" I've studied other methods of voice, only to become frustrated.  John has taught me to sing strongly into my "mix", giving me a great "belt" sound.  I cannot recommend him enough!"

In order to produce a balanced and free tone (especially on high notes) one must avoid tension in the outer muscles of the larynx.  Muscles normally used to chew and swallow food are called into use by the singer in order to force the larynx up or down, in order to assist or "improve" the tone.  This causes a labored or unbalanced sound.

Speech Level Singing is founded on the concept of singing in the same comfortable manner as you speak.  The use of the outer muscles is eliminated and the vocal cords are allowed to function in their natural manner by shortening and thinning for the higher notes.  The larynx stays in a relaxed position throughout the entire range of the singer.

Vocal Bridges

Another extremely important focus of Speech Level Singing is the crossing of the singer's bridges or passage areas (often called the "passagio").  This is where the voice begins to resonate in a different part of the body, and it can be a very tricky area for the singer. The singer often begins to feel the voice build tension here, usually followed by the inevitable "break", when the voice can carry this build up of tension no higher. To avoid this, as one sings higher, more and more sound should cross behind the soft palate before leaving the mouth.  The key to crossing these "bridges" to the new area of resonance is to gradually "mix-in" the new resonating area, thereby avoiding a sudden "break" in the voice.  The result is a voice that sounds full and connected all through its entire range, with no breaks or sudden shifts in tone.

Speech Level Singing employs a great number of different exercises to train the voice in these areas.  It is the key to a relaxed, comfortable singing style with no strain on the delicate vocal cords, thus prolonging the health and life of the voice.