of my voice. But that isn’t everything, as my vocal range has also extended! We are currently working on vibrato as well as continuing to strengthen my voice as a whole. I look forward to each lesson and I am certain that it helps me out each time.
So, right now I am back in Germany taking Skype lessons which works out really well and I am still improving a lot. I have never done this before and I never thought I would! I am glad that I found a very good singing teacher, and the lessons work for me, so I made the decision to carry on. Now that I put quite a lot of work into music and I’ve played the piano for a few years, I’d love to study music and to improve my singing as much as I can. It is my aim to be a singer and whatever I am going to do in my future I am certain it´ll be something with singing.
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