If I could only press record, ready for playback every time I get questioned about the need for good technique!
It is a very common misconception that to have good technique and classical training equals only being able to sing classical music. IT DOES NOT. Instead, no matter what genre you wish to explore, you are able to utilise your body and produce the safest (and most effective!) sound. It saddens me to watch reality shows that encourage people to sing without support or to push through tensions when all that is being achieved is damage. Whether you are singing for fun, or forging a career in the industry, longevity surely is an important factor? And yet, everywhere we turn there are singers and actors not producing a healthy sound - husky voiced actors and pop artists are portraying a very dangerous example for the next generation but with a little guidance, you could give a convincing performance of any type. Please, please, please do not be fooled into thinking that there is only one 'type' of music that requires technique. A good classical training is like an athlete learning their art in a disciplined manner - you wouldnt expect to be allowed to do a 100m sprint without warming up.
Obviously, I am not suggesting that warm ups are necessary before you sing along to your favourite song on the radio, but in order to build up the stamina required to sing for more than 3 minutes at a time, you need to engage the muscles involved. One of my students had been told 40 yrs ago that she was to 'sit out' when the school sang in assemblies - within two lessons, she had discovered 5 notes that she had never believed she could make, purely down to posture and lack of confidence! Another student of mine was recently accepted at Central School of Drama and while working on his song, we needed to incorporate all that he wished to do dramatically with a healthy posture throughout - his final high note was a breeze once this was achieved! To study further and to consider opera, even greater stamina and skill is required but I hope that I have gone a little way towards dispelling the myth that only classical singers require good technique!
