<p>I hope I don't come off as conceited because I don't mean to. This is just a very important question to me.</p>
<p>I'm a pretty good singer with a good ear. The problem is my range. I'm a pretty low tenor but I can't go the high and I can't really go all that low.</p>
<p>I have two questions. </p>
<p>1.) If I was to get a voice teacher, would it be possible for my range to expand up and down? If so, to what extent?</p>
<p>2.) If I was to get a voice teacher, should I see one that teaches more classical way, or one that teaches in more of a musical theatre way?</p>
<p>Zach, yes a good voice teacher could probably help you expand your range. Find a teacher who teaches "classic" technique, things like focusing on breath support, etc. Once you have good technique you can adopt it to many ways of singing.</p>
<p>Absolutely, a good classical voice teacher can help expand your functional range. Obviously everyone has limits, but if you have never developed a good technique, regardless of how good you sound, you are not optimizing your production. You want a teacher who will not be insensitive to your interest in musical theater, but you might be surprised at what else you can do! Good luck.</p>
<p>I have found that when working with really great voice teachers, I HAVE been able to reach notes I previously thought I couldn't, and also that the high notes I previously had got much stronger and clearer.</p>
<p>Personally, I like teachers who teach classical technique and also understand the musical theatre STYLE, but that's just my own personal opinion. As a girl and a belter, it's also really important to have a teacher who understands belting and belting technique and repertoire.</p>
<p>I agree with Sporti (and in fact, she is now studying with my D's old voice teacher, lol). A voice teacher can surely teach you to increase your range. My D's range since she started college has definitely widened (higher). Anyway, classical voice technique is essential but my personal preference is to have a voice teacher who also understands and teaches and has you work on musical theater repertoire. Oh, and I also agree with Sporti to have a voice teacher, at least as a female, who understands belting.</p>
<p>I have been studying with my voice teacher for 5 years, and while we do not focus on classical music, she has worked a lot with me on breath support and my upper range. The best thing is how well she understands the styles of music I like to sing, and has helped me so much with musical theatre. My voice has grown so much and I think that having a teacher who is on the same wavelength as me has made all the difference! I used to be terrified of singing high and she has helped me get over it both mentally and physically/vocally.</p>
<p>This is my seventh year studying voice privately and I've always had a teacher that teaches classical technique but is familiar with and knows how to teach musical theatre. This is the best combination in my opinion. My range has definitely expanded a great deal over the years. I've also been able to vocalize much higher than I ever could without a teacher. So, I know some very high tenor notes are in my range, but I'm now working to refine them before presenting them. I strongly recommend a teacher to address your needs.</p>
<p>I have never studied voice, and this is the first year my school has even has choir. I don't study because I don't want to go to the wrong person and have them mess up my voice.</p>
<p>But I'm hoping that in college I can learn voice from some really good people.</p>
<p>ALL people who sing and want to continue singing for any purpose other than fun should have a voice teacher! They can both expand your range and aimprove the quality of your voice dramatically (if they are a good teacher and you work hard). I have gained half an octave from my teacher. </p>
<p>I suggest finding a teacher who has a background in both classical and MT training. This way they can give you excellent technique and then teach you how to use it in context with more pop (or any MT) music.</p>
<p>Yes yes yes yes yeeeeeees! A good voice teacher can definitely help you extend your range. I'm in straight drama and had never seriously emphasized singing up until recently. Always considered myself sort of a weak alto only good for character singing. I suppose I was a little intimidated by some of the powerhouses I knew who'd been singing their whole lives and never wanted to bother with it any more than required. Anyway, I've been taking private singing tutorials and, like IJElkiss, I've developed a full perfect fifth more useable range than I had before plus a good bit more than that in pure vocalizing. My teacher has somehow turned my weak alto into a big, round-timbered mezzo. She has also obviously given me a lot more confidence. ;) I still can't belt my way out of a wet paper bag, but that'll come when she deems me ready. So yeah ... a good voice teacher can work wonders. Mine deserves a medal for what she's done for me.</p>
<p>Just thought I'd look around the forum to see what's what. Congrats to those of you who've already gotten good news and best of luck to those still waiting. It's a tough time of year, but it'll be over before you know it. :)</p>
<p>fishbowlfreshman - Hang in there about the belting. My daughter, although she doesn't need to increase her upper range (she can sing up to a high "F"), couldn't belt very high before taking voice at CAP21. At most, she could belt to a B. Her present voice teacher is helping her to belt higher, in a healthy way. I NEVER thought she'd be able to belt being such a high soprano; I figured some voices were "meant" to be soprano; others, to belt. I guess I was wrong! If you have the right teacher, you can definitely increase your range!</p>